Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Hello @mamouson and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. How long have you been living with your pain and have you been diagnosed with a nerve condition/issue? What are you doing to deal with your pain?

For everyone talking about dealing with migraines, you may be interested in joining this discussion:
- Migraines https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/migraines-27b15e/

Hello

I have had migraines since I was 8 years old. The hormonal ones were the worst and I have tried every treatment imaginable. I’m older now and don’t have the classic migraine with the hammer inside your head and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. However, it feels like my head is in a vice-grip, 90% of the time. Has anyone experienced this and, if so, did you ever find a solution?
Thank you
Francine

Hi, my name is Guy from Pa. cannot swallow anything solid at this point due to a lymph node/scar tissue on the outside of my esophagus pressing inward, causing the esophagus to measure roughly 2mm or less. A stricture I believe it’s called. I have a feeding tube which up until 2cweeks ago did not have to use. My thoracic surgeon says the high location of the stricture make to high risk for surgery. My GI Dr. Says that since the lymph node/scar tissue is o vthe outside, inserting a stent would be very uncomfortable and not recommended. My oncologist says my therefore my options are limited and suggested that we revisit chemo tx. I’ve had 35 radiation tx’s and 12 chemo tx’s over the past 12-15 months or so. Those tx’s don’t appear to help my esophagus at all. I’ve have 3 endoscopes in the past 6 months to retrieve food that has lodged in my esophagus. I have a call in to the Mayo. Linic in about 2 hours to discuss my case and if they can help! Originally diagnosed with colon cancer in 2008. Had over a dozen surgeries thus far, highlights being removing 2 ribs, some intestines, half my right lung, piece of my left lung, etc. That’s my recent medical hx in a nut shell.

My dream is to eat normally again, as soon as is humanly possible. I was and am a foodie!

Hello Guy @warden45, Welcome to Connect. It's hard to imagine how difficult your journey has been trying to get back to eating like it was before your treatments started. There is another discussion which you might find helpful where other members have similar problems eating.

Esophageal problem: food gets stuck, swallowing issues: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/esophageal-problem/

You mentioned that you have a call into Mayo 2 hours or so ago to discuss if they can help you. Have they called back? Wondering if you have any new information.

Hi, my name is Guy from Pa. cannot swallow anything solid at this point due to a lymph node/scar tissue on the outside of my esophagus pressing inward, causing the esophagus to measure roughly 2mm or less. A stricture I believe it’s called. I have a feeding tube which up until 2cweeks ago did not have to use. My thoracic surgeon says the high location of the stricture make to high risk for surgery. My GI Dr. Says that since the lymph node/scar tissue is o vthe outside, inserting a stent would be very uncomfortable and not recommended. My oncologist says my therefore my options are limited and suggested that we revisit chemo tx. I’ve had 35 radiation tx’s and 12 chemo tx’s over the past 12-15 months or so. Those tx’s don’t appear to help my esophagus at all. I’ve have 3 endoscopes in the past 6 months to retrieve food that has lodged in my esophagus. I have a call in to the Mayo. Linic in about 2 hours to discuss my case and if they can help! Originally diagnosed with colon cancer in 2008. Had over a dozen surgeries thus far, highlights being removing 2 ribs, some intestines, half my right lung, piece of my left lung, etc. That’s my recent medical hx in a nut shell.

My dream is to eat normally again, as soon as is humanly possible. I was and am a foodie!

Hi Guy,
Did you have esophageal cancer? If yes, I invite you to join the discussions in the Esophageal Cancer group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/esophageal-cancer/

You may also be interested in virtually attending this patient conference hosted by Mayo Clinic on July 31, 2021.
- Gastroesophageal Cancer Education Symposium https://connect.mayoclinic.org/event/gastroesophageal-cancer-education-symposium/

Hi Colleen, I do not have esophageal cancer, but colon cancer that has metasasized over the years. The mass/lymph node/scar tissue is the colon cancer, apparently!