Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

Hi Debbie, you were asking about enterade? My understanding is that enterade helps alleviate gastrointestinal side effects like diarrhea. Has it helped you?

Just diagnosed by MYChart on Thursday, Aug. 18. Had a brief discussion with PA who ordered the scan and have a liver biopsy scheduled for Friday Aug. 26. I feel my clinic, Park Nicollet has left me flying in the wind. I have questions and no answers. I was a previous patient for knee arthritis at Mayo so I called them. They want the biopsy results as soon a I get them and will slot me in for an exam. I’m exhausted as the pain wakes me up at night. Tylenol mostly helps. Think the pain is related to what I eat and right now nothing is appealing. I need some guidance.

I’ve been diagnosed on Aug 18- through My Chart and have a liver biopsy scheduled for Friday. Called Mayo and they will take me as soon as my results are in. In the meantime, I am having so much pain at night and trouble eating. And high anxiety. Any help is appreciated.

When I was first diagnosed I was given morphine for pain. It worked, but it is slow acting and that meant a lot of ups and downs, including at night. My insurance got some reason didn’t cover an oxycodone product so my palliative care team member put me on a low dose fentanyl patch. That was extremely effective and when the time came, I had no trouble getting off by taking one step with even litter dose.

I would ask your PCP or Mayo team for help with pain management. Don’t suffer in silence! And good luck!

I put this in as a new post rather than as a reply…
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When I was first diagnosed I was given morphine for pain. It worked, but it is slow acting and that meant a lot of ups and downs, including at night. My insurance got some reason didn’t cover an oxycodone product so my palliative care team member put me on a low dose fentanyl patch. That was extremely effective and when the time came, I had no trouble getting off by taking one step with even litter dose.

I would ask your PCP or Mayo team for help with pain management. Don’t suffer in silence! And good luck!

Thank you, Pmerrill54. I still don’t have a team at Mayo and my biopsy is at Park Nicollet on Friday. After the results, Mayo will assign a team. I also called The U cancer center so will see what they have to say. Meanwhile, I am up most of the night every night with pain. Gummies and Tylenol are not handling it anymore. I do have some oxy left over from recent knee surgery so I may try that. But I will ask about the patch when I get a team. Much appreciate your reply.

Friday is a long way off if you’re in pain and not sleeping! Can your primary care physician help?

@ggst, I agree with @pmerrill54. Friday is a long time to wait while in pain and not able to sleep. I would contact your primary care physician as suggested but also the current team you have Park Nicollet.

Do you have a Mayo Clinic patient number and/or access to the Mayo patient portal already or not yet?

@ggst, I forgot to address the anxiety you're experiencing too. I can imagine that anxiety is running high right now. Here is a self-guided course that you might find helpful.

- Stress Management for Cancer https://mccmscontent.mayo.edu/LSC/CEC/stress-management-for-cancer/index.html#/

What helps you calm your anxiety?

I’m going to try an oxy tonight as I have a recent prescription from November. If that does not work my primary care doc will be next.