Chapter 2
Living with a Stent

Chapter 3
Living with Palliative Care

Sections

1)
Introduction
2)
Background
3)
Deciding on a Stent
4)
Having the Stent Inserted
5)
Pain
Eating again!
6)
Some Limitations and Hints
7)
Conclusion

Last Revised, 05-Nov-2002
Copyright © 2002

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Pain

        The pain from the stent began to subside in a few days, but I found that other pain under my ribs and in my stomach became quite severe and I was given morphine to control this pain. It appears that, in my case, the stent when expanding in my esophagus had caused the tumor to move in such a way as to press on some nerves and caused pain. This happens in a small percentage of patients.

        I spent another few days to get the morphine dosage correct, and the pain stabilized and under control.

Eating again!

        I followed the eating suggestions as laid out. I was quite nervous at meal times as I was afraid of plugging the stent and having to go to the ER. Of course, I had visions of a young inexperienced student trying to remove it with tongs!! As time progressed I found myself eating a more varied diet, that in my case included T-bone steaks, sandwiches, stews. The main thing was that I made sure all food was well chewed before it was swallowed.

        My wife was kind enough to allow me to remove any food from my mouth, that I did not want to try to swallow, and put it on a plate . I had a small dish just for that purpose. I tried to use some judgment in the matter. (I excused myself from the table, and removed some food from my mouth in the bathroom if I noticed my wife looking “a little green about the gills”! ) The main point was that with a little adjustment, I was able to eat a normal diet again!
 
 

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