Infected/clogged metal stent, please help

I hope and pray that the infection clears Amy and that her strength picks up. It’s a very difficult time. Try to make the most of this time with her and although the temptation is to run around talking to doctors and nurses and doing various jobs for your Mom (and that’s important too of course), do try your utmost too to just talk to her and hold her and just be with her in case the infection doesn’t clear or she doesn’t pick up strength. This time now is precious.

Pain management is vital at this point so if she is in any pain or discomfort then that is unacceptable and staff must intervene. You might consider talking to a hospice team even just to discuss symptom management. They are so amazing at ensuring that patients are pain free and relaxed. It’s something to consider. I don’t want to scare you. I know the word ‘hospice’ is not an easy one to hear but it’s never too soon to contact them and they are so amazing at helping people with such serious illness.

I’m thinking of you Amy. Your Mom is blessed to have a daughter who cares as much as you.

Deb xxx

Hi Amy,

I have replied to your other post. I went through the same with my Dad. Antibiotics will sort the infection out, they may do IV antibiotics to get into the body quicker. My Dads tumor blocked his first stent but in the end they put another 2 stents in, all metal. My Dad was then kept on permanent low dose ciprofloxin tablets to avoid infections. These worked for him. He also drank lots and lots to help flush the bile and slush through. After a stent procedure blood clots can also block the stents, they may be able to flush these out and then the bile will flow again. It takes a while for the bilirubin level to drop as the ducts can be inflammed after a stent procedure, don’t be disheartened if it rises a few days after, my Dads always did, but then it would start dropping.

Take care

Andie

Amy;
I am sorry your Mom is having so much trouble with the stents. My Mom had a few of them mostly metal, one plastic, but each time it needs to be changed out it’s another proceedure and perhaps all this works on the body as something foreign being introducted and makes the body more prone to infection. My Mom passed at 76. Six months after first sign of illness. When she was first diagnosed suregons said there was no spread. They said she should have chemo and then review the case again for possible surgery. Well after the first chemo treatment that was it. She went downhill. It began with elevated liver numbers, weight loss, jaundice. She would get filled up fast after eating. She began to have low grade fevers which they said came with the illness. I cared for her at home. Loved her very much. Miss her every day. She was very active before the illness. Danced, cooked, worked in the yard. We are all here for you. It’s all very confusing and hard to figure out HOW are loved ones got the cancer in the first place. Do your best to have the doctors explain what is happening. Keep after them. Bless you.