I just wanted to say "Hello"! I am
"Concerned Carolyn". I live in SE Ohio.
I joined this forum today because I am
trying to find out some information for my
daughter's fiancee. They do not have
internet access and thus cannot surf for
facts like I am able to.
He is a young man of 35. Had a bought
with cancer early on which left him with
having to have stents always in place - at
least, that's what the dr.'s in our area
tell him. He goes to Columbus, Ohio for
treatment and to be truthful, it's often
hard to be confident of treatment around
here, even in our state capital. Anyway,
he has to have the stents replaced around
every 6 mos. it seems. He has so much
pain that he can't sleep at night
sometimes and it's so bad he just sobs.
It is breaking my daughter's heart to see
him like this. He does not want to take
pain meds as there's a history of people
in his family abusing pain meds. He's a
very good young man and it hurts me too to
see this. He's basically in constant pain
which gets worse sometimes. I think part
of the problem is that he has a job which
is very strenuous, unloading semi-trucks.
He often has quite a bit of blood in his
urine...I think the job is probably
aggravating the problems. I have been
encouraging him to find a new job and he
is but jobs are few in our area. Also, I
am sorry but I do not have much more
medical info than this but I can ask him
more if needed. So, after all of this, I
have some specific questions:
1. ARE there situations where one has to
have stents in place ALWAYS?
2. If so, is there another option rather
than stents that have to be replaced
occasionally?
3. Can you recommend a pain med that
would help him but would enable him to
function well and be less apt to be
addictive?
4. As for many, lack of insurance is an
issue for him...do you know of any
resources to help with getting treatment
in this situation?
5. Is this much pain "normal"?
6. Can you recommend a good
urologist/kidney doctor in the Columbus
Ohio area? Cleveland and other Ohio
cities are of course an option too.
Bless any of you for any advice you can
give me. I am trying to be as supportive
as possible and help out. I just feel so
bad for him. Any other advice you can
give me as far as support I would
appreciate.
Thank you very much for any tips/advice
you can give me - I am truly grateful for
any help.
Sincerely yours,
Concerned Carolyn
4.
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aflsh
Moderator
Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Souris, MB Canada
Thanks: 29
Thanked:19
re: stents Posted: 07-19-08 15:49pm
Hi and Welcome.
I assume his cancer was in the kidney? He
had kidney surgery? and they didn't
remove the kidney? It depends on what
kind of stents he had put in. I had the
same kind which were to be removed and
replaced every 6 months. I know what he
is going through. It is not comfortable.
I cannot give any advice because I am not
a Dr. My experience however, is an
obstruction in my kidney. They ended up
doing surgery and leaving stents in. That
was their solution. They thought it would
save what little function I had left in
it. It was going to be permanent, every 6
months for 5 years I did it. Now MY
choice was to stop the stents. (against
Dr. advice). I couldn't handle it.
Result is I did lose the function in the
kidney, but not the kidney. They refuse
to remove it. For pain they said take
tylonol, not aspirin, because it will
affect your kidneys. Sorry I am not much
help. Let him know he is not alone in
this. I wish him all the best and good
luck.
It's wonderful you are doing research for
th both of them.
I'll do my best to answer your questions
as did aflsh
1. People do have stents for a long period
of time (6 months or more) or have them
replaced every 3-4 months due to the
possibility of calcification building up
on the stent. I had this done for a few
years myself. Make sure he's drinking
enough of fluids.
2. There's an option but I don't know if
it would be good for him, it's a
percutaneous tube that is inserted into
the kidney and the urine goes into a bag
that would need to be emptied every so
often when full. This depends on the
situation, because he had cancer in
kidney, you should have him check with his
doctor.
3. Tylenol is good option, another thing
he ask for is something to control to the
bladder spasms that can enhance the pain
with a stent. A medication like Ditropan.
If the pain is really bad and he's
concerned about addiction he needs to
address this with his doctor as well.
Ibuprofen is not good for people with
kidney issues.
4. Financially check with the hospital for
a fund that some offer to people who are
trouble making payments on their medical
bills or contact the kidney foundation in
your state..the national one id in Florida
(they might be able to better direct
you).
5. The stent might be too big for
him..stents come in many sizes...I've had
them that were so big the pain was
unreal.
6. Ask the kidney foundation for
recommendations to a
urologist/nephrologist in your area..or
even your local or state health
department.
I hope the info aflsh and I provided has
helped you some.
As she mentioned we are not doctor but
unfortunately we have been through some of
these problems that he is dealing with.
All the best to you and your family.
sending many good wishes your way.
Please keep us posted and ask as many
questions as you need. We will do our best
help you.
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CONCERNED CAROLYN
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Jul 2008 Posts: 2
Posted: 07-20-08 11:05am
Oh, my gosh, bless both of you...I am
thrilled to get some information for him
before tomorrow. I do not know if he's
ever been given information regarding the
size of stents and the fact that there's
meds to help with the spasms. That is
very good info to have!
I will get in touch with the kidney
foundations...I should have thought of
that but I've never had to do much
research for a medical problem (I am lucky
to not have had to, I know it...).
Thank you very much for your care and
concern...it means so very much to us.
Love,
Carolyn
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^Serenity^
Moderator
Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1409
Thanks: 136
Thanked:161
Posted: 07-21-08 09:18am
You are welcome
Please keep us posted.
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aflsh
Moderator
Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 541 Location: Souris, MB Canada
