Question:
Pain, misery, and suffering--how long?

Hi All, Open rny 12/2. A few complications. Anyway, I had a stricture opened up about three weeks ago. Now, it seems another may be forming. I am again in constant pain, nausea, vomiting, and as of today, not even water will stay down. I thought I was finally making progress. I am getting worried about malnutrition now. I haven't been able to keep a protein shake down since Tuesday (and then only a couple in the last ten days). Doc's nurse said to hope for the best and wait and see if it got to the point where not even water would stay down. Has anyone else had these repeated discomforts? I am miserable. Can't keep down nausea or pain medicine. Will this go away? HELP! (BTW, due to my hospital being the one for the county, I plan to wait to go in until the morning, since overnight trauma's will just keep me in the ER anyway judging from past experience.) Thanks guys!    — Mary Ann B. (posted on January 26, 2003)

January 26, 2003
I've only had one stricture, but my friend who had surgery the day after me had 6! After the first couple of months her stoma finally gave up and stayed open, but it was a pain for her to have to keep having them. It will get better.. your doc just needs to make sure you don't get dehydrated. If you can't keep water down, you should probably get to the ER for fluids. Good luck!
   — mom2jtx3