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My mother has just been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (mets to liver) and has yet to begin any treatments. She has been itching and the doctor has given her pills for that, but she also has burning pain all over her body - worse on the arms, worse at night. Any suggestions for what is causing this, and what she can do. The one doctor she has seen says he doesn't know what would be causing it. It is relieved (very briefly) by a cool shower.
Thanks.
Double check the side effects of all medication she may be on. Also I don't me this to be funny, is it possible she ate a tainted crab? I break out and burn when eating crab period, so I don't eat. I would recommend getting another opinion for sure. Is she showing any signs of juandice? Sounds like some bile duct blockage as well. Hope you get figured out soon. Keep knocking on doors until someone does know.
God Bless,
Jeff G.
She is jaundiced. (no crab eating though!)
Her records are at MD Anderson for them to review hoping for a chance to go there for an opinion.
Sorry to hear she is jaundice as that is most likely the problem and I would probally do some followup and let them know she is getting worse. There are other hospitals that can put billary stents in and relieve her agony. Do you have to wait long before seeing MD Anderson? She should get something done as soon as possible. I'm sure you are working on it. Things are just so slow sometimes. Certainly wish your Sisiter the best.
God Bless,
Jeff G.
Sorry to hear about your mom. My sister had the same terrible itching and the Drs. in Sloan Kettering say that that is the bile build up and the only real relief is to have drains/stents put in to open the bile ducts. The relief then is immediate and dramatic. As Jeff says, she needs action quickly to help that horrible itching. Good luck and hope that the slow wheels in the hospital turn a bit quicker for your mom...
I had itching that was just diabolical before my resection. One thing that gave me some relief was peppermint essential oil, suggested by a friend who's an aromatherapist. I got a bottle of hand lotion, poured out about a third of it, and then put in maybe 15-20 drops of peppermint oil and shook it up (enough oil to make a strong minty smell.) It's cooling on the skin, and seems to "confuse" your nerves so the bile in the blood doesn't irritate them as much.
Hope this helps!
Kristin
My dad had terrible itching too and finally got relief when they put the stents in. It took 3 stents to finally get rid of the itching and get the bile flowing properly. No more itching since Jan 08.
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