Gallbladder/Pancreas and Navelbine

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blainejennifer
blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
edited August 2018 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I'd like to crowdsource a solution to my problem, please.

Three days after my first infusion with Navelbine, a month ago, I developed gallbladder pain that grew to include pancreatic pain. It's very painful. After I eat, there is a definite increase in pain.

I have a history of biliary dyskinesia. I can't "prove" I'm in pain, because my bloodwork is fabulous. The last time it got really bad, about three years ago, nothing untoward showed up on imaging. They gave me a HIDA scan then, but - for some reason - didn't give me the drug that causes gallbladder contractions, so the test is kind of useless. I had a double contrast (IV and oral solution) PET about a five weeks ago, and nothing digestive shows up on it. Not that they were looking, because it was for cancer reasons, but MO had a look at it for this, and couldn't see anything.

I do have liver mets, one 8 cm area of concern, but I've had that for 1.5 years now, and it never felt like this.

Navelbine can cause pancreatitis. I wish to continue on this drug because I think it is working (decreased bone pain). I'm heavily pre-treated, so I don't want to ditch a therapy unless I absolutely have to.

Last week, I put myself on nothing by mouth for two days, small sips of water but that's it. It helped immensely. I have also discontinued Ranitidine, because I forgot to take it one day, and felt better without it. I'm thinking that increased stomach acid might improve digestion?

Going forward, I'm drinking broths, water, ginger ale, and pineapple juice (seems to help). I've also reintroduced low fiber carbs like some pasta and saltines. They still hurt a bit, so I think I'm going to scale them back.

What other tricks do you guys have for pancreatitis? This stuff hurts. As I am a cancer patient, I have access to appropriate pain meds, but I hurt for those patients who have this in our current climate of opiate fear. Oh, and I'm slimmer, but still have plenty to spare.

Thanks, guys. I'd rather not have surgery. I'm a superstitious old broad, and fear that the bodily stress incurred by surgery can cause cancer growth. Plus, the gallbladder guy in town won't touch me because of the stage 4.

Jennifer

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  • Grannax2
    Grannax2 Member Posts: 2,551
    edited August 2018

    I think the treatment for pancreatitis is fasting, usually in the hospital with IV fluids. I know it's miserable. I hope you can get some help.

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  • Grannax2
    Grannax2 Member Posts: 2,551
    edited August 2018

    I believe the treatment for pancreatitis is fasting, usually in the hospital with IV fluids. But nothing by mouth. I hope you get some help soon.

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  • lulubee
    lulubee Member Posts: 1,493
    edited August 2018

    Jennifer, ask your onc to chart you for IV fluids on demand in the chemo infusion room. I have this so I can go whenever I feel I need it, without making an appointment to see a doctor or nurse first.

    I had acute pancreatitis in 2013 around the time lobular mets glued my common bile duct shut and my gallbladder went septic. Fun times. Pancreatitis is the worst pain I've ever experienced (and I've had natural childbirth and bilateral lat flap recon!). I have a big mesh metal stent in my bile duct now. I have a little kit of stuff for times when I eat unwisely and/or I get those little waves of threatening discomfort. I always carry little blister packages of digestive enzymes which have pancreatin in them, and I take these any time I eat meat or other trouble foods. I also carry some stick-packs of an alkalizing fizzy powder called Alkalime, and a couple of Vicoprofen tablets in case hard pain hits. I use a lot of lemon juice on my food and in my water. I take a supplement called Liver Nutrients by Seeking Health, and a good probiotic. As you can tell, I am scared straight after pancreatitis and sepsis!!

    Golly. God bless you.

    Incidentally, I think some of these TX meds trigger gallbladder issues. I asked here on the boards for anecdotal evidence several years ago, and within a couple of hours I had several corroborating stories to take to my onc!

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  • Sue2009
    Sue2009 Member Posts: 228
    edited August 2018

    having been an RN who took care of pt’s w/pancreatitis, they were always on clear liquids, jello, popsicles until pain settled down & then reintroduced food u can handle.

    Our pt’s always were on IV pain meds. How would u describe your pain? I am having stabbing pain in my liver when I take deep breaths, cough or burn. So far no one has had this type of pain. See Dr tomorrow to make sure nothing crazy going on. Thanks, Sue.

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  • blainejennifer
    blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
    edited August 2018

    Thanks you guys. I've been staying with broths and pasta - a kind of very boring soup.

    Lulubee, I'm going to look up those digestive enzymes pronto. It seems like you benefit from keeping your foods on the acid side with the lemon juice?

    Sue, the pain started in RUQ, radiating to underneath the right shoulder blade, then it grew to include the center abdomen. Nothing showed up in the bloodwork, so I didn't even get to move to imaging. But, I figure if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck - or gallbladder issues that caused pancreatitis. Runs in the family, so I've heard a lot about it.

    It's getting better every day, as long as I eat prudently. Started the second cycle of Navelbine on Monday, so I'm being very cautious.

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  • Grannax2
    Grannax2 Member Posts: 2,551
    edited August 2018

    sue2009. That sounds just like the liver pain I had the day after my y90. Then it radiated to my right shoulder. I call my IR and he told me it would go away and it did in about 24 hours. It was very sharp and very painful. In my case it was easy to figure out that it was liver because it happened the day after my procedure. I wrote you on the liver mets thread too.

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  • lulubee
    lulubee Member Posts: 1,493
    edited August 2018

    Jennifer, I use the lemon juice because it is good for the liver. I don’t know about the acid angle. I’ve read that while lemon juice is acid, it actually turns alkaline in the digestive tract, or has an alkalizing effect. I’m not sure about that, but at any rate it’s widely thought to be a cleansing tonic for the liver.

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