My mom just recently had a pluerx catheter and I have seen some posts but not really some good answers. Gitargrl had some good posts and I would love to talk to her in person. My mom had a biopsy done and after the biopsy she then started to have fluid, 600cc 4 days later, then 2000cc a week after that where they put a pluerx in along with a chemo port. She of course had shortness of breath due to the fluid, it has been a week and it was draining the same rate but now has been reduced. We did first round of chemo 4 days after pluerx and despite what I think is normal chemo nauseous my mom has severe pain in the chest and back. This pain was not there prior to pluerx and getting the pain under control is just knocking her out and all she does is sleep and now does not want to continue chemo. But I don't think stopping chemo will stop pain. Is this common after pluerx and is there a good pain control plan? Please respond as like all mothers mine is irreplaceable. We went from 500cc every other day to now 150, is draining causing the pain? Pinched nerve?the hospital where I live is not familiar with pluerx so I don't know if this is normal or there is a problem with the pluerx. If we can get the pain under control my mom may have the spirit to continue chemo. Please help
Severe pain after pluerx - 1289039
bobby2727
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Reply # - October 31, 2016, 02:16 PM
I do know that once the fluid
I do know that once the fluid reduces, draining should also be reduced. And also, the draining could be too fast for the amount of fluid she may be retaining. Have you talked with her doctor about this? How far does she have to go to get the catheter checked since you say your local hospital isn't familiar with them? That in itself sounds odd.
More info like what type of LC and what chemo would be helpful.
Wishing her the best. Take care, Judy
Reply # - October 31, 2016, 10:44 PM
Hi bobby,
Hi bobby,
I'm so sorry about your mom's pain. It may be necessary to visit a clinic or hospital with lots of experience with lung cancer or pulmonology such as a large teaching/research center to get the PE under control. She shouldn't be left in pain. Pain itself can be a cause for nausea. It's important to take preventative/defensive steps and stay ahead of nausea when taking chemo.
We have quite a bit of info on both subjects, http://cancergrace.org/cancer-treatments/tag/nausea/
http://cancergrace.org/lung/tag/malignant-pleural-effusion/
Lung cancer and the unfortunate common symptom of pleural effusions are difficult issues to deal with and and it's very helpful to get a 2nd opinion when complications arise that take more experienced people to help solve. Smaller community hospitals see a much smaller number of people with broader range of problems where large medical centers can focus on specialties such as lung cancer. Most oncologists are happy to have a secend pair of eyes on a difficult situation. http://cancergrace.org/cancer-101/2011/11/13/an-insiders-guide-to-the-s…
I hope your mom gets the help she needs to move forward with chemo but it's important to not push chemo so far that side effects cause more harm than good.
Best of luck,
Janine