Stomach ache help

[Dutch941]

Anyone have suggestions for how to help my son during times of stomach ache? Matt has had two bouts with moderate stomach pain during the night.....usually several hours after his 6 mp dose. One put us in the ER overnight while out of town and last night he was simply miserable....stomach ache.....some diarrhea ....vomit. We used a heating pad to help but would love suggestions and safe remedy's. I hate seeing him so uncomfortable. If it were up to me it would be off to the ER each time but I know I have to accept that he will have these moments ........

 

[Tesscorm]

Wish I had some suggestions but my son hasn't suffered with much pain. So sorry you are dealing with this - very tough to watch your child suffer and not be able to do much! Just sending my best wishes and support.

I'm sure someone will come along with some suggestions. I hope he's feeling a bit better now. :ghug:

 

[imaboveitall]

If it's occurring in a pattern after the med dosing I'd make a possible association. 6-mp can cause gastric distress and decreased appetite, it is a chemo drug after all.
He may need a lower dose, or to take it with food etc. I'd ask his doc for sure. Also there are levels of therapeutic safety with 6-mp, his doc should be checking for those, his may be to high.

 

[Dutch941]

Thank you......so far it's only happened twice...once after 6 mp was raised to what his level should be per weight and his Prometheus testing......and after that we stopped for a week to settle down and then re started at. Lower dose one week ago......we're waiting for Bloodwork in one more week. He also ate salad last night which we think is not helpful and he took a daily vitamin that he had not been taking until last night......have you had these stomach aches? What do you do to comfort yourself during them?

 

[imaboveitall]

V never took 6-mp, but we discussed it at length w/doc, and he said it can cause gastric pain and decreased appetite, and rarely, hair loss. He said he'd be checking "therapeutic levels" and a liver panel every three mos if she were on it.
The Prometheus testing is to see if the pt carries a certain gene mutation that makes 6-mp a more dangerous choice. He did that on V way back at dx, in case she ever wanted to use it. People with that mutation reach unsafe levels of the drug easily.

Since your boy has UC, I'd guess that if his pain is epigastric, not abdominal, that it's a med side effect.

edited:
dose per weight doesn't always correspond to therepeutic levels in blood. Ex: a person weighing 150lb taking 25mg may reach therapeutic levels and a person weighing 80lb may need 100mg to reach same level in blood.

 

[Dutch941]

It's definitely abdominal per him.............do you think they actually measure the amount of 6mp within his blood? I was under the impression that they reach his level by testing the liver enzymes to make sure they're not elevated and the white blood cells to confirm a small decline to indicate suppression.....

 

[ChampsMom]

My son has never been on 6mp, but he has experienced severe cramping and stomach aches... Watching him cramp up was like watching me in labor! So... I taught him some breathing techniques that I learned during lamaze because I found the more tense he was the worse the cramps became. Also we would change positions (similar to lamaze - as silly as it sounds!)... I also did massage for him (mostly on his back, but sometimes his legs/feet).

Sounds a bit odd, but if you look at a Reflexology chart - it shows where to massage the feet for different parts of the body. IF you can pin point the pain, try massaging that part of his foot - at the end the day - it can't hurt! (Look up reflexology chart in google and it'll show you specifics...)

The water bottle is a good idea also. Maybe play around with his diet right before, and after being medicated, go for more soothing foods?

God bless... I hope you're able to help - it's miserable to watch our children suffer... my prayers are with you!

 

[imaboveitall]

Dutch, no, they actually measure level of mercaptopurine in the blood. There is a certain range they want it to stay within, and if it goes above side effects such as what you describe can occur.
They ALSO check liver function.

 

[Dutch941]

Good to know....I'll ask after the next Bloodwork ......it's next week.

 

[imaboveitall]

Ask for copies of all labwork if doc doesn't email to you as V's does.
Keep in a file or you can make a spreadsheet.

 

[kimmidwife]

Caitlyn has really suffered with a lot of pain. For her the heating pad helps, showers, and sometimes percocet. (Although the percocet does not help that much). We actually went to a pain medicine doctor who taught her deep breathing exercises and made a medication plan with us.

 

[Dutch941]

Kimmidwife
Thanks or the tips! How's the LDN working? We plan on discussing it with our gastro

 

[Devynnsmom]

My daughter (10 years old) uses a rice bag for tummy pain. Its like a heating pad, but its made with rice and you heat it in the microwave. They are very easy to make if you don't have one. I make them all the time, and sell them at craft sales. If you would like instructions, they are super easy and very comforting.

 

[Bubbly]

Heat pads are good. My son has similar problems, currently still on a low residuel diet, veg always sets him of with cramps, we also found altering the time he had his medication really helped, as he was feeling/being sick at night and cramps awful!

He has last week gone through endoscopy and colonoscopy and an MRI which shows he has a slight narrowing, so he will be having surgery to remove this part, only small so no bag required!

He find he cant lay down when he has the cramps, so we prop him up with pillows, and we sit with him at night, rubbing his bag, we also put some music on for him, or a story tape, they help to distract him slightly.

Good luck and hope he feels better soon x

 

[Dutch941]

Thanks bubbly....some good suggestions.....how do you alter the med times? Do you mean each time you change when he takes it? Doesn't that just change when he feels poorly? Does that feel beneficial in some way? Good luck on the surgery.
Don

 

[Johnnysmom]

Don't let him eat for 2 hours before his dose of 6 mp or for one hour after. My son only had the side effects if we didn't do that. The doctor gave us a sheet on how to correctly take 6mp but we did not get that information from the pharmacy. It is very important to the success of the med too.

 

[Dutch941]

Interesting.......

 

[Johnnysmom]

Google "no eating for 2 hours before taking 6 mp". Johnny's Dr prescribed it that way and said it was very important. I know not everyone gets that information from their Dr and I am not sure why. But that was what we were told.

 

[DustyKat]

Hey Don,

I well and truly second the hot water bottle/heat pack suggestions.

Also a nice warm bath if possible, it really can help to relax the muscles and help with sleep when they go to or back to bed. Sometimes a gentle abdominal massage after the bath is helpful if the child is relaxed and in the mood. Just warm a little oil in your hands and gently rub in a clockwise direction. Massaging hands and/or feet can also help, it's relaxing.

Also make sure the lighting is low and he may like some music on a low volume in the background.

I used all these techniques with Sarah and they were helpful in varying degrees in all but times of severe pain.

Dusty. xxx