On August 19, my pain was under control and things were going swimmingly good. I wasn't getting pain higher than a 3. Right after that however, my pain started getting worse (I have inoperable tumors in and surrounding my intestine which are NOT cancer). The pain is a burning pressure in my left abdomen and flank. It started being a problem in 2002, but I have had it all the way back from childhood. It was diagnosed all the way back in 1967 at the age of eight months.

I started using my prn's, until I needed the max dose with my regular medicine, fentanyl path 50 every 3 days. My Prn's are phenergan for nausea, bentyl for the pain, and hyoscyamine-ER ( levsin) for spasms. I finally called my doctor, and she increased my fentanyl dose again.

I had at one point in the end of May given up all my fentanyl and was on non-narcotic medication only. I ended up in the hospital four times in June/July, and the doctors absolutely insisted that I go back onto the fentanyl patch. Today My fentanyl patch was increased from 50 to 75.

I also have a pain cream with ketamine and muscle relaxants that I use only occasionally, and a TENS unit and a heating pad. I need to cut down on the heating pad use though, as it is causing a rash with the name "Toasted Skin Syndrome"

I have also had to drastically change my diet--no more white foods (flour or sugar of any sort),and limiting my fat intake from all sources to less than 15 grams a day (that is a tablespoon) You would be surprised how fast one can get 15 grams of fat a day. Most folks in America consume 100 grams of fat per day without thinking twice, and a regular low fat diet is considered to be 50 grams per day.

Finally, I had to start digging out my pain management resources,such as distraction, meditation, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and biofeedback techniques.

I had decided back in 2002 to keep a food diary, combining all of my intake with my pain scores 0 to 10. I discovered after logging everything for about 3 weeks that there is a three day delay between eating too much fat and the onset of a bad pain day.

I have about 3 books on chronic pain, but they are a little limited in value, because apparently not so many people have chronic abdominal pain. It seems that mostly the books focus on fibromyalgia and back and joint pain.But at least some of the information is helpful to a degree.

When I get pain, I get nausea and anorexia and I feel very low in energy, and I also get very angry, because the pain is setting me back from doing the things I really want to be doing. I get very frustrated, and sometimes I get so upset, I just lay down in the bed and cry, and I pray. Believe it or not, sometimes the praying helps more than anything.

I am a caregiver, and I take care of my parents. I have an enormous responsibility, taking care of two invalids. I get so angry because when I get sick, I can't be there for them.

Can anybody relate?