Just looking for any suggestions, ideas or personal experiences: My mom has stage 3 ovarian cancer and had surgery back in august. basically been in the hospital(s) all this time. Since admission to third hospital, they have given her 3 chemos and the Doctor says she has a 'functional bowel obstruction' (partial bowel obstruction). He says she is responding good to chemo and the ca-125 levels go down with each chemo. The bowel obstruction is due to some small tumors that went on the intestine after the surgery (because it took so long to get chemo possibly).
Mom's current problem is with eating...she doesn't always feel good and throws up at times, yet the Dr. says he sees no reason she can't eat (medically) and thinks some of it might be psychological. It's been roughly 2 months since she ate and about 4 months since she ate a lot of anything.
Any ideas on how she can work towards eating again so she can get off the TPN?
2006-12-25 16:04:13 · 3 answers · asked by . 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
I forgot to add that she is doing a lot better since the chemo and the bile/vomit is considerablly less than at admission. She had a PEG tube into her stomach to drain the bile and they just clamped it off today saying she's being doing good and doesn't really need it anymore. She still has pains which I think might be due to the tumors and that causes her alot of distress also. Thanks everyone and Merry Christmas!
2006-12-25 16:05:51 · update #1
The Dr. said she can be off TPN as soon as she starts eating.
2006-12-25 18:30:19 · update #2
I am a cancer RN and I think you need to have a very sincere conversation with your mothers Oncologist. I do not feel that he is being honest with you. No bowel obstruction is good when it comes to ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer causes bowel obstructions because it webs all over the abdomen and pelvis and obstructs the natural pathway between the stomach and the rectum. I would seriously question any physician who tells my family member with ovarian cancer she may be having psychological problems causing her to throw up. If I were you, I would seek a second opinion of a gastroenterologist and perhaps another Oncologist. If your mother is requiring TPN to sustain herself and has been hospitalized off and on since August, there is something more wrong than he is admitting. I would even consider getting a general surgeon and gynecologist consult and have a meeting to discuss how advanced her disease is and what her chances of cure are. There are physicians out there who will treat and treat and treat and financially continue to gain off the hope of family members who love their relative so much, they cannot give up.
Peace and Love with you this holiday season.
2006-12-25 16:34:44 · answer #1 · answered by happydawg 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Realistically, I agree with Happydawg. I think you are not being told the facts and prognosis of your mother's cancer. I was stage 3C ovarian cancer in 4/05. I had surgery, was in the hospital for 4 days, came home and was admitted to my hospital here for 2 days due to an infection. In the whole process of having ovarian cancer, I lost AND REGAINED about 40 pounds. My CA125 was normal after 2 chemo treatments and remains normal. My only complaint now is that I need to lose weight! I think a long hospital stay and the inability to eat points to the need for a serious discussion with your mother's doctors . My thoughts and prayers are with you and your mother and family.
2006-12-27 03:21:14 · answer #2 · answered by rhymer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, there are appetite stimulant that is available out there such as Megace (megestrol). Vomiting usually accompanied by nausea maybe due to the chemo drugs shes taking. Since she is vomiting, she cant take anything by mouth thats why shes on TPN. You can do your part by encouraging your mom to eat.
2006-12-25 18:06:27 · answer #3 · answered by Jan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋