relief from bloat

Hi there...
Hello. The bloating from peritoneal cancer is usually caused by ascites which is fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The solution is usually for the fluid to be drained as and when is needed. The only thing is in my experience, the fluid isn't drained until it has reached a stage where the tummy is tight. I also avoid pulses and the usual food culpits because wind isn't usually passed as well as it might and this may be another causes of a swollen tummy. One of the best things is to avoid constipation because the intestines don't usually work as well as they would normally do. I use Movicol which draws water into the bowel and avoids the problems which go with slow movement within the colon. I hope this helps and keep strong. I am thinking of you. xx

stella65 said:

Push for draining!
Hi, sorry to hear you are feeling so miserable, just to let you know mums experience... She was having just the same as you, feeling full after tiny amounts of food, she also has a hernia and was having terrible acid, she had a camera down her throat and was told the sphincter in her osophagus (sp) was not working properly and food was coming back up! The doctors at the main hospital said draining would not help much and it would come staight back, Long story short she became ill we think because of chemo and ended up in the local hospital, once they had stabalised her they drained 7 litres of fluid from her, that was over 3 months ago and it has not come back yet, she is eating really well and put on weight and also because she can now walk more she is building muscle tone too, all in all a very positive case for having fluid drained! Just to say obviously everyone is different and the fluid can come back quickly but not in her case, they also said if it does come back and cause a problem she can have a permanant drain put in.... Talk to your onc about it and best of luck, suex

Draining
Hi Stella
I was told drs wait for tightness for safety reasons. Is it more to do with cost? X

Stage iv gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis
My boyfriend is suffering from Stage IV gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis. He went trough Subtotal Gastrectomy,Chemo and Radiation. Originally he was diagnosed with Stomach CA in July 2011. The all treatments we're finished in February 2012. On May 1st the PET scan showed NO cancer and we were so happy about it! However this happiness was so short and painful, because at the end of May he start having problem with digesting his food; it would stay and lie in his stomach until he had to throw up. Doctors tried many endoscopy's and scans and said that where his stomach connected to his small intestine was closed. So apparently, he had a recurrence of the cancer and at this time the peritoneal area is involved. Now he gets all his feedings trough IV TPN. GI Doc was able to placed a two stents,but it is no make a difference, he still can not eat anything. We have been from one hospital to another, from second opinion to third; In the beginning it's was a very promising, but now they don't even want to do a surgery to clean a tumor and to fix a blockage issue. I don't know anymore what to do and how to safe and help him?!He gets continuous abdomen pain, like a bloating pain and only an IV pain meds help for a some short time.
Please let me know if you have something to share with me?
Thanks a lot!
GOD Bless You!
Rita

Push for draining
As other posters have said, I would ask your doctors about draining. At the time of my diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis in July, I had ascites to the point where none of my clothes would fit--I actually had to go out & buy new underwear! At my 1st paracentesis or draining, I had 3+ liters of ugly brown fluid removed. Once I saw the volume of fluid removed, it was easy to understand why I'd been so miserable. It made a world of difference. The pants I had worn to the outpatient center nearly fell off me on my way out of the hospital.

The paracentesis made a huge change in how I felt. Unfortunately, at that point, before my diagnosis was complete & my treatment was underway, the ascites came back within about 48 hrs. I was able to persuade my doctors to schedule another paracentesis the following week at which only about 1+ liter was drained, but again I felt better. Shortly after that my chemo got underway, and my oncologist explained that treatment would help the fluid to be reabsorbed. This has proven to be the case--as I have responded well to the chemo, I obviously have much less fluid in my abdomen, altho some still showed up on my recent PET scan.

The bloated feeling is awful, and I hope your doctors can find a way to help you with it. Good luck!

tdpinokc said:

Thank you Seatown! I had 3
Thank you Seatown! I had 3 1/2 liters drained off about 6 weeks ago, and since being on Gemzar for 4 treatments since that draining, the ascites has truly gone down nearly back to my normal stomach "flatness"!! So I'm hoping the gemzar (chemo I am on) is killing all those cancer cells floating around in there. This is a maddening disease this peritoneal mess. What kind of chemo are you on? Mine is 3 weeks on (every Tues. is my treatment if my counts allow it) then I have a FREE WEEK! YAY!! I told my doctor if need be I was going to make a standing appointment with the gals in radiology to drain off that ascities once a week if that is what it took. I've never been so miserable in my entire life...
Chris/OKC

Good to hear from you!
Thanks, TDP, for your message. Glad to know you have found some relief. I am on Taxol & Carboplatin (that's as close as I can get to the actual names!). I too was on a 3 wks on/1 wk off schedule until late Aug. Then I developed neuropathy--severe numbness & tingling in my limbs, which my oncologist said he would expect after a much longer time on Taxol. So now I've just started a schedule of 2 wks on/2 wks off. Just had my 2nd PET scan with good results; also, my frighteningly high CA125 number is steadily going down. Should you be interested in more details, you can read my blogging at www.CaringBridge.org/visit/CaroleSeaton

Good luck to you! Good to hear from you.