Home After Hospital Stay

Karen82

My mom was first diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer Stage 4 in 2009. She had the tumor debulking surgery and fluid drained off of her lungs. She has been through 2 or 3 rounds with chemo that responded for the cancer.
This last illness has really taken a toll on my mom. Her lungs were filled up with fluid almost to the point of suffication. They inserted a chest tube in her to drain the fuild off of her lungs. They got off about 3 liters of fluid. After all the fluid was drained off, they found a serious case of pnemonia. During about day 4 in the hospital, the nurses and doctor had to transfer her to CAMC Memorial. They had to insert a breathing tube and put her on all life support measures in the Cornary Intensive Care Unit. She stayed in there for about 4 days. She pulled through and put her in a regular hospital room. They just released her on Monday. She came home on oxygen.
For anyone that has been through losing their appetite, how can I help her regain her appetite?
How can I help build her back up so she can continue with chemo?

She wants to fight, but she has to be strong enough first. She is strong-willed and she is a fighter. I just don't know how to do it because I have never been through this personally. Any comments will be very helpful.
Thanks.

Karen

clamryn

Eating
Hi Karen, So glad your mom is home. Now we have to get her well. In Dec 2007 I had a lung collapse and they had to put the tube in me and drain fluid off. Was in the hospital about 10 days. When I got home I was so weak and didn't want to eat a thing. I knew that I had to to get well. I did drink the "Ensure". And my daughter would constantly fix me something whether I wanted it or not and told me I had to eat a couple of bites. Slowly I got my appetite back. Just keep telling your mom that is the only way to gain her strength back. Oh and I forgot to tell you that.... I am oxygen too. They found out I had Interstitial Lung Disease.
Now you probably wonder what I am doing on this board.... Well in April of 2008 I had to have surgery due to my ovarian cancer returning. I have been in and out of chemo all this time... so the fight continues.
Karen just keep after your mom to eat. You will have to be the "bad guy" but she will be glad you did. She can do this.

Hugs to you and your mom
Linda

survivingovca

Alternative
Marijuana has helped a lot of people increase their appetites. It can easily be used in cooking once you have transferred the THC into an oil (look up pot butter, or pot oil). She wouldn't have to smoke it. I've also heard that vaporizors work well.

If you are lucky enough to live in a place where it is medically legal, you should be able to get your hands on some pre-cooked goodies.

carolenk

survivingovca said:

Alternative
Marijuana has helped a lot of people increase their appetites. It can easily be used in cooking once you have transferred the THC into an oil (look up pot butter, or pot oil). She wouldn't have to smoke it. I've also heard that vaporizors work well.

If you are lucky enough to live in a place where it is medically legal, you should be able to get your hands on some pre-cooked goodies.

Marinol
I'm not sure how it is spelled but there is a prescription medicine called Marinol the is like marijuana & used to improve appetite in cancer patients. See if you can get that from your mom's oncologist.

Hoping for a better tomorrow for both of you.

Carolen

Karen82

carolenk said:

Marinol
I'm not sure how it is spelled but there is a prescription medicine called Marinol the is like marijuana & used to improve appetite in cancer patients. See if you can get that from your mom's oncologist.

Hoping for a better tomorrow for both of you.

Carolen

Marinol
I can try to see if I can get the prescription Marinol. It may help my mom. I don't know if I can get it from the doctor or not. Anything to help my mom would help.