vacation delayed bloated abdomen no relief

LOUSWIFT
LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
edited April 2011 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I was all set to head down to Florida for my Grand daughters birth but got delayed do to my abdominal problem. My abdomen has been bloated distended for weeks especially after I finished my 12 rounds of Folfox March 23,2011. My personal doc now says it isn't my thyroid and told me to call my ONC. My ONC said just wait and see what happens??? He had no explaination for it. My abdomen is about 44-46 inches and I wear 36-38 pants. My CT scan shows little water build up with no cancer and all my blood work from CEA to liver function is great. I have to leave for Florida next week but have no answers. It doesn't seem to be going away and at times is painful. Anyone have any experience with this? Lou

Comments

  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #2
    Lou -

    When is your "follow-up" visit with the surgeon that did the
    operation? He's the one you oughta' be calling.

    I would think that a scan would be in order to see if there's
    any obstruction, or hernia that's become a problem.

    Best wishes,

    John
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    John23 said:

    Lou -

    When is your "follow-up" visit with the surgeon that did the
    operation? He's the one you oughta' be calling.

    I would think that a scan would be in order to see if there's
    any obstruction, or hernia that's become a problem.

    Best wishes,

    John

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Labs are good? so no sense for ascites
    normally when ascites some enzymes use to be altered.Another question is how long
    since you been operated, surgery by it self causes ascites but tends to disappear in a few weeks or few months.What about just bloated as side effect from chemo? It happens to me very often.
  • SarahD
    SarahD Member Posts: 139
    #5
    pepebcn said:

    Labs are good? so no sense for ascites
    normally when ascites some enzymes use to be altered.Another question is how long
    since you been operated, surgery by it self causes ascites but tends to disappear in a few weeks or few months.What about just bloated as side effect from chemo? It happens to me very often.

    Ascites is caused by liver
    Ascites is caused by liver failure so if you liver functtion tests are normal it isnt that
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #6
    Abdomen
    I had my surgery on 8-30-11 and did not have this abdomenal bloating until treatment #7 on Folfox. It got worst when I finished chemo. I did have a CT scan on 3-24-11 and besides showing no obstructions etc. there was very little fluid so drainage would have accomplished very little according to the radiologist and my ONC. My ONC has a wait and see attitude while my primary care says its up to my ONC. I don't think either have a clue about whats going on with me. All in all I guess it falls to me. I will head to Florida next week for the birth on another grand child regardless of my situation. I delayed because I thought my doctors might have come up with an explaination but no luck. I was hoping some people here have been through this and have some insight and maybe some answers. My abdomen is not getting smaller. Any help is appreciated. Lou
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #7
    LOUSWIFT said:

    Abdomen
    I had my surgery on 8-30-11 and did not have this abdomenal bloating until treatment #7 on Folfox. It got worst when I finished chemo. I did have a CT scan on 3-24-11 and besides showing no obstructions etc. there was very little fluid so drainage would have accomplished very little according to the radiologist and my ONC. My ONC has a wait and see attitude while my primary care says its up to my ONC. I don't think either have a clue about whats going on with me. All in all I guess it falls to me. I will head to Florida next week for the birth on another grand child regardless of my situation. I delayed because I thought my doctors might have come up with an explaination but no luck. I was hoping some people here have been through this and have some insight and maybe some answers. My abdomen is not getting smaller. Any help is appreciated. Lou

    Hi Lou,
    Hi Lou,

    For the past 2 weeks, I have had stomach problems similar to what you described. I haven't been to the Doctor - hoping it would go away. My husband thinks it might be what I am eating. I have an appt with the Onc and Colorectal Surgeon in June. I also have a GYN annual appt next week. If it continues, I will probably go to a GP. I hope that you will feel better soon. I wish I could offer some advice. Unfortunately, I do not know.

    Hugs,
    Lizzy
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #8
    Awful
    That's terrible. Call the surgeon and see what you can find out. You shouldn't have to put up with this, and you certainly need to go on your trip!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #9
    tootsie1 said:

    Awful
    That's terrible. Call the surgeon and see what you can find out. You shouldn't have to put up with this, and you certainly need to go on your trip!

    *hugs*
    Gail

    My stomach was very
    My stomach was very extended. Naturopath put me on a no wheat, no pasta, no fruit, no dairy and limited starch diet and it went down but, she also put me on some herbs. You may want to try the diet, see if it works until you get some answers.
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #10
    lizzydavis said:

    Hi Lou,
    Hi Lou,

    For the past 2 weeks, I have had stomach problems similar to what you described. I haven't been to the Doctor - hoping it would go away. My husband thinks it might be what I am eating. I have an appt with the Onc and Colorectal Surgeon in June. I also have a GYN annual appt next week. If it continues, I will probably go to a GP. I hope that you will feel better soon. I wish I could offer some advice. Unfortunately, I do not know.

    Hugs,
    Lizzy

    bloating
    Thanks Liz
    I seldom eat anything except oranges, gummy bears for carbo and grapes. The chemo is still affecting my taste buds so everything tastes bad. I do choke down a light meal about once a week but that it. hugs back Lou
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #11
    tootsie1 said:

    Awful
    That's terrible. Call the surgeon and see what you can find out. You shouldn't have to put up with this, and you certainly need to go on your trip!

    *hugs*
    Gail

    surgeon
    I don't have time left to contact my surgeon and leave for Florida next week. If its a hernia (which I doubt) or adhesions which I'm prone to have the only option is surgery and I don't have time left for that now. I will be gone about 4-5 weeks until my grand baby is born and is doing well before I return. I hope it's just the chemo causing all this and it will go away. It has been three weeks since chemo stopped and I know it takes times to get it out of my system. If not I will see my surgeon when I return. My daughter who is nine months prenant looks just like me. Hugs back Lou
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #12
    Sorry
    Sorry to hear that you had to postpone your vacation because of your stomach. I'm not sure why it would do that but chemo is awful on the entire system. If you don't have time to make a physical appointment, maybe you could just call the doctor on the phone and get their opinion. Hope you feel better soon. Congratulations on that new little one.

    Kim
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #13
    Sorry Lou
    I don't have any answers, but hope you can get some answers before your trip.
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #14
    AnneCan said:

    Sorry Lou
    I don't have any answers, but hope you can get some answers before your trip.

    I would consider no red meat
    I would consider no red meat for a bit...it takes so long to process it. Just be gentle to it for awhile until you can get some answers.
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #15
    LOUSWIFT said:

    surgeon
    I don't have time left to contact my surgeon and leave for Florida next week. If its a hernia (which I doubt) or adhesions which I'm prone to have the only option is surgery and I don't have time left for that now. I will be gone about 4-5 weeks until my grand baby is born and is doing well before I return. I hope it's just the chemo causing all this and it will go away. It has been three weeks since chemo stopped and I know it takes times to get it out of my system. If not I will see my surgeon when I return. My daughter who is nine months prenant looks just like me. Hugs back Lou

    Lon
    I think that is a good decision. Go see you daughter and be there for the baby (though it is a bit scary to hear she looks like you).

    There are good hospitals in Florida, if you need care during this you can get it there.

    Good luck, and congratulations,

    Blake
  • thxmiker
    thxmiker Member Posts: 1,278 Member
    #16
    Maybe ask your Onc to do a
    Maybe ask your Onc to do a HIDA Scan.

    I had a stricture, and the HIDA was did not show it. The Gallbladder and/or Kidneys not producing the right amount of bile and/or enzymes can create bloating.

    I had a stricture and that caused my bloating. My Onc and GI did the other tests worried that I had a gallbladder or kidney issue. Once the stricture broke I used the bathroom frequently for the next 8 hours. (Literally full of poop.) A stricture is scar tissue that develops and connects the small intestine or the large intestine to itself. This develops a tightening in the intestinal tract and possibly a blockage. Once the stricture breaks it releases a flood of waste. (Even though I was pooping it was smaller then normal and backing up and causing sepsis. Making me feel like I was really sick and I was in a lot of pain. Do not wait until you are in a lot of pain.)

    Just a thought,
    Best Always, mike
  • C Dixon
    C Dixon Member Posts: 201
    #17
    SarahD said:

    Ascites is caused by liver
    Ascites is caused by liver failure so if you liver functtion tests are normal it isnt that

    Not necessarily
    Ascites can be caused by weeping tumors in abdomen. That's what I have. But it doesn't sound like that is your issue. Did your scan show lots of gas, maybe?

    Catherine

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