Possible obstruction- CT Friday

fighting for mom
fighting for mom Member Posts: 96
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Well- Mom's resection was just before last Thanksgiving. She has been having trouble since her last (5th) treatment. Her potassium today was 4.1 so only got iv hydration today. So that is one thing that seems to be getting under control.

The oncologist was concerned about her symptoms saying they are very unusual. He ordered an abdominal xray. Something showed up. Possible bowel obstruction or blockage. I couldn't figure out from my Mom if it is at the resection site or not. Follow up CT in 9am with oncology aptmt at 11 for results. My Dad is going with her.

I pray that they can figure out what is going on and that the oncologist can determine a good plan of action.

I am guessing she will be hospitalized tomorrow.

Has this happened to anyone else? What was the course of action?

Thanks,
Susan

Comments

  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #2
    I had obstrustion
    After my first operation where they worked on my liver, colon, etc, I had a bowel obstruction about 2 months later. They had to go back in and remove scar tissue that caused the obstruction, then I healed fine. It was somewhere around my liver or colon. There's a lot of stuff jammed in there so I do not know exactly where the obstruction was. It wasn't as bad as the first operation but it wasn't a walk in the park either. Also, it's not uncommon for this to happen when you have a lot of work done. My symptoms were rather common. My bowels just stopped working.

    Hope this is of some help
    -p
  • fighting for mom
    fighting for mom Member Posts: 96
    #3
    PhillieG said:

    I had obstrustion
    After my first operation where they worked on my liver, colon, etc, I had a bowel obstruction about 2 months later. They had to go back in and remove scar tissue that caused the obstruction, then I healed fine. It was somewhere around my liver or colon. There's a lot of stuff jammed in there so I do not know exactly where the obstruction was. It wasn't as bad as the first operation but it wasn't a walk in the park either. Also, it's not uncommon for this to happen when you have a lot of work done. My symptoms were rather common. My bowels just stopped working.

    Hope this is of some help
    -p

    thanks for the info
    Thanks Phil for the info- she got admitted to the hospital today. Her surgeon is out of town and I don't think they have decided exactly how they will proceed. I am packing my bags now to head up there.

    Mom's bowels never stopped- in fact she continued to have diarrhea. And pain. I just hope they can get the problem taken care of and she can begin to heal. And maybe finish treatments?

    I guess they are pretty concerned about her blood pressure too. It all goes together- I think if they fix the problem everything will calm down.

    I really appreciate you sharing your experiences.

    Susan
  • Kanort
    Kanort Member Posts: 1,272 Member
    #4
    fighting for mom said:

    thanks for the info
    Thanks Phil for the info- she got admitted to the hospital today. Her surgeon is out of town and I don't think they have decided exactly how they will proceed. I am packing my bags now to head up there.

    Mom's bowels never stopped- in fact she continued to have diarrhea. And pain. I just hope they can get the problem taken care of and she can begin to heal. And maybe finish treatments?

    I guess they are pretty concerned about her blood pressure too. It all goes together- I think if they fix the problem everything will calm down.

    I really appreciate you sharing your experiences.

    Susan

    Answers!
    Hi Susan,

    I hope you are getting answers to your mom's situation.

    I had two blockages while on chemo which both landed me in the hospital. After inserting a NG tube, my blockages resolved in about five days without surgery. However, my surgeon promised to open me back up if I had a third blockage. I never did!

    Thinking of you and your mother.

    Hugs,

    Kay
  • fighting for mom
    fighting for mom Member Posts: 96
    #5
    Kanort said:

    Answers!
    Hi Susan,

    I hope you are getting answers to your mom's situation.

    I had two blockages while on chemo which both landed me in the hospital. After inserting a NG tube, my blockages resolved in about five days without surgery. However, my surgeon promised to open me back up if I had a third blockage. I never did!

    Thinking of you and your mother.

    Hugs,

    Kay

    hanging in there
    Well- Mom is still in the hospital. She had a NG tube in from Friday and removed today- lots of terrible gunk out of there! We are waiting on x-ray results to see if things are resolved or not. She started liquids today. She is feeling some better- so that is encouraging. She continues to get more potassium and ivs.

    I think that the scariest thing is that she is going to have another colonoscopy to make sure she is in the all clear- and we are all so so scared! If all is ok- I don't think she will finish the last 7 treatments. It seems she has had so much trouble lately. I encouraged her to get back her strength and then re-think things.

    Mom and Dad are just so worried that this is more than an obstruction- another ulcerated leison. Both her surgeon and onc said that is not anything that they are concerned about. Somehow that didn't seem very reassuring to either of them.

    I pray for good results tomorrow and that Mom can begin recovering and gaining strenth. It was so hard coming back home today and leaving Mom at the hospital.

    Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!
    Susan
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #6
    fighting for mom said:

    hanging in there
    Well- Mom is still in the hospital. She had a NG tube in from Friday and removed today- lots of terrible gunk out of there! We are waiting on x-ray results to see if things are resolved or not. She started liquids today. She is feeling some better- so that is encouraging. She continues to get more potassium and ivs.

    I think that the scariest thing is that she is going to have another colonoscopy to make sure she is in the all clear- and we are all so so scared! If all is ok- I don't think she will finish the last 7 treatments. It seems she has had so much trouble lately. I encouraged her to get back her strength and then re-think things.

    Mom and Dad are just so worried that this is more than an obstruction- another ulcerated leison. Both her surgeon and onc said that is not anything that they are concerned about. Somehow that didn't seem very reassuring to either of them.

    I pray for good results tomorrow and that Mom can begin recovering and gaining strenth. It was so hard coming back home today and leaving Mom at the hospital.

    Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!
    Susan

    So sorry
    Susan,

    I'm so sorry your mom is having such a hard time, and I really pray that she and your dad are totally wrong about what they're thinking right now. Please let us know as soon as you can!

    I HATE the NG tube. I was so glad when mine came out. I just felt filthy the whole time I had that thing.

    Hope the news is very good.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • fighting for mom
    fighting for mom Member Posts: 96
    #7
    tootsie1 said:

    So sorry
    Susan,

    I'm so sorry your mom is having such a hard time, and I really pray that she and your dad are totally wrong about what they're thinking right now. Please let us know as soon as you can!

    I HATE the NG tube. I was so glad when mine came out. I just felt filthy the whole time I had that thing.

    Hope the news is very good.

    *hugs*
    Gail

    home again
    Thank you so much for the thoughts and prayers! Mom returned home this afternoon. Her potassium is 4.1, she is able to walk on her own- a little tipsy though, and she is feeling somewhat stronger.

    The Drs said NO MORE immodium, lomotil, or opium. She is onto soft foods and is 'waiting' for good results (BM). She drank some prune juice today. We hope that the small bowel obstruction is completely gone and will not need any invasive surgery or anything. She told me that she is not going to drive or work the rest of the week--we'll see.

    She meets with her surgeon on Friday to discuss her situation and then back to the oncologist on Tuesday. She is hoping to have a colonoscopy to ensure no more of the beast is seen- I am very hopeful.

    It is amazing how this beast can bring a family together. I have one brother who doesn't come around much- but amazingly enough he and us other older 3, Mom and Dad were all together on Saturday at the hospital. It was good to be together and it gave both Mom and Dad strength and the support that they needed. It definitely gave Mom a break from dwelling on what was going on- she couldn't what with all the grandkids playing, etc.

    Thanks,
    Susan

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