seeking resolution for bowel obstruction!!!

troylenderink
troylenderink Member Posts: 9
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My oncologist told me yesterday I have 4-6 months to live if I go without chemo or 8-12 months with chemo. Due to my bowel obstruction, he didn't think I can safely receive the chemo without getting my small intestines perforated again. I'm at a point where i have to choose whether to live comfortably without chemo, or build up my body in the next few weeks o prepare for another round of chemo and its side effects. Today I decided I want to give it another try, but of course that is if my body's able to build up enough strength to do so. Does anyone out there know any hospitals or surgeons that would perform surgery on a partial small bowel multiple loop obstruction? or anyone who has similar experience who like to share?

Troy

Comments

  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    #2
    tough prognosis
    Well, that prognosis doesn't sound to promising. I had a complete bowel obstruction in my sigmoid colon. After diagnosis I wanted to keep things flowing while on chemo. This regimen really worked for me. I took 3 colace 3 times per day. I juiced 6 lemons,2 apples, 2 carrots, leafy greens(mostly spinach,collard,turnip), and a piece of fresh ginger the size of my thumb everyday. I ate mostly fiber and took two table spoons of liquid fiber everyday. I consumed very little protein, bread or simple sugars. Once I started this regimen my blood work went from from so so to excellent. My white blood cells, hemoglobin, and every other indicator were maxed out. I'm not sure what chemo program you are on but I do know avastin is known to cause abdominal perforation. Maybe you could get a lower dose or eliminate it completely if that is what is causing your problem. As for surgeons, my surgeon is the man. Dr gnuyen, spartanburg SC Gibbs cancer center. Hope this helps, John
  • AnneS
    AnneS Member Posts: 27
    #3
    snommintj said:

    tough prognosis
    Well, that prognosis doesn't sound to promising. I had a complete bowel obstruction in my sigmoid colon. After diagnosis I wanted to keep things flowing while on chemo. This regimen really worked for me. I took 3 colace 3 times per day. I juiced 6 lemons,2 apples, 2 carrots, leafy greens(mostly spinach,collard,turnip), and a piece of fresh ginger the size of my thumb everyday. I ate mostly fiber and took two table spoons of liquid fiber everyday. I consumed very little protein, bread or simple sugars. Once I started this regimen my blood work went from from so so to excellent. My white blood cells, hemoglobin, and every other indicator were maxed out. I'm not sure what chemo program you are on but I do know avastin is known to cause abdominal perforation. Maybe you could get a lower dose or eliminate it completely if that is what is causing your problem. As for surgeons, my surgeon is the man. Dr gnuyen, spartanburg SC Gibbs cancer center. Hope this helps, John

    Hi Snommintj.
    Did you first
    Hi Snommintj.

    Did you first have surgery, then chemo? Or chemo first? I.e. just wondering how the juice/food managed to pass the obstruction (facing a sub-obstruction with my mum: I am her caregiver).

    Thanks heaps

    Anne
  • troylenderink
    troylenderink Member Posts: 9
    #4
    snommintj said:

    tough prognosis
    Well, that prognosis doesn't sound to promising. I had a complete bowel obstruction in my sigmoid colon. After diagnosis I wanted to keep things flowing while on chemo. This regimen really worked for me. I took 3 colace 3 times per day. I juiced 6 lemons,2 apples, 2 carrots, leafy greens(mostly spinach,collard,turnip), and a piece of fresh ginger the size of my thumb everyday. I ate mostly fiber and took two table spoons of liquid fiber everyday. I consumed very little protein, bread or simple sugars. Once I started this regimen my blood work went from from so so to excellent. My white blood cells, hemoglobin, and every other indicator were maxed out. I'm not sure what chemo program you are on but I do know avastin is known to cause abdominal perforation. Maybe you could get a lower dose or eliminate it completely if that is what is causing your problem. As for surgeons, my surgeon is the man. Dr gnuyen, spartanburg SC Gibbs cancer center. Hope this helps, John

    Hi John,
    Thank you so much
    Hi John,
    Thank you so much for your information! Last week , i had a stomach tube inserted. Now I'm on TPN to sustain enersy and nutrition. I cannot have any food orally and my stomach tube is draining constantly but pain still exist, very severe and constant pain. something else must be wrong with my body..

    troy
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #5
    obstruction
    Hi Troy, sorry to hear of your situation. Maybe they can lower the dosage of the chemo. I had a bowel obstruction that was due to scar tissue. It was not that serious although it shut things completely down.

    I had Dr Weiser at Sloan Kettering so my surgery but I do not know if he does operations like what you need.
    http://www.mskcc.org/prg/prg/bios/648.cfm
    link to his bio.
    I would try John's suggestion too with the diet. Also Scouty and Emily could offer suggestions as far as diet goes.

    Don't quit
    -p
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    #6
    AnneS said:

    Hi Snommintj.
    Did you first
    Hi Snommintj.

    Did you first have surgery, then chemo? Or chemo first? I.e. just wondering how the juice/food managed to pass the obstruction (facing a sub-obstruction with my mum: I am her caregiver).

    Thanks heaps

    Anne

    I had chemo first
    I had 6 rounds of folfox 6 w/avastin then surgery. The juicing, fiber, colace regimen kept my stool loose enough to pass the obstruction plus as the chemo began to work, the obstruction became less dense and a little bit smaller.
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    #7
    PhillieG said:

    obstruction
    Hi Troy, sorry to hear of your situation. Maybe they can lower the dosage of the chemo. I had a bowel obstruction that was due to scar tissue. It was not that serious although it shut things completely down.

    I had Dr Weiser at Sloan Kettering so my surgery but I do not know if he does operations like what you need.
    http://www.mskcc.org/prg/prg/bios/648.cfm
    link to his bio.
    I would try John's suggestion too with the diet. Also Scouty and Emily could offer suggestions as far as diet goes.

    Don't quit
    -p

    Painted into a corner
    I have no idea how the feeding tube works. I just did some checking on the internet and it seems as though you should be able to drink on the tube. Maybe check with your Dr. If you can't, perhaps swapping for one that allows you to drink will work. I also read something about swallowing tests may need to be done. With that said, I would encourage you to share your story with us.
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    #8
    snommintj said:

    Painted into a corner
    I have no idea how the feeding tube works. I just did some checking on the internet and it seems as though you should be able to drink on the tube. Maybe check with your Dr. If you can't, perhaps swapping for one that allows you to drink will work. I also read something about swallowing tests may need to be done. With that said, I would encourage you to share your story with us.

    One more thought
    When I had my ileostomy reversal I was in almost unbearable pain. Nothing the drs gave me helped. Seriously, for seven days I laid in bed immobile and crying, unable to sleep and seldom speaking because the pain was so severe and intense. On a hunch, I asked the Dr to prescribe some aciphex (it's for ulcers). Within 30 minutes of taking the first one I was feeling 90% better. Within 24 hours I was without pain. I took it for two more days and haven't taken it since. I suppose the surgeon had damaged the lining of my intestine during the reversal, the acid was keeping the injury from healing, and all I needed was a break to promote some healing. I got to thinking maybe your intestinal walls might be damaged a bit and are being irritated. Hope this helps.

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