Any advice?

Stefi
Stefi Member Posts: 31
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Mom is still having problems with an ileus/obstruction in her small intestine after her retal resection surgery 5 weeks ago. She still cant eat or drink (other than a few sips of water) without throwing up. She is on IV nutrition (TPN) and just feels so weak. Her dr. said they usually always work out on their own and are most likely caused from scar tissue that formed after surgery. She is home now and on the TPN for 12 hours every night. She has home health nurses coming in 2 times a week to draw blood and everything has come back fine. She doesnt go back to see her dr. until next Tuesday. Has anyone ever had an obstruction last this long? Everyone keeps saying give it time, but we are wasting time, as she was supposed to start chemo for her liver mets a week ago. We havent been in touch with her onc since the surgery, should we call him and talk to him about things? I am doing everything I can and we even got a 2nd opinion from another dr. who basically said the same thing about the obstruction. I am so concerned and ready to take her to a bigger city close to us (Indy, Chicago, St. Louis) for another opinion. They also were giving her heparin shots in her stomach while she was in the hospital for 4 weeks but arent having her do them at home. I talked with someone who said she should probably still get them and even get them through chemo. Any advice on the heparin, or have any of you taken heparin through chemo? I know these are a lot of questions, but I know someone out there can give me some advice from personal experience. Thanks!

Steph

Comments

  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #2
    Doesn't sound right to me
    I can't really give the best advice on this, but I do think you ought to contact the oncologist and perhaps try to get other opinions, as well. This seems like it's going on too long.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #3
    Stefi,
    I am sorry I don't
    Stefi,

    I am sorry I don't have the answers you need but I wanted to let you know I will be thinking of you and your Mom. Tootsie is right; what does the onc say?
  • zenmonk
    zenmonk Member Posts: 198
    #4
    second opinion
    I would try to get another opinion. This really doesnt sound right. I had an obstruction and the doctors waited for it to resolve itself for a little while but not 5 weeks. I think they waited maybe 2 or 3 days then went back in. Lucky for me they did because it would not have resolved itself. My wife had the same problem and they usually seem to try and wait these things out but 5 weeks seems a little long to me. Especially if she is throwing up. that stuff can get in her lungs and cause all kinds of problems. If she is on opiates for pain these will slow down your digestive system to a point that it may be sleepy.
  • Stefi
    Stefi Member Posts: 31
    #5
    zenmonk said:

    second opinion
    I would try to get another opinion. This really doesnt sound right. I had an obstruction and the doctors waited for it to resolve itself for a little while but not 5 weeks. I think they waited maybe 2 or 3 days then went back in. Lucky for me they did because it would not have resolved itself. My wife had the same problem and they usually seem to try and wait these things out but 5 weeks seems a little long to me. Especially if she is throwing up. that stuff can get in her lungs and cause all kinds of problems. If she is on opiates for pain these will slow down your digestive system to a point that it may be sleepy.

    Back in the hospital
    Well, I called my moms dr's office today because she threw up twice this morning. They wanted her to come in and they readmitted her to the hospital. The reason they did not go back into surgery yet is she is 5 weeks post op today. 2-6 weeks post op is supposedly a dangerous time to go back in to surgery due to the healing process unless it is a life threatening emergency. The dr. said she will most likely be going into surgery at the beginning of next week to fix the obstruction problem and also reverse her ilesotomy while they are in there. I know she is getting the iv liquids she needs now and is under constant watch. She was not happy about going back, but she knows this is what she needs. The dr. put in for the oncologist to come see her tomorrow as well as an internal medicine dr. to evaluate her. She is currently under a new colorectal surgeon, as her surgeon is on vacation this week, and it seems like more things are being done. We will see what tomorrow brings.

    Steph
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #6
    Stefi said:

    Back in the hospital
    Well, I called my moms dr's office today because she threw up twice this morning. They wanted her to come in and they readmitted her to the hospital. The reason they did not go back into surgery yet is she is 5 weeks post op today. 2-6 weeks post op is supposedly a dangerous time to go back in to surgery due to the healing process unless it is a life threatening emergency. The dr. said she will most likely be going into surgery at the beginning of next week to fix the obstruction problem and also reverse her ilesotomy while they are in there. I know she is getting the iv liquids she needs now and is under constant watch. She was not happy about going back, but she knows this is what she needs. The dr. put in for the oncologist to come see her tomorrow as well as an internal medicine dr. to evaluate her. She is currently under a new colorectal surgeon, as her surgeon is on vacation this week, and it seems like more things are being done. We will see what tomorrow brings.

    Steph

    Hi Steph
    Sounds like a good plan. Getting both issues resolved at the same time. Obstructions are not fun, I had one once but it was maybe 2 months after the first operation.
    Best of luck
    -phil
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #7
    PhillieG said:

    Hi Steph
    Sounds like a good plan. Getting both issues resolved at the same time. Obstructions are not fun, I had one once but it was maybe 2 months after the first operation.
    Best of luck
    -phil

    Hello There!!
    Hang in there! I was in the hospital alot with obstructions when I first got my colostomy! It was the most horrible pain in the world, aside from labor! My longest stay was 3 weeks!

    Do you have a NG tube in place? that will help with the vomiting. It isn't the most pleasant thing to have, but it does help, it goes up your nose, down to your tummy, and will keep things down, also having an anti-nausea drug like Zofran or Phenergran, or Compazine placed in your IV when feeling queasy. I was on a pain pump with Diladuid? I can never spell that right, sorry lol...but it was continous pain reliever constantly running, and it comes with this holder with a button, that you hit when it gets really bad, that really did help. You were able to push it every 10 minutes, whenever you needed that boost, and I was in no pain, I just had to wait to pass a stool, and when I still didn't, they finally did surgery 3 weeks later. It was adhesions from surgery that even caused it. The surgeon said they try not to do surgery as much as possible, since it just creates more adhesions and scar tissues, which cause the blockages.

    But I must say, after being in the hospital most of the time last year, I haven't needed it in about 7 months, knock on wood! I think the colostomy finally settled down lol.

    Just wait it out, eventually it will pass, I wasn't allowed food or drinks, I didn't even have an appetite. But I lost 18 pounds there! lol..

    Hope you recover soon, I know where you're at, and you will be fine :)

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • suelanders
    suelanders Member Posts: 25
    #8
    Sorry about the trouble
    Hi Steph,

    I can't give you any advice, just support. I had surgery on FeB 21,2010 abd did have some trouble in the hospital. I ended up staying in there for 8 day,could not go poop! I threw up several times and had to have an NG. OMG that was the wosrt thing I have ever had. Anyway my system final kicked in and I have not had any trouble in that respect since. All I can tell you is, my surgeon told me sometimes you colon goes to sleep after surgery and sometimes it takes a while to wake up.

    I hope your mom feels better soon, I know how awful I felt in the hospital. I am kind of supprised they sent her home, how long was she in the hospital?

    Sue

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