Abdominal Tap

robynz
robynz Member Posts: 7
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi. This is probably the 2nd time I have posted a question. My sister Gail has Stage 4 which has metastisized to the liver. She is very ill right now. Her original oncologist was a non proactive, negative one. We are in the process of getting a second opinion. Does anyone have any info about abdominal taps? She is so extremely bloated with possibly
"pitting adema". and we are trying to get that assessed medically as soon as we can get to a doctor.
Thank you so much for this great resource. We have been so frustrated with the medical side of this as they "thought someone was following her case" and nobody seems to know what happened.
Take care all,
Robyn

Comments

  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #2
    Sorry
    I'm sorry that I don't have any answers for you, but I just wanted to say that I am so sorry you and your sister are going through this.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #3
    abdominal tap
    Are you referring to drainage of fluid in the abdomen? I had huge amounts of fluid accumulating in my abdomen back in 2006 when I had a recurrence; a large tumor growing on my right ovary. I had to go in about once a week to have 4 liters of fluid drained off until surgery to remove it all. What a relief it was to have that fluid drained! It wasn't painful, they numbed the area with lidocain before inserting the catheter. Then it was just a matter of laying there while the fluid drained into a container. The place where the catheter was placed always scabbed and healed nicely, I never had any issues. The fluid was always clear (as ascites always is) and there was never any internal injuries or anything. Of course, as soon as i left the onc's office, the abdomen began filling cause the tumor continued to weep, but I would get a few good days of eating and bowel function before I had to get it drained off again. I always knew it was time to go in when I could no longer eat and my bowels wouldn't move cause the fluid was taking up all the space in my abdomen. Hope this helps.
    mary
  • robynz
    robynz Member Posts: 7
    #4
    msccolon said:

    abdominal tap
    Are you referring to drainage of fluid in the abdomen? I had huge amounts of fluid accumulating in my abdomen back in 2006 when I had a recurrence; a large tumor growing on my right ovary. I had to go in about once a week to have 4 liters of fluid drained off until surgery to remove it all. What a relief it was to have that fluid drained! It wasn't painful, they numbed the area with lidocain before inserting the catheter. Then it was just a matter of laying there while the fluid drained into a container. The place where the catheter was placed always scabbed and healed nicely, I never had any issues. The fluid was always clear (as ascites always is) and there was never any internal injuries or anything. Of course, as soon as i left the onc's office, the abdomen began filling cause the tumor continued to weep, but I would get a few good days of eating and bowel function before I had to get it drained off again. I always knew it was time to go in when I could no longer eat and my bowels wouldn't move cause the fluid was taking up all the space in my abdomen. Hope this helps.
    mary

    abdominal tap
    Thanks you so much, Mary! We have been trying daily yo get a doctor to do this and will be on it again first thing monday morning.
    Hope you are ok and healthy now,
    Robyn and Gail
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #5
    robynz said:

    abdominal tap
    Thanks you so much, Mary! We have been trying daily yo get a doctor to do this and will be on it again first thing monday morning.
    Hope you are ok and healthy now,
    Robyn and Gail

    I have.....
    Stage 4 colon cancer with a tumor in the liver, and was also bloated, I gained weight, which was what concerned the dr to take scans, and found my diagnosis, but once I started chemo, all that bloating went away, I'm now down to my original weight, so it could go away once she starts treatments as well. My dr also said my tumors were shrinking, but I've been off chemo for 4 weeks now, because of surgery and hope my tumors are still at bay! I see my onc on Monday to find out if I go back on it soon.

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