Pain Management/Weight Gain Question

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sfmarie
sfmarie Member Posts: 602
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Most of you are familiar with my story; sister age 39 dx 03/09 stage IV with mets to liver, ovaries and peritoneum. Liver resection 2/05 aborted due to too much cancer but did another resection. two weeks later had to have stents placed in liver and kidneys due to severe back pain, caused by tumors in the kidneys and jaundice due to tumors in the liver. She has since spent two weeks in the hospital and on top has had to endure chemo in order to control the disease.

Now, she has been home for about a week and is experiencing back pain once again, to the point she is reliant upon the pain meds. that make her nauseated to the point she cannot eat. They are ordering a scan of her bladder because she has blood in her urine. I am afraid of what all this means. I have not seen her since she got out, but she admitted she looks "ridiculous" and that she is wasting away. She at most, tries to drink a high calorie boost a day and a few nibbles here and there. That is not enough. Short of hiring someone to make sure she eats, anyone have any tips for this?

I am sure it is a vicious cycle of depression, pain and the chemo but what can you do to help with the pain and help with wanting to eat? She is scheduled for her next round of chemo on Monday as she is now on a weekly schedule.


Marie

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  • Patteee
    Patteee Member Posts: 945
    #2
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    she needs POT big time. It
    she needs POT big time. It really will help
  • WinneyPooh
    WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
    #3
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    Patteee said:

    she needs POT big time. It
    she needs POT big time. It really will help

    I AGREE WITH PATTEEE
    sHE NEEDS TO EAT SO MAKE HER FAVORITE DESERTS AND SLIPP THINGS LIKE SPINANCH IN THE RECIPE( YOU CAN PUT SPINACH IN EVERYTHING AND YOU CANT TASTE IT, ALSO GET HER SOME PROTEIN BARS WITH CHOCOLATE AND THEN IF AT ALL POSSIBLE GET HER SOME POT AND SHE WILL EAT,
    GOOD LUCK AND I HOPE SHE FINDS RELEIF,
    WINNIE
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #4
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    WinneyPooh said:

    I AGREE WITH PATTEEE
    sHE NEEDS TO EAT SO MAKE HER FAVORITE DESERTS AND SLIPP THINGS LIKE SPINANCH IN THE RECIPE( YOU CAN PUT SPINACH IN EVERYTHING AND YOU CANT TASTE IT, ALSO GET HER SOME PROTEIN BARS WITH CHOCOLATE AND THEN IF AT ALL POSSIBLE GET HER SOME POT AND SHE WILL EAT,
    GOOD LUCK AND I HOPE SHE FINDS RELEIF,
    WINNIE

    Try more nutrition drinks like Boost-Plus, Ensure-Plus
    (I suggest the Plus versions cos for the same 12 ounces you get 100 extra calories), protein and other such bars (granoloa,etc) but obviously you need to increase calories to gain weight.Maybe your sister needs nausea meds to counteract pain meds' effect or change type of pain med being taken but definitely talk to doctor(s) for solution to her difficulties.You do lose appetite/desire to eat during chemo but sister has to realize she NEEDS to nourish herself and SHE has to want to do so; even if you have to force yourself to eat at times. You shouldn't give up trying to help neither, no matter how frustrating.Try applesauce or other light fare (watch out for cold stuff if on oxy). Your sister's doctors should notice her condition and act upon it ASAP. A while ago,when my onc saw what I looked like after a real bad weekend she immediatly sent me to chemo room for blood tests and ordered hydrsating fluids to be infused into me while awaiting test results as she KNEW I wasn't right. Communicate with your doctors and hopefully they';; work wqith you to help your sister....
    PS:Maybe she needs to see atherapist,etc as well. There is nothing to be ashamed of here neither......steve
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #5
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    coloCan said:

    Try more nutrition drinks like Boost-Plus, Ensure-Plus
    (I suggest the Plus versions cos for the same 12 ounces you get 100 extra calories), protein and other such bars (granoloa,etc) but obviously you need to increase calories to gain weight.Maybe your sister needs nausea meds to counteract pain meds' effect or change type of pain med being taken but definitely talk to doctor(s) for solution to her difficulties.You do lose appetite/desire to eat during chemo but sister has to realize she NEEDS to nourish herself and SHE has to want to do so; even if you have to force yourself to eat at times. You shouldn't give up trying to help neither, no matter how frustrating.Try applesauce or other light fare (watch out for cold stuff if on oxy). Your sister's doctors should notice her condition and act upon it ASAP. A while ago,when my onc saw what I looked like after a real bad weekend she immediatly sent me to chemo room for blood tests and ordered hydrsating fluids to be infused into me while awaiting test results as she KNEW I wasn't right. Communicate with your doctors and hopefully they';; work wqith you to help your sister....
    PS:Maybe she needs to see atherapist,etc as well. There is nothing to be ashamed of here neither......steve

    Is
    She all alone with no one there caring for her or cooking for her? With all shes been through, I'm sure she is so tired and sick she can't get around and do anything by herself and may need some help. Maybe a home health nurse can be there for some help? they do light cooking I believe, and does she have good anti-nausea meds? I remember feeling very very sick when I first got chemo, and couldn't eat or drink, I hope she's staying hydrated, that's very important, especially for the kidneys to work properly, I know it's hard to take care of ones self, feeling the way she is. Sounds like she needs some help. She needs to be taking those anti-nausea meds every few hours (Emend and Dexamethasone works great for me,I also take compazine and ativan as well, and they also give me a shot of a long-lasting Zofran that lasts 4 days in my system), to help with the nausea. Don't feel bad that you can't always be there, until she's strong enough though to do things on her own, and eating is definity something she needs to do to build up her strength, she just may need alittle bit more help maybe. You're definitely a great sister to have around! She's lucky to have you :)

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

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