On 4/22/2008 chitchat wrote:
My sister just had her 1st cat scan and MRI following her completed round of chemo. tumor shrunk a little, no mets to liver . she was recently tapped for 6 liters of fluid from abdomen. Her legs and feet have been getting increasingly more edematous where she can hardly lift them off the ground. they have just added another diuretic but so far fluid is not moving from her legs or feet if anything it has gotton worse . she was just placed on a 3rd diuretic but nothing yet? I want to know what is causing the edema and why aren't the diuretics working/ If they don't work what can be done for her legs?
Hello. My best friend is in Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer, she is experiencing some of the symptoms your Sister is. Yesterday she had 6 large bottles of fluid removed from her stomach, her legs are so swollen that they are leaking & looks like they are very badly sunburned. We're worried about her catching infection because of the leaking. Her cancer has metasiced into her lungs & lymph system. She is so sick, she hasn't been able to do an entire round of chemo yet. A few weeks ago, a home health nurse "wrapped" her legs & after a week or so, they swelling went down. This is an extensive wrapping, looks like a mummy when done & my friend hated it, but it helped. I belive my friend has this problem because it's in her lymph system. We use Lubraderm (sp?) lotion on her legs (non-scented) & very gently rub an upward motion to keep them moist & send the fluid back toward the heart. She's on Lasics diuretic & it's not helping either. She's in tremendous pain. The stomach draining caused some immediate relieve from pressure on her tummy & lungs, but we know it can return.... Hopefully your sister has plenty of pain meds to help keep her comforatble. My friend is now on 225 MC Fentynol patches & up to 8 Peracet daily. This is a horrible disease, my heart goes out to you & your Sister. I completely understand what you're going through as I am a primary caregiver myself. Best of luck to you & God bless.