Bowel Obstruction and Surgery

I feel like I am living in someone else's life... I cannot believe this is happening to my family.  I am so scared...so very very scared.

My sis was off the chemo for her scheduled break.  The scans that showed a mixed response we found out what that meant.  Primary tumors around her stomach shrunk but others got larger and she has a new spot on an adrenal, ovaries and tiny spot on thoracic spine that lit up a bit but did not show on CT scan.    She was scheduled to start new chemo regimen just this past Monday.

Sunday night she went to the ER with abdominal pain.  She had an obstructed bowel and had surgery on Tuesday to remove her ascending colon and has an ileostomy now.  This, of course, delays her starting chemo for at least another 3 weeks and I am soooo terrified that the cancer is going to spread way too much during that time.   With her having been on the Avastin, wound healing is an issue.   

She is so scared too I know though she tries to stay positive and has a sense of humor.  We were laying in the hospital bed before her surgery and she told me she didn't want to die.   What do you say?

She has gotten up out of bed today and walked around the room.  She is a tough one.   I am terrified though.  This delay in chemo is horrible timing. 

 I want a miracle!

Tracy

On 3/5/2009 Tracy06 wrote:

I feel like I am living in someone else's life... I cannot believe this is happening to my family.  I am so scared...so very very scared.

My sis was off the chemo for her scheduled break.  The scans that showed a mixed response we found out what that meant.  Primary tumors around her stomach shrunk but others got larger and she has a new spot on an adrenal, ovaries and tiny spot on thoracic spine that lit up a bit but did not show on CT scan.    She was scheduled to start new chemo regimen just this past Monday.

Sunday night she went to the ER with abdominal pain.  She had an obstructed bowel and had surgery on Tuesday to remove her ascending colon and has an ileostomy now.  This, of course, delays her starting chemo for at least another 3 weeks and I am soooo terrified that the cancer is going to spread way too much during that time.   With her having been on the Avastin, wound healing is an issue.   

She is so scared too I know though she tries to stay positive and has a sense of humor.  We were laying in the hospital bed before her surgery and she told me she didn't want to die.   What do you say?

She has gotten up out of bed today and walked around the room.  She is a tough one.   I am terrified though.  This delay in chemo is horrible timing. 

 I want a miracle!

Tracy

HI Tracy,

 I read your post and I found myself almost in your shoes.  My fiance has been battling stomach cancer since July 08.  We went to 4 different Dr's in town before we went to U.C.I.  By then it had spread to the whole lining of his stomach.  Shawn had 4 founds of chemo, and was scheduled to have his stomach removed begining of January.  Prior to surgery he had to be off chemo for 30 days.  In that time the cancer started to come back.  We too found ourselves in the emergency room with severe stomach pains.  They finally admitted him.  7 days after being in the hospital he perferated his intestines.  Rushed into emergency surgery which the gave him an ileostomy bag.  I do want to let you know that we knew he had a blockage, but when the pain got so bad the nurses assumed he needed more pain meds.  Not the case!!  If he would not have demanded them to look into it he would have died.  He is home now, and unfourtunately I wish I had better news but he is getting worse.  He has not taken any soft foods for about 4 days, and now he only has ice chips. I am also praying for a miracle.  I get on this website about 10 times a day to find someone to talk to.  I know your sister is doing a lot better then Shawn but your story was similiar to mine.  Please keep me updated, and I will pray for your sister and you!!

Hi Tracy,

I believe we've emailed each other before, but in either case, I'm familiar with bowel obstructions.  The same thing happened to my husband.  We were told by the surgeon that it's very common for that to happen because the system is sluggish and if there is a tumor growth then it makes it even worse.  My husband had laproscopic surgery to try and unblock the area.  If your sister is not on TPN nutrition, please get her on that immediately.  It will sustain her because until they can go in and deal with the blockage she will continue to lose weight.  I wish you all the best in your battle with this horrible disease.

My sister, Melissa, had her surgery and is now almost a week out (tomorrow).  She is still in the hospital.  Finally have her pain manageable but moving around, of course, makes it hurt more so then it makes her nauseated and she doesn't want to eat much.  She finally got "unhooked" from everything except the drainage tube from her side.  She has gotten up and walked around, went outside yesterday.  She is, of course, depressed and upset also about the ileostomy...and the delay in chemo treatment.

I try to get her to eat. She drinks plenty but just doesn't eat much.  Doc wasn't too concerned and didn't want to start TPN because he wanted her bowels to have incentive to make her hungry and with TPN there is no incentive.  We'll see.   I'm just so angry and upset and scared as I know everyone else probably is. 

Thanks.

Tracy

Hi Tracy

Any news on your sister's progress/condition?  I pray that she is doing better.