rectal cancer surgery information please

Hi everyone,

My mom just had her surgery last Thursday. I don't know what stage it is yet because we are still wating for the pathology report.  2 incisions were made, one on her stomach and on her bottom. Her rectum was taken out and when she was opened up, the surgeon found cancer in her uterus so that was taken out, too.

She's not doing so well on recovery. She's been throwing up and feeling nauseated despite being given nausea meds for the past 3 days. She can't hold anything down in her stomach, not even water. If this continues, they might have to put a tube down her nose to clear her stomach. I know my mom won't be able to handle something like that. She's becoming very weak because of the vomiting and nausea. Please, pray for her. Is it because her stomach and intestines are not functioning yet?

Is this normal?  I'm so worried about her. She also started bleeding today from her rectum but it might be from the stiches? I'm not there by her side because I have the flu but she's been calling and updating me.

Can anyone relate to her experience? Any words of encourgement? It's been a long road since she was diagnosed. She had 31 radiation treatments and was on Xeloda pills for a month an a half or so. Radiation was brutal on her skin because she had major burns. Chemo was that bad but she had a hard time with the hands and foot syndrome and mouth sores and fatigue.

Keep her in your prayers! Any feedback would be great!

Hi,

  Sorry to hear what your Mom is going through, after surgery it does take time  for the body to settle down and come to some kimd of order, I have been through this with my wife many times, the body is still weak and is still healing.

 The radation is not nice at all, did they give her some cream for the burning? and the  chemo and the tingling is neuropathy did they give her any thing for that?

What is your Moms name..She is in my prayers as you read this... hope u get over flu quick,, and stay positive... and never give up things will get better,,

God Bless You Both........................Rob

JanPas21,

I can relate all too well to your Mother's challenge. First, know that it will get better!  Last December, I had the same surgery, although the rectum was removed through a previous hysterectomy abdominal incision. I'm not sure if your Mother has an illeostomy or colostomy; either way, it sounds like her bowels are asleep and they need to 'wake up'.  It's commonly referred to as ileus.  If she's eating anything, I assume it's ice chips only.  The 'waking up' process is gradual.  If she does have a stoma, you will see bile accumulating in the bag, and this is a good sign.  When I had the surgery, I was on ice chips  and sucking hard candy for 4 or 5 days, and then gradually progressed to chicken broth and potato soup and finally solid food.  If I consumed too much too quickly, I threw up as well.   As for the rectal bleeding, I had very little, but remember, she's had a resection, so the surgeon has 'put her back together' connecting her colon to her anal canal. So, some bleeding is probably to be expected.

My surgery was step 2, if you will, to my treatment.  Prior to surgery, I had 27 treatments of radiation, 5 treatments of oxaliplatin, and 5 weeks of xeloda.  All of that was really hard on me. I was hospitalized twice, and extremely weak. Luckily, I didn't have the mouth sores or hand/feet issues (I drank liquids constantly, and used several skin protectants on my hands and feet (Aquaphor was the best!). I didn't have to undergo adjuvant chemo, as my pathology was negative, and several months has passed since my last chemo treatment, so the cumulative effect would have been lost.  Believe me, that was fine with me!

The next step was my illeostomy reversal 3 months later. Those 3 months were long and painful, but I did survive.  I took pain meds for about 6 weeks, and Advil for the entire time to reduce the swelling and pain.  I laid on my side a lot and sat on special pillows to minimize the pain.  

It took several months for the 'sitting' pain to significantly reduce, but it does get better!  

Tell your mom she can get through this!  Prayer was my #1 tool.  I prayed. I asked key spiritual leaders and friends to pray for my healing and to pray for my doctors.  I also know that personally, I just couldn't accept that I would lose this battle.  "I am a survivor" was one of the first thoughts I had when I was first diagnosed, and I believe that too was a factor in my healing.

I will pray for you Mother.  Please let her know she can survive and return to her normal life again!

Blessings and Best to you and your Mother,

Amazing Grace

Thanks for the responses! My mom is back in the hospital because her stomach was very big and hard. She still has a lot of pain but I guess that is how it is after surgery. Her pain is off and on, kind of like a contraction where it will come and go away within seconds or minutes and then come back 10-15 minutes later. The doctors think it's cramping and gas pain so a ng tube was placed in her nose to suck up what is inside her stomach but I think it made her stomach worse? She still had pain prior to the ng tube but she was eating solid food and formed stool was coming out of her colostomy. After the ng tube, which was only in her throughout the night, she was back on full liquid and now she's not eating anything. Her stomach seems feel very full and more gassy than before. I'm not sure what is going on? The doctors seem like they are not really collaborating with one another? The surgeon think the reason why her intestestines are so narrow is because of all the pain meds and figured that ng tube wasn't needed. The GI dr thinks otherwise and wanted the ng tube. Sometimes I don't know which doctor to listen to because they both have good reasoning.

She's very weak and hasn't eaten much since her surgery. I wonder why they don't want to put her on tpn? I've asked but they said they want her to eat. How long does the pain last in the stomach? She doesn't seem like she's getting better. I know it's only been 2 1/2 weeks but it just seems like she's never going to get better. I'm worried because she is not eating and she's only on iv fluids. I hope she will get better soon.

HI

  Sorry to hear your Mom is back in hospital,  Meds can cause  constipation and she really needs  fliuds and plenty of water to get it all going again, one of the things you can give her if she is not eating is Ensure this is a meal liquid and has all the vits she needs,, Or  one called Boost... check them out . Praying your Mom  gets better soon as its awful to watch a love one go through this, as I know by experience...

Keep Praying ... Best Wishes  ....Rob