Ascites

[yrrek]

Does anyone know how to manage ascites.  My Onc will not let me get tapped before surgery on Sept. 21st.  I need to work.  I already wear maternaty clothes (not really but they look like it).  Does it seem that ascites gets worse at night and feel a little better in the AM.  As a nurse I kind of know why this happens, but I am wondering how some of you have managed.  Thank you

Kerry

[crecco]

Kerry,
   I am sorry that you are having to deal with this so soon before your surgery. I am only guessing but the fact that your Dr may want to wait may be due to the risk of infection. He would not want you contracting any kind of infection right before your surgery.
  I have been fortunate that I have not had a lot of problems with ascities. I have had to have my right lung drained once and right now I am sure that there is fluid in it again. But my Dr hesitates to want to drain it too often due to infection, that is why I am wondering about your Dr hesitation.
  I wish you luck for your surgery and hope that you feel great afterwards and all turns out well.
    Chris

[yrrek]

Well Hazel the oncologist who will be doing my surgery in two weeks said no to any more tapping as he does not want to jepordize my surgery in anyway.  I think you are right.  I will try and endure and not only will the ascites be gone after surgery but hopefully all the cancer as well:)  I know if I can't breath something would have to be done about it but hopefully it won't get that bad.

Kerry

[Hazel30]

My Mom is currently on lasiks for fluid in her legs and had her ascites tapped this afternoon.  No, lasiks does not dry up ascites only draining or chemotherapy.  If you are on lasiks good to be on potassium supplements.  I dont think ascites can be managed in anyway besides tapping it.  If its not too much and it does not bother you and you can still eat then chemo should take care of it.  If its discomforting and or painful then it should definitely get taken care off.
Take care

[ireneo]

Wonder why. Then again diuretics have to be managed so your potassium levels don't drop too low. Then you just end up with arrhythmias. Please take care.

[yrrek]

I did read that sometimes a diuretic called spirnolactone can be given, but not lasix.  My Onc did not want to do that either.  So I will hang in:)

[ireneo]

A question - do diuretics help with ascites like they do with edema in heart patients?

[yrrek]

Well he said through his nurse that he didn't want to jepardize my surgery on the 21st.  After removing all visiable cancer and everything else that can be removed including adhesions from last surgery or my gallbladder if needed, leaving only what is needed, I will have heated chemo put in there for 90 min.  The surgery itself will last from 8-12 hours.  I will need stay up to two weeks in the hospital, he said plan on two weeks.  So I think that infection from the paracentesis and I don't know could maybe not let me get this surgery that I have already had to wait almost 5 weeks for.  I could of had surgery to remove all cancer and then systemic chemo for 6 regimens but waited to try this, with the chance of having no systemic chemo and its side effects.  But once in their as we all know the plan can change based on what, how much and where.  So their is still a chance of systemic chemo anyways. But the ascites is pretty miserable.  Especially when I really need to work.  I am going to try to work one more full week.  I did have a CT angiogram and it showed ascites in there.  It must be everywhere.
How are you doing, hang in there, I think of you so much and I just want to keep positive.  This is the life we have, we must live it, sometimes it is hard and sometimes not so hard.  Sometimes I just take a break from it.  I dream I am cancer free performing in a play on broadway, or on a two week trail ride with the most handsome mountain man ever.  And I laugh.    Thank you for all your support that you give and I pray that you are having a good day.

Kerry

[bohan54]

Did the onc give a reason for not relieving your discomfort?  Seems cruel to let you suffer, I know how awful ascites can make one feel.  It did seem better in the AM than in the PM.   My ascites migrated to the pleural cavity for which I now have a catheter which is drained at home twice a week.