no more ascites, got em drained but no good news either

[dustinsmom2004]

I finally went to the er and had 4 liters drained, and have an appt on the third of june for discussion on the chemo regimine that seems not to be working as well as it should be. I am going to have a little vent session right now, dont want to discuss it with my husband, he would go nuts, but I am bruising like a darn banana. My onc is going to have a hematologist consult on this also and see what is going on here. I wish that I could for once have good news, but everything has been a roller coaster ride. When I think that things are going good there is a surprise turn and the same stupid stuff all over again. I am so frustrated right now with myself. To me this is supposed to be simple, have surgery, start chemo, finish chemo, get on with your life. But oh no not for me, it is always something else. I thought it was a go ahead after the pneumonia, and here I am again with a new problem. Hopefully it is just a vitamin deficiency or old age or something simple. It is just not fair, I just want to be a mother and do my very best by dustin and the rest of my kids and i feel that this stupid disease just rears its ugly head and stabs me straight to the heart, always where it would hurt he most. Makes me weak and lazy and unable to do what i should for my kids. oh well like i said i was just going to vent. Has anyone experienced this? And what in the world was it? I never bruised with chemo before so I dont think that is it, I think it is something entirely different.

[gma718]

I am so sorry for all that you are enduring...I had a problem  during and after the birth of my daughter ....I woke up one day and had many bruises on my body..turned out I had very low-platelets...they did many tests and I also had a bone marrow biopsy to see what was causing this..they never could determine the reason...they just kept checking my counts periodically and I had to follow up with a hematologist...I would assume that the chemo is bringing down your counts and that explains the bruising.....I hope you gain strength and know that my prayers are with you...you have endured enough....I will be thinking about you...Gia :)

[PF_PVD]

I can answer that having had it done several times myself.  Using an ultrasound to guide him/her to a pocket of fluid, a radiologist inserts a needle attached to a tube attached to a bottle into the abdomen and drains the fluid.  It sounds bad, but I didn't find it too painful because they push an anesthetic in front of the needle to numb you.  Plus, the relief from having the fluid drained is so great, some pain was worth it to me.  I was first drained two days after dx (based only on a disastrous-looking CT scan) and the pathology from the ascites fluid is how they confirmed the ovarian cancer dx (as well as the path from a D&C) so I could start chemo (I had chemo, surgery, chemo).  In my current recurrence, I once again have some ascites but haven't had to be drained yet and hope the chemo insures I don't have to.  Paula

[Teresa222]

Bless you in your battle.  At times, I consider the majority of my battle is just learning to deal with all the ambiguity without getting so depressed that I just give up.  My prayers are that all of us can turn our futures over to God and enjoy each day as it comes.

By the way, how do they drain the ascites?
Teresa

[crecco]

You have every right to vent so do not hesitate at all. Yes this is one big roller coaster ride, except that it is no fun at all.
  I am glad that you went in and your pain has been relieved as just the pain alone can cause a lot of added stress.
  Try not to lose hope because you can get through this. I wish you nothing but the best when you see your Dr, after everything going wrong at once, you deserve some good news.
  Chris

[JIyer]

I do have the ascites problem. I go every 6 weeks to get the fluid drained and gives great relief. Your oncologist may send a sample to cytology lab the next time for checking whether the ascites has the same cells like the original finding. In the meantime CA125 and scans will assure you that you are free of the problem. Good luck. Hopefully the ascites will stop soon for you and for me. Take care.

[withe]

It is good to vent every once in a while..... I too, have had bruises when blood counts have been low, transfusion remedied this. It is may understanding that depression and low energy also go along with low counts. Hope your doc gets this straightened out for you and that some sunshine finds its way into your day. Good luck, Withe

[nyc lady]

I don't blame you for being angry and wanting to vent.

There isn't anything I could say that would make you feel better, so, I am just sending you lots of hugs.

Pam

[vegas2cr]

First let me say I am truly sorry that everything seems to be going wrong for you right now.. Trust me I know the feeling...
When my red blood cells and platelets got so low I got bruises from toweling off after my shower.. after several blood transfusions it stopped and I felt better.
Do not feel like you are weak or lazy for not being able to do for your kids what you would like... You are being treated as was I and most women here with a toxic poison otherwise known as chemotherapy...... but it is the only thing that can help us at this point...
Go ahead and vent all you want... we have all been there... sending you hugs... Ronni