weakness and surgery

[Christine72]

My mom is very weak from not eating.  She eats a little everyday.  Her primary care physician is NOT happy about how much weight she's lost.  She's REALLY frail.  My mom says everyone is bugging her to eat--my father, my aunt, her doctor...she just CAN'T DO IT.  Today, she didn't do all THAT bad--she had two biscuits (the refrigerated ones--they're small to begin with) and for lunch, she managed to eat half a bowl of pastina.  For dinner, she tried to eat a slice of homemade pizza (!!!!!!) that we made...she only two bites of the crust.  The thought of the anchovi sauce turned her off, but she wanted to try it anyway.   OH, and tonight, while she had her nightly cup of tea, she had two shortbread cookies.  

Her abdomen is swollen, and she can't get it drained again until Monday.  But because she's not been eating much at all lately, it makes me wonder whether or not her gyn/onc. can do exploratory surgery?   I think she said she wanted to do it  some time in Feb.  Is surgery a safe thing when you're weak from not eating?  A big part of it is the ascites accumulation.    Hopefully my mom's gyn/onc. will tell her more, but that's not until next Thursday.  My mom will find out her CAT scan results and where to go from here, (yes, I will keep you all posted on that!)  but if surgery is suggested...I don't know if she can go through it!  She, my father, and my aunt are all wondering the same thing, too.  Any ideas?

My mom is also sleeping all the time.  I'm beginning to get concerned if it's not more and more because of the cancer and not just from not eating.

[4Tsomething]

It never hurts to consult her doctor to be safe re: her continued inability to eat, and the weight loss.  Two thoughts: 1.) The increased abdominal swelling and fluids may certainly be increasing pressure on, and perhaps restricting, her GI tract causing her to feel unable to eat.  See if the Dr. feels the amount of swelling is warranted.  2.) See if fruit "smoothie-style" nutritional drinks (or Ensure shakes) are advisable for her to injest.  This may give her high calorie and nutriant rich food that should be appealing to her, and easy to digest.  Just some thoughts...   I think your instincts are correct.  I too would be very wary to undergo such an invasive surgery while apparently as weak and under-nourished as you describe her to be.  Best of luck, and don't waste a minute on being embarrassed to call the Dr.   Keep us aprised.

[xrayu2]

If she finds it hard to drink the Ensure, you can mix it with ice cream and make it like a milkshake.  Try to find high calorie foods for her to eat, real butter on everything and she will at least get enough caloric intake to offset the small amount that she is eating.  6 mini meals may work better for her now, too.  I hope she can have the fluid drained even if they cannot do anything else at this point.  The removal of the fluid will at least take some of the pressure of her organs.  You and your family will be in my thoughs and prayers.