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Pain after debulking surgery - How long after?
Hi Everyone,
My mother, Joy, 74 years old had suboptimal debulking surgery and then had a pulmonary embolism. She was able to leave the hospital after 7 days. She is now 3 weeks post op and is still having pain in the abdomen and when she doesn't take the percocet she is noticably drained. She doesn't like taking drugs of any kind and doesn't want to take it. The catch 22...she is now afraid to take it because of the constipation. We talked to the Dr. and he said to continue to take and she would know when she didn't need it anymore. So, she did that and got constipated, which wasn't happening before consistently taking it. When she takes the percocet she immediately perks up. She walks every day, is out and about, but really concerned the pain isn't going away.
I know it is a continuous emotional roller coaster, and she I'm sure is thinking is it the cancer of the surgery.
She is suppose to start chemo this Thursday, October 23rd.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Chopps
My mother, Joy, 74 years old had suboptimal debulking surgery and then had a pulmonary embolism. She was able to leave the hospital after 7 days. She is now 3 weeks post op and is still having pain in the abdomen and when she doesn't take the percocet she is noticably drained. She doesn't like taking drugs of any kind and doesn't want to take it. The catch 22...she is now afraid to take it because of the constipation. We talked to the Dr. and he said to continue to take and she would know when she didn't need it anymore. So, she did that and got constipated, which wasn't happening before consistently taking it. When she takes the percocet she immediately perks up. She walks every day, is out and about, but really concerned the pain isn't going away.
I know it is a continuous emotional roller coaster, and she I'm sure is thinking is it the cancer of the surgery.
She is suppose to start chemo this Thursday, October 23rd.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Chopps
My first oncologist started my chemo without doing a scan or even a ca125. To me without establishing a starting line, I do not know how they can accurately measure how much good the chemo is doing. All during the chemo she refused to do scans or ca125s. I switched oncs during my last cycle and the new onc ordered a scan and ca125 to be done right after my treatment was done. I wish your mom well. I am glad she got the anti-nausea med to start before chemo. Is it Emend? I will be thinking of both of you. Marie
chopps,
It is good that they have already given your mom meds for nausea and vomiting. I asume she will be starting carbo/taxol as her chemo. I never thought to tell you that before they give her the actual chemo, they will probably give her a couple of smaller IV bags that they call pre-meds. There is also a lot of medication to help the nausea and vomiting in those.
Do not worry to much about them not giving her a CT or PET scan yet, remember she is just 3 weeks out of surgery so they have a good idea what things look like.
Everyone handles their chemo different. I know many women who have not had the nausea or vomiting with it, but I also know many who have, Hopefully your mom will be lucky and it will not affect her that way.
The CA125 being checked everytime she goes in for chemo is normally how it is done. So it sounds as though they are doing everything in the normal fashion.
As hard as it may be, try not to worry too much, and I wish her luck tomorrow.
Chris
It is good that they have already given your mom meds for nausea and vomiting. I asume she will be starting carbo/taxol as her chemo. I never thought to tell you that before they give her the actual chemo, they will probably give her a couple of smaller IV bags that they call pre-meds. There is also a lot of medication to help the nausea and vomiting in those.
Do not worry to much about them not giving her a CT or PET scan yet, remember she is just 3 weeks out of surgery so they have a good idea what things look like.
Everyone handles their chemo different. I know many women who have not had the nausea or vomiting with it, but I also know many who have, Hopefully your mom will be lucky and it will not affect her that way.
The CA125 being checked everytime she goes in for chemo is normally how it is done. So it sounds as though they are doing everything in the normal fashion.
As hard as it may be, try not to worry too much, and I wish her luck tomorrow.
Chris
Thanks Chris.
Chemo is to begin tomorrow. She has chosen not to take the percocet and is taking the tylenol consistently which has helped.
She is very worried about the naseau and vomiting. They have given her 3 things to help with that and she will start taking to day, I believe. She hates being nauseated and I could forsee this being a problem.
Also, I am concerned why they are not giving her a 3D CAT scan or CAT or PET/CAT scan before chemo. The last one she had was before surgery and it did not show how much cancer was there. I would think you would want to know before chemo through the most reliable picture so that you have something to compare with in a few months.
I know they are going to use the CA 125 and they will test each session of chemo to see how it is reacting.
Yesterday I left a message requesting one, and, of course, haven't heard back. I will call again today.
Thanks,
Chopps
Chemo is to begin tomorrow. She has chosen not to take the percocet and is taking the tylenol consistently which has helped.
She is very worried about the naseau and vomiting. They have given her 3 things to help with that and she will start taking to day, I believe. She hates being nauseated and I could forsee this being a problem.
Also, I am concerned why they are not giving her a 3D CAT scan or CAT or PET/CAT scan before chemo. The last one she had was before surgery and it did not show how much cancer was there. I would think you would want to know before chemo through the most reliable picture so that you have something to compare with in a few months.
I know they are going to use the CA 125 and they will test each session of chemo to see how it is reacting.
Yesterday I left a message requesting one, and, of course, haven't heard back. I will call again today.
Thanks,
Chopps
Chopps,
It is my understanding that they normally wait until the 6 week waiting period is up before starting chemo. At least that is how it worked with me. If she takes it easy for a little while, she should be feeling pretty good by then. They will keep track of her blood work and will not start her if they do not think that she is able to yet.
But as Marie said, I would not want to delay the begining of chemo so maybe she should just really take it easy for the next couple of weeks.
Chris
It is my understanding that they normally wait until the 6 week waiting period is up before starting chemo. At least that is how it worked with me. If she takes it easy for a little while, she should be feeling pretty good by then. They will keep track of her blood work and will not start her if they do not think that she is able to yet.
But as Marie said, I would not want to delay the begining of chemo so maybe she should just really take it easy for the next couple of weeks.
Chris
I wouldn't want to delay the chemo unless she was just feeling really horrible. Make a list before the appointment Monday of all of the questions that come to mind. If I don't do that before appointments I forget to ask something. Marie
Interesting. Thanks.
Thoughts on chemo while she is still not feeling great? She hasn't asked the Dr. about that. Maybe another question for him on Mon.
Chopps
Thoughts on chemo while she is still not feeling great? She hasn't asked the Dr. about that. Maybe another question for him on Mon.
Chopps
If she is out and about walking every day, she may be doing too much yet. when the Drs tell you 6 weeks that is what they mean. Many of us found that out the hard way by trying to do too much too soon. That is one sure way to bring the pain flaring back. 3 weeks is not so long after such a surgery as I remember I was still very sore 3 weeks aftr mine.
As for the constipation, she is wise to be consulting her Dr on Mon as her will give her info on what she can or cannot take for it.
Chris
As for the constipation, she is wise to be consulting her Dr on Mon as her will give her info on what she can or cannot take for it.
Chris
Forgot to mention that I had a hernia repair on my whole scar and found the Tylenol XS actually worked better than the oxycontin .. it managed the pain about the same and I felt better generally.
Thank you for your response and JC145 also.
She has been taking stool softner, eating grapes and prunes. I do think she stopped taking the percocet 2 days ago to see if the constipation went away, concerned about bowel obstuction or if her bowel was working properly. A positive note is that she didn't have constipaton until she started taking the percocet consistently. She has miralax, but wasn't sure it was ok to take with the blood thinning medicine. She'll call the Dr. on Monday to confirm it's ok. She'll ask about senna.
Constipation was a problem before surgery. So the fear that the surgery didn't help is there, I'm sure.
I feel for all of you with the up and down emotions. I always have positive and happy thoughts for all of you and appreciate you sharing your experiences.
Chopps
She has been taking stool softner, eating grapes and prunes. I do think she stopped taking the percocet 2 days ago to see if the constipation went away, concerned about bowel obstuction or if her bowel was working properly. A positive note is that she didn't have constipaton until she started taking the percocet consistently. She has miralax, but wasn't sure it was ok to take with the blood thinning medicine. She'll call the Dr. on Monday to confirm it's ok. She'll ask about senna.
Constipation was a problem before surgery. So the fear that the surgery didn't help is there, I'm sure.
I feel for all of you with the up and down emotions. I always have positive and happy thoughts for all of you and appreciate you sharing your experiences.
Chopps
First I will say I admire your mom for being out walking and for being so strong. When I had my surgery I was 28 years younger than she is and it still took a while to regain my strength. I say if the pain meds help her I would use them as long as she needs, but along with it have a good bowel regimen. Some do well on Miralax, others senna, some just stool softeners. Have her get her doctor to address the constipation. For me a bowel obstruction is my biggest fear, so the constipation is scary. I will be thinking of her as she starts her chemo. I hope she gets a great outcome. Marie
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