Anyone on total parenteral nutrion?

[sanikope]

My wife -3C OC diagnosed 3 years ago- has been vomiting since January but last 6-8 weeks it got worst and she wasn't able to keep anything in. Fluid or food. Anything she try to eat just simply coming back. 2 weeks ago she went to hospice to try to get her vomiting under control. After 2 weeks nothing worked for her and because her energy level is very low- she is hardly awake and feels thirsty all the time. 20 years vegetarian -she even tried -out of desperation to eat meat to get her some energy.

And here came up nutritionist with TPN idea.

So she is on it since last Friday and I'm just curious if any one of you here dear people have any experience with it. Mainly I want to know if it helps to get some energy back. I don't expect miracles, but I struggle to see her starving to death. Her prognosis up to her oncologist are still in months so without any nutrion to get in she won't have even that.

I just hope that TPN will improve her life a bit and it won't bring more suffering on top of everything, more dragging and pain. I'm not sure about any of it. So all we are left with is just hope.

Stay well all of you.

Alex

[WoodyB]

I was so sorry to read your post. Your poor wife has had no quality of life for weeks and weeks, and you will be all over the place as well. My wife Suzanne had a small bowel obstruction following her first recurrence in 2015, so no poo down below and everything came out at the top end. They put her on TPN and she definitely felt better and her body was more resilient. She then started on weekly taxol/carbo and that fettled the cancer and released the bowel obstruction.

Does your wife have no more treatment options? Have you had a second opinion anywhere? I realise that your wife is probably unable to travel but don't know whether a consultant at say the Christie or Royal Marsden would see you on your own?

[sanikope in reply to WoodyB]

Woody thank you for your reply and I'm glad your wife had positive experience with TPN. It good to hear it. It gives me a bit of hope.

My wife belongs to Bart's and has been for second opinion at UCH. She already had 2 rounds of chemo since 2015. Second round-palliative, she did just 3 cycles and finished it in beg. of March because it didn't do any good and she was getting weaker due constant vomiting. And of course idea to get stronger with TPN is that she would possibly be able to go for trial.

So she is on TPN since last Friday, but she keeps vomiting a lot. And I'm not sure if that is normal. After week on it she doesn't seem to have any benefit from it. Maybe it's because she's been deprived of any nutrion for such long time.

She is only 38 and she can't walk or do anything except lying in bed and sleep, if this is the end, is it worth to waste last energy on this? Nutritionist is advising to give it another week. Sorry for my rambling, I just don't know what is right thing to do.

[WoodyB in reply to sanikope]

Hi Alex, the constant vomitting is awful and will make your wife incredibly weak. Sounds like she needs immediate attention from the medics and I sincerely hope they haven't just given up on her. All I can suggest is trying urgently to get on a trial (perhaps phase 1) at the Royal Marsden. Thinking of you both at this dreadful time.

[Solange]

Oh Alex, what a sad situation for you both to be in. My heart goes out to you. I'm afraid I can't give you any help at all as I know nothing about TPN. I do hope some of our friends on here can offer an opinion and advice.

I just want to say I'll be thinking of you both and sending sympathy, love, big hugs and strength to get through this bad time. Solange 😊 xxx

[sanikope in reply to Solange]

Thank you Solange

[Seasun36-uk]

Hi Alex. Just wanting to send you love & thoughts at this time. I only know of TPN from a nurse’s point of view (at work). The liquid is packed full of every possible nutrient so will really build your wife up. Not sure where you live but I agree with Woody - think about a second opinion & maybe speak to your GP too. Very best wishes, Linda

[cmania]

Hi Alex

I was on tpn after a second debulking surgery because I was already under weight from chemo and the first surgery. I was so so glad they did the tpn because after that surgery I had major complications. I had absolutely no desire or couldn’t really even put food towards my mouth. My digestive system was just frozen. I wasn’t on full tpn but I might as well have been because I could not eat!

The only thing I ran into is....definitely flush the tubes as clogs can happen and it can get frustrating so follow their orders. Wishing you luck and healing thoughts!