Bowel blockage 6 months post chemo

[Sazzaroon]

My Mum was admitted by ambulance to hosp 30 hours ago. I cannot see her. She was too sick to speak. Through texting I understand she is no longer vomiting and has an NG tube in. She is 1 year post surgery for OC and finished chemo in Dec. I finally managed to get a dr yesterday who said it may be bowel adhesions but more likely, given the timing, there is a cancerous growth in the bowel.

Its hell not being able to get any info or not being able to see her. They cannot do x ray as she vomited up all the gastrograffin.

I am afraid when she feels better they will pack her home, she lives alone, cant come to us currently with covid and may become acutely unwell

I guess what i want to know from all of you is, are there any things I should ask if i ever get to speak to someone. Have any of you experience of a bowel obstruction, any treatment and life afterwards? If no treatment done and it just resolves, is it likely to occur again?

Many thanks

[Maxjor]

I had a partial bowel blockage and was in hospital for 7 days. They did say they usually resolve if nothing is taken by mouth for awhile, so the bowel can rest. If after 7 days it does not resolve, they sometimes add food through IV. There are a few scenarios that can occur. In my case, after 7 days they decided to release me (it had not resolved) and I started weekly taxol. After one session, the blockage was gone. That may not work for everyone but it may be an option. I would list all your questions (ie. how long will they keep her there if the bowel is not resolving; what would be next steps if it doesn't resolve; how do they know if it has resolved--I think they know because your Mom would be able to make a bowel movement) and more questions like that. You may also want to ask how her blood work looks as it can also tell a story.

So sorry your Mum is going through this--I found I was pretty down/depressed while that was going on but the minute things started to improve, my mood did as well. I am only telling you that so if your Mum is down, it is to be expected but with all fingers and toes crossed, I hope she improves quickly and then she will feel better mentally as well as physically.

Good luck to Mum and to you.

Hugs,

Judy

[Sazzaroon in reply to Maxjor]

Thank you. Thats really helpful. The vomiting is so debilitating. She seems better today 🤞

[LittleSan in reply to Maxjor]

My experience was very similar to Judy's. All good wishes to you and your Mum. 💐😘

[StyleK]

Hi Sazzaroo, so sorry to hear about your Mum. She is in the best place - hospital. I also had a bowel blockage 7 months after surgery and 1 month after finishing chemo. Caused by adhesions from the OC surgery. I was in hospital for a week, nil by mouth, fasting and liquids by iv. After 5 days given an enema that did go through and showed the blockage had cleared, 2 more days and home. I followed a plain diet of small portions for a while. I was fine.

Then 8 months on and another bowel blockage but this time very fierce tummy pains, x ray and ct scan showed an adhesion had wrapped round the bowel and cut off the blood supply, I had immediate surgery and woke up with a stoma.

So your Mum is in the best place, the hospital. I presume they have done xray and possibly a ct scan to know it is a bowel blockage. Now it might be a waiting game to see if it unblocks naturally with fasting, all the while your Mum is being monitored.

My best wishes to you and your Mum, I do hope it will unblock naturally under the hospital's watching eye.

[mrstadpole]

Sorry to hear about your Mum's bowel blockage. I have just left hospital his afternoon after being admitted with a sub acute bowel blockage.I was given anti sickness injections, steroids and nil by mouth for 3 days.The bowel is now free and I am hoping to start PARP inhibitors very soon.

It was suggested that I allow complete bowel rest and it did work. Also had an Xray to check on any other problems.It is very painful at the time but it sounds as if your Mum is making progress.The vomiting can be very difficult to cope with.It is so distressing as your loved ones are not able to accompany you into the hospital.I'm sure they will look after you Mum well and hope she is able to return home feeling stronger. Best wishes to you and your family xx

[27-359]

I had a blocked bowel and was admitted to hospital vomitting faeces. I had a NG tube fitted and was nil by mouth for quite a few days while the block up cleared. Once the hospital gets rid of the build up she will probably be able to keep the liquid down.

I ended up having an op and the cause was found to be adhesions, which is not unusual following an OC op.

I was in hospital for two weeks before coming home. I also live alone but slowly gained strength. I hope your mother soon gets this sorted, whatever the cause.

Jenny

[Sazzaroon in reply to 27-359]

Thank you. She is home... Over the moon!!! We will wait re follow up as really none the wiser as to cause...

[jtlynton]

I had a bowel blockage and was in hospital for 5 days, they treated it conservatively, that is, nil by mouth and after a few days the blockage cleared and have since been on an osmotic laxative twice daily and a low fibre diet, and so far, so good.

Hope your Mum improves soon, it’s very hard not to be able to see those you love.

[Sazzaroon in reply to jtlynton]

Thank you. Home safe and sound. Still not really any the wiser... Will start chasing in a couple of days re out patient follpw up x

[jtlynton in reply to Sazzaroon]

Apparently cancer can cause the lining of parts of the bowel stop producing a natural lubricant, thus making it more likely to get a blockage. Osmotic laxatives ( movicol or equivalent) and a low fibre diet has kept things working!

Hope you find out more so that you can help your mumx

[juliamillen]

Very difficult for you not to be able to visit your mum. I hope she improves soon. Love Julia

[Sazzaroon in reply to juliamillen]

Thank you. Shes home... V happy x

[Gemimablackvelvet]

Hi. I had a total bowel blockage in November 2017. Very similar circumstances to your mum. I have to admit it was very painful and very embarrassing. I received the same treatment as your mum and was told it was adhesions from an operation I'd had 20 years before that caused it. I was then told I didn't have cancer. However I was diagnosed with stage 3c cancer April the following year 2018 which the oncologist said I'd probably had since December 2017. All very confusing. No problems with bowel blockages since but I don't eat anything with skins and never sweet corn. I was back on solids after a few weeks but stuck to Nutra blended food and soups during that time. No cancer in the bowel by the way.

All the best to your mum, she will be ok after about 7 days. Give her my love

Love to you too.

Angela xxx

[Sazzaroon in reply to Gemimablackvelvet]

Thank you. She was sent home after 4 days.. She is delighted to be home in her own bed. We had a cup of tea and jaffa cake, at a distance to celebrate! We still have no idea... She has adhesions and had a blockage high up in small bowel... We are not clear. Will wait until end of week amd chase again... Want to know cause, and therefore liklihood of recurrence. I cant even see her currently...