Update on Mum, bowel blockage and TPN advice.

[LouieB123]

Good morning all. I just wanted to say hi after quite a while of no post, and give a little update on mum. Some of you will remember mum had OC stage 3c in feb 2021, and was later that year also diagnosed with another separate primary cancer found in her debulking, they also found a rare appendix cancer.

Unfortunately, but unsurprising with no specific followup treatment for it, the appendix cancer returned. She faced significant delays with the Christie and is now unfortunately stage 4. OC appears to be at bay, which is positive sign that all her treatment worked I suppose.

Mum is in bowel obstruction again, and is now at home trying to make something of her remaining life, but unfortunately that’s pretty hard given the obstruction and symptoms. Second opinion has been sought with Basingstoke and is to be heard next Tuesday. After a lot of fighting, Mum has been offered TPN at home, as she can’t eat, but would need a short stay in hosp to arrange, I really want her to do this to give her a bit of strength and regain a little quality of life, even if for a short time. But she’s so upset with the Christie and feels they have just given up on her.. therefore she is saying she won’t go in. Has anyone experience of TPN at this point?

Nothing more I can do.. feeling sad and hopeless. Praying hard that Basingstoke come back with something. Sending love to you all. Laura Xxx

[Lyndy2]

i have no experience, just wanted to send you and Mum a hug. I think a lot of us are feeling that hospitals are not proactive for us as much as they were but if they have offered, encourage her to take it up for her own well being xx

[fendweller]

I am in the same situation , bowel obstruction,no treatment has worked , it's thought that I wouldn't survive surgery if I did the same problem would occu very soon , cancer in my peritonium omentum, liver and bowel, I'm waiting to see the palliative care team to arrange for me to go home , I cannot eat or drink, I've got a PICC line inserted for nutrition, I'm sorry I can't offer youore hope , I feel I've had enough now I'm ready to stop fighting , sending love. Cheryl .x

[LouieB123 in reply to fendweller]

Hi Cheryl, thank you for replying to me, especially at the moment when you have so much going on yourself. It still amazes me how kind and supportive people are on this forum.

I’m really sorry to hear that you are going through this too. I hope that you have plenty of support around you and that you get the care and support you deserve ❤️

Would you mind me asking about your TPN, are they allowing you to go home with this? I really want my mum to go in and get the PICC put back in and get the TPN arranged. She’s not wanting to at the moment, as she doesn’t want a hospital stay… but she is literally starving as she can hardly eat. They think the blockage is still partial, yet she’s still not really going to the toilet.

Are you up north like us or south? X

[fendweller in reply to LouieB123]

I'm in Lincolnshire ,I'm sorry being , thick what is a TPN , I have a PICC line and a nasal gastric tube to relieve the pressure, but I'm still uncomfortable. I really hope your mum can be helped ,the PICC line is a fairly simple procedure,it was done in my roomCheryl.x

[Frenchhouse3]

Hi there, I’m sorry to read that your mum has had such a bad experience with the hospital she was attending.It must be so stressful and upsetting for you both.

I had TPN ( not sure what the initials stand for either) which is a form of liquid nutrition through a PICC line. ( Mine was before I started all my treatment).

It did make me feel stronger and not hungry. I had it for 4 days while I was receiving a large dose of steroids to try and clear my blockage prior to first line chemo).

I hope this helps.

Sending love to you both

Denise xxxxx

[organicinna in reply to Frenchhouse3]

Hi darling. How steroids clearing blockades? I had it last year and i though its all been cleared by nil by mouth for 10 days in the hospital.... I know i had steroids injections but i thought that for my pian... sending you hugs xx

[Frenchhouse3 in reply to organicinna]

Hi Organicinna,

I’m not really sure how they work but I believe they superboost the immune system to kill off the cancer cells causing the blockage? I remember my gynae surgeon suggesting it was better than an operation at the time as that would have delayed my chemo starting. It worked! Was on chemo the following week!

Best wishes

Denise xxxxx

[meadowgirl in reply to Frenchhouse3]

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) is a way of providing nutrition via a vein. I found this good description on this link. my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

Once in place, the patient can be cared for at home with daily flushes to keep it patent. Drugs can also be administered via the line

[organicinna]

Yes thank you. They said it to me as well , but they said we will try to clear your blockage puting you on nil by moth to avoid operation . Also they could not work out if my blockage was becuase of cancer or because of after debulk op which was 9 month prior to this...xx

[Lyndy2]

Steroids act to bring down inflammation and swelling, so I guess they do this to the bowel and the cancer too in an effort to ease the block. They can have a dramatic effect on swelling xx