Bowel Obstruction

[SupportingmyMum]

Hi,

If anyone has any knowledge/experience on this I would really appreciate it.

My Mum has primary peritoneal cancer, diagnosed April 2022. It has recurred more than once, but she remains responsive to chemo every time, with the tumours always described as stable post treatment and CA marker consistently around 60- which they weren't worried about . Only a month ago she met with her oncologist who said everything was looking steady and that they would rest her for a while, with a view to treating with weekly paclitaxel if/when it recurs.

Very quickly her ascites (she always gets this when off treatment) grew and her CA marker went up to 120- though scans showed no change of tumours. She couldn't eat, was vomiting badly and has ended up in hospital with a partial blockage of the small bowel. Her oncologist said today that they are a little unsure on the cause, likely a combination of the ascites and 'potential movement' of a tumour (though not growth) that is pressing on the bowel. There are no tumours in the bowel itself.

Surgery is not an option as would risk spreading her otherwise stable tumours. She is being treated with a nasogastric tube which has stopped all of her nausea and vomiting. They hope this may clear the blockage and they want to get her on weekly chemo to control the ascites. If it doesn't, they want to give her chemo as an impatient alongside the tube to try and gets things under control.

I'm finding it all very complicated, and reading things online are terrifying truthfully. Has anyone had any similar experiences, are there any encouraging outcomes in situations like this?

Thank you in advance.

[Kazzh]

I am sorry to hear this as I know how excruciatingly painful it is as I had it in July this year.I had debulking surgery to remove ovarian cancer in March and scans showed adhesions from that surgery had grown & wrapped around my small bowel. I had to have more surgery to remove them which corrected the issue, although each surgery creates more risk of more adhesions.

I think there can be many causes & my situation is different to your mums so I'm not sure I can offer any advice but I do know there are different ways of dealing with it & your mum's team are trying all they can by the sounds of things given surgery isn't an option.

I do feel for her, it's very unpleasant but hopefully they will find the right solution longer term. Best wishes to you both x

[SupportingmyMum in reply to Kazzh]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Best wishes to you too with your situation. X

[Mushymob]

Hi, I'm currently in hospital with a nasogastric tube because of a blocked bowel. Today I'm having the tube fitted into my stomach for drainage. I will be being fed through a deep vein port in my arm externaly. To give my bowels a rest. I don't know how long this will be in for, they can't do really say. But I can't have my chemotherapy treatment again until I know that the operation as worked and everything is fine with my feeding programme. Then it is up to my oncologist to decide if I can go back on my treatment. She is keeping her eye on the situation. So it's a waiting and hoping game for me. Sounds like they have some kind of a plan for your mum. You just have to trust them. Good luck to you and your mum. Sending you my best wishes ♥️.

[SupportingmyMum in reply to Mushymob]

Thank you very much for replying. Sending best wishes to you and I hope your situation resolves quickly.

[Mushymob in reply to SupportingmyMum]

Thank you. 😘

[Kjpip]

Hi SupportingmyMum, I don't have experience of bowel obstruction but I also get ascites every time my cancer kicks off again and, while I haven't got one yet, I know that a permanent drain is one option for dealing with it. They fit the drain in hospital but then district nurses can come and drain it weekly, or whatever is needed, to stop the ascites building up too much again. Just thought this might be something your mum might consider to control this awful side effect and hopefully prevent more bowel issues? I do hope she gets things sorted out soon xx

[SupportingmyMum in reply to Kjpip]

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond. They have actually been talking about the permanent drain with her and we think that would be good for all the reasons you said. Sending best wishes to you with your own situation and thanks again.

[anna_z]

hi. I had a bowel obstruction a few years ago. It’s common if you’ve had surgery in that area in the past- the bowel scar tissue tends to stick to other scar tissue and causes a block. Mine unblocked after my surgeon gave me gastrographine to drink (it’s usually given 24 hrs before an X-ray) but it also has a powerful unblocking effect (maybe like rubbing graphite on a sticky on a sticky zip). A bowel blockage is incredibly painful and takes a long time to recover- physically and mentally. Bowl and brain are linked. Good luck to your mum. Xxx

[SupportingmyMum in reply to anna_z]

Thanks so much for replying. Mum has never been able to have surgery unfortunately and in her case there are tumours pressing externally which is causing the partial obstruction. We are hoping she will recover and I will definitley be supporting her with the emotional impact of this all like you suggest. I hope you are well in your own journey. Best wishes x

[Ldonne2]

I went through this a couple of weeks ago. They placed an ng tube through my nose into my stomach and I had instant relief. Tube stayed in for 4 days and the only nutrition I received was intravenous. This gave my bowels a chance to rest and inflammation decreased. They then started me on clear liquids and graduated me to soft food on day 5. I’m now on a low fiber, low residue diet and I’m doing fine!

[SupportingmyMum in reply to Ldonne2]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply, it has given me real encouragement. I hope you continue to be well and send best wishes to you in your own journey x

[Pianoplayer731021]

Hi, I have had four bowel obstructions in my life. I had a ruptured appendix when I was 45 and that was when my first one occurred. After my debulking surgery five years ago, I have had four. The scar tissue likes to make narrow areas in the intestines by wrapping around them. I’ve had NG tubes and I wasn’t happy with those. The pain is also pretty bad and no fun being in the hospital. My Dr. just told me to watch my diet, chew my food well and drink plenty of liquids. They really don’t want to operate on me again and try to fix those narrow areas in the intestines. I’m just trying to be my own “ policeman”. I’m 78 and I sure don’t want to experience a other hospital visit with this problem. Good luck in the future, Donna xx

[SupportingmyMum]

Thanks Donna. I appreciate the reply and wish you well with your own journey x