Does anyone else have extreme ascites? I had 34... - My Ovacome
Does anyone else have extreme ascites? I had 3400 cc's drained two weeks ago but it has filled back up again and is painful under my ribs.
Hi, I had a huge ascites drained last year (13ltrs) followed by 5 1/2 a few weeks later. Once the chemo had started it disappeared.
I'm now 2nd line chemo and the ascites has raised its head again. Got an ultrasound tomorrow hopefully paracentisis soon after.
If you haven't started chemo it will come back. It is one of the most uncomfortable of conditions. I couldn't lie down or bend over. Reflux and nausea and always feeling bloated.
I hope you will get some relief soon.
Love Chris xx
wow...tht is a lot more than I had drained. I can't imagine how uncomfortable that was. I am getting another paracentisis Wed at MD Anderson thank goodness. You are so right. The bloated feeling with reflux and nausea along with pain under the ribs is soooo hard to deal with. I start a new phase one trial drug Thursday as I failed the carbo/taxol after 3 rounds. We are hoping it works and also helps the ascitis.
Thanks Chris so much for answering. It really does help to hear that others are out there dealing with this side effect though I would not wish it on anyone.
Best wishes! Linda
Hi Linda, I had a job working out into litres 3400cc. Thankfully mine was measured in litres, much easier for us oldies who funtion on lbs + ozs.
It's a shame you couldn't continue with carbo/taxol that really sorted the ascites out. I'm hoping Caelyx will do the same this time. I have got anywhere near as much fluid this time as last year but it built up last year as they were trying to get a radiographer (radioligist) not quite sure to do a biopsy and in the meantime I just grew and grew and grew.
I hope your new chemo will agree with you better than last lot and that you will have a long remission, Keep us posted.
I hope my paracentesis takes place this week
love Chris x
Good luck to you Chris...Love ya!
Poor you it's miserable isn't it? Had a couple of bad bouts, over 10 litres each time I think. But quantity is relative, before we start getting into an "I was more bloated than you" match!!! A small amount for one person could be overwhelmingly bad for another.
What I learned was that if you ask really really firmly you can get the drain put in under proper heavy sedation, not just local - made the second bout much much easier to deal with.
What trial are you on? Good to share stuff like that as it provides us all with intel that can be useful! I had bad first reaction to taxol but luckily they managed spot up the antihistamines to the point I could continue.
Love
Sue xxx
Hi Sue,
I am starting a trial of an anti-mesothelin drug as I failed the first chemo of taxol/carbo. I am in USA and going to MD Anderson. I was not uncomfortable at all when I was drained first time and hope the second is the same.
Thanks for response....it truly helps to know that I am not alone 
Love, Linda
I agree ascities is a side effect we could do without. Last year I had a bad year, and has ascities not just in the abdomen. But also in the lungs. Thankfully the chemo got rid of it after 2 sessions. I'm thinking it will be one of the signs when things are on the move again.......
Good luck with the chemo.
Love n hugs
Viv
I agree ascities is a side effect we could do without. Last year I had a bad year, and has ascities not just in the abdomen. But also in the lungs. Thankfully the chemo got rid of it after 2 sessions. I'm thinking it will be one of the signs when things are on the move again.......
Good luck with the chemo.
Love n hugs
Viv
Hi last May I had ascities in my lung had about 3.1/2 litres. At first I thought I had a chest infection as the days when on my breathing became restricted, I had the drain and it was great, good for the weight!! Looking back on it I hadnt realised that the ascities went into that region, but I am much wiser and having this site gives me an insight of different warning signs to look out for. For which I am grateful. I can laugh about it now but at the time I thought is this my time!
I just seemed to struggle to breath, Obviously having seen the scan and the amount of liquid
I understood what was happening. Anyway the bright side is a year later still having had further treatment not any ascities I am still enjoying myself day to day. No doubt I may be moaning or joyful tomorrow having the dreaded scan results. After 3months of having a ball.Must get on my knees tonight and have a few words!!
Take care all
Regards Barbara
Hi Barbara, that must have been awful having that much fluid in your lungs, can't imagine the difficulty you breathing. No excess fluid is pleasant but struggling to breath is unthinkable.
Hope your scan results were to your liking, as you say it's a day to day existence and we just try to put our fears behind us, sometimes that is easier said than done.
I've had 4ltrs drained today and I feel as tho' I have been put thru' a wringer but I know I will feel better soon once the swelling has gone down. Just hope the chemo will absorb the rest of it.
love Chris x
Hi Linda,
I can vouch for the fact that ascites really is uncomfortable so i hope the chemo sorts it for you. I am only 8 stone and had 7 litres drained at diagnosis in December followed by 5litres and 4litres in the 4 weeks before i started chemo in January. The 5 and 4 litres made me more or less as uncomfortable as the 7 so i think once its more than say 3 litres and digging under your ribs its pretty debilitating anyway. For me the 3 cycles of carbo/taxol sorted it thankfully and it hasnt returned as yet - fingers crossed! The chemo also successfully downscaled my tumors ready for surgery. I had my debulking op just over 3 weeks ago and will be starting the (hopefully) final 3 cycles of carbo/taxol as soon as an appointment is arranged. Have you had your op yet or was the plan chemo first followed by surgery? I really hope your phase 1 trial drug works for you and gets rid of the ascites and kicks the cancer into touch!!
Lots of luck and love.
MB x
