Floating Tumors?
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So sorry to hear the troubles you a going through. Wehn you mentioned Ensure you didin’t say if he liked it. I just started Joe on Boost in between meals because he lost so much weight in a short time. The chocolate flavor is really good. I hope by now the bowel situation is resolved. We have had to resort to enemas once in awhile if Joe got really blocked. No one can feel good in that situation. Praying for you that you get some good advice and that you and Bob can talk about the situation openly. Mary Anne
Irene, Your at a scary place right now. Not knowing what is coming next also not knowing and having the professional support you need to help with Bob. It is also difficult for someone like me to give you advice as I ‘m not there and can’t see. But from what you describe Bob appears to be frighten and really needs to talk to a professional. Maybe a member of the clergy to talk with him and you both. You need to ask the doctor straight out ,is it time for hospice help or not. If so would he please help to get the ball rolling for at home hospice to help you out. Irene, I’m so sorry you are having to go through this alone. Pleae call a local cancer support group hotline and let them know you need help. If he has compacted bowels the doctors should have realized and done something about it. I really don’t know what else to say Irene except it’s time to rally the troops /family together and get as much help as possible. You are doing all you possibally can and should not ever feel guilty. Love him ,Hug him, and let him know now how much you love him and wish you could take his pain away. Let him know it’s okay to scared but you’ll be there for him. Maybe it is time to say it’s okay and he doesn’t have to fight anymore. You are there Irene and go with your gut fellings. At this stage or any stage there is no right or wrongs, only follow your heart and talking and telling him how you feel is what he is waiting for. He is a proud man full of dignity it appears and he just might need someone he loves to initiate the flow or release of feelings. Irene I’m sorry if this post seems so dramatic but I just feel for you both. I’m sure he knows How ill his. Irene, I really don’t feel sure about sending this post as I could be way off base, but my instincts are saying this is part of what this site is about, people offering caring opinions to those who are enduring the unfortunate physical and emotional pain of this disease.
God Bless You Both !
Jeff G.Irene,
It is apparent (after reading through your previous posts) the magnitude of issues you are dealing with (congestive heart failure, diabetes, in addition to the current situation) that you are doing as you had promised, you are taking care of Bob. At times, we caretakers depending on certain situations may have to make decisions we would elect not to do under normal circumstances however; they are in the best interest of our loved one and the present care crisis.
Hopefully, after the visit tomorrow with the physician you will be able to implement a system of care for Bob providing you some support with the physical and emotional needs warranted at this time.
Wishing for the absolute best,
Marionsdevon, thank you for your response. When we see the Dr. tomorrow I am going to ask about home help. When Bob was in the hospital I prepared a list of questions to ask the Dr. He gave me very brief answers but not enough information that I felt comfortable with what he gave me. The Dr. seemed irritated by my insistance to want to know what was happening. Bob is terrified of the hospital. He feels if he goes into the hospital he will not come home. Whenever I have had to call and ambulance I think he feels I have let him down. I promised him I would take care of him. Nursing home would never be an option, but at times I am paralyzed with fear. He breathes so shallow I have to watch to make sure he is still breathing. Sometimes I believe even now he has not accepted how ill he really is. Is that possible or does he know. We have never spoken about dying and so there are many things I would like to talk to him about but to do so would be acknowledging the inevitable. How does one approach it, or should it be up to Bob to do that. Irene, Bob’s wife
Irene,
I dont know what is happening, but it sounds like you might want to get him to the hospital again. Hang in there. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will pop along. Have you called the GI doctor and asked for an emergency appt. Or perhaps he has other patients in the hospital and is making rounds there already so if your husband is there, you might see him quicker. I am completely grasping at straws, but I dont think you should be handling this on your own. Your are only one woman and you cannot do everything-only what one nonmedical person can. You are doing great and doing your best, but it is ok to become a nasty person and demand help from those whose job it is to help you. I have a hard time being forceful with my doctors as being aggressive really isnt me and boy does my sister rip my and my husband a new one for being so passive. So I can complelely, 100% understand that you might have problems being demanding and basically a nuisance. However, you need help and it is unfair of the hospital and doctors to put it all at your feet. Both you and your husband deserve better. I hope you get the help and answers you need. I will think very positive thoughts for the both of you.Kris
Thank you all for your replies. Bob was admitted to the hospital a week last Sunday. He had a blocked small intestine, and multiple tumors in his stomach Had been vomiting again. Along with all the abdominal chronic pain. Once again they put the tube through his nose, threaded to the stomach and spent three days draining. Then they tried him on a liquid diet, broth and jello. After two days Dr’s switched him to solid food. He also received two units of blood due to anemia. Zofran for nausea and fentanyl pain patch and oxycontin, The solid food was left untouched, he was not hungry. So Friday morning came and the Dr. said he could go home.I explained to the Dr. that since they stopped the draining he was back to the symptoms before he was admitted. Chronic abdominal pain, no appetite and extreme weakness. The Dr remarked that at least he wasn’t vomiting. What was overlooked was he had not had a BM in 10 days, and it had been close to 36 hours he did not pee. But they sent him home. I should add that ALL his Dr’s were out of town. The Dr treating him, did not know him as a patient. After he got home he took a turn for the worse. Became dehydrated. I could not control his blood sugar because he had started vomiting again. He was confused, seemed almost delirious. I called his Dr. and was given the advice to get him to drink lots of fluids (I wish). I am trying all day long. He is unsteady on his feel. Lost more weight, total about 45 lbs. Nothing sounds good to eat. I finally got him to try Ensure. His face is grey in color. And today he has developed a a real crackly cough and laryngytus. How does one tell when a person has turned the corner. He cries out a lot in his sleep. If anyone has been through similar circumstances and has any advice I would surely welcome them. Thank you so much. Irene
We have a Dr’s appointment on Thursday with his GI.Dr.My metastasis was to the lining of my adbomen. My onc at the time, who has experience with over 200 cases of CC, said it presented like ovarian cancer and that they had seen this before. He started using a new marker for me, CA125, which was highly elevated. Fortunately for me the combination of treatments that I used worked, or perhaps it was just my getting a long straw.
If Bob has ascities this can sometimes test positive for cancer. I wonder if that is what they are referring to as ‘floating tumors’.
I struggled with nausea but did not have to use prescription drugs. The insurance reaction sounds typical but so unfair to me. I hope they agree on a substitute that works. I’ve posted this before and I recognize it isn’t acceptable for many but I relieved my nausea with marijuana. It was amazingly successful. VT does have a medical marijuana statute but is also very lenient in cases like ours. I didn’t bother with all the paperwork for the medical statute.
Some of my distress also came from a very acid stomach. I used over the counter Ranitadine (sp?) for while but much better was pure plum extract my Chinese medicine practitioner gave me called Ume. It has no other ingredient other then a paste like substance boiled down from the plumb. Bitter beyond any pucker factor I’d ever tasted but worked very well for me.My two cents. I hope your husband finds comfort and that the treatment shrinks the tumors.
Courage,
Peterhi irene,
all i can say is, fight, fight, fight. as much trouble as i have had, and continue to have with blue x ppo, i have had some positive results by fighting back via appeals and seeking help with my husband’s employer.
i am about to file a claim with the california state board against blue x, but blue x does pay for my zofran….at least at this point they are paying.
also, if you meet certain parameters, you might qualify for one of the medication programs that assists patients with their meds. i think the one i’m trying to use is SPOC. sorry, but my brain is so-o-o-o fried from chemo. ohhh here it is.. Access to Care.. phone # 1-800-530-3083. perhaps they can be of help.
bless you,
barb hLet me guess… Your husband’s prescription was for Zofran. My understanding is that insurance often objects to paying for this expensive drug. My wife was initially rejected by the prescription plan. However, under the insistence of my employer’s HR manager and the doctor, the insurance company paid for all but 5% of the cost. The process took a few days…
I am sorry to hear report of your husband’s low appetite and that the cancer seems to be more active. My warm wishes are with you and sincere hope that the chemotherapy quickly improves your husbands situation!
Warm Regards,
ChrisBile duct cancer was the original diagnosis. Then the tumor invaded the stomach. Recent cat scan showed the tumor was causing the stomach to shrink and thickening the abdominal walls. This is the reason for the pain he suffers and only being able to eat very small amounts of food. This latest scan shows the addition of multiple “floating tumors.” Has anyone ever heard of floating tumors? Dr has been waiting for Bob to gain some strength before chemo. But, now he feels there is no time to waste as the cancer has speeded up. He got his first chemo treatment yesterday. This is in hopes of shrinking the tumors to alleviate the chronic pain and allow him to increase the amount of food he consumes. Dr. gave him a prescription for chemo nausea. However when I went to pick it up was told the insurance had turned it down. Cost $770.00. They are supposed to call his Dr. today. I guess to encourage the Dr. to prescribe something that is not so expensive.
If anyone has any info. on stomach cancer from Bile Duct cancer I would really appreciate anything you can tell me. Irene, Bob’s wife.
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