debnorcal
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Wow, that’s the best possible news! Wishing your husband a speedy recovery so he can get back to healthy, regular life!
Debbie
Susie,
Congratulations to you!! It is so very inspiring for many in this community to hear your success story. Thank you for taking the time to share your news with us.
Your words radiate JOY, and that is what I wish for you – more and more joy going forward.
Debbie
Hi Carmel,
This is the first I’ve heard of dumping syndrome, so I’m a novice on this topic. I took a quick look at Mayo Clinic’s online summary, though. It sounds like this must make him incredibly uncomfortable and he has my sympathy. From what you described, he is doing most of what Mayo recommends (small, frequent meals, healthy eating etc.) It may be worth a conversation with him to check his understanding of “healthy” eating. Not at all meant to insult him, rather to be sure he is following expert advice on what constitutes healthy. I know even in my family, each of us has a different set of “healthy” guidelines.
Key dietary items per Mayo include
– No sugar. In addition to table sugar, this includes fruits (sucrose), milk (lactose which converts to sugar in the body) and other foods that may contain sugar.
– Eat more protein, which digests more slowly and adds weight
– Include fats like olive oil, mayonaise or margerine
– Increase fiber – to slow digestion. (Physillium works well).
If he is following all of this and still has concerning symptoms, there are medications that can be prescribed. The site also recommended lying down after meals to slow digestion.
Hope this was a little helpful. Best wishes to your brother.
Debbie
Elia,
Getting test/scan results can be very scary and confusing and I know it’s hard not to worry. In your mum’s case, the good results from liver function and tumor marker tests are all a positive. The hyperechoic area of the liver that appeared on the ultrasound means the tissue is a little different than the surrounding liver tissue. It could be from anything, including the surgery. So I would advise not to worry (easier said than done) and instead see what the CT scan results show then see what the doctor says about it.
I am sending thoughts of positive results for your mum.
debbie
Matt,
Ditto what Catherine said. We are all pulling for you! And no metastasis is a good thing!
Debbie
Erashid,
I agree with the comments offered by the others. I also want to add that my husband had an extended liver resection with vein/duct reconstruction on 1/12/15 and he had a lot of pain and discomfort for about three and a half months. He reported it to the doctors and they kept an eye on it and advised that most of it was related to sensitive nerve endings in the areas of surgery. He also had shoulder pain and sharp pains occasionally on the side opposite of the surgery, where two drains exited, and in the last few weeks it has almost entirely resolved. I think each patient responds differently. These are very big surgeries of course, and recovery can take some time. Hope your mum continues to recover and is pain free soon.
debbie
Maggie,
I am so very sorry for your loss. Many of us wonder what causes CC. This foundation and others are raising funds for awareness advocacy and to fund tumor banks and research specific to CC. They are making good headway and we are hearing more and more stories of successful treatment options. There is much work to be done to figure out this highly complex cancer and, unfortunately, it is too late for your father. That saddens me, but there is also hope for many going forward.
I wish you peace.
Debbie
Annie,
I’m so sorry to hear that your Mother-in-law passed and that your father-in-law is taking it so hard (understandably). It sounds like you have a strong family support system, which will be helpful to all of you. I’m glad that she was able to pass peacefully, knowing that your husband will care for everyone.
Sending healing thoughts your way.
Debbie
Christian,
I am so sorry to hear that your mum has passed. I’m sure it was heartbreaking for you. You sound like an amazing son and you did so much to ease your mum with love into her passing, which sounds like it was peaceful for her. I hope knowing you made it easier for her brings you some measure of comfort.
Thank you for sharing your mum’s update with us all.
Wishing you peace.
Debbie
Dear Dai, Catherine, Marion and Julie,
Thank you all for celebrating our newest milestone with us. This community has provided information, support and friendship, which we appreciate more than words can say.
Lainy, thank you also, and we are so happy that your surgery went so well!
I must say, after 15 months of this battle, “normal” seems eerily unfamiliar, but we are so happy to be figuring it out and getting back to it
Hugs to all!
Debbie
Just wanted to update everyone on my husband, Mike’s latest good news. Following his successful extended resection and slow but steady recovery, he had 5 doses of Cyberknife to “clean up” any stray CC cells that may have remained at the margin. He tolerated that very well.
Today, four months after his resection, Mike RETURNED TO WORK!! Things continue to look up for our family and we feel incredibly blessed.
To everyone out there fighting this battle, or caring for someone who is, please don’t give up. Address each day and each obstacle with courage and a positive attitude. We did and are so glad we didn’t give up.
Debbie
Kris, I am so sorry for your loss. You and Mark maintained a tremendous spirit through this difficult journey and your deep love for each other radiated from the “pages” of this board. May that love bring you peace going forward. Debbie
Aiste,
I don’t post as often as I would like to. My husband had his extended resection 1/12/15 and his recovery, which has been excellent but long, keeps me busy most days. That and caring for my three teenagers.
I was glad to read that your dad’s surgery went well and his recovery is positive also. In one of your posts, you mentioned that your 16 year old son now sees that Grandpa’s illness is quite serious, and feels scared and at a loss. Despite how awful this disease is, your son may surprise you with new maturity and personal growth. My son was 16 last summer when we received the diagnosis and very grim prognosis (before we found the amazing doctors at UCSF that were willing to try to cure him). It hit him very hard and we were very worried for him. We were surprised by the huge leaps in personal growth that developed, and by his demonstration of love and support for his dad and for our entire family. It sounds like your son is a “deep thinker”, as is mine and they do grasp that their childhood feeling of security and permanence is an illusion. It is a cold, hard lesson to learn, and one that no one wants their child to experience firsthand this way. However, there can be a silver lining to this dark cloud -they may see what a blessing life is and move forward in a more deliberate way. Mine did, and I hope yours will also. One thing that I believe helped quite a bit was maintaining open lines of communication, talking about our need to find healthy outlets for our stress, and also remaining positive and taking one day at a time.
I will continue to follow your posts. You and your family will be in my prayers.
Debbie
