HIPEC interview on KPBS

[Cancerislame]

Hello, I hope this url works. The story about HIPEC starts about 19.30 minutes in. My part is at the very end. It's good but he did say I did HIPEC because of a liver met. My met had always been there but we suspected it was scar tissue before the RFA during my surgery.

4.5 weeks out from surgery, I have been doing pretty well until yesterday. I am having my first small bowell obstruction...so painful. I'm in the hospital now doing bowell rest. No ng tube yet. Anyway, talk you soon.

Jennifer

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DSNZwCek3G5U&v=SNZwCek3G5U&gl=US

[RixInPhx]

Best wishes Jenn.

My connection is too slow for that interview, but I'm sure it's very good.

-Rick

[las]

Very interesting, thank u for sharing and wishing u the best from that intense surgey. Praying u soon get over the obstruction

Lisa

[frances]

Hey Jen,

Just watched the video, you were great in it. Very pointed in your comments. I guess you can only be glad they didn't film you on the table!!! Ha ha, you were able to be an interview without compromising your virtue and shedding your clothes!!

Good on ya.

Say, Rix, did you notice the MOBILE or DESKTOP option at the start of that - cos mine wouldn't work either until I saw that...

Frances

[esk2poo]

Great job and you look marvelous! Happy to se you doing so well and good luck with all.
Allen

[SoConfused]

Jennifer, I am sorry to hear about your small bowel obstruction ... hope it resolves soon and that you're pain free.

Thanks so much for posting this video. I did not realize HIPEC and cytoreductive surgery dates as back as 30 years ago. I wonder why if this option has been around for so long, more doctors and patients are taking advantage of it.

[prtza]

I've put an avi file of this video clip here, for those of you who want to download it:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/44803331/Tuesd ... ouTube.avi

[Cancerislame]

Howdy,

I finally got out of the hospital on July 4th, it definitely felt like independence day for me. My small bowel obstruction was awful! First so much pain. Then no eating (bowel rest), then the dreaded mg tube. Mine never suctioned good, I was constantly adj. because the nurses wouldn't but the Dr. And surgeon would get mad at them. Then a scan finally showed scar tissue twisting my bowel. So 4 days after admittance I was schedule for surgery. This is all complicated because I had only had my HIPEC surgery 5 weeks prior and I was in Vegas far away from my surgeon in San Diego. Surgery went good, he used same incision plus two more perpendicular to it and used tension sutures on those in case they had to go back in soon. They are very painful. Recovery was weird because I got a really high heart rate and was very upset so they gave me ativan. That made me hallucinate. I don't know how I ended up with the floor I was on but I literally remember walking around and checking things out like I was at a dorm party...bizarre. So, then Haldol was donei instead. I finally got stable and my insurance wanted me back to so cal. So 5 days after surgery my husband and I were flown back to rivrside, ca in a very small plane. Such an adventure! Fortunately, my parent's could drive Jons car back. I finally got to have liquids, it had been 2 weeks. Then gas, and poop and progressed food. On the 4th surgeon asked what I wanted and I wanted out...I just had to manage the pain without diladid injections. So, I did. I have been told to do a low fiber diet, that is hard when you also follow a vegan diet. I am juicing and cooking my veggies before hand so hopefully that helps. I am so scared this will happen again. But, I knew it was a risk when I signed up for the HIPEC surgery. Side note, when I got to the hospital in riverside my surgeon and resident on call had met my HIPEC surgeon that day becausebhe was doing a lecture on it so at least they talked my case over, then my other surgeon I had knew my HIPEC surgeon from New York. Small world. Dr. Lowy is featured in this story. Anyway, that is my tale.

[Ashlee H.]

Wow! This update deserves its' own thread. You did so well after HIPEC. I'm so sorry you had this complication. But, as you mentioned, we all know what we sign up for with this surgery - complications are very high. But, sounds like you are on the mend. Here's hoping cancer is out of your body forever. What are you eating since you are Vegan and they want you on a low fiber diet? Where do you get most of your protein? There was recent post on another healthy diet. Most seem to agree no meat, dairy or refined sugar. But seems disagreement on what veggies, fruits, and beans one should eat. I'm doing my best cutting back, but not 100% yet.

[Cancerislame]

Hi,

I am juicing whatever is on sale. For instance my last batch was bok choy, broccoli, carrots and nectarines. Needed some berries though, a little unsweet. I don't really look for protein. Most veggies have it. I have been eating rice with cooked veggies broccoli and bok choy, pasta with pesto (no cheese). Potatoes cooked. Zuchini chocolate muffins. Soups with noodles....so far so good, I'm sure there are better things for me and I should do less veggies but I love them!

Jennifer

[stephh]

Hey Jennifer! I am glad to hear you are out of the hospital and doing well. I am sorry you had that blockage and had to go in! Sounds like quite a journey with the hallucinations and all that!
I know it's scary-the possibilities of obstructions. I feel the same too. I forget-do you have an ostomy? I had my HIPEC #2 recently and just got a colostomy. I fear it will block up on me too. I hate the dreaded NG tube....
Saw the news footage of you and thought it was fantastic! So glad you could do that.
When do you start up on chemo again? Or will you?
I'm 5 weeks post HIPEC #2, and can't fathom systemic chemo right now...I need to gain some strength back and some weight too, before I can even think of chemo. Hoping I heal quickly. This 2nd time around was a lot harder than my first run with HIPEC. But then again, they also did a lot more inside me too. I'm thankful it's done and over with.
Hoping you are healing well, and have no more issues with obstructions.
So you juice your veggies? I was told no fresh/raw fruits/veggies. No skins from them,,,and no seeds (like in tomatoes-which I LOVE). I've been on a pretty bland diet. I do miss my tomatoes and other veggies. I think this is all because of the ostomy though.
Take care

[Cancerislame]

Hi Stephh,

I don't have an ostomy so we dont have that to compare. When I juice my veggies it outs all the rough fiber in the side and it makes it so you are getting all the nutrients but easy to digest. I have a Breville. I thought I saw on one wwebsite about low fiber/residue that tomatoes were ok...I love them too. It may be different with the ostomy. I was supposed to start Xeloda on Thursday but since it will be only almost 3 weeks from obstruction surgery I don't know. Last I talked to onc. He wanted me to feel good before I made the deciscion. Since the internal surgery was minor I have been feeling good except for the pain from the tension sutures. Also, my onc. Said he would probably do 5 days on 2 off for the xeloda and that would make it more manageable. I also eat toast and peanut butter a lot.
I am glad to hear you are doing ok after a second HIPEC, props to you! Take it easy but walk as much as you can and you will eventually get your strength back.

Jennifer

[handicap18]

Great segment. Thanks for sharing.

I'm big into juicing too. The great thing about juicing is that it separates the insoluble fiber from the fruits and veggies. You only get the soluble fiber. Most veggies have a decent amount of protein. When you combine veggies you get more protein. Bok Choy is good. As are all leafy greens. I use kale, rainbow chard, spinach, cabbage (though I prefer red cabbage) and book Choy. Adding ginger root to all your juices is also very benificial. I also add 4 ounces of coconut water to each of my juices. Sometime I'll also add pomegranate juice until they become available in the fall so I can juice my own.

I love using pink lady apples with black grapes and either black berries or raspberries along with kale, carrots, broccoli, red cabbage, lemon and ginger root. VERY VERY yummy!!!

I also use asparagus and cucumber. Other fruits I like to combine are oranges and pineapple, sometimes with mango or papaya.

I always use fruits and veggies in each juice. It has helped me tremendously, especially with my energy.

[frances]

Yo, Ill have one of those chocolate zucchini muffins .... so jealous ....!

Frances

[Cancerislame]

Frances,

The muffins are awesome especially because my mother in law or my dad will make them for me...I have never made them! Maybe some day. I am going to make a box chocolate cake with pumpkin puree instead of oil and egg. So easy and yummy.