Is ascites common

[midlifemom]

Is ascites common with crc?
Do many folks need an external drain? Or just go to hosp when need to be drained?

How do you know when you need it drained?

Any other info on this greatly appreciated.

[Lee]

Yes it can happen. Yes they can drain it. Hope others with more knowledge than me will come along. Do you think you have it? If yes, call your Dr 1st thing tomorrow morn.

(((HUGS))

Lee

[Willow.NZ]

I'm sorry that things sound like they may not be progressing well for you. My Dad had ascites & the palliative team discussed drainage only if become severe. His ascites was only evident in the last 2 weeks of life and did not require drainage. Are you at a point of considering whether to Continue chemo or not? My thoughts are with you as I know you have endured so much.

[DarknessEmbraced]

I'm sorry you are dealing with this!*hugs* I hope you were able to get a hold of your doctor!*hugs* Hope you feel better soon!*hugs*

[exaussie]

Call your Dr asap. Cause needs to be found. Hugs and warm thoughts to you

[jortego128]

We dealt with ascites with my mom. As far as anybody knew, it was from her liver involvement. Malignant ascites of the abdomen is very commonly associated with significant liver involvement. She was dx'd in June, and had visible abdominal swelling by mid to late October. It was not painful, but uncomfortable, because untreated you can swell to the point you appear to be 6+months pregnant and it puts pressure on your stomach, intestines and lungs.

The procedure to drain is called paracentesis and is a relatively simple outpatient procedure. At my moms first paracentesis procedure the doctor drained approximately 5 liters of ascites fluid from her abdomen (For reference, this is about 20 lbs, its a lot). The next two or so they also drained 3 to 4 liters. The fluid is a clear, I'd say lemon yellow color fluid.

This is OK, until your ascites becomes advanced and fills your abdomen too often. In the last few months of her life her ascites would need draining every two weeks or less. At that point it become more than just an annoyance--it was another burden, and in my experienced opinion, at that point a permanent drainage catheter that you can drain at home is a much better option . Even the catheter installation was an outpatient procedure. I believe she had about 3 outpatient paracentesis procedures before we opted for the drainage catheter.




My mom used the PleurX system seen below and I must say I have a good opinion of it. Easy to use, effective, and safe.

http://www.carefusion.com/our-products/ ... age-system

Things you can do to help slow the ascites include limiting your sodium (salt) intake and taking diuretic medication. This may help slow, but not stop, the ascites.


Please feel free to ask me here or PM me any more questions as I have personal experience with this as my moms caregiver.

Josh

[mariane]

I am very very sorry. Sending prayers

[exaussie]

I hope you got the drs to make a plan for you.
Best wishes for your health

[mariane]

Midlifemom,

Thinking about you all the time and praying for you.

[michellecairn]

It was not painful, but uncomfortable, because untreated you can swell to the point you appear to be 6+months pregnant and it puts pressure on your stomach, intestines and lungs.

Jortego128 is right about acites being uncomfortable. I have had it since my dx, and it's gotten worse with time.

I do look somewhere between 6-9 months pregnant. I have not worn a pair of jeans or normal pants in just about a year. I live in yoga pants and sweatpants. I actually have 1 pair of maternity pants, and a few maternity shorts that I'd rather wear.

I do not have any liver involvement, but I do have perinoteal carcinomatos, so I'm told that is the cause of my ascites. I haven't been given an option to have it drained at all. The reasoning is that it will just come back.

I'm actually afraid of what I would look like if it was drained as I've lost so much weight that I am 10 pounds away from my lowest weight ever.

Right before my dx, my ascites was drained only because my OBGYN was doing a laproscoptic procedure on me because he thought I had residual blood clots in my abdomen - not cancer. My ascites wasn't nearly as bad as it is at the moment, but I did get great relief at the time. It honestly didn't last long though. So I just add this to the list of side effects I've got and soldier on.

Best wishes to everyone!

[justin case]

Yes it can happen. Yes they can drain it. Hope others with more knowledge than me will come along. Do you think you have it? If yes, call your Dr 1st thing tomorrow morn.

(((HUGS))

Lee

This is a very serious situation, I would take Lee's advise !

[Pita]

How are you doing MLM, we haven't heard from you for awhile? Always prayers and hugs... ox

[lpas]

Thinking of you MLM, and hoping all is OK. Please check in when you can.