1. < Esophageal Cancer

Fluids building in abdomen - is there any natural way to relieve this

Posted by pottsy1016 @pottsy1016, Dec 18, 2022

I have never asked a question before now and am not sure this is the right way
I am the caregiver for my husband who has stage four esophageal cancer - his abdomen is most uncomfortable and has been getting larger over the last few weeks
Is there anyone who might help - is there something he can do to

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 18, 2022

@pottsy1016, welcome. I'm glad you posted your question. It must be hard to see your husband in such discomfort.

I think what you are describing may be ascites (swollen tummy). I believe the only way to relieve this is to have your doctor drain the fluid. It will provide almost instant relief.

Have you talk to your husband's oncologist about his tummy? Does he have metastasis to the liver?

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1 reply
pottsy1016 | @pottsy1016 | Dec 18, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "@pottsy1016, welcome. I'm glad you posted your question. It must be hard to see your husband..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@pottsy1016, welcome. I'm glad you posted your question. It must be hard to see your husband in such discomfort.

I think what you are describing may be ascites (swollen tummy). I believe the only way to relieve this is to have your doctor drain the fluid. It will provide almost instant relief.

Have you talk to your husband's oncologist about his tummy? Does he have metastasis to the liver?

Jump to this post

He did have metastasis to the live but his last scan showed nothing in his liver
Our oncologist is not very helpful which is why I finally posted here - I need the knowledge your posts offer to be able to ask the oncologist questions other than from my own research
It has proved to be very helpful with the experiences posted
My husband has faired fairly well since his diagnosis a year and a half ago but the chemo is wearing on him and his outlook is dim
Our oncologist has 72 plus hours to respond to us which will be Monday - so I will see if I can get him some relief then.
Thank you

REPLY
2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 18, 2022
In reply to @pottsy1016 "He did have metastasis to the live but his last scan showed nothing in his liver..." + (show)
@pottsy1016

He did have metastasis to the live but his last scan showed nothing in his liver
Our oncologist is not very helpful which is why I finally posted here - I need the knowledge your posts offer to be able to ask the oncologist questions other than from my own research
It has proved to be very helpful with the experiences posted
My husband has faired fairly well since his diagnosis a year and a half ago but the chemo is wearing on him and his outlook is dim
Our oncologist has 72 plus hours to respond to us which will be Monday - so I will see if I can get him some relief then.
Thank you

Jump to this post

Pottsy, I’m sorry that communication with the oncologist is challenging. I’m tagging a few other members who have familiarity with abdominal fluid (ascites) like @digibson @rosemarya @keepmoving2 @ja5747.

While no cancer lesions were seen on his liver at the time of his last scan, you may wish to ask the oncologist if a) he has ascites and b) about his liver function.

REPLY
keepmoving2 | @keepmoving2 | Jan 4, 2023
In reply to @pottsy1016 "He did have metastasis to the live but his last scan showed nothing in his liver..." + (show)
@pottsy1016

He did have metastasis to the live but his last scan showed nothing in his liver
Our oncologist is not very helpful which is why I finally posted here - I need the knowledge your posts offer to be able to ask the oncologist questions other than from my own research
It has proved to be very helpful with the experiences posted
My husband has faired fairly well since his diagnosis a year and a half ago but the chemo is wearing on him and his outlook is dim
Our oncologist has 72 plus hours to respond to us which will be Monday - so I will see if I can get him some relief then.
Thank you

Jump to this post

Hi - just following up if there is any additional news and if you need to know anything else about ascites? I am hoping that you received more and better information from your husband's oncologist. Fingers crossed.

REPLY
1 reply
pottsy1016 | @pottsy1016 | Feb 11, 2023
In reply to @keepmoving2 "Hi - just following up if there is any additional news and if you need to..." + (show)
@keepmoving2

Hi - just following up if there is any additional news and if you need to know anything else about ascites? I am hoping that you received more and better information from your husband's oncologist. Fingers crossed.

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Sorry I meant to respond but we seem to spend hours upon hours sitting in doctors offices with such conflicting results
After almost two years of trying different chemo treatments he is now on a trial of two immunotherapies- he sleeps most of the time - weighs 127 pounds - a strong diuretic has helped with the fluid so paracentisis is not needed quite so often
Test results are a bit concerning from last week but they will do a scan after his next infusion on the 27th
He is now on an antidepressant along with raglan and Prilosec and a few other medications to try and allow him to eat without feeling sick
We take one day at a time but not much encouragement from anywhere and definitely a lot of unknowns still in spite of our questions
The immunotherapy is making him itch terribly so he may have no option but to stop and not sure if any other options will be offered
Sorry this is so long - struggling so much with not being able to help him

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 18, 2023
In reply to @pottsy1016 "Sorry I meant to respond but we seem to spend hours upon hours sitting in doctors..." + (show)
@pottsy1016

Sorry I meant to respond but we seem to spend hours upon hours sitting in doctors offices with such conflicting results
After almost two years of trying different chemo treatments he is now on a trial of two immunotherapies- he sleeps most of the time - weighs 127 pounds - a strong diuretic has helped with the fluid so paracentisis is not needed quite so often
Test results are a bit concerning from last week but they will do a scan after his next infusion on the 27th
He is now on an antidepressant along with raglan and Prilosec and a few other medications to try and allow him to eat without feeling sick
We take one day at a time but not much encouragement from anywhere and definitely a lot of unknowns still in spite of our questions
The immunotherapy is making him itch terribly so he may have no option but to stop and not sure if any other options will be offered
Sorry this is so long - struggling so much with not being able to help him

Jump to this post

@pottsy1016, how are you holding up?

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