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Help with ascites

Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: Nov 5, 2023 | Replies (21)
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@k13

Is ascites the same as edema? My husband has been in the hospital for 18 days and has had tremendous swelling in legs and ankles and genitalia. Very uncomfortable . He had a liver infection which was treated w antibiotics, but he was also dehydrated and malnourished due to his vomiting and lack of appetite. He had a stent put in to help food go down, but by then he had to go 3 days with no food and little drink, bc he had tube in his nose sucking the fluids out prior to the surgery to clean him out . Now kidneys are damaged. So many problems. Drs don't want to give too much lasix bc that can also damage kidneys. I haven't heard of this draining procedure. Any advice?

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Replies to "Is ascites the same as edema? My husband has been in the hospital for 18 days..."
asingh90 | @asingh90 | Jul 17, 2023

Ascites is the buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity, while edema is the buildup of fluid in other parts of the body (usually in the legs/ankles). My Mom has both, but the edema has become much less because of the diuretics prescribed by the doctor. The ascites is causing her much malnutrition, dehydration, and lack of energy, because it makes it difficult to eat until all the fluid is drained. There is a procedure called paracentesis that drains the fluid in the abdomen by sticking in a needle to the stomach and using a vacuum to suck the fluid out. Of course, until the cancer is controlled, the fluid continues to re-collect very soon, so this is a procedure that my Mom has to have at least once a week. As far as I know, I don't think there is a procedure to drain the fluid in the legs/ankles. Our doctor never mentioned it to us anyway. The diuretics took a while to work for my Mom and only after an increase in dosage along with the use of a second diuretic did we begin to see some some results (it took three weeks of using one diuretic on low dose for three weeks with no effect, and then around four additional weeks of using the increased double diuretics to see some shrinkage of the edema). Even now, it is not completely gone, but is is improved. It also helps to keep the legs elevated above the heart and lymphatic massage can be somewhat helpful as well. I'm so sorry he is going through this. I pray he feels better very soon.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 17, 2023

@k13, this article helps explain the difference between ascites and edema.
- Swelling (ascites and oedema) https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information/end-of-life-care-for-pancreatic-cancer/symptoms-towards-end-of-life/swelling-ascites-and-oedema/

In short, ascites is fluid buildup in the tummy area (abdomen) and edema is fluid buildup in other body part (arms, legs, feet and/or genetalia. Ascites can be drained. Edema can be helped with pressure stockings or lymphatic massage.

It sounds like your husband is dealing with many symptoms. This must be so hard to watch. Do you have a symptom management nurse or palliative team to help him manage these symptoms and be comfortable? How are YOU doing?

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