Ovarian & fallopian cancer: Life is hard since bowel resection

Posted by mmbinnj @mmbinnj, Aug 29, 2023

High-grade serous ovarian & fallopian cancer Stage 4b

Help needed. I am a 62 yr old, 57 days post debulk (7/3/23), have had 1 of 6 rounds of chemo. Total hysterectomy, removed appendix, spleen, gallbladder. Had diaphragm resection. 2 bowel resections- (RECTUM, LOW ANTERIOR-told 4”, SMALL BOWEL RESECTION WITH SIDE TO SIDE ANASTOMOSIS-told 15.5”).
My life has been so challenging since dx & the initial debulk. I had a delayed dx of c-diff I picked up at the hospital, but was missed (took 6 weeks of me begging “something is wrong). I have undergone 11 days of Vancomyosin, and there is a thought of reoccurrence (may take a course of Dificid). I am trapped near my bathroom because it takes me sometimes a dozen BMs, I have abdominal pain (dull like a permanent horrible stomach ache), and pain when moving bowels (including rectal pain).
My gyn onc surgeon did all my “parts” and he just keeps telling me “this is normal”. How can this pain, periodic fecal incontinence, inability to gain weight, and no semblance of normal bowels be normal 57 days later? Does anyone have ANY advice post bowel resection this long past surgery? I eat small simple mealsI (rice, chicken, non-gassy vegs). I know I am complicated because of the stage of my cancer and the radical debulk surgery, and the fact that I had/have c-diff, and am now in chemo. I’ve also engaged a naturopath Dr. -just nothing is giving me good days. Thank you to anyone who has ideas. ❤️

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Gynecologic Cancers Support Group.

jm | @jodimj | Sep 15, 2023

In reply to @msfarn "I tried to send you a private message. Did you get it, Jodi MJ?" + (show)

I’m getting con-fused, I think I did, it was fun. You mentioned working in the garden and having a decent time.
I replied via private message and I don’t know?
Sent you an email and it failed.
What up , we both bad with this, or … I don’t know!

jm | @jodimj | Sep 16, 2023

In reply to @naturegirl5 "@jodimj I’m using an iPad as I type this. When I scroll to the top of..." + (show)

Thank you for helping. I’m sure I was writing in private messages, and neither myself nor the friend can seem to locate them. So only a few private messages have been accessed.
So Helen any direction would be appreciated. Please and thankyou

val64 | @val64 | Sep 16, 2023

On my phone, at the top right there is a magnifying glass, a bell, and a head and shoulders. If you click on the head and shoulders, you get a menu with "messages" as one choice. Click that.

tamh | @tamh | Sep 23, 2023

In reply to @msfarn "I am just starting out as well. Three cycles of carbo/ taxol with carboplatin once every..." + (show)

Dear msfarn,
I too received Taxol for chemotherapy. I was in my mid-thirties when I was diagnosed with stage 2b ovarian cancer.
I was told by my oncologist that with Taxol, I most certainly would lose my hair. My reaction was a stoic acceptance wrapped in comic denial. So I made a plan to ease myself into the loss of my strawberry locks. My hair was long. (middle of my back). The first thing I did, before the chemo started, was to have my hair cut as short as possible-a “boy cut”.
My hair started to fall out not long after my first 6 hour course. So, the next thing I did, was ask my husband if he would shave my head, as I didn’t think I could. I did shed a couple of small tears, but I kept telling myself that it WILL grow back.
I’m not sure if the acceptance of my fate, as a bald woman, was simple denial or something else. Regardless, I found the best way to cope was to face it with humor.
I started mass emailing my progress toward my “Mr. (Mrs.) Clean look to friends and family. Apparently my humor was appreciated. And, it helped me to laugh at myself.
I told the tales of going to my appointment to pick out a wig. I’d never worn a wig in my life. And my wig ignorance was as obvious as my fuzzy scalp.
As I’m getting fitted with my new mop, the hairdresser says to me: “Of course you’re going to need a chin strap.” I was baffled. A chin strap? I’m thinking it might be for windy days, even as I’m aware that I’ve never seen anyone wearing a chin strap. I asked: “Won’t the chin strap make it obvious that I’m wearing a wig?” The hairdresser’s response was abrupt. “You only wear it when you’re styling your wig.”
Ohhh, of course. I felt silly.
Long story short—I think humor helped me get through the ordeal. If you can laugh at yourself, given what you’ve facing, and you have wonderful, loving support. It’s not so bad.
My eyelashes and eyebrows were the last to go (and the first to return). Honestly, that loss was more surprising and traumatic than losing the hair on my head. But, I found a way to lighten up. I didn’t miss shaving my legs and underarms. This too is not permanent.
As for my rather expensive wig (insurance covered half), I hardly wore it. It was heavy and hot. I chose to wear hats—fun ones.
I got through my 6 courses and am proud to say (21
years later), I’m still here and no longer bald. I was surprised at how quickly it came back. And, I’ve kept it short. My Mia Farrow in “Rosemary’s Baby” look is less time consuming—a bonus gotten from a step I never end dreamed I’d take.
I know what you’re going through. You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers. Just try using humor. Erma Bombeck said, “…it’s the best medicine.”
Hugs.