Anyone else get bloating and abdominal pain from NETS or Lanreotide?
I have primary NET in the small intestine, spread to stomach wall and liver. I just got my 3rd monthly Somatuline (Lanreotide) injection 4/12. About a week to 10days after i get extreme gut pains and bloating. I have had to vomit on 3 occasions now. Is from the NETs or the treatment? Does anyone else experience this? Do certain foods cause this reaction?
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) Support Group.
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Yes, however I take Octreotide instead of the LAN. I’ve done a food journal and found out I’m not able to tolerate some foods but I still get abdominal and back pain.
@rkklinger
That was good information given by @fraaseo. I have had three surgeries for NETs, and during the second surgery, the surgeon removed the gallbladder; he said it was "in the way" of the surgical area. I now realize that was a good thing, as having a gallbladder might interfere with any treatment that I may need down the road.
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1 ReactionHe does have his gallbladder. Thank you for that information. We will talk to the Dr about that.
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2 ReactionsI agree with rkklinger that eating small and more frequent meals is better in this circumstance. I also found that when starting most treatments, it could take a bit before symptoms show, and likewise when stopping (the effect can continue for a while). This has been my experience, and likely we are all different. The right diet also makes it easier on our systems.
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2 ReactionsJust a thought, does your husband still have his gallbladder? The shots are known to cause gallbladder issues.
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2 ReactionsLittle over a year and definitely helps. The tumors are the same but did not grow.
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2 ReactionsHi there Teresa,
It’s been a little over a year that I’ve been on the shots. My first scan was after 6 months on meds and no tumor growth was detected. I have a bunch in my liver. Two that are in specific lobes and a bunch of little hanging out everywhere.
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2 Reactions@rkklinger
I'm glad to hear that you are meeting with a Nutrition Oncologist at Mayo, which must be helpful. Was it suggested that he eat small, more frequent meals? I would love to hear any suggestions mentioned by the Nutrition Oncologist.
I am glad that you found Connect and that the information here has helped you. I can understand you feeling anxious about the October 6 scan. We all have scan-anxiety.
I look forward to hearing from you as you have questions or need a listening ear.
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1 ReactionThank you for the link on eating. It was interesting. The surgery in 1995 was for 1 tumor between the ilium and the bowel. 7 of the 11 lymph nodes removed were malignant. His 5HIAA was checked for 12 years and he decided not to check in yearly after that. He has lived a very normal life with no issues until a few years ago when he couldn't taste food. That started a couple of years before he had Covid so it wasn't related. With the amount of tumors throughout his body and skull, the cancer has obviously been metastizing for several years. We are meeting monthly with a Nutrition Oncologist at Mayo. Unfortunately, I haven't found any definite consistency with any certain foods. The pain just seems to pop up at different times during the month after injection. We go in for scans, etc on October 6. This is the first time since rediagnosis that he has gone 6 months so we are a little anxious. I really appreciate all of the information I'm seeing on Connect.
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5 ReactionsHello @rkklinger,
I so admire the attitude you and your husband have in the face of this long-term chronic condition he has experienced. I see that he has discomfort after meals. I want to suggest looking at another discussion on Connect, which might be helpful. Here is the title and the link:
--How Do I Eat After Digestive Tract Surgery
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-do-i-eat-after-digestive-tract-surgery/
Often, minor changes in the quality or quantity of food can make a difference in symptoms. There are members who have posted in this group who have a similar diagnosis to your husband's, and their suggestions might be helpful.
You say that he had surgery in 1995. was the surgery in the upper digestive tract? I look forward to hearing from you again.
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