Solutions for ascites (fluid build up in the abdomen).

Posted by dj12 @dj12, Jul 25 11:14pm

I have endometrial cancer that spread to the liver. I'm on my 5th recurrence. Last fall I was started on a new treatment but before it started to work I developed ascites. I had fluid removed from my stomach every week. First they numbed me and then struck a large needle into my stomach. This was done about 8 times then the new treatment got rid of the ascites. Now I will be getting another new treatment and the ascites has come back. They wanted to drain it again and I said no. It's so painful when they numb me except when they inject slowly. But most of the time they shoot it in too fast and I hate it.
Has anyone had ascites and what have you done to lessen it? My stomach gets larger and larger every day and the new treatment doesn't even start for 2 weeks. It is hard to stand up straight.

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Miriam, Volunteer Mentor | @mir123 | Jul 26 9:30am

I don't know of any alternative treatment. But it sounds like you can tolerate it if the injection is slow. Might you make that a condition of having it drained? Maybe bring a friend or family member with you, explain clearly what you need, and say that you can't comply unless whoever is administering the numbing agent goes slowly. Is it possible this can be improved? Is it possible to take a pain killer before? If it remains too painful, I'd certainly speak to a doctor or nurse about alternatives. I'm sorry you are going through this.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 27 6:52pm

@dj12 That really sounds painful, and uncomfortable!

Here is what Cleveland Clinic has to say about ascites: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14792-ascites

Can you incorporate what Mirian @mir123 had to say, about bringing a friend or family member to help advocate with you for the best experience possible?
Ginger

val64 | @val64 | Jul 27 7:50pm

Can they give you a sedative?

val64 | @val64 | Jul 27 9:11pm

What was the treatment that worked (for a while)?

isadora2021 | @isadora2021 | Jul 28 4:38pm

In reply to @val64 "Can they give you a sedative?" + (show)

@val64 A good question. I’ve been reading up on the internet as this procedure sounds terrible for @dj12 but necessary for relief. The articles I’ve read say no sedation and just a local anaesthetic to the needle site and underlying tissue.

Maybe that’s also something to be discussed with the hospital. I wonder why sedation hasn’t been proposed given the trouble dj12 has with the process.

poppy0812 | @poppy0812 | Jul 28 6:38pm

In reply to @isadora2021 "@val64 A good question. I’ve been reading up on the internet as this procedure sounds terrible..." + (show)

I have had 5 Paracentisis procedures to drain my ascites. Anesthesia is not needed, in my opinion. When my chemo was started, the ascites went away.

val64 | @val64 | Jul 28 8:35pm

I've had three biopsies of peritoneal tumors in the last year or so, which also involves sticking a needle into your belly. It's standard practice to do this under conscious sedation (delivered through an IV). The last two times, I just had it done with a local and thought it was fine. But if the paracentesis really bothers dj12, it seems reasonable that sedation might make it more tolerable.

isadora2021 | @isadora2021 | Jul 28 11:02pm

In reply to @poppy0812 "I have had 5 Paracentisis procedures to drain my ascites. Anesthesia is not needed, in my..." + (show)

@poppy0812 That’s very interesting. It seems that a local anaesthetic is a normal part of the procedure to numb the area. Interesting that you don’t even need that anaesthetic.

It reminds me of how some people can do MRIs etc easily while others feel very claustrophobic and need to have sedation. I’m the former (no problems at all) and it’s difficult to imagine what it’s like for those who find it traumatic

poppy0812 | @poppy0812 | Jul 29 5:52am

In reply to @isadora2021 "@poppy0812 That’s very interesting. It seems that a local anaesthetic is a normal part of the..." + (show)

My mistake. I do get a local, but not twilight anesthesia. Sorry.

isadora2021 | @isadora2021 | Jul 29 4:33pm

In reply to @poppy0812 "My mistake. I do get a local, but not twilight anesthesia. Sorry." + (show)

@poppy0812 I’m so glad you do get the local 😅

When I had my dental implants some years ago in the dentist’s chair, the 1st time I only had heaps of local anaesthetic jabs in my mouth. The first and last time! I had twilight sedation for the rest!!