Can I have a few more prayers for my mom?

[Rustysmom]

My mom has stage IV pancreatic cancer and I've posted before about how she ended up in the hospital for the 2nd time because of not being able to move her bowels for weeks. They thought there was a tumor in her colon too, but we're not sure about that one now. Her regular doctor said that she didn't and that the blockage was cleared, so we thought this wouldn't happen again. They were even going to operate last Friday on her obstruction, but according to the last CT scan, it was cleared.

Guess what? It's happening again. She hasn't had a bowel movement since she got out of the hospital last Friday. The kids and I have been staying with her since they are off from school this week. She's been so weak and in a lot of pain since she got out of the hospital and now she might have to go back. She told me that she'll be dead before she goes back. I don't blame her because if she had to go to the hospital again and go another week without eating like she did last week, I don't think she'll make it.

We've tried prune juice, lactulose, and Miralax, and then the enema today. The nurse came over tonight and told us to try magnesium citrate and she called the doctor who said to give a Fleet enema. We didn't have much luck with that in the past though. I ran out and bought the magnesium citrate and she took it tonight. I'm so worried about her. I wanted to stay tonight, but she insisted that we go home and get a good night's rest, which we weren't able to do due the kid's sharing beds and her cat going nuts and wailing every night. She's not well either. We're going back tomorrow and staying until Sunday.

The only thing that cleaned her out in the hospital was 2 doses of GoLytely, which is 2 gallons worth! Not all in the same day though. I'm starting to think that maybe the doctor should prescribe that for her to take every week or two. Nothing else seems to be working.

Please say a prayer that the magnesium citrate works and she doesn't have to go back to the hospital so quickly after just getting out. I won't be able to check in for a few days because I don't have the internet at her house, but thank your for any prayers and good thoughts you can send.

 

[safetymom]

Prayers on the way.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I've never seen Mag Citrate not work. Make sure she's drinking plenty of liquids with it and that she's on something like colace and sennakot twice a day once she starts going.

 

[Rustysmom]

Oh thank God, it worked! I called her this morning and she said she went, and went, and went, and boy do I have a mess to clean up in her bathroom! I'll be so happy to clean it up! I have to buy a few more bottles of that stuff! Even if she has to take it every couple of weeks, it's better than ending up in the hospital.

Now, as soon as my DH gets home, we'll be heading back to her house to spend the weekend and make sure she eats and drinks enough. Drinking enough is what's hard for her because with the cancer, she gets full very fast. A glass of water makes her full and then she doesn't want to eat. I made her a batch of bran muffins and I'll have to keep bugging her to drink.

 

[Mskanga]

Drinking for a cancer patient is the pits , they do not want to eat or drink because not only their apetite is messed up but also is a lot less and if you add nausea to the mix = disaster and dehydration.
That is one reason why I am happy that my daughter comes home with the port accessed from her treatments and I have IV hydration at home , I don't have to worry about her drinking , only about her eating and that can be really challenging.
I hate what our loved ones have to go through with cancer , it's really too much.
Mary I am so sorry that your mom has to fight this also.....hugs to you my friend !

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Constipation and Cancer

Opiod Related Constipation Management

 

[ferrytale]

 

[LeahA]

prayers to you and your mom

 

[Rustysmom]

Thank you for the prayers. I just got home from staying at her house most of last week.

She had a lot of abdominal pain today and didn't want to eat much, so she finally said she would have an Ensure Plus. Well, I don't know what's in it, but 5 minutes later she was off to the bathroom. We had to go because the kids have school tomorrow and they have to finish their homework, but I just called her and she said she had to go again after we left and now had to go again. Well, at least she's not constipated anymore, and at least she went on her own. I did give her a dose of lactulose this morning, but it never worked before.

Thank you for the links about the constipation. We are finally going to see the oncologist on Thursday, and she definitely needs better pain medication. She's taking mostly regular Tylenol because she's afraid to take the Tylenol 3, and it's not enough. She doesn't want to go though, because she doesn't want to hear about what she has. We'll go, but I know it's going to be a hard day for her. They already told her in the ER, but I think she's trying to forget.