Hi Rockape. 

I'm really sorry to hear about Dad's situation. It sounds as if it's been a really difficult few months for you all. 

Have Macmillan been able to suggest if there are any supplement drinks that your Dad is able to have or be prescribed? Sipping a supplement throughout the day can be a good way to boost calorie intake. There is some information on our website here that may be of help. 

It may also be worth asking for a referral to a dietcian so that you can get some advice and ask if it may/would be appropriate for Dad to have support via tube feeding. 

I hope that this has helped. If you'd like to chat to one of our team of nurses then do give them a call. They are available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 0808 800 4040. 

Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator

Hi there, 

hope you don't mind me replying as I know this discussion was a while back but this is exactly like what my mum is going through now. Did you find anything that helped at all? Was your dad on folfirinox chemo regimen? That's what my mum is in and it's so brutal. I hope you don't mind me asking but what was the outcome with your father? My mum has to also have the chemo first before she can have the operation, but we are worried she won't be strong enough if she doesn't start to eat more whilst on this chemo.

it would be great to speak to someone who has been through it. 
 
many thanks 

Emily x 

Hi Emily,

ive just read this post now and it's exactly what my mum is going through at this time. I'm just wondering how your mum got on with these symptoms? 
my mum is also diabetic and has been admitted to hospital as they are having a nightmare stabilising her blood sugars. And she seems to be vomiting nearly every day and can't keep her food down to gain weight. I am just at a complete loss. 
 

best wishes. X

Hi there,

so sorry to hear that your mum is going through this too, it's such an awful and cruel disease  

when was your mum diagnosed? My mum has had an awful six months, she did five cycles of folfirinox which was brutal then was hospitalised after her fifth cycle with severe sickness only to discover that it was not affective and the tumour has grown and was obstructing her duodenum. So they gave her an operation to bypass the duodenum and that has helped massively with the sickness! She has now recovered from the op and is due to start second line chemo- gemcitabine and abraxane next week. After the operation she had a feeding tube fitted to help her gain weight as she has absolutely no appetite whatsoever. She has put on about 5kg with the tube and eating small amounts alongside so that has helped a lot. She has to keep the tube until she reaches 50kg target weight, just hoping she copes with this chemo better. I'm sorry I'm not much help with advice for the eating as she still has no appetite. But the main cause of my mums symptoms seemed to be that the tumour was causing an obstruction. 
sending you loads of love and positive vibes, it helps to talk to people in similar situation doesn't it! Life can be so cruel. Xx 

Thanks for your quick reply!

Mum was only diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the beginning of January. It's such a shock to us all. She was vomiting every day for around 5 weeks and lost over a stone in weight after the diagnosis. Then they finally discovered she had a blockage in her duodenum too, so they fitted a stent. She finally started Folfirinox in February and went for her third round last Wednesday, but as she has started vomiting every day again, she has lost more weight, so they said they had to adjust the doses and were about to send her home when she started being sick. She had only had a bowl of soup all day and her blood sugars were very low at 3.0.
I have been transferring her onto insulin all last week, from just taking tablets (as she was type 2) with the help of the diabetes nurse over the phone, but this has knocked her sugar levels down low. And I think this hasn't helped with her vomiting. She struggles to take any tablets in any form and vomits them back up. She told them at the Macmillan unit that she can't tolerate the anti sickness tablets, but they made her take one there and then and she couldn't stop vomiting. So they admitted her to the ward and now she can't get out of there!

Also whilst she has been in there, a doctor who she has never met before, who is new on the ward, has informed us that he is putting a Do Not Resusitate form on her medical files. Against my mum's wishes, and all the family. So I am completely stressed out worrying that if something happens to her while she is in hospital, they won't help her if her heart stops. I haven't stopped crying as there is nothing I can do, as I usually care for her. 
 

Yes you are right, it feels good to be able to ask someone who is going through this and knows how I feel. Sorry to waffle on!! We just don't know what to do. They did a scan on the stent yesterday and they said it is fine. Nobody seems to know why she is vomiting all the time and can't tolerate tablets  

best wishes. X

Oh gosh poor her and poor you guys it's so terrible when they are in hospital and you can't be with them in current circumstances! Also we found that the staff are so overstretched you can't seem to get any contact or get to the bottom of anything. Heartbreaking. Why have they put a do not resuscitate on that's outrageous have you complained? 
my mum also struggles to take tablets they make her gag and it's happened so frequently that it's almost a psychological thing now we think. But when my mum was in hospital they gave the anti sickness in liquid form I think have u asked if they can do that? Xxx you can have my number if it's easier to chat on WhatsApp or message?

Well we had a meeting with this doctor yesterday afternoon as I was so upset. Basically he said that mum was so frail (because she has lost so much weight, and she has a tumour) that she wouldn't survive a resuscitation attempt. He is not going to change his mind and there is nothing we can do about it as a medical opinion overrides everything else. There is absolutely nothing we can do about it. So on top of everything else we are dealing with, he has slapped this on top. My faith is dwindling very quickly in this hospital. 
I am sorry you are going through the same thing, I wouldn't wish this heartbreak on anyone. 
Yes, your number would be great. Thanks for your support. 

I have added you as a friend as then I can message you privately with my number xx 

Hi , am so sorry to hear this my nana was diagnosed with the same cancer on Saturday am just so lost I can't not think about losing her am just keeping my self busy to not think about it , and COVID hasnt helped since I can't see her she is very yellow atm but am sure it will go down we are just waiting for the type of it and what options she can take x