Ascites - please help

Hi , I'm after some advise really - or if anyone has been in a similar situation . 
 

My mother in law has stage 4 bowel cancer which has spread to the liver it's been 2 years since she has been diagnosed but up until recent we have seen abit of a decline , in January she had fluid build up in her tummy which she had drained and it returned in may in which she had the drain again , however the fluid quickly came back this time and now the hospital have said there are too many pockets of fluid to drain as it will be too dangerous for her . The problem is the ascites is causing her not to eat without being sick and she's barely drinking anything , she also has Edema in her legs and feet which is stopping her being mobile and active , is there anything that can be done to make her as comfortable as possible ? At the minute it's really dragging her down and making her miserable . Any advise would be greatly appreciated . Is a permenant drain an option? 

has anyone been through a situation similar  ? I hate seeing her so down 

Any help welcomed - thanks   

Parents
  • So sorry to hear about your mother-in-law's suffering with ascites. 


    Is there a palliative care team you can access? In my experience they are available in hospital and in the community (for eg home visits & calls). I'm being supported by a community palliative care team that operate from our local hospice and they are wonderful. Palliative care focusses on symptom control and it seems to me your MIL would really benefit from an assessment by them.

    I'm currently suffering with ascites too. I have inoperable advanced bile duct cancer that has spread to my liver, peritoneum and ovaries. A couple of weeks ago I had 10 litres of ascitic fluid drained in hospital (the volume was a shock to say the least)! I am having a permanent drain fitted on Wednesday so the fluid doesn't build up like that again.

    Rach

Reply
  • So sorry to hear about your mother-in-law's suffering with ascites. 


    Is there a palliative care team you can access? In my experience they are available in hospital and in the community (for eg home visits & calls). I'm being supported by a community palliative care team that operate from our local hospice and they are wonderful. Palliative care focusses on symptom control and it seems to me your MIL would really benefit from an assessment by them.

    I'm currently suffering with ascites too. I have inoperable advanced bile duct cancer that has spread to my liver, peritoneum and ovaries. A couple of weeks ago I had 10 litres of ascitic fluid drained in hospital (the volume was a shock to say the least)! I am having a permanent drain fitted on Wednesday so the fluid doesn't build up like that again.

    Rach

Children
No Data