#91713 03-13-2009 08:23 AM | Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 32 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 32 | Had this darned thing about two weeks and my stomach sure does not like it much. Everyday I have the feeling of being full, or bloated, and not hungry but still try to eat a "usual" meal. The feeling in general is that nothing is moving. Tried Mylanta and GAS-X, to no avail. Any suggestions??
John Retired US Government (DoD) Age: 61 SCC/BOT discovered neck mass 11/08 Removed neck mass 09/01/09 Final Diagnosis after scoping on 02/08/09 Chemotherapy and Radiation: Paclitaxel and Carboplatin, 8 weeks of chemo (1X weekly) and daily radiation both sides of neck). First treatment 03/02/09
| | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 216 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 216 | What is your "usual" meal? H had some problems at first too, asked for a mild laxative which turned into a disaster and left him dehydrated. We're using Benefiber mixed in with Ensure and also pushing water or Pedialyte. Don't know if that will help you but H has had his Peg in for a little over a month and we're just now doing better. Also switched to a gravity feed bag rather than bolus feedings. When he takes it in slower, he does better (doesn't get that bloated feeling)and gets more in.
CG to H with SCC BOT T4N2cM0 dx 12/19/08, teeth removed pre-tx; Erbitux & RT-done 3/12/09, PEG 2/9/09-7/14/09; ND 6/16. Pet 6/12-no mets except lymph node in neck removed on 6/16. Chyle leak,2nd surg to repair. Dilate esophagus 4/15/10. Clear PET 12/17/10
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Dulcolax worked fine for me. Take it in the evening but be careful where you are the next afternoon. LOL . Family Dollar has the exact same stool softner in the same looking box but you get 3 times as many for 1/4th the price.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 113 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 113 | We switched from Bolus to Gravity. Bolus made him feel too full. Since Jim sleeps most of his day away and was eating less, I decided to increase the colories per can to 500 calories instead of 375 per can. The can of 500 calories was way too strong for him, so we went back to the 375. He is only taking 1500 calories a day. He refuses to take anymore and that really bothers me. He is skin and bones and he breaks my heart. -- Claudia
Husband 2/3 tongue removed March 2008. Free flap. . Stage IV. Radiation and 3 chemo's (cisplatin,taxol & erbitux). .Pet scan Aug 08 showed mets to lungs .Oct 08, recurrence. - In the arms of Jesus, July 15, 2009
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | A couple PEG tips:
If there are digestion problems, try watering it down. Add about 1/2 can water to dilute the formula.
The pump machine worked great for me. I did overnight feedings to help get my nutrition. It made it so much easier to 'eat' while I was sleeping (of course propped on 2 extra pillows). Run the machine very slow to make it even easier to tolerate. I would load it with 4 cans and some water, set it for the night and go to sleep. Then during the day I would only need 1 or 2 cans and water. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 | What type of liquid food is he using? Does it have the prebiotics and fiber?
I was not comfortable with my feedings until after I came home from surgery even though the PEG was installed prior to that when I started chemo. I find now that when I eat regular food a small amount will sometimes make me feel very full. I also find that some foods make my stomach uncomfortable. I am still using the PEG for most of my nutrition while I learn to eat.
I hope that it improves.
Patty
48 SCC Floor of Mouth 7/06 9/06 Surgery, bilateral neck dissection, 58 nodes clear PT2pN0pMx 35 rad 2006 Recurred 6/08, 1 Carboplatin, 1 Cisplatin Surgery 9/08 - Total glossectomy, free flap from pectoral muscle, left mandible replaced using fibula 35 IMRT & Erbitux 11/08 4/15/09 recurrence 6/1/09 passed away, rest in peace
| | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | I am a newbie with the PEG but a grizzled veteran of the radiation/chemo pain killer constipation blues and cheap OTC generic suppositories worked better than any laxative even the prescription ones both then and now Gravity also works for me rather than bolus.
65 yr Old Frack Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+ 2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG 2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery 25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Apaghia /G button 2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa 40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 | I only used a syringe (50 ml) which took several loadings. 50 ml at a time is just a tad less than 2 ounces. I never tried this laying down and this may be part of the problem too, you should sit or (stand).
M
Partial glossectomy (25%) anterior tongue. 4/6/07/. IMRT start @5/24/07 (3x) Erbitux start/end@ 5/24/07. IMRT wider field (30x) start 6/5/07. Weekly cisplatin (2x30mg/m2), then weekly carbo- (5x180mg/m2). End of Tx 19 July 07.
| | | | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 | John,
My case was similar to yours and my first and only symptom was a oval or egg shaped mass on the right side of my neck, just below my right ear. I am now going on 3 years clean and am sure you will take the same path.
You mention your PEG and also refer to things "not moving". If you are referring to constipation, "I can hear you brother"! I am a well worn veteran of that ride while I was in Tx. It was brought about by the pain meds and I followed the instructions of my Tx staff with stool softener and a vegetable type laxative as needed. That's the best advice I can pass along (no pun intended) to you in that arena.
Bill Dozier
Dx 4/27/06, SCC, BOT, Stage III/IV, Tx 5/25/06 through 7/12/06 - 33 IMRT and 4 chemo, radical right side neck dissection 9/20/06.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Where else can you chat about constipation? What a topic!!! Its a shame how many things affect OC patients. A tip that works for the "big C" is pineapple juice. Its a natural laxative. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | |
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