chemo and nutrition

[stalsrn]

I am a surgical nurse so I see a lot of patients getting parenteral or enteral nutrition. My mother has been on and off chemo for the last year and a half. Last week she stopped taking Tarceva (MD orders) and will start radiation next week. She has not been able to eat anything solid for 3 weeks and has not been able to keep even water down for the last week. She takes a drink and throws it up within 2 minutes. We are trying to keep her phenergan and zofran pills in her (she refuses to have my dad give her a phenergan suppository) but she throws them up too. My question is if any of you wonderful nurses have any experience with chemo/radi patients getting parenteral or enteral nutrition and if it is helpful? My mother is soo weak from not eating and the chemo she has to have help to get into and out of the bathroom. Her MD said artificial nutrition is not helpful and will only give her an infection???? What say all you?

[ktwlpn, LPN]

I am a surgical nurse so I see a lot of patients getting parenteral or enteral nutrition. My mother has been on and off chemo for the last year and a half. Last week she stopped taking Tarceva (MD orders) and will start radiation next week. She has not been able to eat anything solid for 3 weeks and has not been able to keep even water down for the last week. She takes a drink and throws it up within 2 minutes. We are trying to keep her phenergan and zofran pills in her (she refuses to have my dad give her a phenergan suppository) but she throws them up too. My question is if any of you wonderful nurses have any experience with chemo/radi patients getting parenteral or enteral nutrition and if it is helpful? My mother is soo weak from not eating and the chemo she has to have help to get into and out of the bathroom. Her MD said artificial nutrition is not helpful and will only give her an infection???? What say all you?

The thread will be closed if we give any "medical advice" Could her physician be leading you towards hospice care at this point? If he thinks the risk of infection associated with parenteral feedings outweighs the possible benefits to your mom it makes me wonder how advanced her cancer is at this point.Have you gone to any appointments with your parents? In my experience when you have both parents supporting each other you get well filtered info and it not always accurate.My in laws did this when my father in law was dying-they did not really tell the family how bad things really were.My prayers are with you-I hope you can help her have a better quality of life....

[mama_d, BSN, RN]

I'm just going to say that I work on an oncology floor and we frequently use TPN/PPN for our patients, even code II's (DNR's with medical interventions allowed as opposed to comfort care)....

[leslie :-D]

not medical advice...

but the only saving grace for some of my pts has been smoking weed.

marinol doesn't do anything.

leslie

[APBT mom, LPN, RN]

not medical advice...

but the only saving grace for some of my pts has been smoking weed.

marinol doesn't do anything.

leslie

I agree. When I was in high school one of my classmates had ALL and the only thing that would help him hold down food was smoking weed.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

It sounds like she needs to be admitted. We would never be handing a patient who can't keep even water down as an outpatient. What kinda of venous access does she have?

We also use TPN a TON.

[DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP]

not medical advice...

but the only saving grace for some of my pts has been smoking weed.

marinol doesn't do anything.

leslie

I second that.

I would LOVE to see medical marijuana finally legalized!

[ktwlpn, LPN]

I am a surgical nurse so I see a lot of patients getting parenteral or enteral nutrition. My mother has been on and off chemo for the last year and a half. Last week she stopped taking Tarceva (MD orders) and will start radiation next week. She has not been able to eat anything solid for 3 weeks and has not been able to keep even water down for the last week. She takes a drink and throws it up within 2 minutes. We are trying to keep her phenergan and zofran pills in her (she refuses to have my dad give her a phenergan suppository) but she throws them up too. My question is if any of you wonderful nurses have any experience with chemo/radi patients getting parenteral or enteral nutrition and if it is helpful? My mother is soo weak from not eating and the chemo she has to have help to get into and out of the bathroom. Her MD said artificial nutrition is not helpful and will only give her an infection???? What say all you?

How are things going with your mom?

[stalsrn]

Thanks so much for asking. My mother is not doing well right now. She was in hospital for 5 days due to a collapsed lung. She is now home and going to radiation daily but she cannot do chemo right now because that would entail receiving 1+ liters of fluid which her MD is afraid would settle in her lungs and cause another collapse. She is still not eating and is so weak she cannot get herself up from the toilet. We are taking turns staying with her so she is not alone for long periods of time. On a positive note her spirits are up and she is awake more and has started using her computer and actually stayed awake long enough to watch a movie!

[ktwlpn, LPN]

I'm wondering how things are going? Been thinking of you and your mom

[stalsrn]

Thank so much for asking. I am saddened to tell you my mom lost her battle with cancer on November 4th. It has been a very tough time for my family. Thank God for little kids, they keep things simple. My oldest son told me not to be so sad, "it's the circle of life Mom, you are born, you live and then you die." Oh, if only life were that simple!!!!!! Anyway, we are taking it one day at a time. Thanks again for your concern. God Bless!

[leslie :-D]

aw stals, i'm so very sorry.

i'm relieved her struggle is over.

wishing you peace, strength and faith in the days and months ahead.:icon_hug:

leslie