HIPEC

• By boothbayharbourgirl
• Reply 3711035
• January 16, 2013 at 12:38 pm
• Report post

hey there. I have no experience with this, but lots of encouraging words. Hang in there, hang in there, hang in there! and bring a kindle so you have lots to read while there. I would guess the stay is long so they can make sure you are healing, etc., no infection, before sending you home. Also, word to the wise ( and learned this the hard way, no pun intended, after the fact after my stay in hospital for bilateral mastectomy) . . . If you are getting any morphine/opiate based pain killer after surgery, make sure they start giving you a stool softener too once you start eating anything solid. Not necessarily a laxitive, but something like Senacot S. Whatever you take, make sure it has stool softening component! Opiates can cause severe constipation, and no one told me this. The nurses all made sure I was urinating, and tracked it by the ounce on charts, but no one ever thought to find out about the other. Oddly enough, I was at a highly regarded cancer center, so you would think this is something they have seen before. I was MISERABLE for days, and didn't think I would ever go again until my mother got some Senacot S. Thank the good Lord for that stuff.

• Reply

• By smartymarty
• Reply 3711945
• January 16, 2013 at 5:53 pm
• Report post

I asked my gyn/onc about this surgery and he told me he doesn't believe in it but did tell me Drs that do rent the unit to use during the surgery. I am too old and don't believe I would get over it so I will keep you in my daily prayers and you rock. I pray it works for you! You are so young and deserve a whole life again.

My suggestion after spending 3 wks in the hospital is don't let the hospitalist take all current meds away. Mine did including the anti depressants, acid reflux meds and high blood pressure meds. He decided I should have over the counter meds. I was suicidal in a week and couldn't understand why?? JERK! He also didn't think I needed opiate pain killers after a 5 hr abdominal surgery and another abdominal surgery 4 days later. If I could have choked him I would have. Being in the medical profession I hope they will extend courtesy to you.

Blessings,

Marty

• Reply

• By Marnel
• Reply 3711978
• January 16, 2013 at 6:06 pm
• Report post

I had the robotic surgery to remove my ovarian tumor only to find out it was cancer after it was removed via robot and had to be opened up stem to stern to get to the lymph nodes. I wish, looking back, I would have just had them open me up from the start. My tumor had to be cut into tiny pieces to get it out with the robot. Had I been opened up, my doc could have gotten it out intact. Good luck to you!

• Reply

• By nprom
• Reply 3712018
• January 16, 2013 at 6:21 pm
• Report post

Have you had surgery and Chemo previously? Do you have ovarian cancer that has spread to Omentum or Periteneal lining?

• Reply

• By rhonda1968
• Reply 3712391
• January 16, 2013 at 8:35 pm
• Report post

I was originally diagnosed in May and did 8 rounds of chemo. My PET shows no activity in my chest or abdomen. Originally I had megs to the lungs and abdomen (omentum, abdominal aorta, on the stomach and in the lungs). Now only shows activity in ovaries and uterus. I was inoperable in the beginning.

• Reply

• By debls
• Reply 3712462
• January 16, 2013 at 8:53 pm
• Report post

Rhonda, from what I have been told the reason the stay is so long in the hospital is it takes longer for our bodies to heal after HIPEC and our intestinal track can be very sluggish and need time to get going again.....I am having HIPEC surgery on Monday and was told I would be in the hospital 2 weeks. I will have you in my thoughts! HUGS,

• Reply

• By rhonda1968
• Reply 3712601 · In reply to 3712462 by debls
• January 16, 2013 at 9:33 pm
• Report post

Debls, you will be in my prayers as well. We'be got this girl! Stay in touch.

• Reply

• By debls
• Reply 3712689
• January 16, 2013 at 10:07 pm
• Report post

I agree my warrior sister! You also let me know hoe ur doing! Hugs

• Reply

• By ldopke
• Reply 3713352
• January 17, 2013 at 7:48 am
• Report post

Every stay in the hospital requires ear plugs (so all the machines don't keep you awake) and an eye mask. I was in the hospital a week after my surgery and I was thankful for those. Also, my husband brought me a small portable speaker that fit into my iPad/pod so I could listen to the radio etc. phone and iPod chargers a must. I know this may seem trivial, but after a fee days, the noise, smells, lights tec., can really start to bother you.

• Reply

• By Cm0907
• Reply 3714310
• January 17, 2013 at 12:44 pm
• Report post

Hi All, I am scheduled for Hipec next Friday and my dr told me I'd only be in hospital over night. I'm now concerned that that doesn't seem like the norm and I may be discharged too soon. I am stage 4 and had initial surgery on October 23 2012 with the standard 3 tx a month of chemo. Anyone have any input about this would be welcomed

• Reply

• By tmw15
• Reply 3714457 · In reply to 3714310 by Cm0907
• January 17, 2013 at 1:21 pm
• Report post

I had surgery last march with hipec to follow...was only in for 3 days.
everything went pretty well...so far still in remission
btw...stage 3

• Reply

• By nprom
• Reply 3714865 · In reply to 3714310 by Cm0907
• January 17, 2013 at 3:48 pm
• Report post

That is a short stay for HIPEC. What did they have to do to you? I am stage 3 and was considering Hipec. They have said its usually 1 to 2 weeks in hospital. Did you have disease in your Omentum or abdomen or peritoneal lining? How was the surgery?

• Reply

• By debls
• Reply 3717064
• January 18, 2013 at 11:02 am
• Report post

I think it also depends on what surgery they are doing with the HIPEC. In my case they will be resecting my liver and doing a look see....remove adhesions...biopsies...and anything else they may happen to find.....not sure why the difference in hospital stays other than maybe the surgeries involved....I wonder if there are different forms of HIPEC?

cm, best wishes with your HIPEC surgery and recovery.....take care and you will be in my thoughts and hopes!

tmw, how are you doing? How are your recoveries going?

Rhonda, how are you doing??

HUGS!!!

• Reply

• By tmw15
• Reply 3717269 · In reply to 3714865 by nprom
• January 18, 2013 at 12:05 pm
• Report post

Surgery went well, i had a full hysterectomy with small liver dissection at the base due to a tumor on the diaphragm that had attached to the liver. A few other scrapings in different areas also along with removal of dead tumor tissue in the pelvic area. All this after 2 years of chemo before i could have surgery.

HIPEC was for 90 minutes following surgery. They close you up and leave 2 small openings where they send in the heated chemo and then do a massage of your stomach so that it gets into all areas. Rinse it out and complete the close up. I had a epidural for pain management which i was able to come off of after 2 full days, completed the third day in the hospital on pill form of pain management.

Have been in remission since with an up and coming CT the first week of February. I feel good and keep praying i stay the same.

• Reply

• By nprom
• Reply 3717691
• January 18, 2013 at 2:16 pm
• Report post

How long was your recovery? Where did you have the HIPEC surgery? It sounds good.

• Reply

• By tmw15
• Reply 3718052 · In reply to 3717691 by nprom
• January 18, 2013 at 4:22 pm
• Report post

Went back to work after 6 weeks and did 2 rounds of chemo. My surgery was done at the Cleveland Clinic.

• Reply

• By Rebecca3412
• Reply 3718652
• January 18, 2013 at 8:41 pm
• Report post

I was told 3-4 days, but my stay was a week because I had a drop in blood pressure two days after surgery, just a fluke thing. Was able to be up and walking, felt good to go home!

• Reply

• By debls
• Reply 3718858
• January 18, 2013 at 10:21 pm
• Report post

tmw, thank you so much for the great information...you really have helped me with insight into this surgery! You have helped to lift my spirits tonight, I have been pretty anxious today...my HIPEC surgery is on Monday! HUGS!!

Rhonda, how are you doing??

• Reply

• By debls
• Reply 3718865
• January 18, 2013 at 10:24 pm
• Report post

tmw, you will be in my thoughts and hopes! HUGS!!

• Reply

• By tmw15
• Reply 3720446 · In reply to 3718865 by debls
• January 19, 2013 at 1:39 pm
• Report post

debls-pray, stay stong, stay positive and take care of yourself...I did really well thanks to my stong support system, a magnificant doctor, and prayer. I exercised all through chemo (walked daily) and began again 6 weeks after surgery. Everyone is different, dont let sad news get you....there are many miracles waiting to happen.
Prayers are with you, good luck! Let us know how every thing turns out.

• Reply

Please log in to reply

Don't have an Inspire account? Sign up now!

E-mail:

Password: Forgot password?

Keep me logged in Checking this option will keep you logged in on this computer until you log yourself out. Do not check this option if you are on a public computer.