Tiredness, stomach issues and constipation

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While describing this discomfort is not fun, it seems an important act to relate what has happened to me in the last 6-8 weeks. Throughout the chemo therapy I had stomach discomfort and constipation issues.  I took various medications including Ondansetron, protonix, Miralax, and senna. None of them helped much. Starting around December 20 the problems got worse. I spent a number of afternoons taking naps in Texas. When we got home on December 31, I went to the hospital for extreme discomfort. I was in the hospital for three days. Then began my experience of ‘ascites management.’ Tired legs. Stated eating much less, lost body mass. Had a paracentesis January 1, January 13, and January 26. Spent January tired and sitting around.  Finally was put on protonix once a day and ondansetron 3 times a day. Then Dr. Saha urged me to begin eating more. I needed about 1800 calories a day and was eating way less than that. I began to do so. My energy picked up quite a bit. I ate ice cream and other high energy foods. I have begun to eat salads in order to get the fiber I need to create stool movements. That has finally happened, though the stools are very small. I have also begun to drink smoothies after our daughte-in-law Shana showed us how to make them. I have tried some of the energy drinks, like Boost, but don’t enjoy the very fake tastes of the chocolate and vanilla.