Meal Plans For Someone Without a Stomach

Hi Danielle,

 I'm begging you to respond. My experience with these posts is that most people don't respond. I assume it's because they haven't checked their messages.

 At the age of 55, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer 2 last month. The doctors have claimed that this is inoperable as the cancer had spread to one of her ovaries (which has been removed). She is due to start chemo next week. They keep saying it's just "pallative", which is depressing. I was so impressed with your mom's story. I hate to intrude, but I need a little hope today. Did they do her stomach surgery before chemo or after a few rounds? Also, had it spread anywhere else?

 I wish your mom and your family all the best and will continue to pray for everyone in this horrible position.

On 5/23/2005 Danielle wrote:

Hi Diana... My mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer in 20002. After 2 years of serious chemo, she is now in remission - only with chemo, no radiation! She's an amazing person. In February 2004, she had her stomach removed. Unfortunately, she lost even more weight after the surgery - about another 20 pounds. Since Feb of last year, her health has been deteriorating. She can't eat "small meals" - in fact she can barely keep anything down. She has severe acid reflux that keeps her from eating or drinking anything. (She also must go to dialysis 3 times a week because her kidneys won't function as a result from the chemo.) I am still waiting for a somewhat "normal life" to return. I don't want to be negative or pessimistic, but she has told me that if she could do it again, she would have kept her stomach. She's 58 years old. My only advice is that if your husband can live with eating and drinking foods that may very bland in the beginning and can strictly follow nutritionist's advice, he should pursue this. I have to say that my mom has not followed any strict diet regiment or eats the right foods, but she is also in a different stage than most. What I know is that this recovery is a lot more difficult than doctors make it out to be - it's not "more smaller meals per day" ...for my mom, it's been a total change of lifestyle and her life. Hope this may have helped you with your decision. Please let me know if you have any other questions - I would be happy to be as honest with you as possible.

On 3/14/2005 Debbi d wrote:

My husband had all of his stomach removed in November, 2004 due to stomach cancer. We are struggling with knowing how much and how to eat. He is still losing weight, but he just finished radiation treatments at the end of February, 2005. Does anyone have any suggestions? Any and all suggestions are welcome.

We are going through this same thing.  My son (age 36) had his stomach removed in Oct. 2006.  Did you ever find anything that would work?   This is such a tough disease.  Hope all is Ok with your husband now.

Patti 

On 3/4/2007 Pabbygirl43 wrote:

 

On 3/14/2005 Debbi d wrote:

My husband had all of his stomach removed in November, 2004 due to stomach cancer. We are struggling with knowing how much and how to eat. He is still losing weight, but he just finished radiation treatments at the end of February, 2005. Does anyone have any suggestions? Any and all suggestions are welcome.

We are going through this same thing.  My son (age 36) had his stomach removed in Oct. 2006.  Did you ever find anything that would work?   This is such a tough disease.  Hope all is Ok with your husband now.

 

Patti 

Hubby is doing very well these days.  His weight leveled off after he lost  about 70 pounds.  He has even gained a few pounds!  He has learned what to eat and what he can't.  He eats a lot of pastas.  The only thing he really has touble with is sugar...he will still eat cakes, cookies, candy even though he shouldn't...he just stays close to home when he does. He still sometimes over eats, but not nearly as often as before.  He turned 62 October and he ate the most of his birthday cake all by his self.  He really enjoys pastas and rice dishes though.  Is your son able to eat that?  He also likes creamy peanut butter w/apple slices.  How is your son doing?  Just let him know that with time he will be able to eat more and more.  This is something we were told, although we did not beleive it at that time, it poroved to be so very true.  Keep me posted!

Debbi

 

Thanks for answering my e-mail.  We are back in the hospital since Monday.  He was having trouble eating and with the feeding tube and pain from the radiation treatments.  They did an endoscopy today and everything looks great - just inflammation from the radiation treatments.  They are going to try a new pain med and some new feeding tubes stuff and hopefully we will begin to recover from all this.   He is eating anything he wants - just smaller portions; however, everything cramps his intestines very badly for about 45 minutes immediately after eating.  Did your husband have this problem and does it get better?   He doesn't tolerate milk or dairy very well since the surgery - is that also a problem with your husband?   So, milk shakes are out - we are hoping this will get better with time also.  We are just thankful they found this when they did and we pray that it never returns.   He was stage III adenocarcinoma with 20 lymph nodes involved.  They removed his entire stomach, 48 lymph nodes but the ones further from the stomach were not cancerous.  His pancreas, liver, spleen, etc. were biopsed and all came back without any cancer involvement.   The surgeon says he is cancer-free and God willing, he will remain cancer-free.

Again, thanks for your reply to my e-mail.  It helps to have someone to talk to.  I've found several people on different sites that I correspond with.

Take care, tell your husband we are praying that he stays cancer-free.

Patti

On 3/7/2007 Pabbygirl43 wrote:

Thanks for answering my e-mail.  We are back in the hospital since Monday.  He was having trouble eating and with the feeding tube and pain from the radiation treatments.  They did an endoscopy today and everything looks great - just inflammation from the radiation treatments.  They are going to try a new pain med and some new feeding tubes stuff and hopefully we will begin to recover from all this.   He is eating anything he wants - just smaller portions; however, everything cramps his intestines very badly for about 45 minutes immediately after eating.  Did your husband have this problem and does it get better?   He doesn't tolerate milk or dairy very well since the surgery - is that also a problem with your husband?   So, milk shakes are out - we are hoping this will get better with time also.  We are just thankful they found this when they did and we pray that it never returns.   He was stage III adenocarcinoma with 20 lymph nodes involved.  They removed his entire stomach, 48 lymph nodes but the ones further from the stomach were not cancerous.  His pancreas, liver, spleen, etc. were biopsed and all came back without any cancer involvement.   The surgeon says he is cancer-free and God willing, he will remain cancer-free.

Again, thanks for your reply to my e-mail.  It helps to have someone to talk to.  I've found several people on different sites that I correspond with.

Take care, tell your husband we are praying that he stays cancer-free.

Patti

What a blessing, cancer-free!  I remember the day we heard those words!  My husband had his entire stomach removed also. All other organs were biosped and came back clean. The feeding tubes and pain meds are a distant memory now.  I know the new pain meds and feeding tube stuff will work well for your son.

 My husband still can't tolerate milk.  He still will sometimes cramp, but this will get better.  Hubby can tolerate frozen yougarts and sherberts.  He often has milk shakes from McDonald's.  Some one told him that they use frozen yougart instead of ice cream in their shakes and sundaes.  What ever the reason, he tolerates them.  When he eats to much and brings on the cramps he gets into what he calls his position.  Sitting in his recliner with his knees pulled up toward is chest for a short time usually takes of that and in no time he is ready to eat again!  He amazes me.

Thank you for your prayers.  Take care of yourself.  I know you will take care of your son.  We will keep you and your son in our prayers.  Keep us updated!!!

Debbi

Hi Debbie, my dad just had his stomach removed on Jan, 04, 2008 and he has also lost a lot of weight. But this is normal, i'm not sure but I was told by someone who was in this same situation to ask the doctor to give him vitamems B12. ask you're doctor about it this will make him feel a lot better. Also the ensure milk they say is very good. i tried givinh it to my dad but he doesnt like it because is too thick and sweet. but if you husband is flexible this can definetly be a big part of saving his life.

Hope you're husband recovers soon.

 -Steff