Total Gastrectomy

Hi,

I hear ya....our mom's are very similar. I just had a baby girl and she went in the hospital the day after I came home. She was so excited to be with me in the room while I gave birth. She is the type of mom that has so much energy and she sings and dances for all of us all the time and now she can't do that. She can barely hold my daughter and when she does and she sings to her its with such....tiredness. So far the doctor said they saw something but not sure what. A polyp, etc. Anyway they are doing further tests on her next week. She foamed all night the last two nights. So she has not eaten. She is down to 99 pounds. I bought Wii, the nintendo game, so I can play it with her in my house. I played Tennis and bowling with her. It kept her spirits up and she had fun. So I guess we will see next week. Thanks again..and please let me know how everything is on your end as well.

Jenn

Hi! Thought I would share some of what I've been through with the endoscopy/GI stuff with my dad. He, too, had some difficulty swallowing and had numerous opinions and scans and always got that "blank stare". Even from specialists. After 6 months of growing difficulty swallowing and constant throwing up, another endoscopy was done and the doc finally ran into a blockage. Here's where the story takes a difficult turn...

During the 6 month stint with all the issues, he had numerous scans that all came back clean. It was apparent the docs were looking for a significant tumor or blockage in the esophogas or small intestine. Although these scans were all fine and he was still considered in remission, there were tiny cancers growing all over his abdominal wall too small for the scan to indicate.

So, when the GI docs came across this blockage, they could not biopsy as it was growing on the OUTSIDE of the esophogas. It was literally blocking the passage for food and all liquids (saliva, etc.) were building up and every hour he would have to spit up. Forceably. He opted for an exploratory surgery to see if teh mass could be removed but, as the surgeon suspected, the cancer was back and he could not even get to the mass causing the problem and recovery from any more surgery would likely have killed him.

SO... stay faithful and expend ALL resources possible to find the problem as early on as you can. Be very persistant and if all else fails, consider an operation to find the problem. This seems to be a pretty common issue with no explanations. And I can promise you do not want your mom to live with such restrictions. Although my dad's cancer is back, it is the dehydration that is causing him to have no quality of life and I think it couls have been avoided to this extent, had we pushed for an operation eralier on. Just something to consider.

Good luck

Hi,

Thanks for the advice Betz....actually my mom got a call today and supposedly now they don't think its a problem with her esophagus but with her small intestines. I don't know what to believe anymore. Any way she is taking more tests next week so I guess we'll see what the outcome is on those tests.  I am not going to allow her stop until we get an answer that makes sense. Thanks again.

 Jenn

Day : Feb. 9th, 2008

Patient in time has less nausea yet doc has lined up one last test to see if patients gall bladder needs to be altered or taken out.  She is weak.  Mind you that she had taken Chantix, the 'wonder drug' shortly before this situation unfolded.  Her ulcer bled which led her to having her stomach taken out after one month of completing Chantix.  I did my own research to help others and started Chantix to see if it would show any signs of dangers to the takers.  I have all urges after taking them for almost two weeks...no difference.  The dreams I had before Chantix were many and I remembered them MOST of the time.  Last night I had a dream that the end of the world came.  THE END OF ALL, not just me and a selected few.  In the earlier days of those taking LSD, there were the same psychological dreams occurring.  I garentee that Chantix may have created this downfall of the bodies system and if it doesn't do that, it will 'awaken' a part of the brain in the same way LSD does.  It is a dangerous drug on many levels, you must beware.  I called Chantix company yesterday and taped the conversation with the pharmacist.   There are indications that it can cause gasterological problems as well as respiratory problems that may or may never go away.  I have done my research to find that people have had gall bladders removed during and after taking Chantix.  Reports of breathing difficulties, fluid build up, psychotic problems, confusion and etc...This is a very dangerous drug with life long results...the only reason you do not hear about this is due to the fact that they just started testing a few years ago to begin with.  They would have to test it for over ten years to know the long term damages yet when a patient has to have a stomach removed, a gall bladder removed, ulcers that start to bleed and etc...that is long term.  For those with total gasterectomy that have had Chantix before getting one, you need to contact an attorney.  We need to stop the supply of the contributor so that others do not hide the truth of how this all happened in the first place.  Smokers end up becoming victims of the cause and not the addiction in the end...don't let them fool you...withdrawals happen yet one does not go through such things without chemical additions in their systems.  No place for ignorance.  All the same, patient is healing yet weak.

For the final chapter to this strange tale, patients skin is healed 99%, Nausea lessened by 50% and patient is now using the results from minor self physical therapy.  Once patient changed behaviors and lifestyle to accommodate no stomach, recovery became more tolarable as well as a healthier recovery.  My conclusions to quitting smoking remains the same in which that those who quit smoking before an operation, whether willing or not, will go through the withdrawals of cigarettes physically.  In return, can confuse a situation as to where the 'problems' stem from, 'the recovery process or the withdrawal process.'  All in all, to answer the problems of this patient, they all contributed to the system adjustments along with withdrawals from previous medicines and quitting smoking.  She changed what she ate and maintained her vitamins in liquid and pill form.  The intake of 'ensure' was 5 - 6 bottles daily.  After a week and a half, patient began to feel of herself once again with more energy and less nausea.  She still spits up a fluid type base yet the foamy textured fluid ceased.  She is still recovering yet it is plain to see that she is in the tail end of it.  Her weight finally maintains at 140lbs..

Conclusion to total gastrectomy:  A total gastrectomy can be successfully done if certain lifestyle changes are applied.  End of Story. 

RE: Education is key to a family in this situation.

All information was compiled through personal accounts and experience.

Surgeon : responsible for surgery and recovery of the area of region of surgery alone.  

Primary: responsible for all else, including the injections of B-12.  

Always talk to the doctor (primary) about setting up B-12 shots.  Taking one bi-weekly can help and also is accepted by some insurance companies.  Communicate with your primary doctor.  Liquid vitamins as well as vitamin D, Iron and etc.. should be taken daily to maintain a vitamin intake since the patient doesn't get them as they use to.  Given time helps as well with a little bit of physical therapy.

Do not stress out trying to figure this out.  Less stress is best.  Simply apply all instructed or helpful direction to better the situation you are going through.  Good luck and patience.