Post-Op Diet

Hello,

My father had an esophagectomy 3 weeks ago.  I am looking for suggestions for eating.  He does have a j-tube but does not tolerated feedings through it...too much cramping.  He is tolerating some soft foods, but afraid to try too much.  Cream of wheat, mashed veggies, soup ect he has done well with so far.  Has only had 1 episode of "dumping" and is so afraid to have that happen again.  The hospital staff sort of scared him into not eating any meat, but did tolerated some white fish.

Just looking for any ideas or things that have worked for other people.  I have tried looking on the web for diets specific for after esophagectomy, but there isn't much out there!!

Thanks!!

Laura 

 

On 2/3/2008 lauraf wrote:

Hello,

My father had an esophagectomy 3 weeks ago.  I am looking for suggestions for eating.  He does have a j-tube but does not tolerated feedings through it...too much cramping.  He is tolerating some soft foods, but afraid to try too much.  Cream of wheat, mashed veggies, soup ect he has done well with so far.  Has only had 1 episode of "dumping" and is so afraid to have that happen again.  The hospital staff sort of scared him into not eating any meat, but did tolerated some white fish.

Just looking for any ideas or things that have worked for other people.  I have tried looking on the web for diets specific for after esophagectomy, but there isn't much out there!!

Thanks!!

Laura 

 

Luara,

I replied to your other post in "what to expect" thread.

Steve

Hi Laura-Wondered how your Dad was doing earlier. I found nutritional info to be very hard to come by, and the nutritionist in hospital haven't been much help. Found a website yesterday while working on medical terminology class checking links at the end of gastrointestinal chapter. They had some specific type diets in the gastrointestinal area, and there may have been post esophagectomy diet included.  Try www.dietsite.com for info. Diet from Lahey clinic allowed finely chopped chicken, beef or fish but no pork, veal, lamb, or liver. Gastro has warned about red meat in general because it can upset sensitive stomachs, but that wasn't recommended specific to surgery. If you want to private message me with an email I could scan the few pages I still have in my notebook from his surgery and forward them to you in case there's any info you could use. Also have some dietary info from earlier phase when he couldn't swallow about blenderized diet and high protein/high calorie which came from Micromedex Health Series (think I got on internet). Glad he came through his surgery okay.

Hi Laura,

When I had the surgery I also had a J tube.  But I dumped everyday and sometimes several times a day.  I could not stand the smell of food, but I refused to use the J tube after 6 weeks it came out on its on (that was an experience) the doctor did not replace it.  I wanted my nutrition the old fashion way.  I would try (and that is the operative word) to eat at least one or two bites of something every hour.  In the beginning I wanted cold and my husband tried to give me something high in calories.  Ice Cream, milk shakes, cheese. Meat was out of the question.  I would take vitamin pill each day, I could not tolerate Ensure or protein drinks because they made my dumping worse. And some times I would think I wanted something and by the time I got it  I changed my mind.  My husband was a saint.  This is a terrible side effect.  But it should be temporary, but it could last several months.  Now four years out I eat anything.  The only problem I have is reflux and I don't expect that to ever leave.  I had a bad night last night, but I have had about three weeks with no reflux at all.  It comes and goes with me all the time and the doctor said it always will.  Good luck, be patient with your dad, and I hope he is patient with you.  This is a toughttime, but it will get better,  Prayers and hugs to you and your Dad.

Gerri    

 

On 2/4/2008 Gerri wrote:

Hi Laura,

When I had the surgery I also had a J tube.  But I dumped everyday and sometimes several times a day.  I could not stand the smell of food, but I refused to use the J tube after 6 weeks it came out on its on (that was an experience) the doctor did not replace it.  I wanted my nutrition the old fashion way.  I would try (and that is the operative word) to eat at least one or two bites of something every hour.  In the beginning I wanted cold and my husband tried to give me something high in calories.  Ice Cream, milk shakes, cheese. Meat was out of the question.  I would take vitamin pill each day, I could not tolerate Ensure or protein drinks because they made my dumping worse. And some times I would think I wanted something and by the time I got it  I changed my mind.  My husband was a saint.  This is a terrible side effect.  But it should be temporary, but it could last several months.  Now four years out I eat anything.  The only problem I have is reflux and I don't expect that to ever leave.  I had a bad night last night, but I have had about three weeks with no reflux at all.  It comes and goes with me all the time and the doctor said it always will.  Good luck, be patient with your dad, and I hope he is patient with you.  This is a toughttime, but it will get better,  Prayers and hugs to you and your Dad.

Gerri    

My husband is 3 yrs. post op of partial esphogectomy.  We are still trying to determine what causes his horrific bouts with reflux. He can eat the same thing with or without reflux. Drs. cannot seem to help us with the answers. He is on a bout now lasting 5 weeks. When he has a bad night(depending on the severity of the reflux) he sleeps all of the next day.

 He has at times gone as long as 6 weeks without it. Have the drs. been able to help you?

He has slept in a recliner since his surgery. He has an appt. monday.  Maybe some answers

Thank you, jennie

 

On 2/3/2008 lauraf wrote:

Hello,

My father had an esophagectomy 3 weeks ago.  I am looking for suggestions for eating.  He does have a j-tube but does not tolerated feedings through it...too much cramping.  He is tolerating some soft foods, but afraid to try too much.  Cream of wheat, mashed veggies, soup ect he has done well with so far.  Has only had 1 episode of "dumping" and is so afraid to have that happen again.  The hospital staff sort of scared him into not eating any meat, but did tolerated some white fish.

Just looking for any ideas or things that have worked for other people.  I have tried looking on the web for diets specific for after esophagectomy, but there isn't much out there!!

Thanks!!

Laura 

I found that the J-tube feedings and Ensure/Boost didn't go over so well with me (surgery January 2006, age 33, female) - dumping was a huge issue - eating was such a chore and I hated it (still do to be honest with you) - but, one must eat to survive!  I had the philosophy that if all else failed, I had a Cup of Soup - Chicken Noodle Supreme - it's not much in terms of calories but it was warm and soothing and seemed to get me back on track!  I had nibbles and bites of anything that looked good - chocolate is now my best friend (empty calories but calories just the same) - any kind of potato cooked any way - I have discovered sweet potato fries, baked in the oven are great - Yams, turnips - haven't had any type of problems from any of these "potato-like" veggies - I try to top them with butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, gravy, etc.  I haven't had any dumping issues from potatoes - gradually just added anything that looked good, trying to get good nutrition at the same time.  The thing seems to be eat little & often - if I wait too long I get nauseous - I even have to get up in the night to eat which is really irritating (I keep Animal Crackers by the bed!!)

Hope this helps,

Husband did the wait too long and get nauseous thing too. I had a bout of insomnia last year and realized he was gurgling and rolling in the night, and we started getting up at 4-5AM to have bowl of cream of wheat, then he goes to sleep in recliner instead of bed for last few hours since he just ate, but it stopped him from waking up with nausea. Just can't get too empty which is easy to do with such a little stomach.