Severe Weight Loss

My husband had an espohaectomy 6 months ago.  He had the lower half of his esophagus removed and the upper pprtion of his stomach.  They said all the cancer was removed.  He has lost over 50 lbs. and is still losing weight daily. He is eating enough that he should not be losing any more weight.  He is getting too thin 125 lbs at 5'9. and very weak from the weight loss. He loses about 4 ounces a day, no matter how much he eats.  and he is eating well.  We do not know what to do.  Doctors have been trying to figure it out.  He can not lose much more weight. He has now lost feeling in his left foot due to weight loss. etc.  Any ideas or similar situations. 

Hi there,

  My dad has also lost a lot of weight...The hospital nutritionist spoke to us today...they're giving dad a feeding tube...does your husband have one?

There is also something called benecal that is just 1.5 oz of a liquid that you can add to whatever he eats or drinks..it has no taste...it adds 350 calories...so its worth the effort to add it.

Hope this helps...hang in there...

Angie

My dad had his esophagectomy four weeks this coming Tuesday.  When he was in the hospital he was on a nutrition bag 24 hours a day.  Dad has a J-Tube for his nutrition feeding.  Since he has come home he still has the J-Tube, but only receives a 12 hour nutrition feeding.  5 cans a night.  Each can is worth 250 calories.  During the day I have him eating six times, every two hours.  Breakfast is cream of wheat with brown sugar, honey and butter, cranberry juice, yogurt. Lunch is a cream soup, ice cream decaf, dinner is more cream soup, pudding and apple juice.  His snacks are Carnations Instant Breakfast with ice cream and peanut butter all blended together or a nutrition milk shack.  As you can see dad is still on a all liquid diet.Dad has been holding at 164.  He was 172 at the time of his surgery.  I have found from this site that someone has to be with dad to encourage him to take that one more bite or have that shake when he does not want one.  I keep telling him more calorie in take will help with his strength and healing.  The feeding tube is giving him 1250 calories each night and that helps.  I do not know how long the J-tube will stay.  The nutrition dept. at St. Francis Medical Central has been great in giving me direction in helping dad with his feeding.  My goal to load dad up with calories.  I hope this helps.  You and your family are in my prayers.

Steve