Long-Term Post-Op Regurgitation

Does any of you who had surgery, have problems with regurgitation? I'm 17 months post-op and I get regurgitations to the point I have to throw up a little. I don't really feel sick when this happens, it's just that it's going the wrong direction (or maybe it doesn't move at all?). This makes it hard to eat sometimes. The first 6-12 months I thought this was normal but shouldn't it be better by now? It might get better for a couple of weeks, with regurgitations once or twice/week, but then it gets worse and I have to throw up a little every day, sometimes several times/day. It usually happens right after a meal. I haven't really got an explanation to this, they checked it up but everything looked ok. They say it might be that peristaltis is not as effective as the peristaltis of the esophagus, so I might feel sick because of that. I'm just wondering if I'm going to throw up now and then for the rest of my life...?

 

Iv had this before it went a way when I stop eating bread or bread productes I dont know if you got the same thing though

Cheers Ray

Dear Cactus-

My peter had surgery 16 May of this year.  There were some post op complications...a pnuemonia...a clot from his picc line removal...all of which were dealt with in a timely fashion.

But he continued to have the same difficulty YOU are describing.  They had done an endoscopy as well as a swallow study to check the anastomosis...and all was well.  After more and continued 'up chucking', we had them do an 'emptying' study (a timed emptying study).  It seems that his pyloric valve was narrowed, and therefore the new 'smaller' stomach was not emptying in a timely manner.

He had a dialation last week...things are somewhat better...but we go for another dialation next week.

Perhaps you could ask your doc about this!

BTW...peter was, thru this, still having BM's....and that is perhaps why docs intitially felt it could not be an 'emptying ' issue.  But I gotta say, when they did the dialation, there was a PRO FOUND amount of food sitting in his stomach even tho he had been npo (nothing by mouth) prior to study!  And I have the pictures (in FULL colour) to prove it! lol

 

Take Care

Michele/catwalk

 

I don't know how much of your esophagus/stomach was removed, but I lost 2/3 esoph and 1/5 stomach.  The valve that prevents stomach contents from coming up was involved in the cancer, so it had to be removed.  I can never lay flat again and must sleep in a somewhat upright position.  Also, I cannot bend over after a meal.  I think this is normal for people who have had this surgery.  Peristolisis doesn't always keep everything down, but it gets better with time.  Eat smaller amounts more frequently.  I was told to avoid "big" meals.  I have an acquaintance who had stomach cancer 7 years ago and she said, "You just get used to vomiting and diahrreah."    I am a 4 year survivor and don't vomit often now, but if I eat the wrong thing or too much of something it will come back up.   At 17 months I was still vomiting frequently, but not any longer.  I feel these side effects are a small price to pay for a life saving proceedure. Best wishes to you. 

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

How do you manage this on work? (If you can work). I don't work yet but I want to try that soon. One of my concerns is how to cope with these issues at a job? Maybe I need to sit by myself when eating, with a toilet nearby? Is this a reason not to be able to work?

Any advice is appreciated!

Odd as it may seem, husband does much better with no other stimulation while he eats. Think it has something to do with vagus nerve cut in surgery.  It's part of our parasympathetic nervous system so it functions independantly, and we can't control it.. Noise, crowds and other hubbub at meals upsets his system terribly...another part of the "new normal" in our case, but you'll start to see the patterns of what won't work.

Husband is self employed locksmith, and has tried returning to work numerous times. Never made it more than 5-10 hours a week and had to limit what kinds of jobs he could do. As hard as he's tried, it just hasn't worked for us. He might work a little then would have a setback and be out again. He might be capable if he had a desk job, but not sure his energy would hold out even at that. Ivor-Lewis was March 06 and he is finally resigned to being unable to run our business anymore, and is in the process of trying to sell the remnants. The work issue is complicated because it helps the morale to be able to have a worklife, but it doesn't always seem to work out.

Odd as it may seem, husband does much better with no other stimulation while he eats. Think it has something to do with vagus nerve cut in surgery.  It's part of our parasympathetic nervous system so it functions independantly, and we can't control it.. Noise, crowds and other hubbub at meals upsets his system terribly...another part of the "new normal" in our case, but you'll start to see the patterns of what won't work.

Husband is self employed locksmith, and has tried returning to work numerous times. Never made it more than 5-10 hours a week and had to limit what kinds of jobs he could do. As hard as he's tried, it just hasn't worked for us. He might work a little then would have a setback and be out again. He might be capable if he had a desk job, but not sure his energy would hold out even at that. Ivor-Lewis was March 06 and he is finally resigned to being unable to run our business anymore, and is in the process of trying to sell the remnants. The work issue is complicated because it helps the morale to be able to have a worklife, but it doesn't always seem to work out.

Sorry, I just saw your question.  I was 58 when I was diagnosed and the surgeon put me on disability.  She said that it would take at least a year for me to recover and then my immune system would be compromised and since I was closing in on 62 she said "Why bother."

Every one is different.  Perhaps the vomiting will stop for you soon.  I rarely have a problem now unless I eat something I know I shouldn't or if I eat too much.  Try bland foods and small amounts.  I don't know how old you are, but I think if you really need to work, you will find a way.    Did your doctor give you the GERD diet?  No carbonated bevs, no caffein, no citrus juices?  I have learned to tolerate coffee, but still cannot handle sodas.  OJ is okay for me in the morning, but a small glass.

Best wishes to you as you resume activities.