Can't keep anything down after total gastrectomy

Hi,
My dad has stage 3 stomach cancer and did a total gastrectomy 2.5 weeks ago. He was recovering really well in the hospital and could take soft diet from the 6th-7th day onwards. However, since coming back home about 1.5weeks ago, he cant seem to keep anything down other than oats and milo. Most of the time, he'll vomit liquid after trying any other stuff. We have tried porridge, macaroni, ensure (both liquid and powder forms), fish, pork, fruit juices etc..

With all the vomiting, he seems to be getting frustrated n depressed. The fear of nausea is also making him less adventurous in trying new stuff...quite lost on what we should do now..he has lost 18 pounds and counting..

The worst part actually is that my dad does not know his cancer diagnosis, which the doctor will be telling him next week..was hoping he can start eating properly or at leasat show improvement to be sufficiently confident of his own recovery before hearing the news

Would appreciate if anyone has any advice to share...thanks in advance!

 

On 10/26/2008 eng00349 wrote:

Hi,
My dad has stage 3 stomach cancer and did a total gastrectomy 2.5 weeks ago. He was recovering really well in the hospital and could take soft diet from the 6th-7th day onwards. However, since coming back home about 1.5weeks ago, he cant seem to keep anything down other than oats and milo. Most of the time, he'll vomit liquid after trying any other stuff. We have tried porridge, macaroni, ensure (both liquid and powder forms), fish, pork, fruit juices etc..

With all the vomiting, he seems to be getting frustrated n depressed. The fear of nausea is also making him less adventurous in trying new stuff...quite lost on what we should do now..he has lost 18 pounds and counting..

The worst part actually is that my dad does not know his cancer diagnosis, which the doctor will be telling him next week..was hoping he can start eating properly or at leasat show improvement to be sufficiently confident of his own recovery before hearing the news

Would appreciate if anyone has any advice to share...thanks in advance!

 

Hi, 

My dad is having the exact same problem.  He had his whole stomach removed 6 weeks ago and the surgery went well and his doctors are optimistic about his out come...the only problem is he can't keep anything down.  He has tried everything; ensure, oatmeal, yogurt but nothing seems to work.  He doesn't want to eat anymore because he ends up getting sick (vomiting fluid).  He is very depressed, frustrated and losing weight really fast.  He used to be really phyically fit and being so fraile is making him more depressed.

 Please let me know if you find or hear anything and I will do the same.

Good luck

your dads will be needing tpn daily since they can't keep the food down which is a bag of milk looking nutrition which will be connected to port on their chest.  To me, it doesn't sound like they got all the cancer. Cancer cells are microscopic and it's hard to get it all if it's at a later stage. Sorry to hear they are suffering. 

Hi Max, I'm keeping my fingers crossed...but my Dad had a good day and managed to keep everything down today, including stuff that we had tried and failed (macaroni and ensure powder). Asked if he did anything differently this time round so that I might share at the forum, he said he ate really really slowly...e.g. for the half glass of ensure drink he made with the powder, he said each sip he took was next to nothing in his mouth but it helped in preventing fluid build-up and the subsequent vomiting.. Hope this would work for your dad too....all the best!

He can try to use a high power blender ( 2 -3.5 HP) to puree organic fruits and vegetables. Drink it slowly. Try to see which diet he can take. He can try graph, beet, barly pinapple, papaya (green or ripe). Make sure you let air out of the drink before he drink ( but not wait too long bc it may oxidized). Also try Budwig diet( Flaxseed and cottage cheese).If he takes it, it will fight the residual cancer. Also exercise as much as he can. Let me know how it works.

Hi,

 I spoke to my dad last night and he didn't get sick at all yesterday.  He is drinking ensure, it might take him 2 hours to drink one bottle but he is able to keep it down!  I told him to keep it up and very slowly introduce other foods once he feels up to it.  He has spoken to another stomach cancer survivor and they said that it took them along time to recover but the cancer is gone and they are feeling wonderful.  Also make sure that your dad is keeping hydrated.  My dad ended up back in the hospital because of dehydration but is okay now. 

Don't let the other comment posted discourage you...they just had thier stomach removed so of course it makes sense that eating might be a challenge to some. 

I'll keep you posted if we come across any other 'tricks'.  My thoughts and prayers for your dad and a speedy recovery.

 

When body does not recover after surgery it may be the residual cancer is still in control even the scan shows no cancer.  Do the diet option if there is no other better options.  Other anticancer supplements may help too as long it doesn't hurt.  He has to do asap b4 it is too late. Make sure he can eat and exercise.

I had the same problem after my gastrectomy.  I took a couple anti-nausea meds, Zofran and Compazine.  I would check with the MD about a feeding tube or TPN.

 Tom

Hi All, Thanks for all the replies, I think my dad has found the trick to keeping the food down (at least before chemo starts) by going really slowly. He's a rather impatient man who's used to gulping down all his food in the past, but guess it's finally got to him tat he's got to do the extreme opposite now. He ate lots yesterday and even went to help my mum at the store for a few hrs today. Ssc & Thereishope, How does flaxseed and cottage cheese help fight the residual cancer, has anyone tried it successfully? Maybe I'll start introducing bits of these into his diet later on. Also, what would be some signs that indicate that the cancer is back or not completely gotten rid of? Max, Great to hear that your dad is doing fine too! Yup, would appreciate any tricks to share, will do likewise, take care!

 

On 10/27/2008 eng00349 wrote:

Hi All, Thanks for all the replies, I think my dad has found the trick to keeping the food down (at least before chemo starts) by going really slowly. He's a rather impatient man who's used to gulping down all his food in the past, but guess it's finally got to him tat he's got to do the extreme opposite now. He ate lots yesterday and even went to help my mum at the store for a few hrs today. Ssc & Thereishope, How does flaxseed and cottage cheese help fight the residual cancer, has anyone tried it successfully? Maybe I'll start introducing bits of these into his diet later on. Also, what would be some signs that indicate that the cancer is back or not completely gotten rid of? Max, Great to hear that your dad is doing fine too! Yup, would appreciate any tricks to share, will do likewise, take care!

Hi,

My sister had a total gastrectomy 5 weeks ago.  She was hospitalized for 3 weeks, but is back in the hospital for dehydration.  She is nauseated 24 hours a day.  She is still throwing up bile and nothing seems to help for a long period of time.  She has been eating very small amounts and drinking small amounts, but she is not throwing up the food, it is foamy or yellowish green bile.  Here Dr. is telling her she may have this for the rest of her life????  There is no way sh can live like this.  Does anyone have any suggestions????  She also cannot lay flat because the lower part of her esophagus was also removed.  Any suggestions on comfortable sleeping arrangements.  She is miserable.  Any help or suggestions are appreciated.  Marais