Post gastrectomy diet

My last post on here was making a decision about wether my husband should have a gastrectomy or not.  Well he chose to have it and just under half his stomach was removed, the surgeon afterwards said that it was the right decision.  They removed the tumors and no other visible signs of cancer were to be seen. He is doing really well and is just about to begin eating again.  It really goes to show that you can't purely rely on doctors to make choices about  our wellbeing it has ot be a joint decision.

So my question today is for anyone who has undergone this surgery to please give me any advise as to what to eat, how much, what not to eat, how to eat it or anything else you can advise you can give me about eating.  We have seen the clinical dietician at the hospital and she has given me a list of foods but I just thought I would get ahead of the game and ask for suggestions.

Thank you for any advise you can give. Sue

Congratulations on your husband's good outcome.

My husband is 27 months post total gastrectomy and all I can say about him (because everyone is so different) is that so many things he was told to avoid he is able to eat just fine and other things he should be able to eat he cannot. There is no rhyme or reason to any of it.

I would just try things a little at a time. With my husband it can even change from time to time and just because some type of food is difficult one day it does not mean it will be another time.

So I would suggest to just try different things and unless it is a really bad outcome, I would not rule anything out and just try it again another time, especially if it is a food he particularly likes.

Good luck!

Lis

Thanks for the advice I do hope your husband continues to do well.

Sue

I had half my stomach and 2" of my esophagus removed in Feb. 09.  Diet is still a struggle (mostly just to maintain my weight).  The things that surprised me:

1.  Vegatables that are gaseous or dont digest well like broccli or corn.  Didnt do well and was bummed cause I'm a vegy fan.

2.  Was not prepared for the effects of Hypoglycemia.  The articles I've read suggest that stomach surgery patients and diabetics are the only ones that suffer from this.  Read up about solluble and unsoluble fiber in your diet.  It helped.

3.  I know it sounds odd but diet has been secondary to making sure my body is digesting and obsorbing like it should.  I take action immediatly if there is any change.

Like I said, I had the surgery in Feb.  went back to work way too early (I dont like to sit).  I am cancer free and doing well.

Vince

Lis,

My husband had part of his esophagus and part of his stomach removed 18 months ago and I would agree completely with your response concerning food.  It can be frustrating.

Maria

If he misses any dish with ground hamburger, here's an excellent substitute: Obtain a meat grinder. Buy a good steak that you can trim the fat off, and run through the grinder not one, but three times....using the coarsest plate first, then down to the finest one. My wife can't eat very much without her stomach, but she can tolerate the ground beef we make at home. It's the only ground beef I will eat now, because it is so much better than store-bought! She takes beano before any meal, because it helps with that "pressure" feeling in the esophagus.