Gastrectomy Complications

Hi, I'm a new particpant in this message board, I posted something last night and it turned up in the general "Cancers" message board instead of here on the stomach cancer message board, under "post gastrectomy problems/gastric cancer journey".

Most of it is about the journey and difficulties my husband has had since his gastrectomy last September. I'll just summarize and put my questions in here.

He is currently having another digestive system shutdown with vomiting, hiccups, trapped gas (this time mostly from the endoscopy 3 days ago). Anyone else been through this?

He has extremely alkaline stomach secretions with symptoms that are like overacidity but in his case its total lack of stomach acid. Has anyone had this and resolved it, if so how?

Has anyone had any experience with zeolite (NCD)? I've seen some interesting anecdotal stories, understand that the claim about the study on stage 4 cancer patients is not true, but there are some personal reasons why we are drawn to try this, however if it is hard on the stomach, that wouldn't be good right now.

Who are the really knowledgable stomach cancer oncologists in this country (excluding MD Anderson, we are with kaiser and can't afford the $41,500, but could see an independent specialist?

Blessings to you all.
Vivienne.

Hi Vivienne,

My father has stomach cancer and he has also had several bouts with hiccups. The odd thing is, his oncologist seems surprised by them. He has no explanation for why it's happening. What does your husband's oncologist say? As for good oncologists, I wish I could help you, but I'm having trouble in that area myself. I hope you will continue to search and eventually find one who meets your needs. We just started trying zeolite today, and I think anything that eliminates toxins is worth a try. I would be interested to hear how you discovered that the study done on stage four patients is a hoax. Take care,
Patti

Dear patti,

I believe the hiccuping is related to irritation/ compromise of the vagus nerve, which may even be severed during stomach surgery. My husband's oncologist prescribed Thorazine, it can work but does cause drowsiness.

Regrettably things are winding down for my husband rather quickly - the junction between his stomach and intestine closed off and caused multiple complications and severe pain, and he has just had enough and is ready to leave. I wish you and your father much luck on this challenging journey. If he can possibly do cesium, that would be my first choice - we did meet someone who healed from inoperable stomach cancer using that, but it is counterindicated when there is intestinal blockage, which was an issue for my husband all along.

Vivienne.

Dear Patti,
I forgot to answer your last question. re The question about the supposed study on zeolite - I read on another stomach cancer message board somewhere about someone who had a phone conversation with the man who originally patented the formula before Waiora got involved, and this man said there was no such formal study done. That does not mean that the product doesn't work - I think there is some powerful anecdotal evidence, and time will tell. We felt it was worth a try but were late in starting up with it, so I couldn't say whether it had any beneficial effect for my husband or not - he was only on it 2 weeks and during that time there were so many other complications.

Vivienne

Vivienne,

Thank you for your response. I appreciate the insight. I am so sad to hear that your husband's condition is deteriorating, and that he is suffering. Is there truly nothing more that can be done? I would be torn between wanting his suffering to end and wanting to grasp at anything that might offer even the remotest of possibility for recovery. Such a brutal disease. May God carry you both through this difficult time.

Patti

Hi Vivienne
I hope by the time you receive this your husband has mended. I was diagnosed with linitis plastica May 24th and have so many of the same symptoms, the burping, vomiting with over eating, etc. Because they feel that the cancer has spread, they will not do a gastrectomy on me, but I hope that they are wrong about the cancer having spread and the surgery can be done. It's been over 6 weeks of tests, biopsy's and Dr. visit after Dr. visit with no definitive treatment decided.

I also had Kaiser insurance, but was fortunate enough to have Pacificare as a back up. I am very frustrated wtih Kaiser and believe that I am in stage IV cancer due to their not listening to my complaints that started over 15 months ago. But I can't stay in that angry mindset and move forward.

I am meeting with an oncologist from UCSF on June 29th and hope that we can start some type of treatment soon. Do you have any experience with Essiac. It's an herbal treatment. Someone recommended it to me but I haven't ordered any yet?

I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Marlene

I came across your post as I was doing research into another
subject. I am a neurotoxicologist, but have little experience in
the area of cancers. I feel for those of you who have been
fighting the long hard battles against cancer.

I wanted to just remind you to be careful with what you try.
Cancer is bad, but there are some treatments out there that are
much worse. Anything that says that it "eliminates" toxins
should be looked at with great skepticism. The reason is that
"dose makes the poison." This means that anything is toxic if
you get a large enough dose of it, including water, salt,
vitamins, oxygen, etc. So then, what exactly in your body is
toxic, and how would some chemical be able to recognize
something as being toxic? Compounds that tend to be labelled
as toxic have nothing in common except that they harm the
body above a certain dose. Most likely, if something says it
"eliminates toxins," it doesn't. If it did eliminate some
chemicals that tend to be harmful, it would be more explicit as
to what is eliminated.

Dear Marlene,

I'm sorry I missed your message, my husband died on 6/20 and I have not kept up with e-mails. An herbalist friend feels there are better herb combinations than essiac, if you can work with a good acupuncturist who can do pulse diagnosis and either prescribe herbs from that or co-operate with an herbalist that can be good. My husband couldn't tolerate his herbs by mouth for long unfortunately. His inability to take anything by mouth prevented him from doing many helpful things. If you are within reach of the Bay area I can recommend KW Botanicals in San Anselmo for custom tailored herbal preparations integrating Western and Chinese herbs. I still feel the best option if he had not had intestinal blockage would have been cesium, carefully monitored.

Good luck with your next steps.

Vivienne.

Dear Vivienne,
I am so sorry to hear of your husband's death. My heart goes out to you and your family.

What exactly is cesium? Im just now going to start exploring alternatives. Herbs etc. I have also purchased a juicer and will juice all my drinks during the week I have chemo. It is hard to eat much during those weeks, but I've read that with extracting the juice at home the enzymes are kept that helps the lymphatic system. Everyone has their theories. I'm just exploring anything that will give me a fighting chance.

I am currently having an infusion of Cisplatin and Epirubicin which lasts about 6 hours one day every three weeks. I also take Xeloda by mouth for two weeks. I just completed my first round of treatment and this is my week off. I feel good. So I will take it one day at a time and pray for remission.

I don't know you but you are in my prayers.
-Marlene
P.S. Yes, I live in the bay area. Gilroy...

Yes, what you say makes sense. Thank you very much for the insight.