I had an esophagectomy 6 1/2 years ago (for a breast cancer metastesis 15 years post breast cancer). My stomach was pulled up to my throat and maybe 1/2 of it serves as an esophagus and the other 1/2 acts like a stomach, only it's smaller. Don't like to complain because I'm alive and life is beautiful, but I have 2 problems: 1. After I eat I have a fast pulse and heartbeat, lower blood pressure, headache, pain, exhaustion; and 2. It's hard to keep weight on and I have muscle wasting. I understand this is all related. It's managable if I eat small meals frequently and very slowly and lie down after eating, but that doesn't go with working. Recently my diability insurance company has decided that since I don't have a visible tumor, I can work. They don't cover "self-reported" symptoms.
So my questions are: Any ideas about managing "dumping syndrome" better? and Any ideas about how to deal with the darned insurance company?
Thanks. Marjorie