Chemo, working and weight

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Pghmomma
Pghmomma Member Posts: 141
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
So dad is going into his 3rd chemo treatment. With the first one he did good, now with the second one he had trouble, he was sick and wasnt eating that much. So They are now putting him on steriods continuously and he will also be on the ktyril patch.They also put him on ativian which seems to be helping with his sleeping issues at nite. Hopefully this will work for him. He is going for his next treatment in two weeks and then he will start radition. I am very sitting here wondering why they are using radition, I hear not alot of you guys have had it. The removed the tumor on 12/7 and then 4 out of 25 lymph nodes came back positive and they said he was a stage 3. What are they radating? I will be having my mom ask these questions too. They are just being SOOOO agressive with treatment. Im starting to get worried like they are hiding something from us.. I dont know what,and i know I shouldnt think like that. But when we ask about the plan they say one step at time. like how long will raditioin last, how many treatments, when will he go, how long will chemo last... its never answer.

Now we have been making him shakes everynite with some protein powder and milk, and fruit and he loves them... But he has been really gassy, I dont know if its from the shakes or from the chemo. hopefully he will gain the 7lbs he lost last week back now.

He also went back to work yesterday. He is a school bus macanhic and couldnt wait to get back into the work force. He enjoyed getting out and did some light duty bus work. We thought it would be too much be he loved it and said he will continue to go full time.

So that was my vent, update, whatever you wanna call it. i know things will look up but its soo hard not seeing what is too come.

God bless
Tina

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  • mumphy
    mumphy Member Posts: 440
    #2
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    I know it's hard
    Did you get a post esophagectomy diet to follow. If now make them send you one. You can even look it up on the web. Weight gainer from GNC along with carnation instant breakfast added to the shakes add alot of protien that what he needs to build muscle mass. He also has to be eating some regular soft foods. (I know it is a PIA) He has to use food just like medicine
    so every 2 hours he should have someting. It will feel like he is eating constantly but he needs this.

    Hope this helps a little. Oh and for gas just get otc gas x tablets and have him take to and he sould be fine. Amy from Dr. L office told me that. You can always call here thats what she is there for. I love, love, love her.

    God Bless,
    Kath
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #3
    Options
    mumphy said:

    I know it's hard
    Did you get a post esophagectomy diet to follow. If now make them send you one. You can even look it up on the web. Weight gainer from GNC along with carnation instant breakfast added to the shakes add alot of protien that what he needs to build muscle mass. He also has to be eating some regular soft foods. (I know it is a PIA) He has to use food just like medicine
    so every 2 hours he should have someting. It will feel like he is eating constantly but he needs this.

    Hope this helps a little. Oh and for gas just get otc gas x tablets and have him take to and he sould be fine. Amy from Dr. L office told me that. You can always call here thats what she is there for. I love, love, love her.

    God Bless,
    Kath

    Your Dad
    Hi Tina!
    Glad to hear your great news on your dad. So glad to hear he is able to get back to work.
    My dad had chemo and radiation for his ec. He did not have the surgery. But...if you are wondering why the radiation, just keep asking. Do not give up until you get the answer. Kath, thanks for the weight gain mixed with instant breakfast tip. My dad has lost about 30 lbs. Needs to gain some back. Best of luck. Hello to your dad and mom.
    Tina B
  • Pghmomma
    Pghmomma Member Posts: 141
    #4
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    Tina Blondek said:

    Your Dad
    Hi Tina!
    Glad to hear your great news on your dad. So glad to hear he is able to get back to work.
    My dad had chemo and radiation for his ec. He did not have the surgery. But...if you are wondering why the radiation, just keep asking. Do not give up until you get the answer. Kath, thanks for the weight gain mixed with instant breakfast tip. My dad has lost about 30 lbs. Needs to gain some back. Best of luck. Hello to your dad and mom.
    Tina B

    Kath
    You know my mom is using the Carnation instant breakfast and the stuff from GNC and adding stuff to it... I was thinking that was causing the gas, we put a call into her and we are waiting for her to call back because they told him from the get go not to take anything without asking because of the chemo and it could harm the chemo. So we are asking about the gas x.

    We will continue to ask and ask for now till we get answers.

    Thanks Tina, hopefully your dad gains some weight back too...

    God bless
    Tina
  • Pghmomma
    Pghmomma Member Posts: 141
    #5
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    Pghmomma said:

    Kath
    You know my mom is using the Carnation instant breakfast and the stuff from GNC and adding stuff to it... I was thinking that was causing the gas, we put a call into her and we are waiting for her to call back because they told him from the get go not to take anything without asking because of the chemo and it could harm the chemo. So we are asking about the gas x.

    We will continue to ask and ask for now till we get answers.

    Thanks Tina, hopefully your dad gains some weight back too...

    God bless
    Tina

    diet
    He is on a soft diet slowly moving up. Hes eating a bunch of foods lil by lil, hamburger help is great for him... but meatballs are hard to diegest for him. All in time. Hes eating 10 small meals a day.. But during chemo he only has like 3 lil meals. It makes him sick. finding the right meds will fix it I HOPE.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #6
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    Pghmomma said:

    diet
    He is on a soft diet slowly moving up. Hes eating a bunch of foods lil by lil, hamburger help is great for him... but meatballs are hard to diegest for him. All in time. Hes eating 10 small meals a day.. But during chemo he only has like 3 lil meals. It makes him sick. finding the right meds will fix it I HOPE.

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