Conflicting Dietary Suggestions...right after surgery

Luvs24
Luvs24 Member Posts: 75
in Esophageal Cancer #1
After Dad's surgery they told Dad he could have anything he wanted get up to 1500 to 2000 calories. Even suggested adding ice cream to the boost! Milk, whatever he wanted.

I had read on here about people developing the intolerance to lactose, but I thought, that hasn't been dad, so maybe that didn't effect him.

Because he could eat whatever, including dairy, he was eating grilled cheese loaded with butter for the calories. We didn't realize things we not being pushed through.

The pictures show the esophagus looks great and they were pleased but we have also have pictures from where the stomach starts that is filled with food and pills.

Ugh. We just took two steps back, but we were trying to keep the calories up and give Dad the variety of the foods he needed.

I am not sure if we would have known the symptoms to look for with him dealing with a blockage, but maybe we shouldn't have given him so much Cheese, Butter, Peanut Butter, EGGNOG.....

I just hope the pills that aren't digested yet are not digested all at once...this could be my next interesting post.

Beth
Daughter of Roy
DX 6-17-11 T3N1M0
Ivor Lewis 10/7/11

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
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  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #3
    unknown said:

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    just want to say sometimes pills don't go down too fast
    It does sound like too much food too soon. I was always able to digest dairy but like William is saying moderation is key and too fatty items are hard to digest and can lead to dumping too. I had to have a swallowing study a month ago, I am almost 2 yrs out from my surgery and I swallow fine but pills can fall down to the stomach pouch and sit there. The dr there told me to swallow pills with either pudding or applesauce surrounding them or lots of water so they would go down faster. So I think probably pills don't go down for a lot of people and if you don't have a study you won't know it. I still watch the size of pills too, cannot get a fish oil pill down and just have given up on that one. Good luck and hope your Dad keeps doing well.
    Donna70
  • Luvs24
    Luvs24 Member Posts: 75
    #4
    unknown said:

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    Soft Diet - but Pyloric Valve issues
    Thank you for the great links!

    Dad was on the soft diet, the doctors encouraged him to eat small, eat often, anything he wanted and felt like he could have (if it was soft). He could try anything he wanted (like chicken) and see how it goes.

    The Pyloric Valve hasn't relaxed enough in the beginning to allow food to pass, even though he had the Botox during the surgery.

    He should have been on more of a full liquid diet in the first week to be sure the valve was working. But now that the stomach is packed we now need the liquids to break down all the food particles in there before we can move forward.

    We hadn't questioned enough what was going on. (Or maybe I didn't question it enough since I came into it a week after my dad was home from the hospital.)

    I am so very bummed for him but he is determined not to be the stuffed Turkey!! I am trying to find links now that are the best liquids to aid in the digestion of what is in his stomach now and the best plan of attack to get over this bump.

    Thank you again for your links, when we get off the liquid diet, we will be using these links for the soft diet.
  • Cora11
    Cora11 Member Posts: 173
    #5
    unknown said:

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    thanks for the great
    thanks for the great resources William

    Cora
  • Luvs24
    Luvs24 Member Posts: 75
    #6
    Cora11 said:

    thanks for the great
    thanks for the great resources William

    Cora

    5 Weeks now liquid diet because of SCHEDULING...UGh
    We were hoping three weeks for the follow up endoscopy to look at the pyloric valve, but due to scheduling, it won't be until Dec. 14th. HOW ON EARTH is he going to get the nutrients and calories that he needs. We were already concerned with him losing weight, and dad wants to EAT not drink. FIVE WEEKS!

    So along with the positive post thread that I read to him and reinforcing that he doesn't have cancer anymore, not sure what else to say. He is really bummed. He continues to have a great attitude but so very, very, bummed today.

    :(

    Beth
  • ArchTB
    ArchTB Member Posts: 150
    #7
    Luvs24 said:

    5 Weeks now liquid diet because of SCHEDULING...UGh
    We were hoping three weeks for the follow up endoscopy to look at the pyloric valve, but due to scheduling, it won't be until Dec. 14th. HOW ON EARTH is he going to get the nutrients and calories that he needs. We were already concerned with him losing weight, and dad wants to EAT not drink. FIVE WEEKS!

    So along with the positive post thread that I read to him and reinforcing that he doesn't have cancer anymore, not sure what else to say. He is really bummed. He continues to have a great attitude but so very, very, bummed today.

    :(

    Beth

    Cream soups
    Beth,
    In this chilly weather there is nothing better than a variety of good creamy soups. There are so many you can make! One trick that I've learnt is that if you add cream towards the end after you've cooked the broth and everything, don't get it to boil only get it hot. This way the cream soup would have more calories.
    If he is also allowed to eat soft food, mashed sweet potatoes, peanut butter and soft avocado are your best friends. These have a lot of good healthy fats and your dad can have small portions but loaded with calories.
    Olya
  • Luvs24
    Luvs24 Member Posts: 75
    #8
    ArchTB said:

    Cream soups
    Beth,
    In this chilly weather there is nothing better than a variety of good creamy soups. There are so many you can make! One trick that I've learnt is that if you add cream towards the end after you've cooked the broth and everything, don't get it to boil only get it hot. This way the cream soup would have more calories.
    If he is also allowed to eat soft food, mashed sweet potatoes, peanut butter and soft avocado are your best friends. These have a lot of good healthy fats and your dad can have small portions but loaded with calories.
    Olya

    Just liquids right now...
    Thank you Olya,

    We are learning lots about soups! He can't eat soft foods yet. Hopefully three weeks, but as it looks now it will have to be FIVE due to the scheduling.

    We have added orange juice concentrate to his drinks for the sugars and calories.

    Beth

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