Recovery from Ivor Lewis

Annie76
Annie76 Member Posts: 3
in Esophageal Cancer #1

My husband had his esophagectomy on January 30.  His surgery appears to be healing well, and he had a good pathology report.  He experienced severe dumping syndrome, but that has improved.  He is having a lot of trouble stimulating his appetite.  Also, he will develop a low grade fever off and on throughout the day.  Has anyone else experienced this?  

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  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    edited March 2018 #2
    It took me a long time to regain my appetite

    Hello Annie,

    I had Ivor Lewis surgery eight years ago. It took me a long time to regain my appetite. After surgery food did not look attractive to me and I had no sense of hunger. However, I wanted to get rid of my feeding tube so I defined a schedule of 7 small meals a day. I just ate something every few hours and tried to define a menu that included a mixture of proteins, vegetables, and fruit. Anything with sugar was not on my menu because it caused dumping.

    After several months food started to smell good to me and at least the idea of eating sounded interesting. But I have to admit, after eight years, I still never have a sense of being “hungry”. When they relocate what remains of the stomach during surgery, the nerves that would normally transmit a feeling of “hunger” are severed.

    I have heard of people developing a low-grade fever periodically while recovering from surgery but did not have that experience myself. Recovery does take time. It was almost a year before I felt I was back to feeling as well as I felt before I was diagnosed.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams

    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009
    Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009 Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Eight Year Survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

     

     

  • Deathorglory
    Deathorglory Member Posts: 364 Member
    #3
    Hello Annie

    Hello Annie,

    I had problems with appetite for quite a while after surgery.  I just wasn't hungry and was disapointed that, if I ever felt hungry, it was sated with just a couple of bites.  Eating became more of a medical thing done out of neccessity than something done for enjoyment.  I think this is a very common experience for folks post esophajectomy.  You just have to fight through it and it improves slowly.  I'm not familiar with low grade fevers.  I actually didn't have a thermometer, so maybe I had them and didn't know.  

    Glad to hear that your husband is recuperating and especially that he got a good pathology report.

    Best Wishes,

    Ed

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