question

das4dad

Hi, my dad has had surgery to have his esphogus removed back in December. At first he was doing really well, but he is having problems with the esphogus closing and not being able to eat. He is going for radiation treatment and I would like to know whether this could have an effect on that. He has a feeding tube and uses it, but not as much as he should. He has lost about 45lbs in these last 2 months.I am really worried as well as my mom is too. Sometimes I feel like the doctors don't have the right answers. If anyone has experienced this I would love some feedback. My dad is only 67 and had alot to live for. Thanks so much.
Debbie

trisher

I am 53 and had my stomach and part of my esophagus removed end of September. I just had to go back last week to have my esophagus stretched because it was closing also. It is really hard to eat. I am supposed to eat 6 small meals a day but if I get 2 down I am lucky. They are usually small meals. I have lost 40 pounds and am still losing. I also have just gone back to work so I know that I am burning more calories than I am taking in but it is really too hard to eat!
I guess, I am not being real helpful to you but just know that your dad is not alone. There are 2 men here where I live who have had the same operation and they are doing real well with eating. It has been 3 years for 1 man and 15 for another. I guess it takes some time to where you can get to eat. Trish

bunny

Debbie: my dad also has esophageal cancer and had surgery a year ago January. also has feeding tube and has had trouble with closing and swallowing. did not have radiation but is going thru chemo. his dr. has stretched his esophagus area probably 4 times and has definitely helped. Your dads situation is slightly different but lots of similarities. been looking for someone with similar situation. have you called american cancer society for answers or suggestions? Have found in my travels that there is not a lot of info out there to help get answers. Is he taking in as much nutrition as he should thru his tube? Let me know how he is doing. good luck and hope to talk further.
Bunny

das4dad

trisher said:

I am 53 and had my stomach and part of my esophagus removed end of September. I just had to go back last week to have my esophagus stretched because it was closing also. It is really hard to eat. I am supposed to eat 6 small meals a day but if I get 2 down I am lucky. They are usually small meals. I have lost 40 pounds and am still losing. I also have just gone back to work so I know that I am burning more calories than I am taking in but it is really too hard to eat!
I guess, I am not being real helpful to you but just know that your dad is not alone. There are 2 men here where I live who have had the same operation and they are doing real well with eating. It has been 3 years for 1 man and 15 for another. I guess it takes some time to where you can get to eat. Trish

Hi Trish,thank you for responding. I hope things are going better for you. This surgery is so involved I can only imagine how different and difficult it must be to eat. My dad has had his esophagus streched again and had had alot of scar tissue removed, he has to go back in on Monday the 12th. He is having such a hard time. Has alot of pain in his stomach always. He has dropped from 205 to 157 in 3 months.Has a J tube and is now receiving some liquid food through it on a continuous drip pump. I only hope for the best, I wish there was more I could do and I wish there was more information out there. Any advice is welcomed and I will say a prayer for you as well. Thank You!
Debbie

das4dad

bunny said:

Debbie: my dad also has esophageal cancer and had surgery a year ago January. also has feeding tube and has had trouble with closing and swallowing. did not have radiation but is going thru chemo. his dr. has stretched his esophagus area probably 4 times and has definitely helped. Your dads situation is slightly different but lots of similarities. been looking for someone with similar situation. have you called american cancer society for answers or suggestions? Have found in my travels that there is not a lot of info out there to help get answers. Is he taking in as much nutrition as he should thru his tube? Let me know how he is doing. good luck and hope to talk further.
Bunny

Thanks for reply
Hi Bunny thanks for replying,yes you are right there is not alot of information out there on this. We are finding out alot as we go. No I have not called the American Cancer Society,have you and if so have they helped with any information? My Dad has just had his esophagus streched again and is able to eat a little,throat still bothers him.He is now on a drip that continuously feeds him a sub-digested formula to his J tube.His feeding tube goes to his intestine that is why it need to be sub digested.He gets alot of stomach pain and has difficulty eating. Also spits up alot of flem. They say this is all normal. He still has not gained any weight and is always so tired.Done with radiation.
How is your Dad doing? Has it taken a long time for him to recover? Does he have a feeding tube to his stomach or intestine.And will they ever remove it? Can he eat small meals comfortably yet. Well hope your Dad is doing well. Would love to hear from you again.
Thanks Debbie.

pwarren

bunny said:

Debbie: my dad also has esophageal cancer and had surgery a year ago January. also has feeding tube and has had trouble with closing and swallowing. did not have radiation but is going thru chemo. his dr. has stretched his esophagus area probably 4 times and has definitely helped. Your dads situation is slightly different but lots of similarities. been looking for someone with similar situation. have you called american cancer society for answers or suggestions? Have found in my travels that there is not a lot of info out there to help get answers. Is he taking in as much nutrition as he should thru his tube? Let me know how he is doing. good luck and hope to talk further.
Bunny

Hi Bunny. My husband was recently diagnosed and during surgery found cancer in other parts of his body. He is now on a feeding tube and awaiting chemo/radiation. How do you know how much and what to put in the tube beside ensure?

pwarren

bunny said:

Debbie: my dad also has esophageal cancer and had surgery a year ago January. also has feeding tube and has had trouble with closing and swallowing. did not have radiation but is going thru chemo. his dr. has stretched his esophagus area probably 4 times and has definitely helped. Your dads situation is slightly different but lots of similarities. been looking for someone with similar situation. have you called american cancer society for answers or suggestions? Have found in my travels that there is not a lot of info out there to help get answers. Is he taking in as much nutrition as he should thru his tube? Let me know how he is doing. good luck and hope to talk further.
Bunny

Hi Bunny. My husband was recently diagnosed and during surgery found cancer in other parts of his body. He is now on a feeding tube and awaiting chemo/radiation. How do you know how much and what to put in the tube beside ensure?

das4dad

pwarren said:

Hi Bunny. My husband was recently diagnosed and during surgery found cancer in other parts of his body. He is now on a feeding tube and awaiting chemo/radiation. How do you know how much and what to put in the tube beside ensure?

Hi, my dad had surgery back in December and in March found out it had spread to other parts of the body also. Did they remove the other tumors for your husband? My dad had a J-tube so there was not much you could put through there. We had switched him to a drip which ran on pump. Does your husband have a J-tube to the intestine or a G-tube to the stomach?

swmnupstrm

das4dad said:

Hi, my dad had surgery back in December and in March found out it had spread to other parts of the body also. Did they remove the other tumors for your husband? My dad had a J-tube so there was not much you could put through there. We had switched him to a drip which ran on pump. Does your husband have a J-tube to the intestine or a G-tube to the stomach?

Nutrition
We've used a product called Scandishake with my dad. When mixed with milk and a half cup of dry milk and a tablespoon of soy protein powder, it provides about 1000 calories per serving.

When he was going thru radiation, he also added ice cream, and blended the whole concoction in a blender. He took in about 3200 calories a day doing this and avoided a feeding tube, which he was vehemently against.

If this can help, or if you want more info, email me at Swmnupstrm@aol.com.

Marsha

sjen

Dear Debbie, My husband had this type too, no surgery or radiation but had chemo, he had a stint put in and was a very bad move on his part, now he has trouble eating also, has lost from 320 to 240, he is 56 and had just retired. Please keep your spirit up for yourself and your mom if you need to talk please do not hesitate to call SJen651258@aol.com.

scparra38

trisher said:

I am 53 and had my stomach and part of my esophagus removed end of September. I just had to go back last week to have my esophagus stretched because it was closing also. It is really hard to eat. I am supposed to eat 6 small meals a day but if I get 2 down I am lucky. They are usually small meals. I have lost 40 pounds and am still losing. I also have just gone back to work so I know that I am burning more calories than I am taking in but it is really too hard to eat!
I guess, I am not being real helpful to you but just know that your dad is not alone. There are 2 men here where I live who have had the same operation and they are doing real well with eating. It has been 3 years for 1 man and 15 for another. I guess it takes some time to where you can get to eat. Trish

Hello
My husband, had part of his esophagus and all of his stomach removed. This was in Aug. of 2003. I am trying to find out some information. I was wondering if maybe you can help since you can relate. I have some ?'s My questions are about diahrea it seems that he was doing okay, between Nov. and Dec. He has had 3 dilations. The 3rd one really worked, because he has been able to eat and swallow food like normal. Since than he has had Diahrea, about 4 or 6 times a day. He is unable to leave the house. or gain any kind of weight. He has had radiation and Chemo back in May,2003 It seems that everything he eats or drinks come straight through. He is unable to gain any weight. he was at 220 when was diagnosed,which was in Jan,2003. he is now down to 124. He is very depressed, very uncomforable, unable to gain any weight or even go anywhere. Please if you or anyone can suggest anything please let us know.
we had seen the Drs, this thursday that just passed. He basically said that he will be like this for the rest of his life. I can't believe that. I know there is someone out there that has some kind of advise, or suggestions. Can someone please respond. Thank you .

I have read quite a few stories on this web. it seems that no One has talked about there bowel movements and how it has affected them. Is this normal, i don't think so. I just am unable to understand how anyone can live with Diahrea. I think the DRS. sometimes don't know what to do about this and just give medications to help.
PLEASE IF ANYONE CAN HELP. VERY VERY DESPERATE.
MY HUSBAND IF LOSING STILL.... WE ARE IN REMISSION BUT, HE IS STILL LOSING THE BATTLE......

THANK YOU

I can also be reached at Chrsmtya@aol.com