Coughing followed by vomiting post op esophageal/gastric pull-up...

marypatwilson
marypatwilson Member Posts: 14
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
My husband had an esophagectomy/gastric pull-up 7 weeks ago. At least once daily, he starts coughing and subsequently vomits..lots of mucous..and sometimes part of his last "meal". He's on a j-tube feeding, but is supposed to be eating 5-6 small meals a day. It's so difficult getting food into him when he has this problem...and so frustrating as he wants so badly to have the j-tube removed. Anyone else have these problems?

Comments

  • kitten0385
    kitten0385 Member Posts: 248
    #2
    I did not have the problems your husband is having after surgery...I had my tube removed at 5 weeks post surgery, so I cant really give any advice. Sorry. Keep your spirits high, and maybe talk to your husband's doctor about possible causes of the coughing. I wish you the best!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
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  • marypatwilson
    marypatwilson Member Posts: 14
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    husband's surgery
    Thanks for your response Williams. Yours is a true story of inspiration and I hope one day we can be as upbeat ast you seem to be. My husband was treated at Duke University Hospital and his surgeon is tops in his field. Has a great reputation. I do have a call in this a.m. to the MD's office..plus .We have a new problem. His j-tube is clogging up...Spent Father's Day morning in the ER having it unclogged...And even after several irrigations...even during the nite, it still clogged up this a.m., but I was able to take care of it myself with a probe they gave me to use. Don't know why it's suddenly a problem..Just another worry.
  • c0399
    c0399 Member Posts: 5
    #5
    marypatwilson said:

    husband's surgery
    Thanks for your response Williams. Yours is a true story of inspiration and I hope one day we can be as upbeat ast you seem to be. My husband was treated at Duke University Hospital and his surgeon is tops in his field. Has a great reputation. I do have a call in this a.m. to the MD's office..plus .We have a new problem. His j-tube is clogging up...Spent Father's Day morning in the ER having it unclogged...And even after several irrigations...even during the nite, it still clogged up this a.m., but I was able to take care of it myself with a probe they gave me to use. Don't know why it's suddenly a problem..Just another worry.

    Post Op
    I had my surgery on 9-19-08 I was on the feeding tube for 8 weeks I also had coughing and vomiting eating to fast trying to eat to much and not chewing your food into the tiniest pieces you can will cause coughing and vomiting also eating or drinking very very very very slowly will help get the food down and stay there you do have to eat several times a day but very very very small amounts at first I know it is hard and very frustrating also the feeding rinse it out before and after each feeding this helps it from clogging up it will get better Frank
  • marypatwilson
    marypatwilson Member Posts: 14
    #6
    c0399 said:

    Post Op
    I had my surgery on 9-19-08 I was on the feeding tube for 8 weeks I also had coughing and vomiting eating to fast trying to eat to much and not chewing your food into the tiniest pieces you can will cause coughing and vomiting also eating or drinking very very very very slowly will help get the food down and stay there you do have to eat several times a day but very very very small amounts at first I know it is hard and very frustrating also the feeding rinse it out before and after each feeding this helps it from clogging up it will get better Frank

    New problem...morning reflux
    Thanks for your answer. By now the tube is out...9 weeks post op and he's on a medication to help with the motility of his stomach...gets the food out faster..and vomiting has pretty much stopped. Our goal now is to stop losing weight. However, the past two mornings, he's waking up with heartburn..Sleeps on several pillows and the bed slightly elevated, but he slides down during the night. He doesn't eat at least 3 hours before bedtime, and then it's not very much. Don't know if anyone knows of something else he might do to prevent this. I hate to see him wake up to this.
  • kitten0385
    kitten0385 Member Posts: 248
    #7
    marypatwilson said:

    New problem...morning reflux
    Thanks for your answer. By now the tube is out...9 weeks post op and he's on a medication to help with the motility of his stomach...gets the food out faster..and vomiting has pretty much stopped. Our goal now is to stop losing weight. However, the past two mornings, he's waking up with heartburn..Sleeps on several pillows and the bed slightly elevated, but he slides down during the night. He doesn't eat at least 3 hours before bedtime, and then it's not very much. Don't know if anyone knows of something else he might do to prevent this. I hate to see him wake up to this.

    You might also want to ask your doctor about taking medication like prevacid, that helps keep the acid down. I take one pill each morning, and it seems to help tremendously. Also, just a couple months out from surgery, the acid backup seemed to happen more often than it does now, several months out. I rarely have that happen at all unless I eat too close to bedtime. Hope it gets better!

    Cathy
  • audy_38
    audy_38 Member Posts: 2
    #8
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    husbands cancer sounds like yours
    my husband was diagnosed in april with this.he also sees same dr. we have had the port put in and have just finished radiation an the chemo.now he has to wait a month before the surgery.they also are taking his esph out and stretching his stomach. he is now sicker then ever.cant keep much down.he has been trying to work threw all these treatments because we cant afford him not to work.i am trying to keep things pd up but hard an he knows it,so hes doing best,but need to find stuff he can keep down.cream of wheat or oatmeal does but cant take to work.i know he is scared of up coming surgey,but i dont know how to help him threw it.any advice?he was also told would have feeding tube threw stomach for 3 to 4 weeks after surgery.i work 60 hrs week so daughter an son scared because they know while i at work they are going to have to do the feedig tube.
  • kitten0385
    kitten0385 Member Posts: 248
    #9
    audy_38 said:

    husbands cancer sounds like yours
    my husband was diagnosed in april with this.he also sees same dr. we have had the port put in and have just finished radiation an the chemo.now he has to wait a month before the surgery.they also are taking his esph out and stretching his stomach. he is now sicker then ever.cant keep much down.he has been trying to work threw all these treatments because we cant afford him not to work.i am trying to keep things pd up but hard an he knows it,so hes doing best,but need to find stuff he can keep down.cream of wheat or oatmeal does but cant take to work.i know he is scared of up coming surgey,but i dont know how to help him threw it.any advice?he was also told would have feeding tube threw stomach for 3 to 4 weeks after surgery.i work 60 hrs week so daughter an son scared because they know while i at work they are going to have to do the feedig tube.

    It sounds like your husband is being very strong through this ordeal. Treatments can take a toll on the body...I am 24 and was on disability throughout my treatments. The surgery, while I know he is scared, is very doable. The feeding tube is nothing to be afraid of, after my husband went back to work after the first week I was able to give myself my medications, which will be given through the tube, and was also able to hook the feedings up myself. A nurse will show both of you, and whoever is helping, how to do it. For the first couple weeks he'll be pretty soar and may need some assistance getting around and such. I was in the hospital for 7 days after a 6 and a half hour surgery. Most likely he'll be in ICU for a day or two after the surgery...I did not get put into the ICU, but that was uncommon I guess. I wish you the best!!!

    Cathy
  • audy_38
    audy_38 Member Posts: 2
    #10
    kitten0385 said:

    It sounds like your husband is being very strong through this ordeal. Treatments can take a toll on the body...I am 24 and was on disability throughout my treatments. The surgery, while I know he is scared, is very doable. The feeding tube is nothing to be afraid of, after my husband went back to work after the first week I was able to give myself my medications, which will be given through the tube, and was also able to hook the feedings up myself. A nurse will show both of you, and whoever is helping, how to do it. For the first couple weeks he'll be pretty soar and may need some assistance getting around and such. I was in the hospital for 7 days after a 6 and a half hour surgery. Most likely he'll be in ICU for a day or two after the surgery...I did not get put into the ICU, but that was uncommon I guess. I wish you the best!!!

    Cathy

    thank you
    i do appreciate you getting back to me. i told him yesterday he might want to start thinking about disability for awhile.he asked what to do.so i got the calls in yesterday.not being able to eat he is just to weak to work ,i feel.i have all the faithin the world things will turn around.glad your doing well.
  • GolfingDeb
    GolfingDeb Member Posts: 8
    #11
    coughing after surgery
    My husband also had the surgery.(lap asst esophagectomy/gastric pull up.) He too had those coughing spells and vomitting. They have since subsided and he notices that he must take much smaller bites and chew more than he ever has, but he can eat just about anything. He's holding on to his j-tube, like a life line, because he likes his drugs thru it and it's a nice back up if he's not feeling well, he just puts the food in and doesn't give it another thought. He was dx 7-17-08, went the chemo/rad and then surgery 11-28-08. Spent over 2months in ICU, with every complication known to man, but he survived and is cancer free. Feels lousy but he's alive and able to enjoy a few things. Good luck to you..........
  • marypatwilson
    marypatwilson Member Posts: 14
    #12
    GolfingDeb said:

    coughing after surgery
    My husband also had the surgery.(lap asst esophagectomy/gastric pull up.) He too had those coughing spells and vomitting. They have since subsided and he notices that he must take much smaller bites and chew more than he ever has, but he can eat just about anything. He's holding on to his j-tube, like a life line, because he likes his drugs thru it and it's a nice back up if he's not feeling well, he just puts the food in and doesn't give it another thought. He was dx 7-17-08, went the chemo/rad and then surgery 11-28-08. Spent over 2months in ICU, with every complication known to man, but he survived and is cancer free. Feels lousy but he's alive and able to enjoy a few things. Good luck to you..........

    cpigjomg/vomitin
    Hi Deb,
    Thanks foryour answer. We're now at11 weeks post op and they put him on Erythromycin to help the emptying of his stomach three weeks ago.. He's doing much better and eats fairly well, although his weight is down 21 pounds. I really try to get lots of calories into him, but so far 1500 is about max and that's not every day. Sounds like your guy had more complications than mine, and we were sure he had them all. He was in the hospital two weeks but was readmitted a week or so later with atrial fibrillation...Seems to have gotten over that and he is gaining strength each day. Tomorrow we return to Duke for his first CAT scan. Of course we're a bit anxios about that...but always encouraging to hear of someone who is still cancer free. Thanks again...Pat
  • marypatwilson
    marypatwilson Member Posts: 14
    #13
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    William Marshall
    Hi Bill,
    Somewhere, way back when, you sent a response suggesting you and Loretta and my husband Jack and I might meet at the Chicohomany House in Williamsburg. I know you sent me your e-mail address, but for the life of me I can't find it. If you'd like, please send it again, and perhaps we can indeed get together. It won't be probably until some time in September..Will esplain later. .Thanks Pat
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #14
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • msodolak
    msodolak Member Posts: 1
    #15
    Same Problem coughing and throwing up
    My husband had his esophagectomy in November of 2009 and was doing great.About a month ago he started coughing and throwing up the same as your husband. We chose not to do Chemo or Radiation and the cancer is gone, but we have this problem now.I have read the comments and I just called my husband and told him about the Dilatation. I faxed it over to his doctor to see if this is something we should do. I hate that your husband is going through this but thank you for putting this on the web. I may not have ever known what to do for him. He has lost so much weight, he is now at 124lbs from 200 and I'm really getting worried. He is staying with our Holistic Doctor trying to figure this mess out. Hopefully now we will have some answers.Thanks again
  • tinker2
    tinker2 Member Posts: 2
    #16
    Coughing &vomiting
    Hi..my husband is 7 months out from his surgery, which was done through his back and abdomen. He has the same problem you described. He will cough and then begin to vomit saliva and mucus. He might have a few days in a row that Hi..my husband is 7 months out from his surgery, which was done through his back and abdomen. He has the same problem you described. He will cough and then begin to vomit saliva and mucus. He might have a few days in a row that
    are good days, yet others are very bad. We have talked to the surgeon and a gastro dr. To know avail with answers. He also has damaged vocal cords and had to have a trach for 5 months. He can choke very easily and his voice is barely audible at times. We just keep plugging a long day by day. If you find any information regarding this issue, I would greatly appreciate help. God Bless!
  • tinker2
    tinker2 Member Posts: 2
    #17
    Coughing &vomiting
  • Chrissy18
    Chrissy18 Member Posts: 1
    #18
    tinker2 said:

    Coughing &vomiting
    Hi..my husband is 7 months out from his surgery, which was done through his back and abdomen. He has the same problem you described. He will cough and then begin to vomit saliva and mucus. He might have a few days in a row that Hi..my husband is 7 months out from his surgery, which was done through his back and abdomen. He has the same problem you described. He will cough and then begin to vomit saliva and mucus. He might have a few days in a row that
    are good days, yet others are very bad. We have talked to the surgeon and a gastro dr. To know avail with answers. He also has damaged vocal cords and had to have a trach for 5 months. He can choke very easily and his voice is barely audible at times. We just keep plugging a long day by day. If you find any information regarding this issue, I would greatly appreciate help. God Bless!

    vomiting
    dear tinker2, my father is 1 month post op. His surgery was also done through his back and abdomen. He has a similar problem of vomiting. He has good days and bad days too. He has been back in the hospital 3 times so far with 1 dialation. Nothign has worked so far and the surgeon seems to be out of ideas as well as far as I can tell. He has another appointment tomorrow. Please let me know if you figured anything out. Best of luck to your husband.

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