Back home after surgery on jtube

hughesjohnw
hughesjohnw Member Posts: 10
in Esophageal Cancer #1
I'm being fed via the jtube continuously. My doctor has told me that I can also eat whatever I want, just go slow and not to over do it. However, nothing tastes like it did prior to surgery. Not to mention that I have no appetite at all. Has anyone else experienced either of these problems? If so, how long does this last?

Thanks

Comments

  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #2
    Hi,
    I didn't like a lot of
    Hi,
    I didn't like a lot of things I liked before surgery. It took me month's to get an appetite back after but it did come back. All food taste great to me now and I have a very good appetite. I never feel hunger but I still love to eat.
    You need to set up an eating schedule and stick to it. Paul61 has a great eating schedule that has worked for him. Perhaps he will put it on for you. You need to drink shakes, any of the suppliments, like ensure, to keep your strength and weight up.
    Glad you're surgery is over,
    Sandra
  • Josie60
    Josie60 Member Posts: 80
    #3
    sandy1943 said:

    Hi,
    I didn't like a lot of
    Hi,
    I didn't like a lot of things I liked before surgery. It took me month's to get an appetite back after but it did come back. All food taste great to me now and I have a very good appetite. I never feel hunger but I still love to eat.
    You need to set up an eating schedule and stick to it. Paul61 has a great eating schedule that has worked for him. Perhaps he will put it on for you. You need to drink shakes, any of the suppliments, like ensure, to keep your strength and weight up.
    Glad you're surgery is over,
    Sandra

    If the body is getting the
    If the body is getting the nutrients it diminishes the appetite. The formula is providing all the nutrients the body needs so it doesn't repond with hunger signals That's what my surgron told me. You need to keep eating the solid foods even thou you aren't hungry.

    I struggled with no appetite while on the feeding tube. As I made the changeover I felt like I was constantly eating.
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #4
    The lack of hunger and taste changes are "typical"
    John,

    The lack of hunger and change in the taste of foods in normal after surgery. The nutrition you are receiving via your feeding tube is reducing your appetite. I found I needed to eat by a schedule because I was never hungry.

    The issues you are experiencing are very common for those of us who have had a “re-arranged” digestive system. It takes time to get used to our new plumbing.

    Two things I can tell you from experience. First, it does get better and you will eventually be back to eating most of the same foods you enjoyed in the past. Second, it does take time and during that time you will lose some weight before you diet stabilizes and you regain some of the weight you lost.

    I will include some references to web sites that contain helpful information. You may have already gotten these from the nutritionist at the hospital where you had your surgery but just in case.

    A diet guide for people who have had an esophagectomy:

    Click Here for esophagectomy diet

    A diet guide to avoid “dumping syndrome”

    Click Here for dumping diet

    These are some “rules of eating” that helped me when I was recovering.

    1. Avoid foods that have high concentrations or sugar or simple carbohydrates
    2. Eat seven to eight small meals a day
    3. Eat slowly and chew all food very thoroughly
    4. Rest for approximately 30 minutes after eating (in an upright position)
    5. Drink minimal liquid during meals ( drink liquids approximately an hour after eating)
    6. High calorie supplement drinks (like Ensure) must be sipped slowly over a long period of time.


    Here is my "typical" daily menu

    8:00 AM - One egg scrambled and half a bagel with cream cheese
    12:00 PM - 1/2 turkey sandwich with cheese
    2:00 PM - Granola Bar
    3:00 PM - Banana / strawberry smoothie with protein powder and chia seeds
    6:00 PM - 4 oz of protein (e.g. chicken) and 1/2 cup of vegetables and roll
    8:00 PM - Apple pealed
    9:00 PM - I cup of frozen yogurt

    I find if I eat less in the morning I have much less chance of having a dumping espisode.

    You have to be patient with yourself. It does get better but I have to admit that almost three years post surgery I still never get hungry. I just eat by the clock, but now I can eat pretty much everything I want, just in smaller portions.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    Grand Blanc, Michigan

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Two year survivor

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

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