weight loss is it as bad as they are telling me
Comments
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Weight Loss
Standard answer; "Everyone is different".....
It can be substantial in some...if I were to guess, the average is between 30 - 50#.
If you are thin to begin with, or in not the best of health going in, the PEG is usually recommended and highly endorsed on this forum.
I was one of the few that didn't have a PEG, I didn't refuse it and that option was always out there. But at 6'0 and weighing in at 275#, it never became an issue, I lost around 35 - 40# overall.
I had my standard routine of throat liquid numbing solutions (lydocaine, hydrocodon, oxycotin, morphine)....
I'd take a spoonful, drink a big glass of water, 1 - 2 Ensure Plus, a few sliced peaches in light syrup (to keep the throat muscles working), a crushed percocet for the after pain, and another glass of water. That was my routine several times a day, and for a good seven weeks or more.
About week 3 - 4 starts the worst of it, and continues for about 3 - 4 weeks after rads have ended, as you are still going inside the throat.
Others will give you their two cents and what worked best for them as well...
As for the exercise and bike riding, it's great to continue what you can..more than likely there will come a time that you don't have enough energy for several weeks...make treatment, healing and recovery your priority during that time (just my thoughts).
Best,
John0 -
weight lossSkiffin16 said:Weight Loss
Standard answer; "Everyone is different".....
It can be substantial in some...if I were to guess, the average is between 30 - 50#.
If you are thin to begin with, or in not the best of health going in, the PEG is usually recommended and highly endorsed on this forum.
I was one of the few that didn't have a PEG, I didn't refuse it and that option was always out there. But at 6'0 and weighing in at 275#, it never became an issue, I lost around 35 - 40# overall.
I had my standard routine of throat liquid numbing solutions (lydocaine, hydrocodon, oxycotin, morphine)....
I'd take a spoonful, drink a big glass of water, 1 - 2 Ensure Plus, a few sliced peaches in light syrup (to keep the throat muscles working), a crushed percocet for the after pain, and another glass of water. That was my routine several times a day, and for a good seven weeks or more.
About week 3 - 4 starts the worst of it, and continues for about 3 - 4 weeks after rads have ended, as you are still going inside the throat.
Others will give you their two cents and what worked best for them as well...
As for the exercise and bike riding, it's great to continue what you can..more than likely there will come a time that you don't have enough energy for several weeks...make treatment, healing and recovery your priority during that time (just my thoughts).
Best,
John
20 kilo = 44 lb they are telling me 5 days a week for 7-8 weeks at 25 min a session and say i will have probs eating after about 2 weeks.0 -
How much is too much to lose?
I had just been thinking about this because of another discussion. Here's another story, for perspective: Doug lost about 40 lbs (18 kilo) going down from 175 (80) to 135 (62) - mostly due to very severe delayed nausea that none of the normal antinausea drugs touched (a very unusual case, BTW. He did not have a PEG (would not have helped much, other than to give him more to throw up). Very little of his weight was "extra" fat - he was mostly muscle.
Losing that much weight meant he burned up the little fat he had and a fair amount of muscle. It also caused some nerve issues - he was having weakness in his left calf because the nerve there (already sensitive from back issues years ago) was being irritated/pressed on by nearby bone, as it no longer had a nice cushion of fat/muscle. He was also very cold all the time.
Once we got the nausea under control and got past a week or so of refeeding protocol, he worked up to a diet that would put any health nut in shock (described elsewhere - basically high fat and very nutrition-dense). He went back to playing hockey and visiting the gym. The nerve issues went away after he started putting weight on. He's weighing in around 165 (75) and is building muscle nicely - this is about 7-8 months after the end of treatment. We're moving back to our high fiber, low fat diet, which he supplements with Boost Plus, especially when he's on the road.
It's bad to lose almost 25% of your weight, but I don't think I would have pushed him to gain weight beforehand if I'd known that would happen - given that you had weight issues in the past, I can see why you would not want to either. My opinion is that overall good health is at least as important has having a "fat store" to live on if you can't eat.
Would Doug have lost that much without the nausea? Probably not - he was able to swallow liquids for most of his treatment; for some, the pain and swelling in the throat make this almost impossible. Both the nausea and the throat pain are pretty unpredictable.
Would your having had a band preclude a PEG? I'm not recommending it, but it is an option if you do start to have too much trouble taking in nourishment/liquids.0 -
weight loss
It's possible to lose quite a bit. I ended up losing about 40 lbs. total with chemo and radiation and a horrible PEG tube installation gone bad over 7 months. Haven't put much back on either but I feel good and eat normally again. It would be safe for you to plan on losing some weight.
AB0 -
Weight loss.adventurebob said:weight loss
It's possible to lose quite a bit. I ended up losing about 40 lbs. total with chemo and radiation and a horrible PEG tube installation gone bad over 7 months. Haven't put much back on either but I feel good and eat normally again. It would be safe for you to plan on losing some weight.
AB
I ended up
Weight loss.
I ended up going from about 130 to 87 lbs. I also had severe nausea that meds didn't help with. I had a peg. It did end up saving my life because my mouth was so bad that I could neither eat nor drink. I also ended up with scar tissue and a stricture due to the radiation, it also took my mouth a very long time to heal, my tongue still bothers me and I am more than two years out. I had my tube for 18 months, but that is the longer than average side of things.0 -
Weight Loss
Weight loss can be drastic. I was a very muscular 194 lbs when my cancer was diagnosed. I was going to tough it out and not go with the PEG but I found out after two weeks of radiation that would be impossible. I proceeded to lose 50 lbs. during the course of my treatment. After almost five years I have now gained only 18 lbs. back.0 -
Finished treatment today
I just finished treatment today. I went into treatment at 190 pounds of pretty solid muscle mass. My cardio was good also from all the years of living the Army lifestyle. My metabolism was high and resting heart rate was always between 48-55.
All that said, I went from 190 to 154. I had severe nausea and my meds just couldn't help it. I lost so much weight and so fast that I was nearly hospitalized due to malnutrition/dehydration. My only option was to get a PEG. I fought my providers on this mostly due to me just wanting to "muscle my way" through it. It doesn't work that way, trust me. I am not going to say that I am Pro PEG or against it, but everyone has different side effects and my answer was to get a PEG. Looking back on things during treatment, I wish I would have done it sooner in treatment beacause I would not have lost as much hard earned muscle.
I have no regrets though, everyone is different. I suppose the bottom line for me was when I didn't have strength to get up and go into the rest of my house.
Prayers and blessings to you,
Mike0 -
As my onco told me today,jeepman said:Finished treatment today
I just finished treatment today. I went into treatment at 190 pounds of pretty solid muscle mass. My cardio was good also from all the years of living the Army lifestyle. My metabolism was high and resting heart rate was always between 48-55.
All that said, I went from 190 to 154. I had severe nausea and my meds just couldn't help it. I lost so much weight and so fast that I was nearly hospitalized due to malnutrition/dehydration. My only option was to get a PEG. I fought my providers on this mostly due to me just wanting to "muscle my way" through it. It doesn't work that way, trust me. I am not going to say that I am Pro PEG or against it, but everyone has different side effects and my answer was to get a PEG. Looking back on things during treatment, I wish I would have done it sooner in treatment beacause I would not have lost as much hard earned muscle.
I have no regrets though, everyone is different. I suppose the bottom line for me was when I didn't have strength to get up and go into the rest of my house.
Prayers and blessings to you,
Mike
As my onco told me today, once my treatment starts, and I will get some level of sick, not to try to be brave and tough it out , I need to ask for help, and talk to them, it may mean add'l nausea IV meds, IV's to give me nutrition , and even a PEG.
Linda0 -
Yes
Ray, I only lost about 12-14 kilos during treatment, which seems to be on the low end of what most lose. Enjoy the food while you can cause once the rads kick in, everything starts tasting pretty rank. I didn't have a PEG. Towards the end of treatment it was getting more difficult to swallow, but I'm pretty sure I could have eaten more if most everything didn't taste quite so horrid. Cheers.
Jimbo0 -
My marathon,s oncologistosmotar said:As my onco told me today,
As my onco told me today, once my treatment starts, and I will get some level of sick, not to try to be brave and tough it out , I need to ask for help, and talk to them, it may mean add'l nausea IV meds, IV's to give me nutrition , and even a PEG.
Linda
My husband,s oncologist compared radiation to running a marathon 24 hours a day. He told us that the radiation speeds up the metabolism. Pain is not the problem for Jim, it is that everything taste so bad it makes him sick. So thankful the doctor ordered a PEG before treatment as Jim is down to 159 lbs and he is 6'2" The doctor says that in addition to the metabolism speeding up the cancer takes all the calories it can so calories are needed to keep you from starving to death. I also agree with DrMary. Throw all the diets out the window and eat what the doctor says. I pray you have very mild symptoms.
God B;ess
Debbie0 -
WEIGHT LOSS
I personally lost 77 lbs during treatment. I have since put back on about 15-18 lbs of good weight. I was 240 lbs before treatment and now weight 190-194 lbs. I like my new weight and feel great.
I think everyone is a little different with the amount of weight they lose. If you drop it too fast, I definitely recomment a feeding tube.
Best!!
Mike0 -
My oncologist insisted I
My oncologist insisted I have the PEG before my rads started. Glad he did because I am 12 weeks out and still have little to no appetite, sometimes nauseates me to even think of food. So I'm sure the tube is saving me, but I keep trying to eat the real stuff, soft foods. I have gone from 125 to 111 lbs but have quit drinking beer so who knows?!!! Actually I have stopped drinking anything carbonated as it kinda terrorizes my throat!
I love to cook and just have not had the desire (or taste buds) to do much of that since this all started. I DO, however, look forward to getting to my new normal and enjoying the fun and sharing of the frequent get-togethers we're known for!
The best to you and your recovery!0 -
SwallowingRubytoos said:My oncologist insisted I
My oncologist insisted I have the PEG before my rads started. Glad he did because I am 12 weeks out and still have little to no appetite, sometimes nauseates me to even think of food. So I'm sure the tube is saving me, but I keep trying to eat the real stuff, soft foods. I have gone from 125 to 111 lbs but have quit drinking beer so who knows?!!! Actually I have stopped drinking anything carbonated as it kinda terrorizes my throat!
I love to cook and just have not had the desire (or taste buds) to do much of that since this all started. I DO, however, look forward to getting to my new normal and enjoying the fun and sharing of the frequent get-togethers we're known for!
The best to you and your recovery!
Try to at least eat or drink a little something occasionally to keep those muscles working though for the future...
JG0 -
SwallowingSkiffin16 said:Swallowing
Try to at least eat or drink a little something occasionally to keep those muscles working though for the future...
JG
I agree with John just because you have a PEG don’t give up trying to use your mouth, it might hurt a little but will help you once the treatment is over to recover faster.
All the best
Hondo0 -
DITTOs on Skiffen and HondoRubytoos said:My oncologist insisted I
My oncologist insisted I have the PEG before my rads started. Glad he did because I am 12 weeks out and still have little to no appetite, sometimes nauseates me to even think of food. So I'm sure the tube is saving me, but I keep trying to eat the real stuff, soft foods. I have gone from 125 to 111 lbs but have quit drinking beer so who knows?!!! Actually I have stopped drinking anything carbonated as it kinda terrorizes my throat!
I love to cook and just have not had the desire (or taste buds) to do much of that since this all started. I DO, however, look forward to getting to my new normal and enjoying the fun and sharing of the frequent get-togethers we're known for!
The best to you and your recovery!
Try to eat and drink a little each day otherwise you may have to be "taught" to swallow again.0 -
Weight lossSkiffin16 said:Skinny Sick Man...
Dang Green...you had a skinny 96# sick man in you that you got rid of....
JG
You are right...I lost the total weight of some people. I remember when I would go in to weigh I was looking at the positive side as the weight fell off. Always told the Dr "well I needed to lose weight". Said that up until I went below 170 and then I got concerned. They never mentioned a tube and I probably would not have taken it. After treatment was over my Onco told me that had I not been overweight they never would have put me through the treatment they did. I saw this with others who had a more prolonged treatment or just chemo followed by rads. They knocked my a$$ in the dirt but here I am 15 years later and enjoying my puny tube.0 -
Marathonjim and i said:My marathon,s oncologist
My husband,s oncologist compared radiation to running a marathon 24 hours a day. He told us that the radiation speeds up the metabolism. Pain is not the problem for Jim, it is that everything taste so bad it makes him sick. So thankful the doctor ordered a PEG before treatment as Jim is down to 159 lbs and he is 6'2" The doctor says that in addition to the metabolism speeding up the cancer takes all the calories it can so calories are needed to keep you from starving to death. I also agree with DrMary. Throw all the diets out the window and eat what the doctor says. I pray you have very mild symptoms.
God B;ess
Debbie
That i can relate to I used to run marahon then knees packed in. A few years ago i took up cycling for outlet and relax but as usual competed with myself harder and harder heheh. Had two knee replacements just before Christmas and was told would not get enough bend for bike hahah 2 months later did Asthma Freeway Ride fund raiser. I did the 60 KM. and averaged 38.9 Ks per hour was wrapped and now this oh well brace the feet square the shoulders and bring it on.
Glad i found this site though i like to be fully informed but find my health pro's are trying to drip feed info on effects to me.0 -
Hi RayGreend said:Weight loss
You are right...I lost the total weight of some people. I remember when I would go in to weigh I was looking at the positive side as the weight fell off. Always told the Dr "well I needed to lose weight". Said that up until I went below 170 and then I got concerned. They never mentioned a tube and I probably would not have taken it. After treatment was over my Onco told me that had I not been overweight they never would have put me through the treatment they did. I saw this with others who had a more prolonged treatment or just chemo followed by rads. They knocked my a$$ in the dirt but here I am 15 years later and enjoying my puny tube.
I was 230lbs before I started treatment and 159lbs by the time it was finish. You might be different and not loose as much but you will loose something unless you eat a lot through the feeding tube.
Glad to have you are part of the CSN family
Hondo0
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