Update and questions for the experts
![Toni08](https://us.v-cdn.net/6035652/uploads/pictures/npicture-148073.jpg)
Update: Dad is now 3 months out (June 24th) from radiation and had his last chemo session in August. We were so blessed to celebrate his 65th birthday this past month and he seemed to be doing pretty well.
He had a CT scan, blood work, and swallow test this week. CT scan came back as well as can be expected. Dad was really looking for someone to tell him his cancer is gone, unfortunately, thats now how it works and he is coping with the idea that he might never hear those words. For the time being, I think he is NED?!
He passed his swallow test with flying colors. The food goes down fine but he was told that they can see it coming back up, food and/or stomach acid, I'm not sure. He's desperately trying to get rid of the peg, but is down a few lbs since trying to rely only on food. He will have to deal with it for awhile longer.
So the questions: The past he was feeling terrible, no appetite, nauseated, the sensation that he had to burp but couldn't, dry mouth, and mucus. He wants to know from you all, if the cancer was in his throat, why is he having problems with his stomach still? Why did he feel fine for two weeks, but now feels as though he is going backwards? Is this normal and what are your recommendations for stomach problems? Also, what are your food recommendations for gaining weight and getting rid of the peg? His doctors set up an appt. with a gastro doctor to assess his ongoing stomach problems, but, that is a month from now. He is still taking nausea medicine, just can't understand why he still has to.
Thank you in advance for your help and suggestions.
May you be blessed,
Toni
Comments
-
Part of your question
I am 15 years past treatments but I too have the reflux problem, very serious. Todate they have had me take one Nexium twice a day. The acid reflux can and will cause damage that you don't want. I just recently (one year) had a peg inserted and the simple fact is you must add more calories than you burn to gain weight. To quickly add weight I was taking in almost 4000 calories of Ensure a day (10-12 bottles) and I did gain weight. With the stomach problems it is important to sit upright for a couple of hours after "pegging" to keep the reflux down. My gastro Doc. wanted to do a surgery that would have moved a part of my stomach further up the esophogas but my GP and another Doc recommened against it for other reasons, I keep getting pneumonia, so I'll live with the reflux.
I'm just five years behind your dad so tell him to be patient and to enjoy each day.0 -
HI ToniGreend said:Part of your question
I am 15 years past treatments but I too have the reflux problem, very serious. Todate they have had me take one Nexium twice a day. The acid reflux can and will cause damage that you don't want. I just recently (one year) had a peg inserted and the simple fact is you must add more calories than you burn to gain weight. To quickly add weight I was taking in almost 4000 calories of Ensure a day (10-12 bottles) and I did gain weight. With the stomach problems it is important to sit upright for a couple of hours after "pegging" to keep the reflux down. My gastro Doc. wanted to do a surgery that would have moved a part of my stomach further up the esophogas but my GP and another Doc recommened against it for other reasons, I keep getting pneumonia, so I'll live with the reflux.
I'm just five years behind your dad so tell him to be patient and to enjoy each day.
I too have some acid reflux problems but not too bad. I think this is a Dr question.
To gain weight, try to purchase some Scandia shakes 600 cal, or Carnation instant breakfast 570 cals. You can order both on line. Make sure the Carnation is the 570 calorie can, they also have a 350 cals.
Get your dad to drink these products. The scandia tastes great, my fav is the vanilla. Also, buy some Starbuck Frappaccino drinks at the grocery stores. Tastes great and is about 200 calories. i mix the coffee with the Carnation drink and get 770 calories at one time for about a 16 oz drink...
hope this info helps.
All the best
Steve0 -
thank you both!hawk711 said:HI Toni
I too have some acid reflux problems but not too bad. I think this is a Dr question.
To gain weight, try to purchase some Scandia shakes 600 cal, or Carnation instant breakfast 570 cals. You can order both on line. Make sure the Carnation is the 570 calorie can, they also have a 350 cals.
Get your dad to drink these products. The scandia tastes great, my fav is the vanilla. Also, buy some Starbuck Frappaccino drinks at the grocery stores. Tastes great and is about 200 calories. i mix the coffee with the Carnation drink and get 770 calories at one time for about a 16 oz drink...
hope this info helps.
All the best
Steve
Do you think the stomach issues are some how treatment related? He never had problems before. Steve, Where could I find the Scandia shakes? I googled it and couldn't find a place to purchase.0 -
never mindToni08 said:thank you both!
Do you think the stomach issues are some how treatment related? He never had problems before. Steve, Where could I find the Scandia shakes? I googled it and couldn't find a place to purchase.
Found it! I had the spelling wrong. Its Scandishake0 -
Hi Toni
I too had the reflux problem, what you need to remember is his cancer was in his throat but his treatment affected his hold body. On feeling bad that again is something normal to me, we call it good days and bad days. I can feel like climbing a mounting in the morning and that night feel so bad I think I need to go to the ER. Others day just weak as can be and don’t feel like doing anything, those days I don’t even feel like posting here on CSN, I just feel too bad.
I hope your Dad get help for the re-flux problem, like Denny said it can give you some real problems later.
Wishing you well
Hondo0 -
I was told that the
I was told that the radiation and chemo keep working long after the last treatment. It may seem like he's regressed but the treatments are still changing his body.0 -
Post treatment
Buzz also had acid reflux and now takes prilosec twice a day. Don't be afraid to use the PEG. As Buzz weaned off the PEG last spring, I kept track of calories, protein, and fluid intake and decreased the cans of tube feeding accordingly. That way he always received adequate calories. As a result, he lost very little weight.0 -
Hi ladybugladybug1123 said:I was told that the
I was told that the radiation and chemo keep working long after the last treatment. It may seem like he's regressed but the treatments are still changing his body.
Welcome to the faimly here on CSN, glad to have you with us.
Hondo0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.2K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 440 Bladder Cancer
- 306 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.4K Breast Cancer
- 391 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 12.9K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.3K Kidney Cancer
- 666 Leukemia
- 789 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 235 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 53 Pancreatic Cancer
- 486 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.3K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 532 Sarcoma
- 717 Skin Cancer
- 647 Stomach Cancer
- 190 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards