Total Esophajectomy - Recovery Process

Some of these issues resolve with time
Rachel,

It is certainly normal to have some digestion issues for the first couple of months after surgery. We have to learn to avoid certain types of food, we have to learn to eat very slowly and chew very thoroughly.

I also experienced abdominal discomfort after eating for about two months after my esophagectomy. The discomfort normally passed about an hour or two after eating.

It sounds like you may be swallowing air while eating. I often have that problem if I eat too fast. I have found GasX strips to be helpful in dealing with the excess gas.

I assume your surgeon gave you some information on diet guidelines but just in case he didn’t here is a reference for an esophagectomy diet:

Esophagectomy Diet
http://www.upmc.com/healthatoz/patienteducation/g/pages/dietafteranesophagectomy.aspx

It is also typical to experience “Dumping” for several months after gastric surgery. Here is a reference to a diet guideline that helps with Dumping but quite frankly “time” is the best solution for dumping.

Dumping Syndrome Diet
http://www.upmc.com/HealthAtoZ/patienteducation/N/Pages/dumpingsyndromediet.aspx


I know it is frustrating to deal with these diet and digestion issues post surgery. But in many cases they do resolve themselves with time, and learning what foods work and what food do not work.

My eating guidelines include:

1. Eat slowly and chew, chew, chew
2. Avoid food containing sugar and simple carbohydrates
3. Drink sparingly with meals (Just sips at a time)
4. Rest in an upright position for at least 30 minutes after eating
5. Eat small amounts six to seven times a day
6. Avoid carbonated beverages

Of course you should discuss your issues with your surgeon. If indeed you do have an issue with slow stomach emptying there are medications that can help with that.
I hope you will be feeling better soon.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams
McCormick, South Carolina

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!

Best to you....
Rachel,
As usual, Paul is right on. It will improve with time. I thought I would never eat normal again. I am 2 years out from surgery and eating has improved and nearly normal. You will learn as you go. Your stomach will adjust.
God bless and all the best.

Gerry

Hi Rachel, It's been four
Hi Rachel, It's been four years since surgery and things will improve,. You'll learn what your new system can handle. I can eat almost anything now,. somtimes I can't eat as much as others and I will have nausea and stomach pain. I never know when it will happen, but it is short lived.If you're not on an acid reflux medicine you should be, talk to your doctor. Most of us will be on it for life. Also if you're not sleeping elevated, you need to be. I might have repeated some of the others advice. I didn't read them all because we are family and I am very familiar with the great advice given by the others without re reading it. WAs your cancer adiocarcimona or squamous cell? What was the stage. I was stage 111 adiocarcimona and I'm cancer free today.
Sending prayers your way
Sandra

captdave said:

Hi Rachel, Its been under
Hi Rachel, Its been under three months since my THE. I have occasional feelings of needing to relieve the fullness in my stomach that seems to back up into my throat and I usually end up burping. Burping is much more difficult and far different then before the THE. The burping removes air from my stomach and lets the food or liquid settle into my stomach and I then no longer feel as if I have it backed up into my throat. If you are drinking from a straw that can introduce more air into your stomach. I'm surprised you are experiencing heartburn due to the clipping of the nerves that control the proton pumps is standard procedure for this type of surgery. Did your Doc's put you on any proton pump inhibitor like prevacid etc.. post surgery? If not you may want to ask them to. My surgeon put me on them and said that after a few months i can try going without them and see how I feel but he defiantly wanted me on them for the first several months after surgery.

Good luck and welcome to recovery!

Dave

Suggestion
Hi Rachael
Another option for you might be the drug reglan. Even though you are dumping you also might be having at other times some delayed gastric emptying. The reglan might make the dumping worse on the other hand they might find a dose that helps but doesn't trigger dumping. Just one suggestion for you. Also just a reminder to sleep w your head elevated. Do you go for a wallk after you eat? That also might help your symptoms calm down.
Cora