Anyone else?

NikiMo
NikiMo Member Posts: 342
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi,

My husband is almost two years post op for stage 2 EC. We went to Mexico last week and both got terrible head colds. He has had trouble with his stomach since. There is a lot of mucous with this cold. He has lost weight (he normally loses weight when we go on vacation and any time he gets a cold or illness). He is complaining that he feels more nauseas than usual now. For the veterans out there, do you feel nauseated and lose weight when you get head colds? He has an appt with the doc on Monday hoping to get something for the mucous. And as I said the two year scan is coming up so i am a ball of nerves. Just need a check to see if others lose weight when they go on vacation or when they get colds. He has worked so hard on getting his weight up but he hovers in the 155 - 160 range.

Thanks,
niki

Comments

  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,392 Member
    #2
    Any modification to the norm produces weight loss

    Niki,

    Since my Ivor Lewis surgery about four years ago I find that anything that changes my routine of three meals and four snacks a day will result in weight loss. I find that when we travel I get distracted with what we are doing and forget to eat at least once or twice a day. I also think when we travel we are more active and therefore I burn more calories.

    Thank goodness I have only gotten a virus twice in the last four years. I find that the symptoms are much more pronounced (congestion, aching, nausea, etc.) and it takes me longer to recover. The last cold I had stayed with me for two weeks versus the normal week I have experienced in the past. And or course because I was not feeling well I tended to eat less often and less quantity when I did eat.  I lost about 10 pounds that took me around three months to gain back.

    Looks like he needs some Mucinex and some TLC.

    Looking forward to good news from the scan results!!!

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams

    Grand Blanc, Michigan
    DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009
    Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Three Year Survivor

  • Deathorglory
    Deathorglory Member Posts: 364 Member
    #3
    Colds/weight

    Hello,

     

    I'm five years from surgery (including a recurrence) and still struggling with weight.  I don't have problems with colds/flus/infections; I have historically not gotten them or blown through them in no time.  But I have struggled to get back to my pre cancer weight.  I've noticed that just about anything that knocks me off of my routine (head colds, etc... would qualify) sets me back a few pounds.  The closest I've gotten is 10 lbs from my desired weight.  I think it's just a consequence of the surgery.  I haven't heard much of folks getting all the way back to where they used to be.  I keep shooting to get back up to 165 (and if I had a functioning digestive system I'd weigh about 325) but I'm stalled in the low 150's.  All-in-all, as long as I'm here to complain about it, I'm winning.

     

    I hope you get the news you're hoping for from the scan.  

     

    Ed

  • NikiMo
    NikiMo Member Posts: 342
    #4
    Thanks

    Thank you both for your posts.  I am hoping this is just a head cold/vacation that is really knocking his digestive for a loop.  He is complaining that he is feeling full earlier than usual, and that when he eats he feels nauseas more than he used to.  Again I am hoping the cold and the changing diet of being Mexico is the issue here, and that with some meds and consistent diet he will be feeling better soon.

    Thanks again,

     

    Niki

  • Joel C
    Joel C Member Posts: 174
    #5
    NikiMo said:

    Thanks

    Thank you both for your posts.  I am hoping this is just a head cold/vacation that is really knocking his digestive for a loop.  He is complaining that he is feeling full earlier than usual, and that when he eats he feels nauseas more than he used to.  Again I am hoping the cold and the changing diet of being Mexico is the issue here, and that with some meds and consistent diet he will be feeling better soon.

    Thanks again,

     

    Niki

    Delayed emptying/cannabis?

    Hi Niki,

     

    Is Jeff feeling any better?  Tammy and I have been on two week long vacations since my surgery in November 2010.  On both occasions it took a couple of weeks for my system to recover.  I probably lost ~ 5 lbs each time.  I see Jeff is coming up on two years out from surgery.  It was at exactly two years when I started with continuous nausea.  In my case we found I had delayed emptying and had to have the pyloric valve at the bottom of my stomach dilated.  When I was working with my GI doctor on the nausea problem he mentioned that I may find relief using cannabis.  I tried it and it has made a world of difference for me. 

     

    Take care,

    Joel

  • NikiMo
    NikiMo Member Posts: 342
    #6
    Joel C said:

    Delayed emptying/cannabis?

    Hi Niki,

     

    Is Jeff feeling any better?  Tammy and I have been on two week long vacations since my surgery in November 2010.  On both occasions it took a couple of weeks for my system to recover.  I probably lost ~ 5 lbs each time.  I see Jeff is coming up on two years out from surgery.  It was at exactly two years when I started with continuous nausea.  In my case we found I had delayed emptying and had to have the pyloric valve at the bottom of my stomach dilated.  When I was working with my GI doctor on the nausea problem he mentioned that I may find relief using cannabis.  I tried it and it has made a world of difference for me. 

     

    Take care,

    Joel

    Hi Joel,
    Good to hear from

    Hi Joel,

    Good to hear from you.  Jeff is feeling better, he was diagnosed with Montazuma's revenge, he was given an antibiotic and that really helped with the lower end of the digestive system.  As for the constant pain and nausea after eatting, I am going to chalk that up to stubborness.  Apparently Jeff has been feeling that way for a very long time and just not talking to me about it.  He was trying to eat big meals to gain weight and that is what he thinks is causing the pain.  So many people/doctors have told him to eat 6 smaller meals a day, but he just couldn't get out a three meal a day habit.  He has now taken a concious effort to eat smaller meals more frequently and is now feeling MUCH better.  As for cannabis, he has tried marinol in pill form which did not work.  He like you has gone to the natural form, but vaporizing it so no harmless smoke.

     

    Again so good to hear from you, hope you are doing well and have enjoyed the summer,

     

    Niki

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