weakness fatigue 4 weeks post surgery

This all sounds very normal so recently after surgery. I had the same issues for the first couple of months after my Ivor Lewis surgery. In fact my doctor changed my blood pressure medication to a beta blocker (Atenolol) that had the effect of slowing my heart rate.

If your husband is walking for an hour in the morning I would say he is doing very well so soon after surgery. The weakness and fatigue may also be a result of dehydration. I had a very difficult time drinking enough to stay properly hydrated after my surgery because when I ate anything I became full so quickly that I never felt like I had room to drink as well. I had to set aside specific times each day to slowly drink a glass of water because I was never really thirsty on my own.

My fatigue, weakness, and rapid heart rate were more pronounced in the morning as well. I really thought it had something to do with my time on the J-tube pump during the night. It seemed to improve after I started eating enough orally so that I no longer needed to use the J-tube. I really focused on eating 7 or 8 times a day so that I could get off the tube feed over-night. I did not really have an appetite for the first year after surgery but I viewed food like medication, something I had to do to support my recovery.

 It sounds like your husband is doing well. It does take some time to recover.  

Best Regards,

Paul Adams

McCormick, South Carolina

DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009

Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Four Year Survivor

faithinlord said:

Paul
Thank you so much for

Paul

Thank you so much for the response. I have noticed that this forum has such kind people from whom you can learn a lot. My husband is doing 1 hour walking. Basically he likes to push his limits. We figured our his symtoms of weakness tiredness heart racing might be related to dumping syndrome. We will see with trial and error if that is what it is.He never had classic dumping syndrome of cramps and diarrhea.  So we kept on thinking he is fine with drinking boost or 8 Oz of apple juice. We are trying to reduce his portion of foods with sugar and see how he does. 

Thanks a bunch again.

 

 

 

 

I had a real challenge with dumping syndrome for about six months after my surgery. Things like Boost, items high in sugar, and apple juice or orange juice would very quickly cause issues for me. I did not always have diarrhea but would frequently have weakness and shakiness along with rapid heart rate. These episodes frequently happened about an hour after eating or drinking these items. I found that if I had a smoothie each day that contained bananas, frozen strawberries, half and half, and chia seeds it seemed to help slow down my system. Chia seeds are excellent forms of nutrition but more importantly they absorb a lot of water. This provides bulk to slow things down in the digestive tract. I found that when I had my chia seed smoothie each day, along with avoiding high sugar, simple carbohydrate foods and drinks; that things started to improve.

Unfortunately it does take some time for our new digestive system to learn how to process food and it does take some time for dumping syndrome to pass.  

Best Regards,

Paul Adams

McCormick, South Carolina
DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009
Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Four Year Survivor

faithinlord said:

Thank you Paul
We tried to

Thank you Paul

We tried to omit boost and apple juice from diet. Today he had grits made in half water and half milk for breakfast. Along with it he had half cup of milk. He experienced the same symtoms. It surely does not feel good.We will try to take milk out of his diet and see how he feels. When he gets theses symptoms of weakness and heart racing .it almost feel like anxiety spell to him. The symtoms go away on lying down after couple of hours or so.

Did you encounter the symptoms with milk as well?

When I would have a dumping episode my blood sugar would drop very low and it would feel very much like an anxiety attack. I would have to sit down and just let it pass. I found I had to start my day with protein. Here is the diet I followed:

8:00 AM 1 egg scrambled with 1 slice of toast and peanut butter.

9:30 AM  Drink an 8 ounce glass of water

10:30 AM Eat one small package of peanut butter crackers

11:00 AM Drink an 8 ounce glass of water

12:00 PM Eat ½ Ham and Cheese sandwich with chips or Fritos

 1:00 PM Drink an 8 ounce glass of water

 3:00 PM Drink smoothie made from 1 banana 5 frozen strawberries 1 TBLSpoon of chia seeds and half and half

 6:00 PM Eat small portion of meat (about the size of my palm) with steamed vegetable ½ cup

 7:00 PM Eat pealed apple cut into sections

 9:00 PM Eat small container of yogurt

 I also followed a guide your surgeon probably gave you but just in case you don’t have it.

  http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/nutrition/pages/dumping-syndrome-diet.aspx

  Rules for eating:

  1. Eat protein first followed by carbohydrates

  2. Drink very little with meals and for an hour after meals

  3. Chew everything twice as much as you did prior to surgery

  4. Avoid sugar, simple carbohydrates, and artificial sweeteners

  5. Avoid sauces and spicy foods

  6. Put your fork down between bites to slow the eating process

 7. Sit upright and rest for at least 30 minutes after eating

If you have a dumping episode particularly on that includes shakiness and anxiety, eat something with protein like peanut butter crackers, and rest until you feel better.

 Hope this helps….It will get better with time

 Best Regards

 Paul