stomach cancer post operative changes

Hello,

You may want to contact the American Cancer Society's National Cancer Information Center for information on your wife's symptoms. They can be reached 24 hours a day at 1-800-227-2345.

Take care and be well,

Dana
CSN Dana

I am 2 weeks out from a total gastrectomy. I am able to eat solid foods, but I have had 3 separate episodes of excessive salivation , followed by nausea, and dry heaves. No cramps or diarrhea. Scary. The only common denominator I have been able to come up with has been that each episode occurred after I had something to eat or drink sweetened with an artificial sweetener. Anybody have other ideas?

yes my father had surgery
yes my father had surgery last year and since then he has had the same symptons

Mary1944 said:

Hi Craig. My wife had stage IV stomach cancer and had chemo prior to surgery and surgery for a total gastrectomy in August, 2007. It has been a difficult period of recovery since surgery, but she is doing well now. Still experiences a lot of cramping and gas pressure after eating. She takes Reglan before eating, and if cramping persists after eating, she then takes 1/2 dosage of oxycodone. She has communicated with other women who have had gastrectomies 7 & 8 years ago, and both are doing very well now. Apparently, it takes some time for your system to readjust to your loss of a stomach. She would very much like to communicate with you via email.

Hi, I also had stage IV

Hi, I also had stage IV stomach cancer and had a complete stomach surgery last Oct.3, 2008, just four months ago. Yes, it is a very difficult recovery. Your wife and I are in just about the same time period. How old is your wife? I am 60, diagnoised at 59.
Each day is a new challenge, I am still trying to find out what I can eat and what causes cramping. This is my first communication on this web page but I am looking forward to exchanging useful information with anyone who has/had stomach cancer. If your wife would like to email me I would be happy to write to her.And perhaps she could put me in touch with the other women she has communicated with thru this web page.
Thank you and God Bless
DJ

JMatson said:

post-op changes
My son, 43, had entire stomach, spleen removed and is experiencing exactly the symptoms you describe, i.e., excessive salivation, constant nausea, dry heaves. Hospitalized for this several times - nasal tube inserted to intestine to pump out bile - also suction tube applied to J-tube in abdomen to suction bile. After several days, with Zofran, symptoms subside and is discharged. But can't eat - nor can he take liquid formula nourishment via J-tube as his intestines quickly fill up and symptoms begin all over again. Recommendations for laxatives, enema don't seem to help.

Currently maintained via PICC tube IV but this isn't permanent solution. Would like very much to know how your situation was resolved as we're very discouraged.

Formula Problems
Not sure if it has come up or not. But another individual who I became friends with who was going through the same thing was lactose intolerant right after surgery so he had to use a different form of formula. I was able to use the standard forumula until I started eating again. I've been fairly intolerant of dairy since that time.

The process of starting to eat again and trying to get food down was the hardest time of my recovery. It does get better in time and I hope things start to get better for you soon.

Labguy said:

Post Surgery
I was diagnosed with stage IV adenocarcinoma of the gastric esophageal junction Jan 07. I had what sounds like the same surgery 15 months ago (Iver-Lewis transhiatal partial gastrectomy). I didn't have nausea, vomiting or excessive saliva. I did have "dumping syndrome" but it has gradually gotten better. I still eat small meals, but I eat anything I want.

Eating after a total gastrectomy - and dumping syndrome
My husband underwent 3 months of chemo followed by a total gastrectomy, and then 3 months post surgical chemo. He finished chemo 4 months ago and has had three throat dilations since with another expected in the next few weeks. We are having a lot of difficulty with pain relating to eating/digestion. He was on hydromorophine post surgery and weaned off a few months ago, however there is too much pain and the latest pain med caused suicidal thoughts.
We need some guidence on how to eat, what to eat and what can we take to manage the pain. Did yours eventually lessen? He has 3 types of pain, gas pain, sternum pain and abdominal cramping. You are my husbands age and are 2 years ahead of him, your experiences would be most helpful

vijendrasnv said:

Hi Craig.
My brother had
Hi Craig.

My brother had stage IV stomach cancer and had chemo prior to surgery and surgery for a total gastronomy in August.It has been a difficult period of recovery since surgery, but he is doing well now. Still experiences a lot of cramping and gas pressure after eating.
Hope you will get rid of this dangerous cancer as fast as possible.

Thanks.

Hi
I had a stage 3 stomach cancer, had chemo prior to surgery and had 80% of the stomach removal. I don't have problem with eating. I eat several times a day almost every thing but try to avoid sugary and oily food. I have a left back pain since the surgery and it is getting worst for the last 2 months. I had 3 CT scans and a back MRI since the surgery. Everything is clear. The doctors aren't concerned about that. But the pain are so sharp, I cannot sleep at the night. Is there anyone who experience about the back pain. Please share. --Thanks, Julie.

Tyler Martinii said:

Oxycontin Withdrawal
I am a cancer survivor but sadly I had more then just that happen to me. I was prescribed Oxycontin for the pain but they gave me more then I needed and I abused the drug. I figured I wasn't going to make it, so it didn't matter what I did. The Oxycontin Withdrawal was just as hard as going though the treatment for cancer. I am happy I made it now but at the time all I wanted was to die. It was a hard time for me.

Hats off to you
Surviving stomach cancer and then a drug problem!that's amazing!More strength to you.I survived breast cancer and now am a caregiver for my 31year old son who has completed surgery and chemotherapy for stomach cancer.Take care of your health but look ahead to life and interests beyond that.I took to trekking and in the last decade found happiness in the Himalayas.
Nisha

cjtras said:

Craig
Read your commen nposted in 2008 and just wondering how she is doing. My husband had stage 111 and 90 % of stomach removed in Feb 2010. Came home from hospital in March (had complications0 and for about 6 weeks was doing good, eating most anything. Now in May, he is having constant upset stomach and nausea and forces himself to eat. Don't know if this is usual or not. Doc's don't give nuch help. Had an endoscopy three weeks ago and said all is clear but that some food was laying in stomach so evidently he is not digesting.
Took reglan and got deathly sick, eon't know if reglan was the cause or not because he was sick before but not to that extent.

Caregiver for husband diagnosed in August 2007
I hope someone can help us. My husband had his stomach completely removed Dec 2007 after three rounds of chemo for gastric cancer. It was then followed by 3 more rounds of chemo. CT scan after CT scan was clear until April of this year. It has spread now to lung, and near the pancreas. My husband has never been sick a day in his life until the cancer was diagnosed from a routine colonoscopy that his family doctor ordered because Ran was over 50. What a shock!! He started a clinical trial in April and although we saw shrinkage in the 1st CT after 4 weeks, the next CT showed no change. The major issue for him is terrible pain from gas. It is literally robbing his quality of life. He has experimented with different foods but hasn't found relief. I hope someone can give us advice on how to help with this issue.

mimi4da said:

Stomach Cancer
I have just found this site and I hope someone can help us. My husband had his stomach completely removed Dec 2007 after three rounds of chemo for gastric cancer. It was then followed by 3 more rounds of chemo. CT scan after CT scan was clear until April of this year. It has spread now to lung, and near the pancreas. My husband has never been sick a day in his life until the cancer was diagnosed from a routine colonoscopy that his family doctor ordered because Ran was over 50. What a shock!! He started a clinical trial in April and although we saw shrinkage in the 1st CT after 4 weeks, the next CT showed no change. The major issue for him is terrible pain from gas. It is literally robbing his quality of life. He has experimented with different foods but hasn't found relief. I hope someone can give us advice on how to help with this issue.

Wondering
I cannot provide an answer to your question, but I have a follow up question. Was your husband diagnosed with HDGC (Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer)? Many doctors do not know about it (approximately only 150 families world wide have been identified as having this, though I think it is probably much greater than that), but it can cause stomach AND colon, (and breast cancer in women) and is caused by a genetic mutation called CDH1. My family carries this mutation. Two of my siblings and I had our stomachs removed in September 2007. Thankfully, cancer had not developed, although cells were found in the pathology reports for all of us. The problem with this type of cancer is that it does not show up on any type of screening mechanism until it is usually stage 4. My brother Steve passed away from this in 2006 at age 46.

You might want to check out this web site: www.NoStomachForCancer.com; it is a non-profit organization called No Stomach for Cancer. I am on the Board of Directors.

Let me know if you have any questions.