Dumping syndrome

Ellie_E
Ellie_E Member Posts: 50
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi all,
I just got off the phone with Jim's brother, Tom, who had Stage III EC 10 years ago. He had horrible problems with dumping after every meal. He started taking an injectible med called Sandostatin before he ate (3x a day). Once a month he gets a stronger dose called Sandostatin LAR. He also discovered that he was diabetic due to all the radiation that zapped his liver. Between the Sandostatin and insulin he has found that he can eat almost anything now but still has trouble gaining weight. Hope this helps.

Ellie

Comments

  • dwhite0002
    dwhite0002 Member Posts: 126
    #2
    nausea?
    Did he also have nausea? I am 3 yrs out and still get sick when I eat.

    David,
    Hillsboro , OH
  • Ellie_E
    Ellie_E Member Posts: 50
    #3
    dwhite0002 said:

    nausea?
    Did he also have nausea? I am 3 yrs out and still get sick when I eat.

    David,
    Hillsboro , OH

    Yes
    Sorry I took so long to answer. Yes he would also be very nauseas. But over the years he found what he could eat and couldn't. He pretty much stays away from a lot of sugar and starches. He can eat small amounts of them. Have you been checked for diabetes? He said the radiation he had fried his liver and as a result he became diabetic. The shot I mentioned seems to help. Have you talked to your doctor?

    Ellie
  • Rws
    Rws Member Posts: 1
    #4
    sick after meals

    i'm 18 months post esophagus surgery and still getting sick after eating. I was wondering if others have experienced the same issue, and will it get better?  

  • Stephen_D
    Stephen_D Member Posts: 2
    #5
    Dumping Syndrome

    Greetings All. I have been living without a stomach since May 2017 due to esophageal surgery. (I had a 5 cm tumor at my “junction” and surgeons decided that my entire stomach should be removed during the resection surgery).  I experienced dumping syndrome during the first few months after surgery, but lately I seem to have a handle on it and have made changes that seem to help.

     

    First and foremost, I limit the amount of sugar I consume (I don’t limit carbs). This means I eat  very little ice cream, very little chocolate, candy etc. It has not been easy. At first, my “sugar addiction” got the best of me. I would eat a bowl of ice cream, knowing that I would have to pay the price for it 20 minutes later, when all that sugar went into my blood stream.  Now I simply stay away from sugary food items, or I eat just a few small bites.   The second change I made to limit the dumping is to eat slowly and eat small meals. Of course, you have all heard this advice, but it really does work. I try to chew thoroughly, and eat very slowly.  My portions are about half of what they were before the surgery. That amount seems to settle well in my stomach.

     

    After a few months getting used to my new anatomy, I want to say I greatly enjoy eating again. Small changes make a big difference. Good luck to everyone. Hang in there, time helps also!! Good luck!

  • kaward
    kaward Member Posts: 2
    #6
    Dumping

    By dumping, do you mean throwing up? My husband has esophageal cancer stage IV and just completed his first round of folfox. He has been unable to keep anything down since he began. I thought I would ask his doctor about the Sandostatin injections.

  • Stephen_D
    Stephen_D Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2018 #7
    Dumping

    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dumping-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20371915

    I have attached a link that explains "dumping syndrome"

    It can be overcome, with some diet changes. Sorry to hear about your husband. Wishing you all the best. I too went thru folfox and found it difficult to eat after treatments.

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