Stomach and Esophogael Surgery - Oesophageal & Gas...

Oesophageal & Gastric Cancer

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Stomach and Esophogael Surgery

deveretth profile image
8 Replies

I was wondering with a Stomach and Esophogael Surgery where the size of

your stomach and esophogus are being diminished. Does it grow back over

time to a genetically determined size?

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deveretth profile image
deveretth
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8 Replies
haward profile image
haward

I don't think the oesophagus ever grows back. It's gone.

But depending on luck and use I have been told that your stomach might grow a little but I don't think it grows back to its original size. I had around 25% of my stomach removed and it may have grown a little over the last 30 months but not much

pferries31 profile image
pferries31

I can most definitely eat a bit more than 3 years ago but it doesn't mount to much. Little and often for the rest of my days x

Give or take some variations for different sized patients with an oesophagectomy, the new stomach is shaped into a tube, about 5-6 cms wide (about 2-3 times diameter of normal oesophagus), so it is, as you know only too well, much smaller. It can stretch a bit, like an ordinary stomach can, but not by much, especially as the space it takes up when full would tend to take up more space in the chest area taken up by heart and lungs.

The days of enjoying a large meal (especially afterwards) are, I am afraid to say, over.

brucemillar profile image
brucemillar

What I am discovering is that my appetite is shrinking to meet the size of my new plumbing. That is with one notable exception. Indian Food. One whiff of a decent curry and I am immediately imagining myself chomping through a five course meal followed by all the Nan Bread you can eat. I figure this is a punishment for some sin carried out in a previous life but a small price to pay for my new start.

I like my new body weight and size so have resolved to try and make the best of my wonky eating practices.

Hope this helps.

Bruce

haward profile image
haward

When I left the Royal Marsden in late May 2013 my two targets were fish and chips and steak and chips. I think it was around six months before I managed a decent sized fish and chips and I still can't manage a T-bone. But a wee steak and chips is fine. Sometimes I even manage a starter or a dessert.

yourhoneybee profile image
yourhoneybee

I had my oesophagectomy, Oct 31, 2013 and was in the hospital 27 days. I was fed with jtube for 3 months afterward and slowly began the chore of eating food again. I had significant weight loss of 100 pounds but after 14 gastroscopy stretches I can honestly say I am eating completely normal just like prior to the surgery. I have to now start to diet as I have gained so much weight this year that I feel the weight gain is more dangerous than anything else going on in my body. I have no oesophagus as it was removed with part of my stomach but I feel my stomach has stretched back to it's orginal size prior to the surgery.

deveretth profile image
deveretth

What was your esophogus replaced with? and what part of the stomach was removed?

David

deverettth@gmail.com

deveretth profile image
deveretth

Is that true your stomach restretches to the original size after surgery?

David

deveretth@gmail.com

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