One year on.

It was a year ago today that i had my Ivor Lewis op in Derby Hospital and its certainly been a eventful 12 months. Whilst i came out of hospital losing only a couple of lbs i was on anti biotics which affected my stomach bacteria and i caught C D. After it took 10 days to diagonose i lost nearly a stone in weight. Since then i have not been able to put back any weight on despite eating reasonable normal but having to watch high fats and some sugary items due to Dumping. Is it common not to be able to put weight back on ?. Still painful down one side and still getting use to sleeping on my back.

[Nancyinabif]

Congrats on getting through the first year! My husband had IL 4 months ago & has lost about 50lbs since. He eats much less than before & is bothered by not having much energy. His side is numb and sleeping on an incline has taken some getting used to. But we’re hoping for gradual improvement. Best of luck.

[Mauser1905]

Congrats on 1 year milestone.

My surgeon did tell me that I will lose significant weight post IL Oesophagectomy and will.not be gaining it back again.

I did lose 1.5 stone and stabilised. And wish if I can lose a stone more. But the weight not moving eitherways.

By reading this forum I understood that most if not all of the Oesophagectomy patients have lost weight after he surgery in varying amounts and never been able to regain the pre-op weight. Exceptions are there too but extremely rare. Recall one member here did mention she was going to weightwatchers post surgery.

If your weight is within the range for the height and weight scale then there shouldn't be any worries, perhaps you can check with your GI team or nurse specialist or GP?

[sidesaddle]

i had my IL at Derby Royal March 2016 done by Mr Iftikar. The first year was tough with bouts of sickness. I weighed 13.5 prior to the operation and now weigh 10.8. However I feel well and although eating smaller meals am enjoying most things. I have always found Rose my upper GI nurse to be very approachable and she has initiated treatment if needed. In my case endoscopy and cat scan. It really is a case of accepting this operation brings a lot of change and changes what used to be our normal That said we have had for holidays to Spain and can now go out for a meal.

all good wishes

Andrew

[Hidden]

Thank you for your replies, still trying to get 6/7 meals in a day, must take snacks with me when i go out as because my body does not tell me when i feel hungry i often miss out.Still a bit wary of eating the wrong stuff. Due to see Mr Awad my consultant soon so will ask advice from him.

[Alan_M]

Hunger pangs are caused by ghrelin, which originates from the top of the stomach which you may no longer possess, so you will indeed have to eat by the clock rather than by hunger feelings. You will probably settle down to a new normal, but healthy, lighter weight than before, but try not to eat for the purpose of putting on weight as it might be too much for your system.

It sounds like you are doing exactly the right things.

[Mindcrazedbanjo]

My advice is .. apart from some milk in yer tea, cut dairy and sugar completely out of your diet. I'm just over the 2 yr mark and have got back to pretty much the same weight I was before the Op, I'm 5ft 8in and weigh 10 stone 7oz, I do the 6 meal a day thing, but in order to get extra calories, instead of drinking tea/coffee and drinks with not many calories in them, I drink one of the Oat drinks that the supermarkets sell these days, they taste good enough to be able to put up with them long term and have lots of calories. I also take pro-biotics which brings me to the stomach bacteria you mentioned. I had my spleen removed at the time of my IL Op, the surgeon slipped and damaged my Spleen with his Scalpel, the consequences being that I have to take anti-biotics for the rest of my life. But I've not had bacterial problems, also what does "C D" stand for? .....

PS. Peanut butters good, also Muesli but not with milk.

[Hidden in reply to Mindcrazedbanjo]

Clostridium Difficile a long worded name for too much bad bacteria in the stomach.Anti biotics kill the good stuff as well. Spool test took 10 days to come back from hospital to the doctors as opposed to 4 hours if you are in hospital.Saw my consultant and have got to try and have 6/7 small meals and take snacks with me so i don't miss out. This hot weather does not help . Glad you doing well after 2 years and hope it continues for you. Its just the pain around the ribs and big scar at back which is holding me back from getting fitter. You take care