Finally an improvement.

[lonestray]

It is now over 8 years since I had a total Gastrectomy and finally I'm enjoying my food with no ill effects. Gone is the dumping syndrome, reflux etc. Now I'm concentrating on regaining lost weight. My early morning breakfast consists of a half can of baked beans washed down with a cup of coffee. I'm then off out for my early morning run. That is follow by a meal of two boiled eggs with whole meal bread. My main meal each day consists of vegetables: carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, pepper and potato. Included with that is a chose fish, salmon, breaded haddock, cod or scampi. Alternate days I have meat. My evening meal I take in two sessions with a half hour gap apart. My evening meals consists of cheese and broccoli pasta boiled in full cream milk with a large dollop of full cream butter: two bowls half hour apart. Then I eat a banana, followed by tiramisu and a slice of chocolate cake washed down with a mug of drinking chocolate.

After years of dumping syndrome and all the problems assonated with life without a stomach it's wonderful to be able to enjoy my food again. Though I've live alone for the past ten years; eleven in December when my wife passed away due to Alzheimer's. During those years I chose to care for her on my own, as a result I became proficient at cooking, washing, ironing, shopping and house work.

On arrival home after my operation I was left to get on with life on my own. That's no big deal for me as I'm back to where I started out in life: alone without home or family. I'm very fortunate in that I have a wonderful Daughter that visits me during the week. Now time is my own, I can get up when I want and eat what I fancy. Living life 'my way' (little option) has proved to be exciting and wonderful. In my 88th year I can say I've lived a life that's full.

The research I've done so far to discover who I am is proving difficult to come to terms with. It helps to always look on the bright side of life.

Sorry for such a long post.

[cherrybailey]

Fantastic to read so well done and feel human again at your young age!!

[lonestray in reply to cherrybailey]

Sorry Cherry it should read 87th year, getting ahead of myself.

[slobjohnb]

Well done, after all that time and you are finally through it all. Very encouraging to others. Thank you.

[kiddy]

Wow encouraging news. Well done I hope you have many more healthy years.

Best wishes

Debbie

[Tanktank]

What a fantastic story and so heartening for us all. Well done you for being so positive. It’s the only way. Best wishes Tanktank

[John0118]

Awww that’s great that you can finally eat. Very heartily by the sound of it. Well done

[Iuypoi11]

Hello Lonestray,

What a fantastic post. .."then I'm off out for my early morning run" !!

I run a support group for people who have had oesophageal and gastric cancer. A lot of us are struggling with all the eating and life style issues that comes with recovery and from time to time we're all pretty gloomy. You're post would be a real tonic, and example, to us all. I hope you don't mind but I'll present it at our next meeting.

[Hap2260 in reply to Iuypoi11]

Cd you tell me about your help group my husband who has incurable espegeoul cancer is really struggling i don't know how to help

[Iuypoi11 in reply to Hap2260]

Hello Hap2260,

My group meets at the South East Cancer Help Centre in Purley, Surrey on the third Wednesday of the month. If your and your husband would like to come along drop me a line at

[e-mail] or reply here and I'll send you details, we'd love to have you along.

If we're too far for you the oesophageal patients association has a list of others groups throughout the country.

[Hap2260 in reply to Iuypoi11]

Thanks for your i love in falkirk Scotland so will check out if any local groups

[lonestray in reply to Iuypoi11]

I'd be more than happy luypoil11 for you to use it, only wish I could do more.

[lonestray in reply to Iuypoi11]

I'd be more than happy for you to use it luypoi 11

[Golf1910]

Very inspirational and holds out hope to us all. I had my total gastrectomy 6.5 years ago and still suffer with bile reflux and oesophagus pain when swallow food or fluids. Have got used to it as well as regurgitating food after first few mouthfulls. Never did suffer with the dumping syndrome (what an awful term that is surely could have come up with something better) although recently have had the shakes a couple of times so hoping I am not going that way. Anyway at 87 you sound brilliant I am 80 so fingers crossed I eventually improve to your level.

Rob

[lonestray in reply to Golf1910]

My best wishes to you evens3842

[jeffw663]

Fantastic news, what you are doing obviously work for you, I'm so pleased you are eating well but am sad to hear of your loss.

good wishes for the future and well done to your daughter.

Jeff

[prissymissy]

You are an inspiration to others. Well done may you continue to have a good life

[lonestray]

It's always good to know there are others out there that care.

[Mauser1905]

Wow you are a true inspiration for folk like me. I am just turned 40 in my year of two stage IL Oesophagectomy. 9 months since surgery and I started work and completed first week yesterday. Upheaval mentally and physically. Still coming to terms in physical terms.

Thanks for the positive read. I used to go to GI patient network in Maggie's centre in Aberdeen and that was great help to see people from similar background of GI cancer. If you find Maggie's nearby falkirk there will be others and yourself benefiting.