Stomach cramps

Hi everyone and happy new year. I.m two and a half years post op and have always suffered with stomach pains after eating. I stopped eating cheese spicy foods fruit and vegetables cos they made it worse. My diet now is very bland but I find I.m still suffering with cramps I.m wondering if I.ve developed irritable bowel syndrome because from what I.ve read I seem to have all the symptoms just wondered if anyone else has these symptoms and if so how do you cope with them. thanks.

[Hidden]

I have found for me that stomach cramps are the result of eating too much food, not the type of food I eat. Try reducing the amount you eat at each meal and eat something nutritious in between meals. I had the Ivor Lewis (stomach pull-up) surgery. For those with my type of surgery it is recommended that you eat 6 small meals a day. Eating too much sugar or fat causes diarrhea for me. I am 20 years post OP. Hope this helps.

[Molly14]

Hi Molly - I’m 6yrs post op and still suffer from stomach pain after eating despite trying everything so I now eat whatever I fancy as changing diet didn’t help for me and I didn’t want a bland diet as this journey is hard enough - I’ve also been left with zero appetite - smaller amounts can help with pain and walking after eating keeps things moving - just this year I’ve developed what seems to be IBS triggered from stress - the abdominal pain was incredible and I had a scan and x rays which were clear - I was thrilled about that - I’m managing myself at the moment - I still take Oramorph daily due to adhesions from surgery so this helps a bit - for me it’ll be about managing my stress levels 🙈 - I keep very active, walking my dog and riding my pony most days - this also helps my mental health from my cancer journey - all the very best and don’t struggle - speak to someone for help x

[liz_crisp]

Hi Molly, I got stomach pains after my op and found I was better off eating less and sitting still after I had eaten for at least 20 mins. When they took my Gaul bladder out a few years after myop the surgeon said I had some adhesions and he had tided them up but I had a slight kink which occasionally causes hassle. Also Food travelling too fast through the gut causes cramps, hence sitting still and smaller portions and not drinking very much with a meal can all help,

As the gut improves over time food that caused problems once may not be a problem now. Many of us develop lactose intolerance after the op but will find it sorts itself out a few months on. I find spicy food is still a problem for me, but it used to upset me before the cancer too so I’m not surprised but cheese, fruit apart from grapefruit and hard apples seem ok. Veg can give me wind but most in small amounts is fine now. I find food fried in oil is not good, I Occasionally try fried fish but so far it’s not good. Food fried I butter seems to be much better for me. Deep fried foods apart from occasional chips I avoid. Keep trying foods you would like to eat and you may be pleasantly surprised.

I’m not sure how you can see if adhesions are a problem for you, I did have full open surgery as keyhole was not an option then for most of us. And it was just luck

[AlanWare in reply to liz_crisp]

Coconut oil sorted me out I use it for frying . For the first 2 years I ate bland food, I was advised by my medical team to avoid spicy food. but after 2 years of bland and still vomiting and losing weight, I thought if I'm suffering anyway, I might as well eat what I liked. So I made myself a curry. I enjoyed it enormously, and I didn't have any problems. I slept that night right through (normally I would wake choking several times a night) I now have a curry any time I like.

[Hidden]

Hi Liz I sometimes feel like food backs up and goes down slowly other times it feels like it goes down to quickly. Do you take anything like digestive enzymes . I tried creon which the specialist nurse recommended but because you have to take them with food and a drink at the same time I couldn’t take them. I also tried fried fish but a definite no no. Same with cheese and most dairy products.