Hello , I have one question may be some body on this forum might be able to help answer .
My husband is now 18 months pos Ivor Lewis weight still very low 5ft 10 and now 9st 5lbs he’s thin
We have tried all the standard things high dairy protein shots non of which he can tolerate makes him very nauseous.
My question is as he takes Rovastatins for cholesterol and has done for years would this now prevent him from absorbing fat .I know we are talking staturated fats but still fats which the body now can’t absorb . Any thoughts would love to hear your thoughts .
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Carisbrooke-24
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Eating post this op comes with all sorts of issues I have found - many clumped together as «dumping « I think .I think your question is a good one and as you have general issues re putting on weight I would think it helpful if you had an appointment with a dietitian at your hospital or at least your gp. Good luck with that
Agree with comment made already about a Dietition, one who specialises in oncology. What helped me was reducing protein a bit and increasing good fat consumption eg nuts, seeds, avocado. Hope this helps.
Statin drugs don't stop your body absorbing fat, they reduce cholesterol by inhibiting the enzyme that causes cholesterol to be produced by the liver. I doubt very much that they have any effect on weight gain or loss. But there could be other factors that are preventing your husband from absorbing all the nutrients that he is consuming. I agree with the previous poster that it would be a good idea to consult a dietician.
Hi - I am nearly 7yrs post Ivor Lewis - I can’t put on an ounce hardly and it worried me for years as I only weigh 7 stone -I can’t look at myself in a mirror - however I have tried to stop worrying as consultants aren’t worried and I look well enough - my diet is all high fat and high protein - your husband is still fairly early days so this may come in time - all the best
Agree with all that's been said. As long as he isn't LOSING weight, that's the important thing: worrying won't help. I'm 3 years post and resigned myself that my weight is what it is, although I still try to put on that extra half stone! My UGI nurse and dietician ( they are key for you in this) are trying me on Creon , an enzyme to help absorb more fat.
I agree with the replies you have had. I also had trouble maintaining weight for the first few years so turned to chocolate for the high calorie value and I consumed quite a lot of high sugar drinks. This kept me stable. Now I have to be much more careful as I am back to my pre operative weight.
Hi, I'm in the same boat: 3years post surgery and have lost a third of my body weight. Also down to 9st 5lbs. Have tried most things: build up drinks, high protein meals, fats etc but still no joy. Am seeing my dietician soon but I don't think she can offer any more than I already know. Good to hear any other views on this.
Thank you for your reply guess this may be as good as it gets . He’s ok just so thin certainly life changing . No 2 days are the same are they . I struggle at times with this procedure. All the best to you .
I had Ivor Lewis surgery almost 5 years ago and still weigh about 7st 10lb. Nothing really puts weight on me and I am skinny. I ended up on statins a couple of years ago, almost certainly as a result of being told to worry about gaining weight rather than cholesterol levels. It seems to me that putting one thing right usually puts another wrong, diet wise. I was put on a diabetes awareness course because of my blood sugar levels. When I followed the advice carefully I lost weight which I didn't have to lose. I have decided that I am lucky to be alive and just try and eat sensibly most of the time. My surgeon told me I would lose about 1st 7lb and probably never put it back. He was right. Could have been worse had I not been encouraged to gain weight pre surgery. Hope this helps
I was advised to have a multi vitamin supplement and a daily multi vitamin tablet. Also any surgery affecting stomach causes poor iron production, so have iron levels checked and B12 levels. Keep off sugary products - empty calorie energy source. I use Dr, Myhill powdered multi- mineral mix, available on her website. I dilute it in 'rocks' blackcurrant juice - good vitamin C source - ask for more info if interested
I am 15 years post-op. Before the surgery, I was 12st. After the surgery, I steadily lost weight and am now just over 9st. I eat well and exercise regularly, but never put on any weight. The only real downside is that, without any body fat, I feel the cold badly and, in the last few years, have started to suffer from joint pains, which I attribute in part to my inability to build core muscle to support my joints. However, this may just be the price I have to pay for living to 69 instead of dying at 54.I can't answer your question about statins. It may be worth checking (if he has not already done so) whether your husband's cholesterol levels are still high, but malabsorption is common among patients who have had part of their stomach removed.
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