I often feel okay in the morning then feel poorly in afternoon, I had my op 4 months ago

[shamrock]

[Hidden]

We are not medically qualified, and these questions are normally best answered by a doctor, but I wonder if it would help to try and think a bit more specifically about what you mean by 'poorly'? Is it connected with digestion problems, perhaps after eating lunch? Or is it to do with fatigue?

Many people do have problems after eating. 'Dumping syndrome' for instance is often caused by the body's new system not being used to food rushing through the system so quickly. So the body creates more insulin than necessary in order to deal with an expected amount of sugar. This causes sweating, dizziness and other symptoms, and is basically associated with not enough sugar. There is information about dumping syndrome issued by the charity CORE at corecharity.org.uk/Dumping-...

If you have eaten too much for your new system, this can cause problems. Try eating little and often. Sometimes specific food may upset you. Try keeping a food diary to work out what suits you and what causes a problem.

Most people will have a sleep in the afternoon until they recover their stamina, which can take quite a long time.

Have a look at our information booklet 'Life After Surgery' opa.org.uk/pages/factsheets...

This may well not be an answer to your question, but it might be a start!

Good luck!

Alan

[shamrock]

Thanks Alan, It maybe due to dumping and also not enough sleep. I have never been a good sleeper and I wake-up numerous times during the night. Have never been able to take an afternoon nap.

Thanks again

[Bernadette]

You are in very early days after your op, and I found exactly the same for many months..just take your time and have plenty of rest in the afternoon, your body has had a big shock and needs time to recover.

[shamrock in reply to Bernadette]

thanks Bernadette

[juliamac]

I think you are doing really well after only 4 months! I wonder if you would find it helpful to discuss the sleeping and dumping issues with someone from your support team eg dietician? I did find it helpful to keep a diary as although there are setbacks you can see the underlying improvement over time. Keeping a food/fatigue/bowel diary for about a year helped me to see patterns ...or see that in some cases there was no pattern!! The lovely dietician was really helpful with all her experience of similar problems. She offered me an endless range of tried-and-tested products and strategies until we found things that worked for me. Everyone is different and individual. I was not used to describing my bodily functions in detail and found that quite a challenge! But professionals can only help you based on the information you give them. So its not complaining - its trying to give people clear information about what is really going on.

I hope you can find new ways to rest and sleep too.

Wish you well

[shamrock in reply to juliamac]

Thanks for your input, Juliamac. At the moment I am not under a dietician. My next appointment with my consultant is 7th October, so maybe I should discuss this with him.

[cherrybailey]

You are doing amazing well after 4 months!!! Try and be patient!!! It is hard, I never was!!!! You will get there!!!!!

Agree you need to give more detail, what op, etc etc, You will find you will get more answers back people saying what worked for them, and might help you!

I can only say do what your body is telling you with the fatigue, dont try to fight it.

PART OF THE RECOVERY. Good Luck!

[shamrock in reply to cherrybailey]

Hi, I had oesphageal cancer (Ardema carcinoma) and I had the op where they remove part of your stomach and oesophagus, heave whats left of the stomach above the diaphragm and rejoin it. I am also having breathing problems as i had my right lung collapsed. Maybe I am impatient but the healing process is very slow. I feel nauseous in afternoons some days, but the nause seems to be in the bowel area which is a bit confusing

[juliamac]

Hi Shamrock. I hope you have a team of people around/as well as your consultant. Its great to find a professional that you can really talk to. I also had referrals to other professionals, for instance a physiotherapist. Fantastic service really!...I only had to ask!

Good luck!

[Hidden]

Hi everyone, i was diagnosed with oesphageal cancer in January 2008,did nine weeks of continuous 24/7 chemotherapy which was hard but soon bounst back from, had my op on June 12, 2008 were they took half my stomach & part of my oesophagus, its been quite a long & some times hard road back to some kind of fitness, i think with the combination of chemo & the op it makes it very difficult to get back to full fitness, even after 3 years i am still suffering from the dumping syndrome & fitness levels