Hi , I had ivor lewis surgery on 19th march 2018 due to cancer in esophagus.I am 52 years old.
Still having pain at surgery spot and nausea few times per week. Any suggestions or advice welcomed as to how will the pain and nausea last as feeling tired mentally and physically......
I was 20 years younger than you when I had my total oesophagectomy, please note that it does take time for you to get used to your new normal and it is very early days yet.
Hi Copyap
I had same op. Last Sseptember although I had no pain I did get very sick and lost 5kilos through feeling nausea every time food was put in fron of had to go back in they tried to fit feeding tube but didn’t work then they gave me sickness tablets which worked
Although your tiredness and other problems could be caused after eating normally you can either get dumping syndrome straight away or a couple of hours after you need to find out what foods cause this mainly sugar/sugar drinks and eating to much in one go
If you still have pain go back to your upper GI nurse and she will get you in front of your surgeons
Fatigue is an issue that many people suffer at this stage, so it is not uncommon. Part of it, I suspect, is that the digestion system is probably not working as well as it will do in due course. You do have to rest a lot in these early stages as the body is still working hard healing itself after the surgery.
The pain is not uncommon either, but as it is around the surgery site it would be worth checking with the specialist nurse. It is not a sign of the cancer not being properly cleared by the way. Pain sensations sometimes transfer through the nerve system to other places, something called referred pain. There will have been a lot of parted nerves in the vagus nerve system as an unavoidable part of the surgery.
Sometimes the new stomach does not clear its contents very well, and this leads to nausea. Again, this is something to take up with the specialist nurse, as it may be that you might (but this is speculation) need a stretch of the pyloric sphincter, the valve at the bottom of the stomach, to help food pass through better. Sometimes a myotomy is performed at the time of the original operation, but some surgeons believe it is better to wait and see whether problems arise, and then adjust things later when it is a straightforward procedure with an endoscope. Or medication might help with the nausea.
It will have been a traumatic and bleak time since the surgery, and most people do experience a bit of a dip now that the intensity of all the hospital appointments has reduced, and you are 'on your own' again. It is quite normal to feel this way; sometimes it just needs time for reflecting on the mental pathway you have been travelling alongside the medical one. Some people feel it is really helpful at this stage to pop along to a counsellor at one of the cancer centres, like Maggie's centres, just to talk through how they are getting on. There is also an article by Peter Harvey called 'After the Treatment Finishes, then what?' that you may find helpful:
workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-...
Thank you Alan. You have made me feel so much better to know that what i am going through is a normal recovery phase. Its nice of you to share the link and you have a lovely way of explaining things.
Don't worry 3 months is a very short time even for your relatively young age. The important think to remember that you have had major trauma surgery and the body will take quite a long time to recover. Don't try to do too much as this will impact on your short/medium recovery time. Take each day at a time and I am sure that things will become easier after 6/9 months. I was 62 when I had my op some 5 years ago and even though i was relatively fit it took over 15 months to really feel strong again and I still enjoy a little nap a couple of afternoons per week something which I never did pre op. So the important thing is don't panic, exercise and rest accordingly and also keep a food diary to monitor which type of food can generate nausea.
Thank you, appreciate your comment. i guess i am getting a bit impatient and restless being at home.
Thank you all for your comments. I am feeling so much better knowing that there are others who have experienced what I am going through and that i am on the path to recovery. Just have to be patient and take it slow and steady. Appreciate all of your words of encouragement, means a lot to me.
Hi there I had mine 10 years ago ( a full op) and the sickness dose go, its your body trying to get use to the way it receives food, I had a very helpful team when I had mine' couldn't eat proper food for about a year, but there is a liquid on that you can get from the doctor,
you get it from a chemist, with a normal certificate, and the drink is very nice (don't for get to get your paid for cert from the chemist I don't how much it is now but well worth getting). far as pain they did keep me on Morphine for two weeks then cut it back slowly. Tramadol I found help with pain, but you got to be careful not to take more than stated that helped after the Morphine, only last year I was put back to my doctor the hospital discharged me, still will have to go for a yearly check, I was 57 when I first had chemo.
now I am 69, and feel great it will take time. but you will get there,
Thank you appreciate you sharing your experience...
Hello copyap
I am five months post op, 39yr old male. Still physically tired (been in hospital bed for six weeks) but fortunately came off nausea very quickly. For nausea you can try ginger gin gins candies.
I learnt to play cards while on my own and it keeps me busy and works a lullaby for me when trying to sleep, solitaire on mobile!
Surgical pain, you should have medicines for that from GP now? Although weaning off if pain too much bother then suggest continue taking cocodomol or just paracetamol whichever your GP prescribed.
Rest it's all part of recovery post op and things get better over the period of time, which sometimes feel like an ice age. Hang in there and enjoy the summer.
