Crappy feeling after eating

[fastoldguy]

I am 10+ months post esophagectomy and continue to have a semi-nauseous feeling after eating. Sometimes within 10mins, sometimes a half-hour later. I also get that feeling when biking or exerting myself, even on an empty "stomach". I am a cyclist and hope this isn't the norm that continues indefinitely. Is this unusual or typical? Does it go away after time?

[Danstable]

I can't say that I feel nauseous after eating but I certainly don't feel normal. The feeling ranges from a slight unpleasant feeling in my stomach/guts, and a slight feeling of weakness, to a full blown spaced out and guts gurgling like crazy for an hour. The latter can be guaranteed to happen if I eat a Chinese meal.

As I say, I wouldn't describe any of this as nausea, but perhaps you recognise done of the descriptions.

I'm 43, and almost 2 years post op. I used to be reasonably fit although didn't exercise. Since treatment I get out of breath doing the most minor of exercise. I think it's a combination of factors that have contributed to this, done of which I can overcome, others not so much.

I think just keep in mind that life will never be quite the same, but I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to get back out on your bike. Just avoid a big pub launch mid ride unless you're happy taking a nap in public!

Best of luck.

Dan

[ccfc]

Hi, At the stage you are at I too felt nauseous after eating. I am now eight and a half years on and still at times feel that way but only in the morning. I combat this by drinking a ginger tea with my breakfast. It works for me. As for exercise, for a couple of years I couldn’t do much but now I am walking eight miles at a good pace with no after effects and I am 62.

Best Wishes, James.

[Mark4]

I am 62 and 7 years post oesophagectomy and eating has always had its ups and downs with pain tiredness bloating at various times but never consistent . I am reasonably active and cycle. I say this only to reassure you that you are not alone with only the barest of advice to give. You need to experiment with a regime that works for you . I find eating later in the day easier, some foods are worse than others , smaller meals less uncomfortable , and “going with it” by resting after a meal sometimes knowing that will help. If you see a,nutritionist at your hospital they will probably ask you to keep a food diary for two weeks so it may be an idea to do this and book an appointment to discuss it. A diary is tedious to do but the discipline of it will help pinpoint types of food, amount of food, and times of day where you suffer most.

Good luck

[fastoldguy in reply to Mark4]

I am also 62 and am very active so the transition has been mentally rough as well as physically. It's certainly a lot better now than the months post-surgery. The transition from stomach tube to eating orally plummeted my weight down 20 lbs and I have always been thin. I had lost all muscle mass over a 2-month period, scary! I have been able to build it back up with whey protein smoothies and creatine. Nothing else really worked and my doctors said I would not be able to regain the weight. Glad I was able to prove them wrong! Resting for me after a meal does not work well. Even if I feel like lying down, walking is key to get the food down into my small intestine and I always feel better afterwards. I do eat a lot of ice cream which goes into my system fast, being a liquid, and has the calories to help keep the weight on.

[Mark4 in reply to fastoldguy]

Have you had a pyloric stretch?That might help if it’s emptying that’s the issue

[fastoldguy in reply to Mark4]

Emptying is not a problem, even if I over eat. My surgeon has always recommended walking after eating and it works for me. I have never had a problem with dumping syndrome. If I do eat the wrong things which can cause a lot of discomfort, the food will pass through and within usually 1/2 hour, I feel better.

[Mauser1905]

Its normal symptoms and a collateral damage from Oesophagectomy. Please see dumping syndrome reading on the OPA website below:

opa.org.uk/opa-dumping-synd...

The life gets better eventually and most survivors learn to manage their New Normal life very well.

cycling, There is a professional cyclist survivor if I remember correctly.

[Janashlin]

Welcome to the club and I mean that in the nicest possible way.

I am just over 2 years post op and the exact same way.

My nausea Was so bad I had to be re admitted to Hosptial and they tried everything they could to help it. Nothing worked. I was nauseous 24/7.

I finally tried CBD oil and that has really helped the all day nausea but I still feel nauseous and have dumping syndrome at least once a day and some days everytime I eat.

I find grazing instead of meals helps to minimise it but I am still impacted daily. When we go out to eat I order a meal but chase it around my plate and just have a couple of bites. My eating is done at home when I know I can have the time for a dumping episode afterwards.

Somedays I think it is getting better and others it really hits hard. No rhyme or reason with foods or timing for me. All dieticians say to keep a good diary to try to pinpoint it.

I have kept spreadsheets with food, exercise, environment, mood, other factors and the only common denominator is me. The new me post this surgery. I have resigned myself to the fact that my love for food will never be the same affair. The celebration is that we are still here to enjoy everything else that life has to offer. Personally I find it comforting to know that it is a known side effect. I do think there is something that if studied and taken more seriously by the medical profession there would be an answer. I don’t think it is understood well enough by those performing the surgeries to want to look close enough. The brains trust about it are those of us who are going through it. The vagus nerve controls so much and the impact of being severed is huge.

Keep going and all the best.

Great to hear in the comments from

Those who are farther down the journey than I am!

[Cortex1 in reply to Janashlin]

I’m 14 years post op (esophagectomy for achalasia, not cancer but still same op). I couldn’t eat before surgery, now I can, but it’s not without complications. This dumping syndrome (daily) and bad appetite has followed me ever since.

It’s interesting to read your post, and many others, who say it doesn’t matter what they eat, the body reacts different every time. That’s my experience too, still after all these years. It would have been so much easier if I could just stick to a diet and I’d be fine, but that’s not the case.

Sure, there’s food that are better and worse, some food to avoid and so on, but there’s something more to it. I could eat something one day and be fine, next day I eat the same thing and nothing works. It’s quite annoying that it can’t be controlled. All I can do is trying to be as less stressed as possible, as I know stress is a factor that contribute to dumping and other symptoms.

[Brett77]

I definitely know what you’re talking about, being 2 years post Ivor Lewis. I find eating small frequent meals and taking a break in between helps if you think you’re getting full.

I’m a road cyclist and find I need to eat well before I ride (finish an hour before riding) avoid eating on the bike but drinking is ok, and find not using the drops all help. When your stomach is empty - which is the case with me on a short ride - I think it’s ok to ignore the sensation as I find it just goes away. Hope that helps.

[fastoldguy in reply to Brett77]

Thanks for your comments. I mountain bike a lot more than road which has good and bad factors. The extra focus and effort takes my mind away from the crappy feeling, but at times when I ease off after riding an hour plus, I will get a little sick to my stomach. Fortunately, that does not last. I am still zeroing in on the type of fuel that works for me preride. Lately, a Snickers bar and Red Bull an hour and half before works ok, and if I eat less than an hour before, I'll eat a GU. Even if I do a road ride early morning before eating, I still usually get that nauseous feeling.