Linda Hill29 said:I read everything you all post, and your experiences, your words, your advice, and your enthusiasm help me so much... but at the same time, a wave of sadness hits me whenever I read some tragic news... a lost battle... pure despair. I try my hardest to remain an optimist, but I can't help myself—I truly find myself breaking down in tears. It’s hard to wrap my head around how many people are fighting this exact same fight. My heart just goes out to them...
I am at the very beginning of this journey. I’ve already written about my father’s first surgery, then his second, a month-long hospital stay, and finally, he came home today. He is so incredibly happy to be back; seeing him like this is such a relief. But then, my mind starts racing toward what comes next... I tell myself it won't be that bad, that everything will turn out fine, trying to soothe my own anxiety. I don't talk to him much about these fears. Sometimes I wonder if he's even aware of the gravity of it all, yet simultaneously, I hope he isn't. I want him to just relax and gather his strength; we'll deal with the rest as it comes. The immediate priority is his nutrition. Since his stomach was removed, he has lost a staggering amount of weight, and he needs to regain some mass before starting chemotherapy. But how? His capacity is tiny, he has to be extremely selective with food, and sugar is strictly off-limits. If anyone here has experience managing nutrition after a total gastrectomy, could you tell me if artificial sweeteners or milk (for example, in porridges) are viable options? What kind of high-calorie meals work best? I'm searching everywhere, but the information I find is completely contradictory. It might seem like a minor detail, but knowing this would mean the world to us.
Hello there. I know exactly what you're going through. Here is what our experience looked like.
He will likely start experiencing issues like gas, cramps, pain, sharp stabs, and then perhaps bouts of diarrhea followed by constipation. This is all quite standard following a total gastrectomy. You simply have to learn to manage it and push through. Nutrition is absolutely paramount. He should eat six small meals a day—never overindulge, and the food shouldn't be too cold or too hot. I strongly suggest asking a doctor about Megostat, which works wonders for stimulating appetite in patients undergoing cancer treatment.
My mother's appetite actually started coming back beautifully about two months after her surgery. Eventually, she was even able to enjoy things like bacon and red onions.
Our menu looked something like this: very frequently, a simple thickened soup for breakfast because that sat well with her during her hospital stay. They had her making flour coatings without added fats—the old-fashioned way—then adding water and whisking in an egg. That’s what the hospital staff recommended. We stuck to starchy, blended soups like rice, barley, oats, or vegetable blends. As for meat, pork was strictly forbidden; poultry (without skin) and veal were allowed. She ate plenty of bluefish (based on a recommendation from an oncologist in Austria), and sweets were banned because tumors thrive on that kind of nonsense. You can make stews like spinach, Swiss chard with potatoes, carrots, cauliflower,
young peas, tomatoes, eggs poached in butter or soft-boiled, and fresh vegetable juices. Regarding fats, use small amounts of butter or oil—preferably homemade olive oil. White bread is okay, but nothing fresh out of the oven; toast is fine, along with all types of pasta and semolina. As for milk, we didn't use it because Mom simply couldn't tolerate it; any dairy caused diarrhea that we couldn't always control quickly, causing her weight to drop since whatever little she ate would just pass right through. For fruit, we used strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and grated apples—ideally, cooked fruit. She could have pancakes, provided they weren't overly sweet; she avoided sugar entirely, except for homemade fruit compotes. It also helped immensely if she lay down for half an hour with a heating pad on her stomach; that was a lifesaver for her.
It would be incredibly beneficial to prepare that bitter beet and carrot juice yourself to get him ready for chemo. Make sure he takes that juice consistently during the chemo sessions. You can find good options at the local pharmacy or places like CVS. And definitely try supplemental liquid nutrition, like Prosure (Mom had issues with that one, so we stopped using it), but we followed an oncologist's recommendation and used Nutricomp instead. It comes in several flavors and is fortified with all sorts of essential vitamins and minerals...
I would strongly advise against giving him bananas; it’s common knowledge that they tend to cause constipation. Grapes are also right there in the mix, though my mother found them very beneficial and used to eat them quite frequently. While fruit is generally fine, ensure he eats it without the peel. Honestly, your best bet is to prepare a homemade compote from apples or pears; he could even sip that instead of tea. That’s about it. One critical piece of advice: please consult with his doctor, but I also suggest you do some independent research online regarding his specific lab results. When the time comes, he may need Vitamin B administered intravenously. This is incredibly important. Hang in there—if you find yourself needing anything or if any doubts arise, please reach out. If there is any way I can be of assistance... My goodness, I truly wish you all the best. Regards.