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Total Gastrectomy question

AnnaLRD
  • 1 reply
  • 43 subscribers
  • 411 views

Hi There

I had a total gastrectomy in April.  I have recently been noticing that it has been feeling tight near my ribcage, like a shift on my anatomy and wondered if this was normal for those who have had their stomach removed due to cancer when it's been a while since the operation. I sometimes also feel a bit of a strain there in certain positions.  I've noticed it for a week.

  • Hello AnnaLRD

     

    Thanks for getting in touch, and welcome to our online community. My name is George, and I'm one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

    I’m sorry to read you have had to have a gastrectomy. It can be difficult following such surgery for things to return to your new normal. Unfortunately, we do not have access to the NHS and personal medical records and can only give general information and support. Therefore, we recommend discussing any question you have with your medical team or GP. Any new or worsening changes in your symptoms must be reported as soon as possible to your treatment team at the hospital so they can be fully assessed.

    It can take a while to recover from stomach operations and this information from Bristol and Birmingham hospitals suggests a minimum of 3-6 months for symptoms to settle after surgery. You might find their suggestions helpful. Usually, symptoms do improve over time but some symptoms may never fully resolve. Tightness, pulling, and a fullness sensation in the chest and upper abdomen can be very common. There are changes in the normal anatomy when the stomach is removed and it can take many months for the body to adjust.

    It's advisable to discuss this with your specialist because some people can develop narrowing (a stricture) of the food pipe after stomach surgery or adhesions, where scar tissue can form around the surgical site.

    We would recommend contacting your consultant or cancer nurse specialist to discuss this further so that they can help you to manage the symptoms in the best way and also to do any tests needed to find out what is causing them. Please do not hesitate to contact us on the support line if you have further questions. I hope this information helps answer your question today. If you feel that your symptoms are getting suddenly worse or you feel very unwell, please contact NHS111 who can give you medical advice and information 24 hours a day.

    Best wishes,

    George

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

    Our ref: GH/DC

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