Digestion problems following oesophagectomy

Hi Drumgar

Sorry to hear you've had pneumonia post surgery, which i imagine could be due to a weakened immune system combined with the shock of surgery.

Like you, I remember suffering from terrible digestive problems for a few weeks after surgery, so much so that I never strayed far from a loo. I mostly hung around outside the bathroom door for hours lol. It was horrendous. I also suffered from dumping syndrome for a couple of years which made eating really unpleasant.

But now for the encouraging part - it all settled down eventually. Your body is stronger than you think. Give your body time to heal. Do some light breathing exercises outside away from crowds, eat what you want and focus on small reachable goals. My surgery, (Ivor Lewis), was twelve years ago yesterday, so I hope that provides a little hope and encouragement.

Healing Thoughts to you.

Crystal x

I have to smile. Not that I think it is remotely funny. It’s just that runny tummy became a part of my life for the first year or so after my surgery. That and severe flatulence, malabsorption and steatorrhea-a different sort of runny tummy. So yes I never strayed too far from a toilet. But eventually my body became accustomed to its modified plumbing. Now, five years on, I only resort to Imodium about once a month.

When you think about it: we don’t have the stomach acid (due to cutting the vagus nerve and all the ppi’s prescribed) which would kill most bacteria we eat along with food, so we are going to be more prone to stomach upsets, even after the new plumbing has settled.

So in the meantime work on your sense of humour. Stay positive. Keep taking multivitamins and minerals. Have Imodium to hand. And always have in mind where the nearest toilet is!

Good luck with the post op chemo. Keep us updated with your progress.

Hi BrentS

This post was just confirmation to me to keep on keepin on with the multi vitamins, iodine and mineral supplements. I am also taking a probiotic as part of a multi vitamin and just started to have a daily tablespoon full of apple cider vinegar in an attempt to alter my ph and add acid to my (probably scarred) remaining stomach. I have reduced my opramazol ant acid from  30mg twice daily to 15 mg once daily as I have discovered that its bad news to be on a ant-acid for any length of time as it stops you producing the correct amount of acid to be able too break down food and absorb vitamins and minerals as well as kill bad gut bacteria and encourage helpful bacteria to grow. I also recently found out that using ant acid also cause bacterial infection such as candida, which I have problem with in the mouth and nether region, which improved greatly when I cut down the ant acid. I also have managed to reduce the fentanyl patches I have used for over 5 years to combat nerve damage pain, from 75mg to 25mg and plan to be off this synthetic super morphine based drug by October this year as its the type of drug that has to be increased in order to get the same pain relief due to the body tolerating the drug dose. For a few years now, I have been dealing with pain relief for one day and withdrawal symptoms the other 2 days before I change the patch after every 3 days and it hasnt been fun. I will be asking my GP to prescribe a non morphine related pain killer that can replace fentanyl once I am about of the patch. Still concerned that suffering from mal-absorbing and dumping with sugar crashes. Still happy with quality of life but total knackered by the weekend and would love more energy. A wee bit concerned that my immune system, that was well weakened by the chemo, if I cannot get the gut working properly, may result in other autoimmune conditions taking effect/ Especially ME, or fibromyalgia, which I sometimes feel I may be suffering from. (runs in my family). Just donot want local GP practising on me and giving me pharmaceuticals to relieve pain rather than get to the cause and cure with natural methods that will not harm my immune system anymore. Eddie 

Well Eddie, you have certainly been through the mill!

Sorry to hear you still need pain killers. Coming off fentanyl after so long can’t be easy. I have just a little nerve damage in one foot, nothing to complain about. It still bothers me at night sometimes.

As a biochemist, I’m not sure that cider vinegar will adjust your body’s pH or do much for a scarred stomach tissue. But there may be other benefits that I’m unaware of. Anyway, don’t take the probiotics at the same time as the cider vinegar as the vinegar will reduce the effectiveness of the probiotics, which I think managed to settle my digestion eventually. 

Long term use of proton inhibitors to reduce stomach acid has its downsides but they have to be weighed against the advantages of reducing acid reflux. I’m on 20mg twice a day.

Talking of auto immune conditions. I developed polymyalgia rhumatica (PMR) two years ago and I’m still on steroids for it.

YI take it (as you are knackered by the weekend) you are still working. I got my diagnosis a year into my retirement. I still need a nap most afternoons. A habit I got into after surgery.

Good to hear that you feel you have a good quality of life. Long may it continue

Thanks so much, sorry I haven't been on here much! I also enjoy the support group meetings  - have been to one today as it happens. My appetite, energy levels and general well being are all much improved since that post. Thanks again for the supportive message x