Nutritional supplements after an esophageal resection

Hi, my husband had the operation two weeks ago and received this from the hospital. My husband is currently taking the “Centrum Fruity Chewable Complete A-Z” which he really likes. I hope it helps.

Multivitamin and Mineral Supplements
Following your surgery, it is recommended that you take a multivitamin and mineral
supplement daily. This can be purchased in your local supermarket or chemist.
Ensure that it is a complete multivitamin and mineral or A-Z. Alternatively, your GP
may be willing to prescribe a product called Forceval.

In the early weeks, when you are not taking in solid foods, you may find it easier to
use a chewable multivitamin and mineral. Although you will find several chewable
and liquid preparations on the market, many of these are not complete and lack
minerals and/or iron.

• “Centrum Fruity Chewable Complete A-Z” will provide you with the vitamins
and minerals that you need at this time. You will need to take 2 of these per
day. Alternatively, your GP may be willing to prescribe Forceval Soluble x1
tablet per day.

• Once you are eating and drinking solid foods, you will need to change over to
a solid tablet multivitamin and mineral supplement. This will provide a
complete range of vitamins and minerals in the higher levels that you require.
You can either ask your GP to prescribe Forceval capsules x1 per day or you
can buy an A-Z Complete Multivitamin and Mineral supplement. We
recommend one of the following x1 per day: Tesco, Superdrug, Sainsbury’s
or Lloyds Pharmacy A-Z Multivitamin and Mineral, Centrum Performance AZ or Sanatogen A-Z Complete.

Exactly as Goldie3 says A-Z minerals and vitamins. This is because in the early days you may well suffer from malabsorption therefore could become deficient in either minerals or vitamins, especially fat soluble vitamins as your fat absorption may well be affected.

I’m eight years post op and I still take daily vitamin supplements, even though my digestion is pretty normal and stable, helped by probiotic supplements from Holland and Barrett, acidophilus. They seemed to help stabilise my gut bacteria and therefore my diarrhoea/malabsorption.

It is surprising how somethings work for some people and others find different solutions. I hope you find what works for you. Be patient and prepared to try different things.

Thank you both for your answers - how about the dosage of these multivitamines - are they not too low?

Thank you for your answer! appreciate it - really helping in my search

Talk to your hospital team. I would expect specialist dietician support. Commonly prescribed are small 200ml 'Nutrisip' bottles. They are intended as a complete diet on their own, so 3(?) bottles a day is eveerything you need apart from fibre. A prescription may well be avaiaible.

There are logistical difficulties in getting a proper variety (8 flavours), but it is manageable.

Best of luck.

Thank you!

I was not aware of Nutrisip - I will follow up with my hospital team indeed!

M

Also known as Fortisip