Hello all,
May I ask a question? I am currently staying with my mum, looking after her in Plymouth. She has just been given the worst news, terminal cancer which began as Oesophageal Cancer.
She had an operation to remove the cancer, meaning her stomach was stretched to connect with what was left of her oesophagus.
Ever since the operation she experienced extreme pain when she eats, after 45 mins the pain is awful. To the point where she now doesn’t eat for the pain she knows will arrive.
She has lost nearly all of her weight, and it’s the weight loss that is now killing her. She has no energy, and is weak and frail. She can’t walk, and is extremely wobbly when she gets up.
It isn’t the cancer (that will undoubtedly kill her soon) but it’s the weight loss that is causing so many problems all down to this awful pain she says like chronic period pain that she experiences 45 mins after eating any small amounts.
Has anyone else experienced this? And has anyone found a solution as to what it may be. I understand everyone is different. So I’m just trying to work out if this is a general thing alot of people get after this sort of surgery, or if this means something is wrong.
I have spoken to doctors and they have said that they believe mum isn’t eating enough. Which is causing her to lose weight. But she IS eating small amounts, and still getting pain.
Can anyone offer any advice? Thanks in advance everyone.
Hi Mr Cheese, Welcome to our site, I am sure you would have preferred not to be here, I am sorry to hear your News about your Mum and appreciate you must be very worried and concerned with her condition at the moment. There are no dates to the treatment and also the prognosis given but reading your notes is it her GP or the Consultant team you spoke with as that would be very important as to the next best steps, this is where the timescales come in, is she still under the Cancer Team or on review status, either way it seems very funny that further support with her eating and nutrition hasn’t been addressed.
I think you need to speak urgently with her Team at the hospital in particular the Dietician team as they can arrange tube feeding, what would concern me, is she getting sufficient hydration as that will affect her more than lack of food so think you need to speak to someone urgently. The other problem that comes along, I suffered it after my treatment (sorry wasn’t surgery) is that you try something to eat and get a problem, in my case swallowing, and you don’t try it again.
You should really try just very soft small amounts such as high fat foods and rich soups
I hope you get support asap
Take care both of you and come back if you need more help, I also answered your post so that others may come along with more support
Tony
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