my journey so far

Just out of interest. I am now 9 months post total mastectomy and doing really good apart from eating. Did anyone else have issues this long post op? I still get dumping syndrome and as for food portions they are still toddler size and prefer more sloppy foods. I was reading all the other posts and they seem to be eating great? The only way I've managed to put on a couple of pounds was adding glasses of milk ( never liked it pre op) and what feels like eating constantly. Its such a petty thing to talk about but id really like to hear others opinions? Eating out, my favourite pastime pre is now a source of displeasure while I try to figure what I can eat on the menu. By the way I lived to eat before all of this now I almost dread it and nothing is enjoyable after two to three spoonfuls. Is there a more positive future? its ok if not just like to be prepared im so very grateful to still be deemed cancer free. 

Hi, brilliant recommendation…I’ve got one… used it once… I’m ok these days as my portions have increased slightly or take a box home with me with leftovers… 

Hi, you are doing very well… it takes time and everyone is different… I was only eating soft foods for a good 10 months or more with the odd bit of harder foods… mine was I think I was scared of choking as I had even on a poached egg got stuck once… I could only eat small amounts for quite sometime as I would over eat sometimes (still do) and feel really uncomfortable half an hour or so after eating… so I had to say no…    Enjoyment of food again will take time too as I found it a chore to eat so I did feel like I was forcing myself but after 12 months I enjoy everything now… going out that took a bit of work as I never could finish even a slice of cake… my husband is my leftover bin… still is in fact everyday… the saying of my eyes are bigger than my belly is true!! 
Don’t put pressure on choosing something to eat when you go out… you are still in early stages of recovery as my consultant told me. Ask for the child’s menu I have many many times and have ordered lots of choices… not finished one of them. I started off with going out for a small cake and a decaf coffee and I could never finish both… it takes time. I went out last week and I had a starter and finished it then another starter came and I ended up taking 3/4 of it home… I couldn’t even finish my small glass of wine. You’ll be fine… as for calories I eat cheese with everything, not a lot but enough… I make myself a milky drink every day too… custard, rice pudding etc… 

As for dumping syndrome I still get it and that’s me 2 years ago today… I can eat something fine one day then on another day I get dumping… I think it’s something we will have forever unfortunately… 

I hope this helps… 

Remember you are doing brilliantly!!

Take care 

Michele 

Thank you so much. This is absolutely best news to hear. I don’t feel so unusual and a little paranoid something is wrong. I’ll be waking up tomorrow with a spring in my step knowing that one day in the future eating will be a joy again and I can deal with the small portions. Also, sorry to here you still get dumping syndrome but happy too that it’s not so uncommon as the specialist told me it would last a few weeks so I was really getting fed up that I was doing something wrong. I can live with it as well. Thank you again for the fast reply and great support. All the best.

milly

I’m glad to hear you’ll wake up with a spring in your step tomorrow… I forgot to say that one of my big culprits of dumping syndrome is carbohydrates e.g too much pasta, too big a piece of cake, too many biscuits, too many crisps l, crackers, cereals and even hot cross buns… so my consultant said to eat them in moderation or an alternative… I’ll get a bought once every month or two months now… but it can be hit or miss, might have no effect once or twice but the next time yes… so what I do now I’ll have something to eat like soup for example give it half an hour then I’ll have a carb and there’s no effect… I also just eat toasted sourdough bread its brilliant with me… my dietician in hospital after my surgery suggested it… 

Take care 

Michele 

Absolutely the same for me. My favourite white crusty bread is a no no and cakes etc after one bite I don’t want them, it’s hilarious that I was trying for two years to lowe weight and refrain from these eating these foods, with great difficulty. I try to make my children laugh by telling them I didn’t have cancer I just needed a more aggressive weight loss intervention! 
it’s been absolutely great hearing from you and probably just being less stressed about the whole experience will help. Thank you for the great tips. 

Sorry for delay. The name of my surgeon was Miss B Lovett based at Basildon Hospital and Nuffield Hospital. If you are willing to pay privately for a consultation you will get to see her far quicker than waiting for a NHS appointment. Hope this is of use.

Hey everyone, I just wondered anyone who had signet ring cell cancer, after total gastrectomy did your pathology suggest any perineural invasion? Thanks Chloe x

Hi, no I had nothing… my biopsies came back negative… 

Michele 

Michele, when you had your pathology back after gastrectomy did they give you a score of how well chemo worked? It’s normally 1-3? X