Soon total gastrectomy

Hi, I’m sorry to hear your news, it’s really frightening, there’s lots of people on here that have had a TG and they are now leading a life they thought they might not get, it’s really difficult to stay positive but ask as many questions as you need to, it’s easier to cope once you have a treatment plan, everyone here will try and help you x

Thank you so much for your kind reply. Until today i was in denial, but there is no escape. But i want to stay positive. I will have a robotic operation. My greatest fear is life after. How long till i can feel good, and have no vomiting episode? 

How are you? You had one too? How do you feel and how long since your operation?

Hi, I had a sub total in April 2024 and pretty much back to normal, I’m sure you will get replies from others that have had a TG. I know there were a few people at the time, you will need to eat very small portions and it’s a good idea to get prepared before the operation, I prepared a lot of soft foods and froze them in small containers, you might also like to have a look at this book which you might find helpful for you and your family it’s available on kindle as well it’s called

The Art of eating without a stomach,  by Dr Peter Thatcher

I did have a robotic surgery and I think that helped speed up my recovery x

I will buy it. Did you get some weight back? Are you happy? I am going to therapy, i am a wreck. What help you thru this journey? Family, friends? How i can turn to?

Yes I have put some weight back on, it takes a while, friends were helpful especially helping with walking my dog, I tried to just take a day at a time, I found therapy helped last year because during treatment that’s all I had to think about, so could avoid the emotional stuff , but a year on my emotions were all over the place, we are all different so it’s not the same for us all, you will get there, use this forum and the Macmillan staff will always listen to you and give you support x

Thank you so much for all your good advices. Stay healthy, take good care of you. God bless us all. 

Hi and sorry you find yourself here but a good place to be if you have stomach cancer.  It’s my husband who had a TD 3 years ago, his was open surgery, he was out of hospital on the 7th day, he hasn’t and didn’t have any pain or sickness. He’s ok now apart from a lot of belching and occasionally bile reflux but that’s about it. Meals are on the smaller side, he can eat most things but bread does cause a bit of a problem so tends not to have that, little and often is the way to go. We have our main meal at 3pm then a yogurt and biscuits kinda things at intervals and nothing after 8pm. We count calories now and not in the way we used to do. Hope it all goes as well for you, take care xxx

Thank you, Sue. Your experience is good for my soul and brain. I know your husband will be well as i am going to be. God bless us all.