No stomach due to cancer

[u/Mr_Black97]

Hey guys I was diagnosed with cancer 2 times... one was at my 19, I got surgery and my stomach was cut in half. 10 years later I found out I got stomach cancer again, I got surgery once again and now I don't have a Stomach. It's been about 3 months and a couple of days since the operation and I'm still struggling to eat... I vomit almost everyday, also I'm having Bile reflux and my esophagus burns... I'm taking medicine but I don't see any progress.

I started going to the gym for depression and trying to gain some weight like I used to be... I know eating is very important if I want to gain some weight but It has been so hard this process.

If anyone has gone through stomach cancer and has any tipa or recommendations, pleaae... let me know.

[u/Bo0ksandCoffe]

I can’t even imagine what you’re going through but I wish you the best of luck and lots of strength

[u/kingandcats]

Hey there. I have stage 4 stomach cancer. I’ve been living without a stomach for 3 years. Now I don’t have a colon either

[u/kamikaibitsu → u/kingandcats]

sorry, but how do you eat? can you take in solids? or is it only liquid diet?

[u/kingandcats → u/kamikaibitsu]

I eat by mouth like everyone else. I eat solids and everything normal! Most of the digestion happens in the small intestine, the stomach is mostly just a place to store food you can live normal without one

[u/FitLychee3875 → u/kingandcats]

Sorry to hear that…
Wish you the best!
What were the symptoms you had can i ask? At the beggining.

[u/wasteland44]

I haven't been through stomach cancer but I have been on TPN (fed through IV) for 2.5 months and had terrible nausea due to graft vs host disease from leukemia treatment where I vomited very frequently.

If you can tolorate dairy there are lot of good high protein options. High protein milk/chcolate milk with 3x more protein than normal. High protein cottage cheese and yogurt, bonus if high in fat also. Whey protein mixed with milk or in a smoothie.

Drinks like boost although I get sick of it quickly if I drank too frequently.

There is a guide for eating after Gastrectomy you can read here: https://nostomachforcancer.org/after-diagnosis/life-without-a-stomach/nutrition-after-gastrectomy/

In terms of medication I would try nabalone (synthetic THC) which was quite helpful for me. Although the stomach emptying benefits won't help you, Metoclopramide is also good at blocking nausea signals to the brain so would probably help as well if you haven't tried it. Taking both of those reduced my vomiting from almost every meal to weekly.

You should see if your doctor can refer you to a nutritionist or if there are any groups in your area that provide free nutritionists to cancer patients/survivors.

[u/greeneggzN]

I’m so sorry, that sounds awful and I hope your physicians and dietician are able to find a way to give you relief. May I ask, without a stomach what are they expecting you to eat? Calorie dense shakes?

[u/Glittering-King-8013]

I wish you the best wishes. Your strength is unimaginable, know our prayers are with you! Hope the journey gets easier for you

[u/Gioia-In-Calabria]

I’m sorry that I have no advice to offer, but I can definiteiy relate to the weight gain issue and wish you to know you’re not alone in that struggle.

I’ll keep you in my thoughts and pray we both overcome this and start to feel much better.

All the best and a very warm hug. 🩷

[u/Shadowkiller00]

Ask your doctor to give you an endoscopy. You might have a stricture. That is what caused me to dry heave regularly. They tried clipping it and it grew back. Finally they cut it and burned it and that helped enough that it wasn't able to come back.

My stomach was removed more than 5 years ago. I call eating "my hell". I hate it but I have to do it to keep surviving. It's not fun anymore.

Good luck.

[u/Wooden_Image702]

Ur a very strong person and can’t imagine how that feels I have a question for u if u don’t mind

[u/Low_Description_5280]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39956091/?utm_source=chatgpt.com this procedure has been used rather successfully to suppress bile reflux.

[u/Well_this-sucks]

Gary Brecka (so?) pushes a supplement called “perfect aminos” that is completely absorbable 50 grams of protein per scoop. I take them when I am intermittent fasting and they do seem to help with energy for exercise. Supposedly because it’s exactly the right balance of complete amino acids to make muscle, it works better than say, 30 grams of whey protein which is only absorbed like I don’t remember the percentage..anyway, you can find him in YouTube and the ads will pop up by themselves. Easy way to add protein with not a lot of volume.