Hi Neil (@Neil62) ,   Oh, so much to be said, sorry if I have already said it elsewhere...   Operation My Surgeon said that I needed a total gastrectomy. I asked him about partial gastrectomy, and so that is what he said that was what he going to do. But then I pointed out to him that he is the specialist and I want what will give me the best outcome. So then he reverted to the full gastrectomy option. This did not fill me with any significant level of confidence in him.   I then asked him why partial gastrectomy was not advised. So then he started to flip back to the partial option again - ARGH!!!   I said that I was not requesting partial - I just wanted to know why that was not as good an option. He then said that some of the cancerous cells were found on the lesser curvature of my stomach and that cancer cells could be hiding nearer the pyloric sphincter. This wasn't convincing for me but in the pressure of the moment I chose not to question further an risk the chance of him flipping options again.   It wasn't until the pre-op consultation that I got any sort of meaningful explanation. A 4th year med student intending to specialise in anaesthesia  explained that if they removed the lower end of my oesophagus and only the upper part of my stomach, then I would have a partial stomach that functions somewhat normally, but there would be no lower oesophageal sphincter to stop food from being pushed back up my oesophagus. I would suffer from acid reflux almost all of the time. My response was "OK, I now fully endorse the total gastrectomy option!".   New Diet From memory, it only took about 9 months before I was eating fairly normal meals. Mind you, they were about half the size of before the op and i was eating it in stages. The main difference is that I now can't tolerate onion unless it has been cooked until it is nearly black. It appears that I might have a similar (but less severe) response to chilli. Nearly seven years later, I eat reasonable-sized meals (250g or so) at a sitting with no real problem.   And now I have a "Seafood-Like" diet - if I see it and like it, then I eat it.   Consequences One other strange effect of not having a stomach is that I never get hungry. These days I have to remind myself to drink and eat.   I do try to remember to chew my food until it is almost liquid before swallowing, but it's not really a big deal if I don't.   Now, overeating is a real problem. All it takes is one or two too many bites and my gut makes severe protests. A very uncomfortable condition for an hour or so. Because of this, I have leant to drink before eating and never the other way around. The fluid will pass down far more quickly than food and so there is less chance of it all "backing up". I try to separate drink from food by at least 30 minutes and don't drink again for another hour and a half or more.   One consequence of not having any stomach is that I need VitB12 injection (1 ml intramuscular) every 3 months - I do it myself at home.   And (saving the worst until last) I do occasionally wake up in the middle of the night having unconsciously regurgitated bile and then having breathed it in (aspiration). Not particularly pleasant at all. A burning sensation from it coming up my oesophagus, a worse burning as it goes down my trachea and then an ever worse burning again as I try to cough it up from my lungs. I can usually get back to sleep after about 90 minutes.   Summary So all in all, life is absolutely fine without a stomach - mostly. I am not a grumpy old man - there are just an awful lot of things that I simply can't stomach anymore.   I'm sure that this will have raised many more questions for you than answers provided. Feel free to throw them at me.   Big hugs and best wishes to you for a successful treatment. Rick ... View more

Thanks for the reply, qs for the gp, I can't get an appt, I spokebto a dr last week, he didn't even know I'd been diagnosed, to get a telephone appt with the gp is a devils own job, I'm currently chasing up the colorectomy nurse who rang me, to see if she can help. My little island is getting smaller, and I'm so stressed, I don't know what to do, I cannot get a definitive answer,  although on report it says its malignant,  yet people say wait for the biopsies to get back, I'm lost and its not helping me when I have nowhere to turn.   Thank you for replying, I will try to get past the receptionist at my go surgery, which is awful, I said last week I may have cancer, and ahe said ring back after 12pm, it was 11.57am, its ridiculous, my husband couldn't see a gp last year, they said his stomach pain was stress, 4 months later, he was rushed to hospital and nearly died, his gallbladder was gangreneous,  he was hours away from death.    Thanks take care  ... View more

Hi, orry to hear your troubles, have you had tests for endometriosis? I had many of the same problems and was diagnosed,eventually, with it, I elected to have a hysterectomy when I was 30, never regretted it,please see your Dr, they can help put your mind at rest one way or the other, please don't put ut off, you'll be glad when you actually know what the problem is. I hope you get it sorted  Rosie ... View more

My mum suffers the same problem every time she has to go in for a biopsy. It's normal. She gets very irritable leading up to tests.   I try and encourage her to keep facing her fears, go to all the appointments, no matter how hard they may be. Because you can only fix a problem if you know it's there. There's nothing you can do about it if you're not aware of the problem. And I agree with the comment above. It's the uncertainty which causes the worry.    Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the ability to continue moving forward despite your fears. ... View more

Hi @Ness1983 ,   I understand some of what you are feeling. I am a 47 year old mum of 3 daughters, twins aged 15 and a 12 year old. I was diagnosed with a malignant tumour in my liver back in February. I had major liver resection surgery 7 weeks ago today and my surgeon took 65% of my liver (it grows back which is pretty cool). I completely underestimated the scale of the surgery and am only now starting to feel a little bit normal...I started chemo 2 weeks ago and need to do treatment of chemo and radiation for the next 7 months. It has definitely been an emotional roller coaster ride, but staying positive will be detrimental to getting through the next 7 months. I think it is important to let yourself feel the feels and to cry, but you need to pull yourself back into that positive headspace, you really need to dig deep and just take it day by day...I am new to do this forum too, I feel I have lots of support from family and friends but really wanted to reach out and hear what other people are feeling and going through when told they have cancer...    Jackie x ... View more

Yes. More information would be helpful. In general - they all have risks of side effects. But they are a better choice in many instances then broad spectrum chemo and what that can do  to your body…    ... View more

Rick, well said. I think many patients feel that way but they're afraid to express themselves. The fact that your doctor doesn't read your file prior to visiting with you borders on malpractice. ... View more

Hi @Janegio62 , It begs the question as to why he won’t eat while he is back with his family around him. Going without appropriate nutrition for more than a day or two is pretty serious for most people. I would call his doctor as a matter of urgency to discuss the situation and work out what is best for your Dad.  Best wishes and big hugs, Rick ... View more

Hi,    I can't add more than what the other two posts have said to you.  It's good advice.  Do look up some of the terms to know what it is you need to know.  My surgeon told me not to google the disease but I did.  I felt more. in control once I did and even found some hope from doing so.  Ask your doctor or surgeon to explain to you exactly what you have and what that means.  Don't be embarrassed to ask questions.  You don't have a medical degree therefore they are used to explaining the terminology to patients.     I wish you great support and the best team to advise you on your journey. ... View more