Hi AndI,

I was very overwhelmed by it all at times and it is daunting. However lots of people have come through it and recently which helps. What happened to my husband was very unusual but they sorted him out. 

He has one more round of chemo next Friday 17th fingers crossed and then recovery and hopefully some normality after nearly a year. Diagnosed end of last October. 
Take heart - you will get there. If you can it's good to gain some weight and walk too. If you're eligible for any vaccines it might be worth asking your doc if you can have them before your op. 
 

keeping the faith

Milly

Hi Milly

Yes I am trying to walk to get a bit stronger - was totally inactive due to chemo but had a broken humerus bone just prior - and spent 6 weeks (and nights) just sitting on my sofa - so very unfit!! Really trying now - having flu jab tomorrow. 
 

sounds as if your husband has had an exceptionally bad time - so glad his treatment is nearly over 

Andi x

Hi Andi, I don't know if you will have anyone around to make you meals, but you will no doubt feel quite tired.   So easy things to prepare and eat like tinned condensed cream of chicken soup, cream of tomato soup - the condensed soups are thicker and smaller in bulk.   Also, you can get tinned steak in gravy.   Sorry it may sound hideous, but actually the meat is so soft it's quite nice and you only have to open a tin.   You could have with mashed potato, grated melted cheese.   My husband found anything bready impossible, but maybe you will be ok with that?   He also liked soft boiled eggs with lots of salt and pepper.    
Well done getting through the pre op chemo, it's so tough, you've done amazingly.   The hair loss is distressing and upsetting.   If it helps at all, my husband who didn't have much on top to start with seemed to have a bit more after chemo was over...and his beard grew back too.   Unfortunately lost it all again on the second lot, but it sounds like from bfg and Hilts it will come back again eventually.

SallyX

Hi Milly, so glad you can drive about again, what a relief that must be.  Husband has his last chemo session this Monday, so we are limping along to the finish line.   Hope you're both on course too.

sallyx

Hi Sally,

Yes it is a relief! Ankle still swells but fracture clinic doc said it would but not as painful now. 
Hope all goes well on Monday and yes the finish line is in sight for both our husbands fingers crossed.

Will be thinking of you both on Monday.

Keeping the faith

Milly

Thank you Sally - that is a help as I live alone - so will get condensed soup - would not have thought of that!!  Also the tinned steak. I realise I won't be able to drive for a while - so need something in - then I can get deliveries for a while. It's the unknown!!  It sounds as if you are nearly out the other side - must be a relief for you. 
 

This site is so helpful

Andu xx

Hi Andi, hope you're well.

I'm a week home, post op now so can share the following from my experience so far with you which may / may not help !

The first 5 days post op, I was nil by mouth and fed intravenously via TPN (total parenteral nutrition) via an IV on my neck.

During this time, all I could have orally was the hospital equivalent of giant cotton buds dunked in water to suck on, when my mouth was dry / or I got thirsty. All I could think of during this time was an ice cold glass of cola and I craved an ice cold drink so badly ! BFG kindly encouraged me through and helped man me up a bit !

It was fine though, and completely understand that the surgeon wanted those days for the join to heal as best as possible and I didn't get hungry, the TPN was doing its job.

Around day 5 and I could start drinking water, apple juice, black tea etc and some vegetable consommé soup ...it gave me a whole new appreciation of a lot of things I'd always taken for granted !

My first mouthful of ice cream on Day 6 was whilst I was on FaceTime to my Wife (no visitors were allowed due to covid, still) and I got all emotional eating something so delicious after 6 days of not having eaten anything - so it ruined my tough guy image to my Wife

After that, I moved into what my surgeon called Free Food Diet for a day, to see how my re-plumbing coped with it ... he explained it as anything that fell off a spoon was OK ... ie. yoghurt, ice cream, jelly, soup etc.

Once he knew I was OK with that, ie. no retching, sickness etc he moved me to what he called the Soft Diet the next day.

This means anything like Cottage / Shepherds Pie, scrambled eggs, weetabix, porridge, fruit smoothies, pancakes with honey, soft pasta, soft noodles etc all OK.

A good trick my wife did was using kids meals from COOK :

www.cookfood.net/.../

My surgeons dietician said to me that for the first few months to aim for a quarter of my normal portion size per meal sitting. So, we figured the kids meals are half the adult portion size, so you can just whack one in the oven, cook for 30 mins, serve and eat half of one and then 30-45 mins later finish the second half.

the bonus is they taste amazing as they're all freshly prepared with great and nutritious ingredients so not only are they very tasty but you know you're eating very well, too.

my favourites so far at meal times are the Cottage Pie, the pasta Bolognaise, the chicken tikka and the chicken and orzo pasta. I definitely recommend these in the first few weeks at home as make cooking at home so easy and convenient whenever you need / want to eat.

Also, as another guide - have a look here, my surgeons dietician gave me a copy of pages 3 & 4 which is what I've been following at home and no real issues so far :

www.uhs.nhs.uk/.../Following-a-soft-food-diet-after-a-gastrectomy-or-oesophagectomy-patient-information.pdf

I'm a week home yesterday and in terms of things to get in, I'd echo what everyone else has kindly shared with you - tinned steak is a good one too. Heinz tomato soups, Heinz tinned spaghetti as well is good. If you do an online shop, I'd recommend ordering some milkshakes in, good for adding calories as a snack and also the Haagen Dazs mini cups are great to snack on, soothing on the way down and a great way to add calories to your day too. Also Twirl and Wispa chocolates are easy to eat, melting in your mouth so don't cause issue and add calories as well as maize based crisps like Skips and Quavers that melt in your mouth too as a quick snack !

I hope something in there is of use and helpful to you !

Good to hear Redski, you're heading in the right direction 

Lee

Thanks Lee, really appreciate the encouragement !