Hi Tony

Welcome to the forum, and I'm sorry to hear of your problems.

I'm not medically trained, but I wonder if your GP might be able to prescribe some meds that may help you retain and digest your food.  I'm thinking of meds such as the anti-emetic Cinnarizine, and proton pump inhibitors such as Omeprazole. Of course, I'm just guessing - maybe these won't help at all, but there's nothing to be lost in discussing this with your GP. 

Hi Debby,

I also have oesophageal cancer. I have a history of acid reflux oesophagitis (which may have caused the cancer) and my medical team were so focussed on the cancer that the reflux got ignored. Long story short, some of the symptoms I thought were down to the cancer were actually down to the reflux and only went away when my consultant doubled my dose of Omeprazole.

When I was on chemo I needed to stop weight loss and found that homemade powershakes helped. Full fat milk (you could add cream) blitzed with various combinations of smooth peanut butter, bananas and soft fruit (non citrus). I also reversed everything you'd normally do as part of a weight loss diet - added grated cheese or cream to whatever I could. Chocolate, mashed potatoes with butter and cream, biscuits, shortbread and cake also helped no end.

Good luck

Dave

Hi Dave,

I am trying all that with my husband, but the problem is he doesnt feel hungry, then when I can get him to eat, he eats such a little amount, stating he feels full and it feels that the food is coming back up. The majority of times it doesnt, but then it puts him off eating a little more.  Its the sickness, like a brown slime (sorry!!)  (due to the coke they have told him to drink). I feel in a catch 22 situation - cant do right for wrong - despertely want to help him. Problem is also that he has never been ill the the 35 years we have been married and he cant cope with that either.(sickness and not the length of our marriage!!) Doctor perscribed anti depressents and steriods on Friday, so that should help, but my main question was how to stop the sickness so he can eat more. They didnt offer anti sickness pills but he does take 2 x Omeprazole for day,

Cheers - hope you are keeping well?  D :)

Out of hours GP just perscribed Metoclopramide 10mg x 3 per day to hep with sickness....any comments ?

Coke? Seriously?! Coke is very acidic and is the last thing I'd recommend! 

I was told that eating little and often was best. I had zero appetite but virtually forced myself to eat a little every hour whilst I was awake.

I'm OK thanks :-)

I'm not sure if this is safe for you but you might try asking your GP about a drug called pizotifen, which has a peculiar affect on appestat.

Hi deb

welcome to the forum and sorry to hear your news

it’s important to try and keep healthy during chemo as it not only knocks out the bad but the good too and leaves your immune system at a low ebb

if your hubby has already lost weight it’s important to find him something that is easy to get down often in small amounts ..... have you tried the fortisips .... it basically a very hi calorie milk shake, that comes in small bottles ...

. it kept me alive during my throat cancer but I had chemo and Tomotherapy but had a feeding tube directly into my stomach as it was too painful to even take liquid.

having lost just over 3 stone myself during the process it’s really easy to just forget get and like not eating... and it becomes the norm ... I then ended up in hospital on a drip for three days as the pumped stuff back into me.

ask you medical team for the drinks and do little and often if he is eating nothing else but over the course of a day can finish 4 of these small bottles ... he is doing well .... more if he can

i hope things pick up for you soon, don’t hesitate to ask you medical team ASAP for these drinks and if you have not tried get him on them ASAP and try and stabilise hat weight before chemo

have the offered you any alternatives as there are a lot of oral drugs you have to take on a daily basis .... if everything has to be oral make sure you get it i it’s liquid form ... i

shout if you have any questions and please let us know how you get on

vatch