Colleen, thanks for reaching out. Yes. The dietitians at the hospital where I had my surgery were useless. I'm not using the word lightly either. They had me drink 5 Boosts per day as a criteria for discharge. Ugh! The dietitian that works with my oncology group offers the same generic advice that the Physicians did. Eat frequent small meals. Get at least 80 grams of protein per day. Brat diet for diarrhea. Stay away from sugar and limit fat. None of these people have had an gastroesophagectomy with pylormyoectomy. And, they just don't get it. If I don't eat carbs or fat, that leaves protein and at 4 calories per gram, I would need 500 grams of protein for 2,000 calories. I'm done with the dietitians that I have consulted with in the past.

I find that a protein bar in the morning will trigger dumping syndrome. A protein bar in the afternoon or evening is fine. Drinking fluids after a meal (even a small one) will trigger. Fried foods are a no no. Rich foods with butter and cream sometimes trigger it. then of course there is quantity. Anything over a 6-8 ounce portion will be a trigger. Besides being extremely distasteful, protein shakes are a trigger. If i drink one, and have an episode, I can't eat for 3 hours, so they don't do any good towards my goal of 2000 calories per day. Also, sweets after a meal are bad, but sweets alone I do fine with. I am still very much figuring all of this out. I really do not like eating, but force myself. I also don't like losing weight every day, so I eat what I can when I can and hope for the best.

Hi Steve-I was diagnosed in 2018 with esophageal cancer and had chemo and proton radiation at Mayo Clinic at Rochester MN and an Ivor Lewis at St Mary’s hospital. I’m 5 years cancer free!!
Eating has not been without challenges but has been trial and error and episodes of dumping syndrome in the months after surgery.
The following is a sample of foods I eat for breakfast: one slice of Dave’s killer bread buttered and topped with a hard or soft boiled egg, slice of cheese and for more protein a slice or two of turkey bacon plus a half cup of cooked veg. My noon meal would be a protein like fish, hamburger patty, baked chicken, a salad, and a portion of a sweet potato or white.
I drink at
Least 50 oz of water or non caffeinated tea per day. I can sip some liquid when I eat but after a meal, I wait at least an hour before I drink fluids again.
My between meal snacks are cheese, peanut butter with good quality multigrain crackers, raw veggies, oranges, apples, pears, basically any fruit your body can tolerate. I also grab a handful of organic mixed nuts, almonds, or pistachios for snacks between meals, which are slow to digest so eat small amounts. Also processed sugar foods are not my friend. One of my favorite treats I can tolerate are organic fudge bars(100 calorie) from Costco. If you have any questions for me, I’d be very happy to help you on your journey with your new anatomy.