My husband had an esophagectomy in June 2023 but didn’t need chemo or radiation. He has been suffering with nausea and/or vomiting since the surgery. Before the operation, all his blood levels were in the normal zone. However, he was unable to tolerate enteral feeding and the longer the intolerance went on, the lower all of his blood levels became.

He was dealing with anemia as a result of malnutrition. Eventually, his j-tube was removed and he began TPN (IV nutrition) but his blood numbers never really improved by much. He has also had low potassium on many occasions. He’s been hospitalized several times relating to the anemia and has had two transfusions within one week because his hemoglobin level was down to 6.5 each time. But TPN has its own issues, and he’s also suffered with gallbladder problems, common with people on TPN, especially when there’s little food by mouth.

I believe that the answer to all of this is food. Is your husband eating anything by mouth?