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Anorexia & nausea 3 months after esophagectomy
Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: Aug 1, 2023 | Replies (25)Comment receiving replies
I am possibly using the word "anorexia" as shorthand for just having no appetite at all. No hunger at all. No motivation to eat or to want to eat. On top of that, he has constant nausea whether he eats or not. And even if he drinks just a little Boost or Ensure, he feels extremely sick, and this is true every time he eats anything at all. I apologize if I'm using the term anorexia incorrectly and maybe I can and should find a different term that doesn't include the implications about deliberately intending weight loss, etc., which he isn't doing. And thanks for asking for a clarification. I didn't realize it meant more than just "not wanting to eat" and so I'm wrong there. [EDIT: I just Googled "medical term for no appetite" and saw this: "The medical term for a loss of appetite is anorexia." So I guess it also means just not wanting to eat.]
I posted here hoping to see if there was anyone else with direct experience with this and had a suggestion about what could work. I can't poke or prod his "team" at NYU unfortunately. But I can make suggestions to my friend to carry in to his meetings with doctors or to make special appointments to address these concerns. His brother has recommended a feeding tube and there are a few folks here who have supported this idea. So if I can call him and let him know it might make a difference and give him examples of people who it has helped and how, it might motivate him to actually let them do it.
Replies to "I am possibly using the word "anorexia" as shorthand for just having no appetite at all...."
And apologies for my confusion of the use of anorexia. I tend to think of anorexia as an eating disorder, where the person has a disturbing vision of their own body, and abhors gaining weight... and simply won't eat. Not that a person cannot be a true anorexic and still have EC... but this is rare... and to be honest... having esophageal cancer might be an anorexic's dream come true... because they are going to lose a ton of weight, without even trying!
But for us EC patients, all along our EC journeys... we lose weight for a variety of reasons... and they can be for completely different reasons too. Stress and depression and hopelessness when being diagnosed. Chemo and radiation treatments can cause much nausea... loss of appetite... loss of taste buds... more reasons to lose weight. And if symptomatic enough... the ability to swallow can be lost completely (I saw this... could not swallow a sip of water for 3 weeks). And then, if esophagectomy is done... post-op is a crazy journey unto itself... more reasons to lose weight as our bodies try to once again figure out digestion (and this can take a year or more!). Much to discuss still... we're just scratching the surface here.
I have been working with a hepatobiliary dietician after my pancreatic surgery and this has been very helpful. I joined this discussion group because my sister has esophageal cancer, undergoing initial phase of treatment. Perhaps there is a specialty dietician at NYU for esophageal cancer patients that might be helpful.
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Are we private messaging here? I'm new to this site... and trying to figure things out. I want you... or your friend with EC... to call me. I'll provide my cell #. Much easier to talk than to type a novel. Us fellow patients understand the road being traveled.
Gary