Hello @bluebelle and welcome to the NETs support group at Mayo Connect. I wanted to respond to your post in this discussion group so that you could meet others, such as @stevestenberg31 and @taneall, who also have had experience with surgery for NETs in the small intestine.

Here is your post that was in another NETs discussion group:

"I have stage 3 NET cancer and had a large tumor in my small intestine removed, a small one near that are, and one in a lymph node near there as well. I also had 10 additional lymph nodes removed with cancer cells. My PET scan is the 1st week of November with a follow up/ discussion of treatment. In the meantime I continue to lose weight, feel awful, chronic diarrhea, malnutrition…etc. How do I get through this healing stage and even begin my treatments? I’m really worried bc I’m so weak and I know that with treatment my weakness and fatigue may get worse. I just want to feel better and live somewhat of a normal life during all this. I’m pretty much tied to the house and near the bathroom…any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!"

I am sorry to hear that you are having so many problems post-surgery. I'm wondering how long ago you had the surgery. Most of us who have had intestinal tract surgery as a result of NETs need several months before beginning to feel better.

After intestinal tract surgery, it is important to follow an eating plan that includes several light meals a day without much fat or high fiber. Most of us have found that a diet of broiled or baked fish or chicken is a good place to get protein. It will take some time to find the foods that will not trigger symptoms.

I have had three surgeries for NETs in the duodenal bulb and I recall having friends drop off casseroles (that were cream based) as well as wonderful salads. They were perfectly wonderful foods, but unfortunately not the best from someone who had intestinal tract surgery.

Do not hesitate to contact your doctor's office for dietary suggestions and for medication that might help with the diarrhea. It is important to be able to gain your strength back with the right kind of foods.

What type of foods are you eating?