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What to do? Husband won’t drink enough 6 months after Ivor lewis

Posted by deb005 @deb005, May 25 11:59pm

Hello, is anyone else struggling to drink enough fluids ? My husband has had the Ivor Lewis surgery 7 months ago and finds it difficult to drink enough. I’ve had to take him up to ED twice for fluid to be administered as he gets so dehydrated, becomes dizzy and has blacked out twice. No matter how I try and encourage him to drink more, he just won’t, or says he can’t fit more fluids in while trying to eat all his food daily. All up, in a day, he sometimes manages one litre but I’m sure that’s not enough ?
Thanks for any advice
Deb.

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mrgvw | @mrgvw | May 26 9:50am

Let's chat. While the post-op journey is a bit different for each of us... There are many things to understand about what is taking place over 12 to 18 months post-op... and what is normal... and what may need to be fixed by a doctor.

Gary

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 7 8:52pm

Hi @deb005, how is your husband doing? How are YOU doing?

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deb005 | @deb005 | Jun 7 10:20pm

Hi Colleen, thank you for reaching out 🙂 we are managing ok. Kerry has an endoscopy next week by a surgeon in the town we live in. Not his surgeon that performed the Ivor Lewis surgery but one closer. Just having a look to see everything is healing and ok. He is still struggling to gain weight but is feeling ok in himself. We have started walking which I think is helping too. We spoke to Gary on this forum and he was very helpful and we now realise it’s going to take longer than we thought to start and feel somewhat ‘normal’ again. We’re hopefully on the right track. Thanks for the message.
Deb

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1 reply
helpme33 | @helpme33 | Jun 22 5:44am
In reply to @deb005 "Hi Colleen, thank you for reaching out 🙂 we are managing ok. Kerry has an endoscopy..." + (show)
@deb005

Hi Colleen, thank you for reaching out 🙂 we are managing ok. Kerry has an endoscopy next week by a surgeon in the town we live in. Not his surgeon that performed the Ivor Lewis surgery but one closer. Just having a look to see everything is healing and ok. He is still struggling to gain weight but is feeling ok in himself. We have started walking which I think is helping too. We spoke to Gary on this forum and he was very helpful and we now realise it’s going to take longer than we thought to start and feel somewhat ‘normal’ again. We’re hopefully on the right track. Thanks for the message.
Deb

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Hi. New to this group. My husband had his surgery end of January 2025. He is still having problems with weight and drinking. He finds it tough to work in the fluid while trying to eat to gain back some weight. He has also developed a very bad cough which inhibits his intake of food and drink ing. Working with a nutritionist to get him to gain weight. There are many recipes for nourishing and weight gaining shakes as well as getting nutrition from glucerna , a meal supplement or protein shakes. I always check with his doctor and or nutritionist before I start him on something new like glucerna...a meal supplement and protein shakes

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deb005 | @deb005 | Jun 22 3:29pm

Hello, did tour husband have Ivor Lewis surgery also ? Does he suffer from reflux at night ? It’s difficult, we’ve been told sugar can affect his reflux…also can affect this dumping syndrome…we’ve tried cutting it out along with most of the other foods which can make his reflux worse ! It’s all been trial and error so far..are you in USA ? We’re in New Zealand, some of the products aren’t available here and hes also lactose intolerant which doesn’t help with his weight gain…it a very slow process trying to get his weight up..thanks for messaging 🙂

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