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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Post Gastrectomy
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Post Gastrectomy
by Amanda-OHely, Jul 29, 1998 12:00AM
My mum had a total gastrectomy in November "97 for stomach cancer. Although, I am really grateful the surgeon saved her life she has had absolutely NO quality of life since! We battled with her eating problem for months until she was getting adequate calorific intake. However, recently she has had a bad pain in her side constantly and finds it very uncomfortable to sit down. She walks up and down all day burning of calories and making herself tired. She had a blood test a couple of weeks ago which was fine and she isn't having any other symptoms such as dumping but we are worried that the pain may be a secondary tumour. Would anything show in the blood test if this was the case? Could there be any other explanation for her pain?
The GP has prescribed more pain killers and we are waiting for a scan but I'm worrying myself silly.
thanks for your time
Amanda
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Dear Amanda O’Hely:
There are many potential complications from gastrectomy surgery, depending on the specific operation performed. The surgery-induced changes of anatomy and function may have profound effects on nutrition and quality of life.
Malabsorption can result from gastric surgery. Patients can develop anemia secondary to iron or vitamin B-12 malabsorption that will require suplementation treatment. Malabsoprtion of fat and carbohydrates has been reported also.
Although you state that your mother does not have diarrhea, I will briefly describe this entity because it can be associated with abdominal pain. Because the reservoir function of the stomach is removed with the resexction, foods leave the stomach rapidly after eating. This large load enters the small intestine where it pulls fluid into the gut. The bowel distends because of all this fluid, Symptoms of abdom,inal pain and diarrhea can result. Dumping syndrome should be suspected when there is a temporal relationship between symptoms and eating.
After gastrectomy for stomach cancer, there is obviously the concern of tumor recurrence. There are several tests that can be used to examine the gastric remnant (upper endoscopy) and the rest of the intra-abdominal organs (CT scan).
Your mother’s abdominal pain can have other potential causes. It could be related to dumping syndrome, partial blockages of the bowel; or it could be caused by something not related at all to her previous surgery. The tests required for further studies depend upon a detailed history and a full physical examination.
This information is giving for general educational purposes only. You should always consult your doctor regarding medical problems.
HFHSM.D.-ab
*keywords: gastric cancer, abdominal pain
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