Recovering from gastrectomy

A gastrectomy is a serious operation and recovery can takea long time.

After the operation

After having a gastrectomy, you may be fitted with a nasogastric tube for about 48 hours. This is a thin tube that passes through your nose and downinto your stomach or small intestine. This will allow fluids produced by your stomach to be regularly removed, which will stop you feeling sick.

You'll also have a Urinary catheterisation placed in your bladder. This is to drain and collect urine, as your mobility will be reduced and passing urine may be more difficult while you recover.

Until you can eat and drink normally, nutrition will be supplied through a tube inserted directly into a vein (intravenously) or through a tube inserted through your abdomen (tummy) into your bowel. Most peoplecan begin eatinga light diet about a week after having a gastrectomy.

After the operation, you'll need to take painkillers for a few days. Tell your treatment team if the painkillers you're takingdon't work, because alternative painkillers are available. You'll probably be able to return home one to two weeks after having a gastrectomy.

Adjusting to a new diet

Whatever type of gastrectomy you have, you'll need to make changes to your diet. It may be months before you can return to a more normal diet. Adietitian should be able to help you withthis adjustment.

Food or drink you enjoyed before the operation may give you indigestion. You may find it helpful to keep a food diary to record the effects that certain types of food have onyour digestion.

You'll probably have to eat smallermeals more frequentlyfor a fairly long time after having a gastrectomy. However, over time your remaining stomach and small intestine will stretch and you'll gradually be able to eat larger, less frequent meals.

The Oesophageal Patients Association (OPA) has produced a guideto life after stomach surgery (PDF, 605kb) , containing lifestyle advice for peopleafter they've hada gastrectomy.

High-fibre foods

Avoid eating high-fibre foods immediately after having a gastrectomy, as they'll make you feel uncomfortably full. High-fibre foods include:

• wholegrain bread, rice and pasta
• pulses which are edible seeds that grow in a pod, such as peas, beans and lentils
• oats found in some breakfast cereals

Over time, you'll be able to gradually increase the amount of fibre in your diet.

Vitamins and minerals

If you've had a partial gastrectomy, you may be able to get enough vitamins and minerals from your diet by eating foods that are high in these nutrients. In particular, eat foods that are high in calcium, iron, vitamin C and vitamin D.

If you've had a total gastrectomy, you may be unable to get enough iron, calcium, vitamin C and vitamin D from your diet, soyou may require additional supplements.

Read about vitamins and minerals for information onfoods that are high in these nutrients.

Some people who have had a partial gastrectomy, andmost peoplewho have had a total gastrectomy, need regular injections of vitamin B12.This vitamin is difficult to absorb from food if your stomach has been removed.

After a gastrectomy, you'll need regular blood tests to check you're getting the correct amount of vitamins and minerals in your diet. If you don't have the correct nutrition, you can develop problems such as anaemia .

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