tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394312676214248679.post6039408002951924997..comments2023-05-25T03:30:28.432-04:00Comments on Diana Dyer, MS, RD: Cancer Survivors: Take the "package" deal!Diana Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13307130287236271985noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394312676214248679.post-22432143213879464752008-11-20T11:31:00.000-05:002008-11-20T11:31:00.000-05:00Stan,Thanks for visiting my blog and supporting yo...Stan,<BR/>Thanks for visiting my blog and supporting your wife during this challenging time for her. Hopefully, you and your wife will receive nutritional counseling and support before she leaves the hospital. <BR/><BR/>Does the hospital offer translators so that you can more effectively communicate and understand discussions with the medical staff? Do you and your wife have a bilingual friend or relative that could help with translations in this important situation? <BR/><BR/>Nutritional recommendations for a diet after stomach surgery (gastrectomy) are designed to maintain optimal nutrient intake, minimize weight loss and "dumping syndrome", which is a variety of symptoms that happens when the body no longer has the reservoir to hold food and liquids until they are ready to move to the small intestine. General guidelines to avoid dumping syndrome include the following:<BR/>• Eat 6 or more small meals a day <BR/>• Eat slowly and chew all foods thoroughly <BR/>• Sit upright while eating <BR/>• If you experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhea when consuming high-sugar foods, avoid or limit the following: Kool-aid, Juice, Soda, Ensure, Boost, cakes, pies, candy, doughnuts, cookies, fruits cooked or canned with sugar, honey, jams, jellies <BR/>• Limit fluid consumption at meals. Drink liquids 30–60 minutes either before or after meals <BR/>• Eat a protein containing food with each meal. High protein foods include the following: <BR/>–Eggs, meat, poultry, fish, lunch meat, nuts, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, peanut butter, dried beans, lentils, tofu <BR/>• Choose high-fiber foods when possible. These include: <BR/>–Whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables, beans (black, brown, pinto, kidney, garbanzo), fiber-fortified cereal <BR/><BR/>If she has difficulty maintaining her weight, she may need to drink a nutritional supplement for extra calories. She can try low-sugar over-the-counter supplements. These include no-sugar added Carnation Instant Breakfast, sugar-free <BR/>Nutrishakes or Glucerna weight loss shakes (I don't know what is available in Japan). <BR/><BR/>These guidelines come from an excellent article more fully describing the nutritional concerns following gastric surgery, which can be accessed at the following web site: <BR/>https://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/digestive-health/nutritionarticles/radiganarticle.pdf<BR/><BR/>Hopefully your wife has a very good prognosis from her early stage cancer and will be followed by a medical team that monitors the potential nutritional complications often experienced by patients who have such an extensive surgery. <BR/><BR/>In addition, she may benefit from meeting other women who have had cancer and recovered or talking to a health care professional such as a social worker, psychologist, or spiritual advisor about her concerns. Every person's path to wholeness and wellness (including renewed self-confidence) after such a significant life event will take time and support. <BR/><BR/>Your wife is fortunate to have you on her team. I send all my best wishes for health, healing, and hope.<BR/><BR/>Diana Dyer, MS, RDDiana Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13307130287236271985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394312676214248679.post-9989565819557743542008-11-19T00:11:00.000-05:002008-11-19T00:11:00.000-05:00Dear Ms. Dyer, sorry if you've addressed this topi...Dear Ms. Dyer, sorry if you've addressed this topic elsewhere. I am wondering what I should feed my wife. She will be returning Thursday from the hospital where she had her stomach removed due to an early stage stomach cancer. She has announced to me that she expects me to cook for her "for a while." My problem is compounded by the fact I am living in Japan and my wife is Japanese. My Japanese is too poor to understand the advice I get from the hospital staff. Judging by what she has been getting in the hospital, her diet is very boring, consisting of mushy rice, miso soup and tofu. Are there any good sources of recipes for stomachless people that will alleviate weightloss and make sure they get enough vitamins? I am a little worried about my wife's psyche, too. She used to be a strong, take charge type of woman, something that was vital for our relationship to succeed here in Japan (my Japanese is okay for teaching kids, but not taking on the bureaucrats). Now my wife plays helpless, doesn't want to return to her job and even refuses to cook (she doesn't like my Western-style cooking). I have always done all the housecleaning, dish washing and laundry. Now I must cook too and I am worried my cooking will make her sick. Thanks for your advice.<BR/><BR/>StanStuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01304815781816862252noreply@blogger.com