Recovering After a Gastrectomy

If you are undergoing a gastrectomy for stomach (or gastric) cancer, you might be wondering what life would be like after this major operation. The healing process can take some time, and you may face some physical and psychological challenges along the way. While it is normal to feel anxious and stressed about your recovery, learning how to cope with the complications of a gastrectomy can help to prepare you for what to expect after going through the procedure.

Often performed as part of gastric cancer treatment, a gastrectomy is a surgical procedure where all or part of the stomach is removed. Depending on the location of the cancer in your stomach and how far it has spread, your doctors will decide whether you need a partial or total gastrectomy to treat your type of gastric cancer.

The removal of your stomach is a major surgical procedure that can take anywhere from six months to a year to fully recover from. The healing process can be difficult and may not always be smooth-sailing. As with any type of surgery, you may experience postoperative complications during your hospital stay or after you return home.

Feeling worried about your health and well-being during the recovery period is valid and completely understandable. However, you can be reassured that there are many ways to manage and cope with the postoperative complications and side effects of a gastrectomy.

Caring for your surgical wounds

Proper wound care is extremely important after any type of surgery to prevent the wounds from becoming infected. Before you leave the hospital, your cancer care team will teach you how to care for the surgical site without causing damage to the sutures. This includes instructions on changing the dressings and keeping the wound clean and free from infection when you return home. Please take note of this advice and if you notice any signs of an infection, such as swelling or redness around your wound, contact your doctors immediately.

Adjusting your diet and eating habits

One major side effect of undergoing a gastrectomy is losing a lot of weight too quickly. If left unaddressed, it can lead to more serious, long-term complications that require further intervention. To avoid drastic weight loss, you will need to make changes to your diet and eating habits. This will ensure that you receive adequate nutrition while maintaining a healthy weight.

It is recommended that your post-gastrectomy diet includes protein-rich foods, which can help your body repair itself during the healing process. You should also avoid foods high in carbohydrates and concentrated sweets like desserts and sugar-coated cereals. These can make you feel uncomfortably full and often lead to dumping syndrome. Dumping syndrome is a condition that occurs when swallowed food empties into the small intestine too quickly. It can cause symptoms such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea and heart palpitations as little as 30 minutes to as much as four hours after eating a meal.

After the operation, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to consume three big meals a day. To prevent yourself from feeling bloated or getting too full, try taking five to six smaller meals throughout the day and sticking to a regular eating pattern.

Taking vitamin supplements and medications

After a gastrectomy, your body may not have the ability to efficiently absorb much-needed nutrients from your food. This can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which can hinder your recovery and lead to further complications.

You will likely receive regular vitamin B12 shots following the procedure as it is extremely difficult to absorb this vitamin from your diet when the stomach has been removed. Depending on the type of gastrectomy you undergo, these injections are administered on a monthly or tri-monthly basis. Besides that, your dietitian and nutritionist may prescribe iron and calcium supplements that can be taken orally.

If you are experiencing nausea, reflux and diarrhea post-gastrectomy, you may be suffering from dumping syndrome. Please talk with your doctors and care team about medications that can help to alleviate these symptoms.

Engaging in light physical activity

Once several weeks have passed and you are recovering well, your doctors may advise you to engage in some gentle exercise, which can be as simple as short walks around your neighborhood. This can help to boost blood circulation and prevent you from developing complications such as blood clots, muscle weakness and pneumonia.

It can be tempting to increase the amount of daily exercise so that you can speed up your return to usual activities. However, finding a balance between physical activity and adequate rest is very important if you want your recovery to progress smoothly. Do consult your cancer care team on the levels of physical activity that are suitable for you. They may also refer to a physiotherapist who can help to improve your mobility and advise you on what you should be doing.