Hi CherylP, has your husband discussed his digestive problems with his doctor? My husband was prescribed Prevacid to help control the stomach acid. I have just had a discussion with our MO about John's lack of appetite and she said it had to do with the chemo that he was receiving. (He has just finished his last round of chemo for now). She said the best course of action is to take a break as there is no medicine for stimulating the appetite.

How much water is your husband taking with each feed? John was taking six and a half boxes of Nutren 1.5 with 240 ml of water each feed. The nutritionist said he shouldn't be taking in more water as his kidneys would be overworked.

Has your husband had a swallowing test and seen a speech and language pathologist? There are some tricks for helping him swallow better that the SLP can teach him. The consistency of what he drinks is also important. The slightly thicker (nectar consistency) liquid is easier to manage than just water.

John had his esophagus opened by an interventional radiologist using two magnets back in October. He has had three dilations since then. I was told that the best way to keep the esophagus open is to put in a stent. However, in John's case, the IR is reluctant to put in the stent as there is too much discomfort involved for the patient. The next best thing is keep the esophagus open is to ensure that its walls heal. A newly opened esophagus remains raw and, over the period of two or three weeks, its walls may stick together again. After his second dilation, we decided to try putting manuka honey in his tea to help with the healing. At his last dilation, the IR told us that the esophagus was healing cleanly and nicely so much so that John won't need another dilation for five weeks. So far his swallowing has remained good. I don't know if this is due to the honey but the progress seems to be faster than before.

I'm afraid my post is a bit all over the place, I hope what I have said is helpful in some way. If you have more questions, please feel free to pm me or post again,

Gloria
She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails... Elizabeth Edwards

Wife to John,dx 10/2012, BOT, HPV+, T3N2MO, RAD 70 gy,Cisplatinx2 , PEG in Dec 6, 2012, dx dvt in both legs after second chemo session, Apr 03/13 NED, July 2013 met to lungs, Phase 1 immunotherapy trial Jan 18/14 to July/14. Taxol/carboplatin July/14. Esophagus re-opened Oct 14. PEG out April 8, 2015. Phase 2 trial of Selinexor April to July 2015. At peace Jan 15, 2016.