Well, my brother arrived last night and has lost more weight than when I visited him in May. Can I just tell you all he looks awful (since I'd never tell him that). He said he will be going to some kind of therapy or rehab for swallowing in the future. His swallow studies were fine, it's just the bleeding and the burning pain that he is having right now. I feel like crying, he looks like a terminal patient.

Just being with his sister and being able to share experiences with you I'm sure will be good for him. Sometimes the happy or funny memories can really help to remind you of the closeness you have with each other. I know the pain of seeing him so changed - you haven't had a chance to get used his weight loss gradually but things do get better. Try to think about any of the good progress, like the swallow studies which were fine and the positive things that can occur with his planned therapy and rehab in the future. And you've received such good suggestions above. Your brother should certainly benefit from what you've already learned on this forum. When did his treatment end? If you have a chance maybe you could include that or any other info you would like to share in your signature line (like what you see under my message) ? Just go to the top of this page and click on "My Stuff" then scroll down to the very bottom of the page where it says "Signature". And let us know how you and your brother are doing.

You should see Ron...6'1" 125 lbs! Talk bout looking like he's a terminal patient. I live with this everyday. Just awful. BUT he is alive! I don't think he will ever be back up to his 189 normal pounds but I sure would like him to be maybe 150+. If your brother is getting his feedings daily in liquid than he is getting his nutrition, it's kinda hard to put on weight with just them cans of liquid. But it is enough to help him heal and sustain life. We do need to know exactly what he has had done. Please update your signature, if you don't want to put all those initials spell it out for us, I still don't have mine really updated as to the extent of what Ron had done but I think everybody gets the jest of it.

I too am having a really hard time putting weight back on. I probably look terminal to people. I am 5'4" and I'm down to 98 pounds. But I really feel pretty good and I'm eating and drinking Ensure as much as I can. My ENT threatened to put the feeding tube back in if I didn't start gaining so believe me I'm trying. I don't have any secret on weight gain, but I know it's hard for others to see me so skinny. Your brother will gain weight. It just takes time. It's been almost a year for me so far.

Re the weight or lack thereof problem. I didn't start putting my pounds back on with any regularity until around my 2nd year post Tx. Now I have the same problem I used to have....i.e., looking at a hamburger puts on weight. Give your body time to recover. It's been through quite a lot you know!

My husband Ron was like DavidCPA, he looked pretty skeletal the first couple of year's post treatment. He's 5'11" and went from 190 lbs down to 130 lbs post Tx. He still is on the thin side, 170 lbs but likes it that way. His knees aren't the best so being thin helps his knees. You're brother will be OK its just going to take time. As David said, his body has been through Hell and back.

Hope this helps,

Shelley

Thank you all for your replies, I just needed to know this is a long haul, not a sprint. I didn't realize the recovery time was so long. I know my brother didn't know. He planned this trip after he finished tx in Feb. and I know he thought he would be back to normal or whatever the new normal is now.