There are a number of different organs that we can live without. However, many people are surprised to learn that you can live without a stomach. However, with a little help, the body is able to adapt to bypass the stomach’s main function – which is to store and break down food ready to pass it to the intestines. Here’s what you need to know about how you can live without a stomach.
Reasons for Stomach Removal
There are a few different reasons why someone may undergo a gastrectomy (stomach removal surgery). They include:
Your surgeon will be able to explain why they are recommending you to have a gastrectomy and what you can expect from the procedure.
Digestion Without a Stomach
To be able to understand how you live without a stomach, you first need to understand how the digestive system usually works when you do have one.
The normal order of the digestive system is quite simple. The food that you consume passes through the esophagus and into your stomach, where it is stored and broken down so that nutrients can be absorbed, before being passed into the small intestine. Here, nutrients continue to be absorbed and waste products pass into the large intestine ready for excretion.
Removing the stomach from the equation simply shortens the digestive process. This means that the esophagus is connected directly to the intestine, via the duodenum. This enables the pancreatic and bile ducts to continue to drain directly into the duodenum, breaking down foods so that the nutrients can continue to be absorbed.
Living Without a Stomach
So, what is life actually like without a stomach? Can you eat normally? What should you expect?
Unsurprisingly, it can take people some time to adjust to living without a stomach. For the first few weeks following your gastrectomy, patients are usually fed intravenously which gives their body and organ systems time to heal and recover from the surgery. For this reason, most patients who undergo a gastrectomy should expect to have to stay in hospital for at least two weeks after their surgery. You will also be closely monitored to make sure that there are no leaks in the digestive process since these could be life-threatening.
After the removal of your stomach, your digestive processes will not be as efficient. For this reason, most patients are recommended to eat much smaller meals more frequently to prevent them from becoming hungry, or from overloading their digestive system with a big meal. Your surgeon will be able to advise you which foods you can eat and when you should introduce them back into your diet. Some people experience a problem known as ‘dumping’, which occurs when the body rapidly deposits food from the esophagus into the small intestine, causing cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
It's not uncommon for people to suffer from nutritional deficiencies following a gastrectomy. This is because the procedure can affect how well you can absorb different nutrients. For this reason, you will almost certainly be prescribed some supplements which you should take exactly as directed.
You will probably notice fairly rapid weight loss in the days and weeks following your surgery and this is completely normal. If you have any concerns about your weight loss, don’t hesitate to speak to your surgical team.
If you would like more information about living without a stomach, visit the Laparoscopic Surgical Center of New York in New York, New York. Call(212) 879-6677to schedule an appointment today.
FAQs
As most people might imagine, removing a stomach is complex and involves rejoining the esophagus to the small intestine. Without a stomach, patients must modify how much and how often they eat, and they almost always require the lifelong use of certain nutritional supplements.
How do you digest food if your stomach is removed? ›
After partial or complete stomach removal, the food they swallow passes into their intestines quickly. It then causes problems with sweating, flushing, diarrhea, and nausea. Fortunately, some treatments can help relieve these symptoms. Patients need to take small bites of their food and chew it thoroughly.
Can you throw up if you don't have a stomach? ›
Complications unique to gastrectomy include: Afferent and efferent loop (limb) syndrome. When digestive juices that need to flow freely to help you break down food get trapped in your small intestine. It can cause symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
What is the life expectancy after having your stomach removed? ›
What is the life expectancy after stomach removal? A 2021 study discovered the median life expectancy post-surgery was 69 months. It said this varied according to lymph node activity, cancer stage, and successful removal of the tumor. Fitness and age may also impact life expectancy.
What happens if you are born without a stomach? ›
Gastroschisis is when a baby is born with the intestines sticking out through a hole in the belly wall near the belly button. Sometimes other organs also stick out. Gastroschisis (gast-roh-SKEE-sis) is a life-threatening condition that needs treatment right away.
What happens if your stomach stops? ›
Gastroparesis means paralysis of the stomach. It's a functional disorder affecting your stomach nerves and muscles. It makes your stomach muscle contractions weaker and slower than they need to be to digest your food and pass it on to your intestines. This leads to food sitting too long in your stomach.
What food can you eat without a stomach? ›
Eat a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein-rich foods and dairy, which provide a good balance for every meal. Try not to go for more than 2 or 3 hours without eating. Carry healthy snacks so you can take a bite here and there.
What replaces the stomach after gastrectomy? ›
IN THE operation of total gastrectomy, replacement of the stomach with the terminal ileum and right colon appears to offer several advantages: (1) the ileocecal valve prevents regurgitation into the esophagus; (2) the transplaced right colon will accept an average-sized meal; (3) there are no apparent sensitivities of ...
Can you eat normally after a total gastrectomy? ›
Right after surgery, you will feel full after only a few bites of food, approximately 1-2 ounces of food at a time (the amount that fills a shot glass). To get enough nutrition despite early satiety, you will need to eat high-calorie and high-protein foods every 1-2 hours until you are able to eat larger amounts.
How to speed up stomach emptying? ›
Treatment
- Eat smaller meals more frequently.
- Chew food thoroughly.
- Eat well-cooked fruits and vegetables rather than raw fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid fibrous fruits and vegetables, such as oranges and broccoli, which may cause bezoars.
In summary, 60-70% of patients experience clinically significant deterioration in QOL shortly after gastrectomy. Function and symptoms return to baseline by approximately six months postoperatively in most patients, although about a third of patients will continue to have clinically important impairment.
How many hours without food is considered an empty stomach? ›
They state that a normal stomach should be 90 percent empty after four hours. The difference between this standard and the earlier study probably reflects differences in foods. Solids take longer to digest than liquids; fats take longer to digest than protein or carbohydrates.
Do you need a colostomy bag if you have your stomach removed? ›
Most people need surgery to remove all or part of their stomach. You won't need a stoma (bag). For very small, early cancers you might have endoscopic surgery to remove part of the lining of your stomach.
Can a person live without a stomach support your answer? ›
There are a number of different organs that we can live without. However, many people are surprised to learn that you can live without a stomach. However, with a little help, the body is able to adapt to bypass the stomach's main function – which is to store and break down food ready to pass it to the intestines.
How risky is stomach removal surgery? ›
As with any type of surgery, a gastrectomy carries a risk of complications, such as infection, bleeding and leaking from the area that's been stitched together. A gastrectomy may also lead to problems, such as anaemia or osteoporosis, caused by a reduction in your ability to absorb vitamins.
Can you survive without an abdomen? ›
Conclusion. It is possible to live without a stomach, but you may experience some nutritional deficiencies. After all, it will affect how well you can digest certain foods and absorb different nutrients. Your doctor will almost certainly prescribe some supplements to address this problem.
What would happen if the stomach was removed from the body? ›
One the stomach's functions is to absorb vitamins – particularly vitamins B12, C and D – from the food you eat. If your entire stomach has been removed, you may not get all the vitamins your body needs from your diet. This could lead to health conditions such as: anaemia.
Has there ever been a stomach transplant? ›
Stomach transplants are typically done when other gastrointestinal organs are also diseased and there's no other way to treat them. Some reasons your doctor might suggest multivisceral transplant are: cancer. desmoid tumor with intra-abdominal infiltration.
Is the stomach essential for survival? ›
Its numerous digestive functions notwithstanding, there is only one stomach function necessary to life: the production of intrinsic factor.
