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Esophageal Cancer: Anyone else?

Esophageal Cancer | Last Active: Oct 17, 2023 | Replies (86)

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@puprluvr

Hi Colleen,

Thx for asking! I am one month and 4 days post surgery and have been home since April 22. I’m on a feeding tube and am gradually weening off from 7 cartons and am now down to 2 per day. I’m also on a regular diet and am trying to eat 6 small meals per day. I’m only down 6lbs from my admission weight to the hospital but eating when I’m not hungry is going to be very challenging going forward. I’ve had no issues with dumping syndrome only some spasms in my new esophagus and a little rapid heartbeat for a short time.

I have had an unproductive cough since surgery and have been reading this is a common symptom with EC surgery which some say should go away within a month to longer. I am walking daily 1-1 1/2 miles per day plus doing flexibility exercises daily and strength training with bands 3 days per week per instruction from St. Mary’s Respiratory therapy program.

I am still fatigued but do take my daily nap. I’m sleeping better @ night(not on pain meds)now that I have no pain in my right shoulder area.

Check up coming up in a couple of weeks to have the feeding tube removed, some testing and hopefully I am on the slow road to recovery. I’ll remain hopeful and thankful for how far I’ve come.

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Replies to "Hi Colleen, Thx for asking! I am one month and 4 days post surgery and have..."

Hi, my esophagectomy was on the 16th of November, so just over a month ago. The surgery was 100% successful and I was under for 10 hours, though I died on the operating table for nearly a minute after they sewed me up, as my blood pressure dropped off the chart and my heart stopped. Surgeon gave me heart massage and i came back to life.
I've been home since 30th November and have been dealing with fatigue and pain post surgery, mainly in my ribs on left. They had to spread my ribs and collapse my left lung to remove my esophagus. Had tumor at stomach/esophagus junction plus two cancer traces in lymph nodes close to vocal cords.
Luckily, I didn't need a feeding tube and have been eating soft creamy foods. Have been working through dumping syndrome and trying to eat even when I don't feel like it. Discovered that eating rice by itself causes problems, so no sushi. What I have discovered is the importance of drinking water after a few mouth fulls of food when eating bread, otherwise it feels like it's stuck in my throat.
I've also had very little reflux as well during the night while sleeping.