Esophagectomy surgery: Want to know what to expect

Yes while sleeping and if I happen to think of it while I'm in the bedroom in my lift chair watching tv. Figure what the hey, can't hurt. Oxygen is beneficial to soft tissue ( via the blood stream ) for healing.

If a polyp is adenoma in the duodenum ......It was diagnosed several weeks ago.......Should I have this checked on every 3 months....6 months.......I am so worried about this.

Hi Rexsan, was the polyp found to be cancerous? Did your doctor suggest 3-month or 6-month follow-up?

A lift chair is an electric recliner basically.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I do not remember the term for my surgery. He cut into my stomach, my right side around entire rib cage & neck. Removed esophagus, stretched my stomach up and attached to what remained of esophagus. The drainage tube that was inserted into my neck got infected which is the only reason I had to stay in the hospital for an additional week ( otherwise I would have been released after only 1 week ).

@lori57216 surgery is scheduled for oct 26th. I don’t know what to feel. Anxiously excited… mixed with nervous and trying too know what to expect afterwards without adding to more stress… ugh

Did you decide where you will have the surgery done? Rochester or home? Either way you will do GREAT!!!! Expect to sleep alot as the pain meds will keep you fairly " happy " for lack of a better term. The hardest part now that I think back was the NPO ( nothing per oral, no swallowing of anything ) for 10 weeks. Oh and the tube that was in my nose. It's only human to have so many mixed emotions before anything so big ( I try to refrain from using the term " normal "..... as that term applies to a setting on a home appliance ). May I suggest bring either your phone or laptop with you ( the hospital will provide you with wifi access code ), puzzle books ( word search etc. ). I brought 3 - 4 skeins of yarn and crochet hook and worked on my afghan. They will want you up and moving around a little bit about the 2nd day after surgery. They won't make you go any farther than your comfortable with. This is so very annoying but it's for the best: circulation and to avoid pneumonia. And if you decide on Rochester..... Scott and his therapy team are phenomenal!!!!! Only complaint is that they refused to smuggle in contraband for me. 😉 ( winks ).

Hello @survivorsuz and welcome to Mayo Connect. I can understand your concern about your upcoming surgery. Having minimally invasive surgery sounds like a good thing.

Other Members on Connect who have had esophageal cancer like @puprluvr @karly @nowayback @trudivo @angelag can offer their experiences with surgery. Also, here is a link to a conversation about esophageal cancer that might be helpful to you, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/esophageal-cancer-2/.

As you are comfortable sharing more: Do you know the stage of your cancer? What has your doctor told you about your upcoming surgery? Will this be an outpatient procedure? Is there a date for your upcoming surgery?

Good reminders on the shut offs. So true, the J tube just takes a bit of practice. Don’t forget to hydrate with syringes often. Nurses were a great help with practice before we left the hospital.