My husband was diagnosed with esophageal cancer about 12 weeks ago.

Very scary and lonely time for you
Take comfort that he is being well treated snd looked after
God bless you both 😘

I pray that this is just a short setback. I pray the antibiotics will work and that he will be able to do his part by using the little spirometer to exercise his lungs and get that phlegm out. Respiratory therapy can do percussion on his mid and upper back in order to break loose the fluids in his lungs. Whatever it is, they have to be vigilant to do it and he hast to do his part by deep breathing. I know that’s easier said than done. Did they already remove the chest tube? I know that the thoracotomy site on the back is painful enough, but he needs to fight to get through the pneumonia.
I do pray that that will heal and soon you both can move forward in the healing process from the surgery. Prayers for you all, Patti.

Thank you

John is doing much better, thank you. He is coming home on Monday.

Hi Donna, I’m not sure which Monday. Has John been home for a few days now or will he be home Monday in a few days? How are you doing with care at home?

I'm not sure now which Monday I meant. However, John was actually in the hospital until this past Thursday. Since the pneumonia, his oxygen level hasn't gone back to normal. It had been going down to the low 80s when he walked with the physical therapist at the hospital. His team of doctors, along with the physical therapist and the occupational therapist, decided he could benefit from a couple weeks in a rehab facility. the '( He still has the J tube, too.) John and I both agreed.
He hasn't started PT yet. He didn't get to the facility until late Thursday, and Friday was spent with his doctors, dietitian, lead nurse, speech therapist ( I learned that she actually helps with getting him used to his new way of eating)...dropping by his room to get to know him. It was actually pretty impressive. The therapists don't work on weekends, so he'll start one and one half hours of rehab a day on Monday (11/6). I had been told it would be a long process, but I must admit that I sorta hoped he would be the exception...Ha!

they decided that a week or two in a rehab facility woul

I’m glad to hear that he is at a rehab facility. I am a nurse at Encompass health rehab and we do specialize in getting surgical patients ready to go home. The therapy will really help him. The nurses will instruct him more and more about the feedings. Even a dietitian is usually on site to be able to go over meal plans for later. In the meantime, the nurses can teach him how to use his J- tube. It’s really good that you learn to use it as well, but if he is able, he should be learning to do it. My husband learned how to feed him self and give him self medication‘s in his J- tube early on. That gave him a sense of independence responsibility for his own feeding. In a few weeks your husband should be able to start eating. Clear liquids first for a week and then full liquids the next week and then soft foods. Now every surgeon is different so follow whatever his surgeon has instructed. This was just my husband’s particular pattern instructed by his surgeon. He has done very well and he’s eating half to 3/4 of a meal at a time. He’s very regimented for caloric intake. After losing 40 pounds from the chemo and radiation, he wants to maintain it and not lose anymore. His surgery was September 28. I can’t believe he can eat sushi and pasta and even enchiladas now. He just takes it easy and stops when he feels fun.
Your husband, John will get there in no time. He just needs to build back his strength. The biggest thing for my husband is his breathing. Due to the chest tube and the spreading of the ribs on the right side, he has struggled with short breaths when he walks. Shallow breaths. But he starts a cardiac rehab on Monday, 6 November. The reason it’s a cardiac rehab is because six weeks prior to his esophagectomy, he had to have a quadruple bypass. This rehab will help him get his stamina back. The second surgery wiped him out.
I hope your husband does very well and that you’ll see some vast improvement. 🙏🙏🙏
Patti