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Eating after an esophagectomy

Posted by mcdonsco @mcdonsco, Apr 30 8:07pm

I was recently diagnosed with esophagus cancer, long story short diagnosis was late (months past initial symptoms) partially my fault, partially doctors. Anyway, I am about to start chemo and immuno therapies next week, then supposed to have an esophagectomy in mid/late July; and I'm terrified of "life after" that surgery and am hoping to hear from people here, real world examples I suppose, of what that is like primarily around eating.

I can handle the smaller meals, sleeping at a bit of an incline etc albeit not happy about it of course, but what really concerns me is actually eating / chewing / swallowing.

I've discovered even with my esophagus closed up so I can't really eat I can still get some "treats" past it; a Reeses PB cup for example. Although regardless I'll pay with some discomfort while my system processes it, if I chew it to the point of being just nothing, like liquid/paste, I can get it down. Same with other items even a bit of cheese etc. Trick is to chew to the point of being a liquid / paste before attempting to swallow.

This is where my terror kicks in. I don't even do the treats like this after discovering this because frankly having to process it in my mouth for that long, chewing etc, takes every ounce of enjoyment out of it. Gone. It's a chore & miserable.

TLDR; will this need to be done with all meals for life after this surgery? Or will I be able to get back to "normal'ish" chewing and swallowing? I know I'll need to keep with the j tube, then move onto liquids, then soft foods etc till I can get to solid food during recovery likely months worth. But, I'm terrified that I'll have to chew to this extent for the rest of my life, absolutely demolishing my love of food (I'm a good cook/foodie; it's something I love).

Would love to hear some first hand accounts of what you're experience has been with this?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Esophageal Cancer Support Group.

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lindainca | @lindainca | May 20 8:50am
In reply to @mcdonsco "Just want to thank everyone that's responded to my post here and also ask another question...." + (show)
Profile picture for mcdonsco @mcdonsco

Just want to thank everyone that's responded to my post here and also ask another question.

After the esophagectomy, does swallowing FEEL different? Does anything in terms of normal eating, chewing, swallowing etc FEEL different than previously (as in for life it's different, not immediately after surgery while recovering, but years later)???

Just trying to wrap my mind around everything as best I can.

Was supposed to by in my 2nd chemo / immuno infusion session today, but I've had an issue with staph infections now and so treatment got bumped a week out to deal with the infection.

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@mcdonsco Had my esophagectomy beginning of December 2025. I was actually surprised that swallowing wasn’t that different. Of course I wasn’t taking anything by mouth at the time, but swallowing saliva seemed fairly normal, and there was no pain in the area where they stapled the stomach conduit to my upper throat. Every case is somewhat different of course. Good luck to you!

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manuelo | @manuelo | May 22 7:11am
In reply to @stever1 "@firedog I had the gastric pull through with connection in the throat. I think they fed..." + (show)
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@firedog I had the gastric pull through with connection in the throat. I think they fed me too soon and I developed a leak that required extra hospital stay. I think that resulted in significant scarring which affected my swallowing. I frequently gag on food and keep an empty cup with me when I’m eating just in case that happens. I would try to avoid that leak at all costs. Even delay eating for a couple more days after they tell you you can’t eat. I’ve had to have my throat stretched about 15 times in the last 2 1/2 years. I think I’m a rare case on that and most people do not develop this Leake but you do need to be careful.

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@stever1 I had the leak. It was like a sprinkler 🙁
After that I had strictures and couldn’t swallow food. I had to get stretched too close to 15 times, then I started doing my own stretchings with a boogie dilator. Did them for a five or six months and then I didn’t need them that often. Now I do a maintenance stretch every four or five months. I eat and drink everything now. Just like always.

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