Vacation cut short/major setback/chins up

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sangora
sangora Member Posts: 213
in Esophageal Cancer #1
I haven't posted for several weeks. I was on what was supposed to be a three week vacation that was cut short a week due to the fact that my esoph.closed up while I was at Epcote. That was a shock. I was fine at breakfast and could not get tea down for lunch. As we were 15 hours from UVA, I was hysterical. We made the trip home in a rush, the pain was terrible and I was admitted to UVA at 2 in the morning. While there, my heart went into A-Fib and for severl days I was in the cardiac care unit. An endoscopy shows a narrowing in the esoph near where the original tumor was located and now something they are calling a mass is the problem. I was in the hospital 6 days and have been home for 2 weeks and back on Xeloda. They started me back while I was in the hospital. The current thinking is that food got stuck and caused irritation which then caused the area to swell. I am back on Peg Tube feeding and cooked cereals.Just before I left, had a CT and it was fine so the swelling theory has some merit. Very litte food causes lots of burping and gas, so eating isn't any fun. In my gut, I feel that something major is about to take place and I have to say, I am really scared. Trying to stay positive but it's hard as many of you know. See my oncologist again on August 10. Hopefully something solid will come from that. Sam

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  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    #2
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    It seems all new symptoms cause anxiety - Hope it is minor
    Sam,

    I am afraid one of the challenges all of us survivors have to face is that all new symptoms are cause for major anxiety. In the back of our minds the “recurrence” thought is always there. I sincerely hope that this new set of symptoms is a result of lodged food irritation and will resolve itself.

    A while ago I went through a period of about two weeks that I had serious acid indigestion and acid reflux along with gas and bloating every time I ate. I woke up every morning nauseous and was convinced it was a recurrence since these were the same symptoms I had when I went for my initial endoscopy that diagnosed my esophageal cancer. When I saw my oncologist we scheduled an endoscopy. My esophagus looked fine and the biopsies were normal. After about three weeks the symptoms resolved on their own.

    I am so sorry that your vacation was interrupted by this unfortunate turn of events.

    I know it is hard to stay positive when you are not feeling well. I think only another cancer survivor can understand that feeling we get in the pit of our stomach when a new persistent pain shows up, or when that pill we swallowed stops half way down, or when we wake up in the morning feeling bad. Of course these things happen to everyone now and then; but they have a special “fear factor” for us.

    When I have those kinds of days I tell myself, “I can’t control the future. All I have control over is this present moment. I will make this moment the best and most valuable moment I can and I will deal with the next moment when it gets here”.

    I am not always successful, but often this slows me down and helps me keep my mind from going somewhere that is not helpful.

    I will be praying your symptoms resolve and their theory about “stuck food” is the answer.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    6/21/2010 CT Scan NED
    3/14/2011 CT Scan NED

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • fredswilma
    fredswilma Member Posts: 185
    #3
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    Thinking of you and hoping
    Thinking of you and hoping this setback sorts itself out, it is so very hard to stay positive when new and frightening things occur, be kind to yourself and know that others are thinking of you.
    Ann
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #4
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    Hi Sam, I understand feeling
    Hi Sam, I understand feeling scared. If we have tested NED and something different happens,our thoughts naturally think the worst.
    So sorry your vacation was cut short by these latest things happening. You are in my thoughts and prayers,
    Sandra

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