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How much did your doctors get you ready for post-surgery life

hardtoswallow
hardtoswallow CSN Member Posts: 4 Member
in Esophageal Cancer #1

Hi All,

I'm an 8-year post esophagectomy squamous cell survivor. I am very grateful for being a survivor but also very frustrated by what doctors did NOT tell me life would be like after surgery. So I am wondering if this was just my experience or if others have had similar experiences and what they did not tell you about.

For example, my surgeon told me I'd be sleeping on a wedge for a while but his PA told me after he left the room that the wedge would be permanent. Also told I could eat anything I wanted but it would just be smaller portions. So not true! No mention of the possibility of gastroparesis or other motility issues which for me have been chronic. And zero mention about what having a truncal vagotomy would do to my nervous system.

Lots of topics here to delve into and I'd love to connect with others who chronically live with the aftermath and how you deal with it so we could share strategies.

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Comments

  • Barryclevine
    Barryclevine CSN Member Posts: 4 Member
    #2

    I'm 3 years after surgery and I'm still learning how to deal with all kinds of my new life after Esophageal Cancer. I agree, the doctors don't tell you a lot about what life will be like after surgery. Sleeping, eating, working and things like travel are all different. I am learning to be patient with myself but its not easy changing life in my 60's. I wish you all good healing over the coming months and years to come.

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