Update on Jeff T - pneumonia, A-fib and pathology

Laura23
Laura23 Member Posts: 81
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi All-

Luis and I stopped by to see Jeff T. Luis had a post surgery checkup and unfortunately Jeff is still in the hospital. I believe his surgery was 9/8. It sounds like he's had a bumpy ride and I hope I get all this right. Sorry Jeff if I mess this up.

Jeff had a bit of pneumonia last week but he's feeling better after they put him on antibiotics. Then, he had some leaking issues but that seems to be resolved. They pulled the NG tube this morning, but he still has his chest tubes. He also had a bit of A-fib on Saturday, where his heart raced up to 190 beats per minute. I'm not sure if that's been resolved or if they found out why that happened.

Unfortunately, the pathology report did not come back that great. He said the tumor was originally about 5 1/2 cm. The radiation and chemo shrunk that down to a little over 2 cm. They took out 17 lymph nodes and 7 came back positive. So he will need mop-up chemo.

So, Jeff and his family could definitely use some prayers. He will probably be in the hospital for another couple of days. He looks great but was complaining of how easily he tires. It is easy for our guys to get impatient when they are used to being strong and healthy.

Luis' checkup was good. They finally advanced his diet and he is allowed soft foods - no bread or beef. They also started cutting back on his tube feedings - down to 10 hours a day. He is just not that interested in food right now.

Laura
Wife to Luis, age 51
Dx 4/11/2011 T3N1M0
MIE 8/30/2011

Comments

  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #2
    Thanks for the Update
    Oh my, poor Jeff T! He and his family will get extra prayers from us. I'm so sorry to hear that he had nodes come back as positive. Glad the antibiotics did their job so quickly. I'm sure that pnuemonia is painful enough on its own, can't imagine adding that to an EC surgery....

    Glad to hear that Luis' had a good checkup. and YIPPEE! for soft foods. Nick isn't allowed beef (other than ground) or any breads yet either. Hoorah! also on the reduction in tube feedings. Nick dislikes the Jtube with a vengence. It's a "leash" as far as he's concerned - limiting and restrictive.

    Fatigue has got to be a common thing after the treatment that these guys have endured. I know that I slept much of the weekend away myself and I only sat at the hospital with Nick.

    Time & prayers - our men will heal.

    Terry
    Wife to Nick, age 48
    dx T3N2M0, 05/19/11
    THE surgery, 09/08/11
  • NikiMo
    NikiMo Member Posts: 342
    #3
    Thank you for update
    Laura,

    Thank you for sharing the news about Jeff, his family will be in my prayers this week. I am glad to hear about Luis's progress, I am sure he is happy to be able to get some soft foods. I know what you mean about appetite, the only reason Jeff is eating now is because I am putting the food in front of him. He wants me to go back to work next week, but I worry about the food aspect. I am sure their appetite will resume at some point, maybe just not for awhile.

    Jeff,

    If you are checking the board, I want you to know that you and your family continue to be in our prayers. I am sorry to hear about the pathology report, that is not the news that any of us want to hear for anyone. But, as William has said in previous posts those nodes are now no longer in your body. My Jeff will be having post op chemo as well, not sure of the schedule yet, but we will be walking that path with you. Jeff also had some heart irregularities when he was in ICU, they said it was fairly common with this type of surgery. I am sorry that yours progressed to a-fib, but I am very happy that they have gotten it under control. I hope you can return to the comfort of your home very soon, hang in there!

    Prayers for comfort and strength,

    Niki and Jeff
  • Joel C
    Joel C Member Posts: 174
    #4
    NikiMo said:

    Thank you for update
    Laura,

    Thank you for sharing the news about Jeff, his family will be in my prayers this week. I am glad to hear about Luis's progress, I am sure he is happy to be able to get some soft foods. I know what you mean about appetite, the only reason Jeff is eating now is because I am putting the food in front of him. He wants me to go back to work next week, but I worry about the food aspect. I am sure their appetite will resume at some point, maybe just not for awhile.

    Jeff,

    If you are checking the board, I want you to know that you and your family continue to be in our prayers. I am sorry to hear about the pathology report, that is not the news that any of us want to hear for anyone. But, as William has said in previous posts those nodes are now no longer in your body. My Jeff will be having post op chemo as well, not sure of the schedule yet, but we will be walking that path with you. Jeff also had some heart irregularities when he was in ICU, they said it was fairly common with this type of surgery. I am sorry that yours progressed to a-fib, but I am very happy that they have gotten it under control. I hope you can return to the comfort of your home very soon, hang in there!

    Prayers for comfort and strength,

    Niki and Jeff

    Thank you Laura.
    It’s great to hear that Luis is doing so well. More food and less tube feeding is a step in the right direction, the healing will really start now.

    And thank you for the update on Jeff. Like so many on this site I have been concerned about him. I’m sorry to hear Jeff is having a rough time but knowing him I’m sure he’ll push thru it.
    Joel
  • chemosmoker
    chemosmoker Member Posts: 501
    #5
    Luis, Jeff, Laura, Jeff, Niki, Nick, Terry, Michael...
    Luis, Jeff, Laura, Jeff, Niki, Nick, Terry, Michael and Gang,

    Michelle and I are praying for ALL of you, caregivers AND patients, even right now at 3am!

    I am hoping that all of you can get the heck out of the hospital (those that are still in, namely Jeff right now from the sound of it) and start posting those NED checkups!!

    I know you can all pull though with flying colors.

    Just wanted to say how totally impressed I am with the strength and courage of all of you to have faced these surgeries and the scary things that go with them and to have come through to the other side so well.
    Complications aside, I think you are doing AMAZINGLY well. Luis, you have blown my mind with your speedy recovery!

    Jeff, hang in there and don't sweat the eating. We WILL eat when hungry!

    AND Jeff, my prayers are with you tenfold as you are laying there n that darn hospital bed, and I am thinking about you even now in the middle of the night, that you will get your strength up and get those pesky MINOR complications past and then get HOME!

    Michelle and I are rooting all of you; wives, husbands, caregivers and cancer SURVIVORS alike! Welcome to the JUNIOR CLASS.
    YOU have earned that title.
    I look forward to your future posts as seniors on this board!

    -Eric
  • adube
    adube Member Posts: 63
    #6
    chemosmoker said:

    Luis, Jeff, Laura, Jeff, Niki, Nick, Terry, Michael...
    Luis, Jeff, Laura, Jeff, Niki, Nick, Terry, Michael and Gang,

    Michelle and I are praying for ALL of you, caregivers AND patients, even right now at 3am!

    I am hoping that all of you can get the heck out of the hospital (those that are still in, namely Jeff right now from the sound of it) and start posting those NED checkups!!

    I know you can all pull though with flying colors.

    Just wanted to say how totally impressed I am with the strength and courage of all of you to have faced these surgeries and the scary things that go with them and to have come through to the other side so well.
    Complications aside, I think you are doing AMAZINGLY well. Luis, you have blown my mind with your speedy recovery!

    Jeff, hang in there and don't sweat the eating. We WILL eat when hungry!

    AND Jeff, my prayers are with you tenfold as you are laying there n that darn hospital bed, and I am thinking about you even now in the middle of the night, that you will get your strength up and get those pesky MINOR complications past and then get HOME!

    Michelle and I are rooting all of you; wives, husbands, caregivers and cancer SURVIVORS alike! Welcome to the JUNIOR CLASS.
    YOU have earned that title.
    I look forward to your future posts as seniors on this board!

    -Eric

    Here Here!!
    3am thoughts and prayers for everyone at the hospital today. <3 Especially poor Jeff. I hope things perk up for him soon. Glad to hear Luis' checkup was good-- just gotta get his apetite back up. And boy, Eric, you really do love that caps lock ;)

    hoped I at least got a chuckle. :D

    All my love,
    Alissa
    (daughter of Mike, IV)
  • chemosmoker
    chemosmoker Member Posts: 501
    #7
    adube said:

    Here Here!!
    3am thoughts and prayers for everyone at the hospital today. <3 Especially poor Jeff. I hope things perk up for him soon. Glad to hear Luis' checkup was good-- just gotta get his apetite back up. And boy, Eric, you really do love that caps lock ;)

    hoped I at least got a chuckle. :D

    All my love,
    Alissa
    (daughter of Mike, IV)</p>

    The CAPS are just for LEE in LONDON!
    He has learned his LESSON now I think!
    I LOVE to mess with things like that. I JUST CAN'T help it!

    LOL

    -Eric

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