Dad's surgery done he has been shifted to icu

annalan said:

Shammi
We know the devastation you are feeling now but it does get better. My husband, Alan had the Ivor Lewis in March 2009 and yes it is a long, hard road, but within 6 months he will be feeling more like his old self but with a much smaller appetite, but able to enjoy life again. I wish him all the very best and may any problems be small ones.

Ann (2)
wife of Alan t3n1m0

Proactive Daughter said:

My dad had the same thing
Hi Shammi,

I can most certainly relate. My dad was told on December 1st that he had Stage 2 Esophegeal cancer. He had lots of testing done (MRI, CT, PET etc) which told us that his cancer had not spread. He had surgery on the 14th to remove his esophegus (excuse my spelling). After his surgery, the surgeon told us that he couldn't get it all, and considering that this cancer is so aggressive, he thinks it would take my dads life in a years time. We went to see him in the ICU and seeing him on a ventilator and hooked up to so many different IV's and such was devastating. He didn't even look himself. It was awful. He made us all kiss him on the forehead. Here we were crying because of what the surgeon just told us, and he was just happy to have made it through the surgery. It was a changing moment. My dad still hasn't come to terms with the fact that he has cancer. He had to have an emergency surgery the following day because he had internal leakage, and he is still in the hospital (2 weeks after surgery). It's been a roller coaster of emotions.

My advice to you is to stay positive. Read other posts to lift your spirits, and bring that energy back to your dad. He needs your family's strength right now. That's what is getting me through.

Take Care Shammi, I'll pray for your dad


Jennifer

BMGky said:

I read about your Dad's pain
I read about your Dad's pain in your latest post here to Jennifer. The IL is difficult. My husband went through extensive pain. He was in the hospital for a month following his IL. There is so much going on during this time with a tube here, a tube there; don't touch that tube; flush the port; watch for infection, constant 24 hours every day. I do hope that your Dad's lab report is good news. Be proactive as you monitor and/or stay with your Dad in the hospital. Make sure they don't put too much in at one time in the jtube when providing hydration. Know what medications he is on, particularly the pain medications. Let them know he is in pain and note which one(s) help. He may sleep a lot but it is comforting for him to have someone there.

I stayed with my husband, sleeping on a sleeping bag in a "sleep" chair for the entire month. I could oftentimes make him more comfortable or get him needed attention just by being there and knowing what was going on. Holding his hand and encouraging him does help. I tried to be a help to both him and to the staff, but not intrusive.

It may help to keep a log so that you can see how he is progressing and note changes that occur after meds, etc. My husband's surgeon kept him so long as he felt the images did not clearly show if he had a leak or not, and he would not release him until he was sure. Pain is there and going to be there for quite some time. Even well managed, the pain for the incisions, the radiation, the operation in general take time to go away. You must remember that this is one big, invasive surgery.

There is light at the end of this long and rough tunnel. If you get the good labs, you can move forward in recovery. Takes 6 to 7 months but things DO get better. My husband is fully enjoying himself. With appropriate eating, he is enjoying food, stronger, and busy as he was before that fateful diagnosis. Best of luck!!