Esophagectomy - How will it feel after recovery?

LouR
LouR Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
I will be having an esophagectomy in September. I've been wondering about the physical sensations after recovery. Are swallowing and eating the same? Do you feel like something is missing? Any problems speaking?

Comments

  • cmn412
    cmn412 Member Posts: 69
    #2
    how it feels to me.
    Lour.

    You need to tell us where the cancer is and how high up in the esophagus/throat it is. Each person surgery is a little different. What and where they cut makes a difference.

    The fact that you are wondering about “problems with speaking” makes me think you voice box is involved and it is more in the upper throat. We would not have the same problems if that is the case.

    Anyway.

    I can only tell you how it feels to me. I had the MIE so no real scars to talk about.

    My cancer was at the lower end of the esophagus and in the stomach. They took out most of my mid and lower esophagus and 60% of my stomach. They pull what was left together and reattached it high in my chest.

    Things I noticed.

    Eating and swallowing is pretty much the same but I must chew my food very well as a large piece will get stuck in my throat and it will hurt till I get it out. Trust me do it too many times and you’ll chew good.

    My stomach can’t hold as much as it used to so I eat small meals, if I eat too much I will lose it.

    I can’t lay down after eating meals for a least two to three hours. All I have is gravity to keep the food down so I stay upright after eating. NO more late night snacks. If I don’t do this I will not sleep for the heartburn and indigestion, that is if you lucky and the food stays down in my stomach which by the way is very close to my lungs now.

    I admit to me it feels a little strange in my chest, I know my stomach is there and the acid in my stomach burn the back of my throat (just a little) especially if I have a full stomach. It sometimes causes me to have a runny nose, I don’t know why.

    All in all no real big change, the MOST IMPORTANT change is NO CANCER which is good.

    So good luck and god bless.
    Callie.
  • LouR
    LouR Member Posts: 3
    #3
    cmn412 said:

    how it feels to me.
    Lour.

    You need to tell us where the cancer is and how high up in the esophagus/throat it is. Each person surgery is a little different. What and where they cut makes a difference.

    The fact that you are wondering about “problems with speaking” makes me think you voice box is involved and it is more in the upper throat. We would not have the same problems if that is the case.

    Anyway.

    I can only tell you how it feels to me. I had the MIE so no real scars to talk about.

    My cancer was at the lower end of the esophagus and in the stomach. They took out most of my mid and lower esophagus and 60% of my stomach. They pull what was left together and reattached it high in my chest.

    Things I noticed.

    Eating and swallowing is pretty much the same but I must chew my food very well as a large piece will get stuck in my throat and it will hurt till I get it out. Trust me do it too many times and you’ll chew good.

    My stomach can’t hold as much as it used to so I eat small meals, if I eat too much I will lose it.

    I can’t lay down after eating meals for a least two to three hours. All I have is gravity to keep the food down so I stay upright after eating. NO more late night snacks. If I don’t do this I will not sleep for the heartburn and indigestion, that is if you lucky and the food stays down in my stomach which by the way is very close to my lungs now.

    I admit to me it feels a little strange in my chest, I know my stomach is there and the acid in my stomach burn the back of my throat (just a little) especially if I have a full stomach. It sometimes causes me to have a runny nose, I don’t know why.

    All in all no real big change, the MOST IMPORTANT change is NO CANCER which is good.

    So good luck and god bless.
    Callie.

    Thanks
    Callie,

    Thanks for your reply. My cancer seems to be in the lower part of my esophagus and luckily has been detected early.

    How long did it take you to recover from the surgery, and how long was it before you felt as strong physically as you did before the surgery?

    Lou
  • cmn412
    cmn412 Member Posts: 69
    #4
    LouR said:

    Thanks
    Callie,

    Thanks for your reply. My cancer seems to be in the lower part of my esophagus and luckily has been detected early.

    How long did it take you to recover from the surgery, and how long was it before you felt as strong physically as you did before the surgery?

    Lou

    Lou
    I am glad they got to it
    Lou

    I am glad they got to it early. Me too, Stage IIA.

    I had the surgery on Feb 5, 2010. I had some bowel problems which slowed down my recovery.

    By June I was back at work part time, July much better and in Aug back to normal work week..
    Three to six months depends on what happens after surgery

    callie,
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #5
    cmn412 said:

    Lou
    I am glad they got to it
    Lou

    I am glad they got to it early. Me too, Stage IIA.

    I had the surgery on Feb 5, 2010. I had some bowel problems which slowed down my recovery.

    By June I was back at work part time, July much better and in Aug back to normal work week..
    Three to six months depends on what happens after surgery

    callie,

    Congratulations to both callie and Lou!
    Hello Callie and Lou
    You are so fortunate to have found your ec so early. By the time my dad finally had his dx, it was at a stage IV. He suffered many years with chronic acid reflux. I am suggesting to all people who have this symptom....get scoped right away! My dad lost his battle with ec in March 2010. Best of luck to you Lou on your upcoming surgery, and best of luck to you callie on your recovery. You are both an inspiration!
    Tina
  • MOE58
    MOE58 Member Posts: 589 Member
    #6
    I can help
    Welcome LouR sorry you had to come on board but we are all family here so don't be shy to ask quesitons. It sounds like you are having a full esphojectomy, where they cut you open, Last year in April 09 Jeff was diagnosed on April fools day, he had surgery in july 09, he had the open surgery which you are cut from belly button up and around the rib area, he had no complications from the surgery he had complications from his lungs not working right. He had numbness around the rib area and you will for awhile as they have to break a rib to get to your esophogus and etc. They will pull your stomach up to make you a new one. You will have what they call a NG tube out your nose to keep your new stomach from backing up, you will probably have a feeding tube inserted in case you need it for future but you won't even know you have it in and very able to keep it under your clothes. You won't be able to eat big meals again, they will be small portions, like several times a day, you need to stay away from tough meat like ribs, steak, brisket things like that as your new stomach is trying to adjust, you don't want to eat anything with sugar or milk or milk products or you will get the dumping syndrome and you will be visiting MR> JOHN all day long. Jeff ate alot of mashed potatoes, actually any kind of potatoes, fish chicken, jello mac and chees oatmeal, things like that. only because having a new stomach you are introducing it to new food, and sometimes it won't like what you feed it. Then about 3-4 months down the road you will start craving like popcorn, pickles, olives, anything like that as your body is craving the ingredients, this is normal and does subside eventually, honestly I thought at one time he was pregnant with all the pickles and stuff he was eating.
    He did have to have his esophogaus stretched a couple of times and you may have too, but that is normal after surgery so we have been told.

    it has been one year since surgery and he is doing great, does what he wants and does good, he still has days that his stomach bothers him and he doesn't feel up to par, but in general after this surgery he has done well.

    There is many on this site that is not able to even think about surgery so please count your blessings.

    I wish you luck and if I can answer anything further please let me know.

    Lori aka moe58
  • LouR
    LouR Member Posts: 3
    #7
    MOE58 said:

    I can help
    Welcome LouR sorry you had to come on board but we are all family here so don't be shy to ask quesitons. It sounds like you are having a full esphojectomy, where they cut you open, Last year in April 09 Jeff was diagnosed on April fools day, he had surgery in july 09, he had the open surgery which you are cut from belly button up and around the rib area, he had no complications from the surgery he had complications from his lungs not working right. He had numbness around the rib area and you will for awhile as they have to break a rib to get to your esophogus and etc. They will pull your stomach up to make you a new one. You will have what they call a NG tube out your nose to keep your new stomach from backing up, you will probably have a feeding tube inserted in case you need it for future but you won't even know you have it in and very able to keep it under your clothes. You won't be able to eat big meals again, they will be small portions, like several times a day, you need to stay away from tough meat like ribs, steak, brisket things like that as your new stomach is trying to adjust, you don't want to eat anything with sugar or milk or milk products or you will get the dumping syndrome and you will be visiting MR> JOHN all day long. Jeff ate alot of mashed potatoes, actually any kind of potatoes, fish chicken, jello mac and chees oatmeal, things like that. only because having a new stomach you are introducing it to new food, and sometimes it won't like what you feed it. Then about 3-4 months down the road you will start craving like popcorn, pickles, olives, anything like that as your body is craving the ingredients, this is normal and does subside eventually, honestly I thought at one time he was pregnant with all the pickles and stuff he was eating.
    He did have to have his esophogaus stretched a couple of times and you may have too, but that is normal after surgery so we have been told.

    it has been one year since surgery and he is doing great, does what he wants and does good, he still has days that his stomach bothers him and he doesn't feel up to par, but in general after this surgery he has done well.

    There is many on this site that is not able to even think about surgery so please count your blessings.

    I wish you luck and if I can answer anything further please let me know.

    Lori aka moe58

    Thanks
    Thanks to all of you for taking the time to help. It means alot to me.

    Lou
  • cmn412
    cmn412 Member Posts: 69
    #8
    Tina Blondek said:

    Congratulations to both callie and Lou!
    Hello Callie and Lou
    You are so fortunate to have found your ec so early. By the time my dad finally had his dx, it was at a stage IV. He suffered many years with chronic acid reflux. I am suggesting to all people who have this symptom....get scoped right away! My dad lost his battle with ec in March 2010. Best of luck to you Lou on your upcoming surgery, and best of luck to you callie on your recovery. You are both an inspiration!
    Tina

    Yes tina, we are fortunate
    I am so sorry Tina for you loss.

    I am very fortunate that my cancer was found early.

    There are a lot of people on this sight who are going through hard times as their cancer was not found early. My heart goes out to them and I don't know what to say sometimes. I feel guilty I'm OK and I know that they may or may not be.

    But I pray for them all the time, for I know that no matter what stage it is, the lord (father) can heal them if it is his will to do so. Just as my healing apparently was his will thus far. His will for me tomorrow I don't know.

    I know that all are happy for those of us who are fortunate to find our cancers early but still it is bitter sweet for we have brothers and sisters left behind who must bear heavier burdens.

    God truely bless
    callie.
  • ladyleisure1
    ladyleisure1 Member Posts: 9
    #9
    Husband did have that Surgery.
    Hello I am new to this but it always help to talk..
    My husband has cancer of the ephogus, we call it gus..easier for me..
    He my husband Paul had chemo agressive, and then raditon for 6 weeks..
    He was at stage 3.

    Paul went into MGH and had sugery to take the cancer out and repair him. We had the chief of Thorasic surgery, well he came home 2 weeks later only eating liquids that was all..
    He said it was tough to swallow but 5 days later on New Years Eve he was rushed back to MGH for another surgery he was dying, he surgery came apart and he was in shock.
    He does not remember anything, from that day on, he spent 10 hours in surgery and was not given much hope to make it ...he was so infected with fluid, for the next week he was sedated cause he had a breathing thing in his throat, but THANK GOD, he came home and is now working, he is only Tube fed, no drinking or eating, only tube feeds, and he has a G tube, and a Spit bag, because his GUS is in his shoulder now.
    Very hard to explain, but now he is working a 35 hour week and he is doing well..yes he has had some infections but they are addressed when they happen.
    But the point of all this is that he was not in good condition to have the surgery, it was either the cancer coming out or the surgery being done..

    Guess I got off track, yes he did have a hard time with swollowing but you start with only ice chips to begin with, they watch you carefully, as far as speaking he is still very soft spokern, but everyone hears him, if they listen, you know people.
    Everything in moderation, first ice chips then they take xrays, the liquids then other xrays so before you leave them you should be able to drink small amounts.
    Before you go home they check to make sure you are swallowing ok and the surgery is not coming apart..but my husband was one in a million,,,even the surgeon did not understand what happened, and still does not most we can figure his body was to weak.

    I do wish you the best of luck, I will pray for you, and God will be with you, if God had not been with me I would have gone nuts then and now, its a problem but no one knows what we go through, my husband is a trouper, but I do most of everything he does not do much at home cause he is to tired from work..

    His surgeries were both in December so its only been 8 months next week...
    I do not mean to scare you but you have to face the truth, if anyone had told me what was going to happen I would have laughed but, I am sure you will be fine, as I said my husband is a Strong good man and you will do well also..
    God Bless, Take care and you will be in my prayers..
    Doris
  • barby1954
    barby1954 Member Posts: 14
    #10
    surgery
    Hi Lour,
    My husband Michael who is 65 has just had this surgery. His tumor was 4 inches long and at the bottom of his esophagus. The recovery I believe starts before surgery. You must stay positive ,have your faith and a good network of family and friends to help you out.
    Michael was in the hospital 3 weeks due to a leak in his neck. If that had not happened he would have only been in 10 days. He was healthy, strong and fit when he had the surgery. He now has lost 15 pounds due to problems with his feeding tube. You will not be able to eat for a period time and if all goes well(no leaks) you will start on a liquid diet. If you can not get enough to eat during the day you will have a feeding tube. (Probably at night) Most people are fine with it.(Michael gets such night sweats and can not sleep so we discontinued it.) You then go to soft foods. Michael is on liquids and also on soft foods. I have found if he has 6-8 small meals, and I mean 6oz total, he does well. Milk products do not cause problems but sugar does. You have to see what your responce is to each item you try. When you do try a new item, make sure you are doing in small amounts. Michael craved pop so he drank a full can, well dumping syndrome is a problem then but I gave him half a cookie with 1/2 cup milk and he is fine. Again, all people are different and some take better to foods than others. The recovery is a slow course and can not be rushed. My husband is doing well and we just need to fatten him up. I shall keep up with your progess and send you big hugs and love
  • JimsBrother
    JimsBrother Member Posts: 94
    #11
    I'm new here. My brother
    I'm new here. My brother was just diagnosed also, so I can't address your questions, but I do want to wish you a successful surgery and a fast recovery.

    Rob
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #12
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • heavenlyangel
    heavenlyangel Member Posts: 2
    #13
    surgery and recovery
    hello im from scotland uk and had eosophagogastrectomy (stomach and gullet removal) %60 five years ago come november 2010 and after surgery it was just awful....no kidding but five years on i am grateful to family and friends and neighbours. th support is needed for at least a year for both physical and emotional and spiritual uplifting as it iw very tough recovery but worth it all. hang in there and lean on everyone and let them help. all the best from scotland. hugs. will be praying for you and those you know.
  • heavenlyangel
    heavenlyangel Member Posts: 2
    #14
    surgery and recovery
    hello im from scotland uk and had eosophagogastrectomy (stomach and gullet removal) %60 five years ago come november 2010 and after surgery it was just awful....no kidding but five years on i am grateful to family and friends and neighbours. th support is needed for at least a year for both physical and emotional and spiritual uplifting as it iw very tough recovery but worth it all. hang in there and lean on everyone and let them help. all the best from scotland. hugs. will be praying for you and those you know.

Discussion Boards