Pending surgery 12/14

jhaynes
jhaynes Member Posts: 14
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
I have a date with Dr. Demeester at USC University Hospital in LA for 12/14 for MIE. Would like to hear from "those who have gone before" what questions I might ask the surgeon before the operation, and experiences in the postoperative period. I have obtained housing close for myself when out of the hospital and family/caretakers. Thank all of you who sent messages for all of you good wishes and excellent suggestions. I will relate my experiences when able and will be on line from California until the date. I leave El Paso, Texas on 12/6 and will spend some time in the LA area with family, God, and just relaxing in preparation. My last day of work was yesterday. The Medical School was very helpful, I am on Family and Medical Leave and have almost a year of sick leave. Thinking about things lately, I have not taken off work (or worked much less than 70 hours a week) since becoming a doctor in 1980 for more than a week. I would take off for extended Army Reserve assignments, but otherwise, only three real vacations in 30 years. This is a message to smell the roses for each day that God has given me.Thank you for all the messages, look forward to any suggestion and experiences that will help me prepare for my surgery. I am determined to meet every challenge as it comes and have reverted to my old Marine Corps days for mental and physical preparation.God Bless you all. John Haynes

Comments

  • rmitchell
    rmitchell Member Posts: 94
    #2
    surgery
    John
    Good luck to you and we will keep you in our prayers. My husband will have surgery on Monday. He had 28 radiation treatments and 6 Chemo. He lost a lot of his hair but did not lose it all. He had some rough days and good ones. He is feeling good now, but now the surgery. We are trusting in God to see him through this most difficult time in our lives.
    He will be at Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville Tn and we feel he is in the best of hands there. Keep us in your prayers and we will do the same.
    Reba
  • Bolt_Woman
    Bolt_Woman Member Posts: 11
    #3
    John,
    Semper Fi

    John,

    Semper Fi
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #4
    good luck and Godspeed
    Hi John,
    I am a December surgery patient from last year, my lucky date was 12/8, which being a Catholic meant a lot to me being a special feast day for Mary. I had Ivor Lewis so my experience was not like yours but when you get home the eating experiences are very similar. Just take your time and eat those small meals 6x a day and report any major sticking or swallowing problems to your drs. Watch out for fevers. Make sure dr gives you a list of what to eat and not to eat in the first weeks, high fiber not good and there are many other foods on the do not eat yet list. I had a dietician come and counsel me. My wishes are you will have a smooth surgery, will keep you in my prayers, please take care,
    Donna70
  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    #5
    rmitchell said:

    surgery
    John
    Good luck to you and we will keep you in our prayers. My husband will have surgery on Monday. He had 28 radiation treatments and 6 Chemo. He lost a lot of his hair but did not lose it all. He had some rough days and good ones. He is feeling good now, but now the surgery. We are trusting in God to see him through this most difficult time in our lives.
    He will be at Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville Tn and we feel he is in the best of hands there. Keep us in your prayers and we will do the same.
    Reba

    Good look on your Vanderbilt surgery
    My sister had her heart transplant there over 15 years ago. That gift of a heart has kept on giving as she leads an active life style. Vanderbilt's care was outstanding. Wishing you well.
  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    #6
    Best of luck to you
    Am excited you get to have the MIE. My husband had the Ivor-Lewis. No fun. But, seven months post-op, he's doing great. As a physician, you know more about this condition than I do; however, I do want to say that a jtube is very helpful and helps to keep the body's strength so if one is offered, please go for it. While many members of this Board are lay people, I have found their suggestions and references to be well-based and most helpful. I have spoken to family member physicians, and they have commented on the wealth of knowledge I've learned from the fine people who post here. Best of luck to you and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
  • jhaynes
    jhaynes Member Posts: 14
    #7
    rmitchell said:

    surgery
    John
    Good luck to you and we will keep you in our prayers. My husband will have surgery on Monday. He had 28 radiation treatments and 6 Chemo. He lost a lot of his hair but did not lose it all. He had some rough days and good ones. He is feeling good now, but now the surgery. We are trusting in God to see him through this most difficult time in our lives.
    He will be at Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville Tn and we feel he is in the best of hands there. Keep us in your prayers and we will do the same.
    Reba

    surgery
    You both will be in my prayers as I travel to LA for my surgery. I am sure that Vanderbilt is an excellent center. God's Blessings to you both!!
    John Haynes
  • jhaynes
    jhaynes Member Posts: 14
    #8
    Bolt_Woman said:

    John,
    Semper Fi

    John,

    Semper Fi

    Are you a former? Thanks for
    Are you a former? Thanks for the message! John Haynes
  • jhaynes
    jhaynes Member Posts: 14
    #9
    BMGky said:

    Best of luck to you
    Am excited you get to have the MIE. My husband had the Ivor-Lewis. No fun. But, seven months post-op, he's doing great. As a physician, you know more about this condition than I do; however, I do want to say that a jtube is very helpful and helps to keep the body's strength so if one is offered, please go for it. While many members of this Board are lay people, I have found their suggestions and references to be well-based and most helpful. I have spoken to family member physicians, and they have commented on the wealth of knowledge I've learned from the fine people who post here. Best of luck to you and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

    I am also very impressed by
    I am also very impressed by the wealth of knowledge here. My thanks to all. Thank you for your kind wishes!! John
  • jhaynes
    jhaynes Member Posts: 14
    #10
    Donna70 said:

    good luck and Godspeed
    Hi John,
    I am a December surgery patient from last year, my lucky date was 12/8, which being a Catholic meant a lot to me being a special feast day for Mary. I had Ivor Lewis so my experience was not like yours but when you get home the eating experiences are very similar. Just take your time and eat those small meals 6x a day and report any major sticking or swallowing problems to your drs. Watch out for fevers. Make sure dr gives you a list of what to eat and not to eat in the first weeks, high fiber not good and there are many other foods on the do not eat yet list. I had a dietician come and counsel me. My wishes are you will have a smooth surgery, will keep you in my prayers, please take care,
    Donna70

    Thank you for your prayers
    Thank you for your prayers and experience based advice! John Haynes
  • cmn412
    cmn412 Member Posts: 69
    #11
    Good luck
    John

    Good luck with everything, It will be ok. Do take the time to smell the roses.


    PS what kind of doctor


    Callie Newman
    09/02/2009 T2N0M0 – Stage IIA
    09/2009 -11/2009 Chemo Cisplatin and , 5 FU
    02/05/2010 MIE at Duke Medical
    Dr T. Pappas and Dr M. Onaitis
  • Bolt_Woman
    Bolt_Woman Member Posts: 11
    #12
    jhaynes said:

    Are you a former? Thanks for
    Are you a former? Thanks for the message! John Haynes

    Not I but my husband and
    Not I but my husband and according to him it is Once a Marine always a Marine! He had the surgery in Sept 09 and is doing great!
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #13
    jhaynes said:

    I am also very impressed by
    I am also very impressed by the wealth of knowledge here. My thanks to all. Thank you for your kind wishes!! John

    Dear John
    I remember you
    Dear John
    I remember you first posting not long ago, and now you are already on your way to surgery! Great for you. I know you are on the right path and all things will turn out well. Enjoy the holidays, and know we will be thinking of you and praying for you on the day of your surgery! Keep us up to date.
    Tina in Va

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