My update:
Been to see the surgeon today to discuss my forthcoming operation. There were two options; remove my stomach and lower oesophagus and connect the remainder to my colon or remove just the top part of my stomach and lower oesophagus and connect the two back up.
I chose the latter which was the surgeon's preferred option.
He will need to make an incision below my left ribs to get at it all.
Afterwards I'll have a couple of days in intensive care then, all being well, a further 10 days in their high dependency unit. This assumes no complications such as the new join leaking or cuts where they shouldn't be. He did say that about 10% (I think) of such ops nationally result in complications but that Derby Royal's record was 1.5%.
I will have all sorts of tubes attached: epidural in my spine, catheter in my bladder, intravenous liquid feed plus at least one catheter in my neck. Might be another in my arm.
The PICC line that the dressing for has been giving me so much grief is not required. I had arranged to get the manky dressing sorted out at the Combined Day Unit before the appointment with the surgeon but they were running late so told me to come back after.
Good job as I could then tell them the PICC line was not required. After some discussion with a doctor a senior nurse said it could come out - yeeha! So now I can remove the dressing in a day or so and my skin can breathe again.
Next step is my pre-op next Monday before the op itself on 25th.
I have no idea how long the recovery will be but they may want to put me through chemo again just to mop up any stray cancer cells.
Not looking forward to any of this but it has to be done.
I should add that the surgeon reported that the chemo had been very effective and successful.
