It's SURGERY day tomorrow!

I haven’t gotten to that point yet. Just starting 2nd cycle, but am wishing you good luck tomorrow and afterwards. Here’s to a speedy recovery! PJR

Good luck with your treatment .

It's all worth it!

Good luck my husband is next Tuesday

Thanks , good luck to your husband too.

Hi SHK

Big day tomorrow! I'm sure someone will have gone through with you what to expect when you wake up, but maybe it will help to hear that really it's not that bad. Worse I think for the loved ones visiting. 

I found it was useful to keep a journal because it'll be hard looking back to remember what happened when. I have just fished out my notebook from eight years ago when I had my Ivor Lewis surgery in Addenbrookes, Cambridge.

I was surprised to be got out of bed for a walk around the recovery suite the day after my surgery - especially considering how many wires and tubes I had trailing from me! And spend time out of bed. Daily walks with the nurses was a way I could gauge recovery (remember that hospital gowns tend to be open at the back). In fact daily walks continued for some weeks, months even, managing further each day.

There were eleven things attached to me: wound drains, chest drains, catheter, ECG wires, venous and arterial lines, a JEJ feeding tube, an NG tube, epidural drip and oxygen. Sounds horrendous but I was completely comfortable and relaxed, except for a sore throat which improved once they removed the NG tube. My lovely anaesthetist brought me some throat sweets to suck. Progress was marked with movements from HDU to IDU to side ward then to main 4 bed ward. This was accompanied by the removal of the various tubes. Then... JELLY and ICECREAM on day seven! Then a cup of coffee, progressing to cottage pie before I left on day ten. Things are done slightly differently now, I know. For instance, feeding tubes tend to be used for longer and there is a greater emphasis on exercise after surgery.

Life after surgery? Return to the new normal is slow. However the future is bright. Taste changes were maybe as a result of chemo: I didn't care as much for red wine as I used to, preferring gin or craft ale these days. I drink tea now - it was better than hospital instant coffee. I didn't get indigestion even after walnut cake or a good curry.

I enjoyed my son's wedding and a Black Sea cruise three months after surgery. Since then, (until the pandemic), my wife and I travelled the world on three or four holidays a year enjoying the culinary delights of Asia and the Far East, Sharing oversized meals in the States. Trying street food in Saigon and China.

Have faith in your surgical and clinical team, they will look after you. Your responsibility is to have a positive attitude and believe that you will get through this and enjoy life again. You are young so you still have lots to experience and enjoy.

Thanks that has helped a lot

Good luck with the surgery buddy. I've been speaking with a friend who recently had the surgery and he is doing great

What a wealth of information, thanks BrentS. 
I will remember to make sure the gown is done up! When I had a staging laparoscopy I did it the wrong way round! 
It sounds like you’ve really bounced back from your surgery which is great to hear.

i love this community. Thanks again.

I know a couple people who’ve had the same surgery  and they’ve come through the other side just fine. 
it’s amazing what the NHS can do these days. Amazing bunch

Exactly mate you are young too buddy which is in your favour and will help you heal up. Great advice from Brent, take everything a day at a time and listen to your body. You will be in great hands