Oesphagectomy

Hi Podgy, you won't be podgy much longer . 

I've just had my op and been at home for two weeks. I've lost quite a bit of weight. I had a tumor near my stomach and they took half of it away so eating is an issue. Sleeping and getting comfortable is a challenge. They gave me tramadol and paracetamol to go home with. Ask them for some oramorph too. My tramadol was only giving me a couple of hours of relief. The morphine can be taken in between tablets to give an extra hours cover but be careful and don't get reliant on it. 

Eating and knowing when your full is difficult. Over eating makes you feel/be sick. It's like having bad indigestion and takes time for any food to move down into you bowls. Try to drink ten minutes before eating and then fifteen after. Drinking and eating together just makes you feel full and sick.

Doing the exercises, deep breathing and using the spiri-ball helps.

Hope some of this helps. Good luck with it all. Your not going to be feeling great when they wake you up and will be full of tubes, drains and cannulae sites. They keep you pretty pain free though and you can ask for more pain relief at any time. I was in Derby royal hospital and they were just the best, can't praise then enough. You'll be on nil by mouth for a week or so, until they have done a swallow test to make sure there isn't a leak at the suture site. If the test is ok a lot of the tubes and drains will be taken out. What a relief that is.

All the best, you will be fine.

Best regards

Geo.

Hi Podgy 

Every experience is different of course ..My husband had his minimal invasive osephagectomy in December ‘22 to remove a tumour in the junction between his oesophagus and stomach ....He had two thirds of his oesophagus removed and a top section of his stomach ..It Took around eight hours in theatre and he was on CCU for three days post surgery ..As Geo has said expect lots of drains ..cannulas ..etc ..He had an epidural for five days afterwards and he didn’t have any pain at all ..He was up walking the morning after and sitting in a chair everyday for the eight days he was in hospital ..He was given ice cream and yoghurt two days after his surgery and he could sip water or juice ..He was also fed via his JEJ feeding tube around the clock ….When he came home his pain was minimal and he could manage it with paracetamol.. Although he said he felt the weakest he’d ever felt in his life …
If your surgery is open surgery your experience will be different to his as you’ll have larger surgical wounds to deal with ..My husband only had small incisions where the keyhole surgery was done ..He found the drains particularly uncomfortable and he wasn’t impressed with the catheter either ! He was very pleased when that was removed .

Day by day you’ll see each tube etc being removed and then you’ll know you’re getting nearer to going home .

Good luck with everything ..I’m sure you’ll be fine .Lots of recovery afterwards and adapting to a new eating regime ahead but it just takes time and patience 

regards J 

Hi Podgy2

My dad is almost 12 weeks post surgery. He was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the lower oesophagus. He's about to start his post op chemo next week.

As for his operation, he is still recovering. It's a massive change and just be prepared for it to affect your eating pattern. Dad is still adjusting to life after his op and will be for some time to come. He woke up after his op not feeling any pain and it was controlled by a PCA which he had to press a button for, when he felt any pain. Like the others have said there's alot of tubes and drains attached when you wake up, but they start to be quickly removed as the days pass. Dad's physios had him up for a little walk the day after surgery and encouraged him to walk abit further day by day. He had a jej tube fitted during his op and still uses it alternate nights now (though he's desperate to have it out!) It has served a big purpose though, as dad has lost some weight  since the op.

Just take it day by day. When dad was discharged after 9 days he had diclofenac and paracetamol for the pain which he's gradually decreased. He's hardly taking  the paracetamol now, but still takes them if he needs it.

I wish you well for your upcoming op. Your medical team will take great care of you. I know dad's have been fantastic and continue to check in on dad with phonecalls. We are in the North East, and dad is under the care of the RVI in Newcastle. Take each day as it comes. Everybody's journey is unique. Sending positivity and strength to you.

Hello Podgy. I'm due to have an oesophegtomy next Friday, eek! Mine will be keyhole.

I've read all the replies here too, and am very reassured to read them. My team in Southampton have explained it all in great detail to me, and told me exactly what to expect (the good and the bad). I will have oxycodeine via a button I can self administer, as well as either morphine or fentanyl at first, so I expect to be zonked out for a while. I had that combination when I was hospitalised with a tooth infection just after round 1 of chemo, and it was rather nice lol. Never slept so well! ;-)

They've also told me what all the tubes will be doing, how long I'll be in ICU, and told my partner what to expect when he first sees me, and how I'll be in the days afterwards. They've also told me I'll see a nutritionist, and will be given lots of after care information on what to eat, how often etc, and what NOT to do as well. They have been very, very informative so far. They've also pre-warned of severe tiredness as I heal, and told us both that emotions will be very up and down at first too. I will be helped out of bed and encouraged to walk the day after, with the aim of walking the corridor before going home.

I've had 2 hip replacements in 2 years (my last one just before my cancer diagnosis this year), and although obviously not in the same serious league, the open surgery did leave me exhausted for at least 6 weeks afterwards, and they told me to expect to feel that way again. Even having a shower wipes you out! However, after the 6 week mark you do noticeably begin to feel more with it, have more energy and don't feel so weak. 

I'm not looking forward to learning about eating again, as I'm currently enjoying everything as normal which is fantastic. Pre chemo I was on soups, puree food and very soft things, so I guess it'll be back to that regime for a while, but needs must. They've also said I'll have to alternate between eating, then drinking later, not both together, and to expect at least a 10% weight loss. Thankfully I'm a chubby little bird so am not too bothered by that, as long as I don't end up scrawny. They said after a year or two, once I'm back on normal food and got into the 'little and often routine', I may well start to regain weight, which will be nice (never thought I'd say that)!

I'm sure your team will be happy to answer any questions you have too. I've made good use of the fantastic Upper GI Macmillan Nurse at Southampton, who has always answered my questions and been there to reassure me. I wish you all the best for your operation - and thank you for posting, as it's helped me too!

• Thank you for your input.My op is on the 24th  of this month. Will take 8 hrs.Strangely,I'm  looking forward to it. I have had a jej since  June,as at one time I couldn't even take water.This has been the worst thing.Chemo wasn't bad.I am almost  counting  the days to its removal. It has stopped  me doing so many things,as when I bend,it digs in!!After my first chemo,I could eat again,so just use the tube for water!!I am concerned, as is the dietician about keeping  my weight stable,as I'm  not podgy!I'm sure it will all work out. 

Thanks,keep me updated on your progress. 

I had my jej put in,in June and was fed by that for 6 weeks. I bled at the op(long story), and my haemoglobin dropped drastically, so I know  all about fatigue!!!Maybe it was a trial run!!

I'm eating normally  now and have put some weight back on,but of course, that will come off again!!Hope I don't  lose too much.

I'm in Gloucestershire and the care is excellent. 

The best of luck.

Thanks.

All the treatments differ,don't they!!

I have been  told that on day 2/3 I will be on sips of water graduating to tea or coffee the next day.

Gradually getting onto soft food before going home.I hope this happens. I had 6 weeks of tube feeding. I cannot wait for this jej to be removed. So far it is the worst thing.