Hi Hilts, Tabnabs and everyone,

Thank you for your good wishes. My ankle is less swollen so hoping 4 weeks  in the big boot should do the trick! 

Well hearing about your AZ trip certainly lifted my spirits! So pleased for you all. Tabnabs wonderful news on your sons graduation and your daughters marriage. I hope you soon have a date for your op.

Kev has had a few rough days after his first of the second round of FLOT which started Friday 6th but by yesterday he was feeling a bit more human. He has even managed two short walks yesterday and has been on another this morning. Incredible when I think how at the end of June he was in a wheelchair and had to get his breath to even talk! Without the last emergency op on his lung he wouldn't have got better. His eating (apart from when he felt nauseous) is really amazing. He has eaten lots of different foods. He has had a couple of the 'dumping' episodes but can link it to sugar (too much chocolate!).

I had a bit of a worrying time as I had a suspicious mole (noticed it but dismissed it as we had enough going on!) anyway urgent referral last Thursday  to dermatologist but everything is fine phew!

Just to make you smile it was our 37th wedding anniversary on Wednesday so it was another night in never mind an out out night! So we now have cards for Kev, anniversary cards and cards for me up! The cards for Kev are staying up until hopefully he finishes this next round. 7 more weeks and counting ....

Keeping the faith and sending healing hugs (nice one Tabnabs)

Milly
 

Hi Milly,  good to hear kev is on the mend and your ankle is also. Congratulations on 37 years!

Lee

Hi Milly 

not been on here much recently but did notice your comment about the dumping , yes to much sugar is a definite cause as i have learned also , anyway hope you are all getting on with recovery and take care of yourselves

Regards

Douglas

Hi Douglas,

Thanks for that and I wondered how yiu found the complimentary therapy that yiu mentioned in a previous post?

keeping the faith

Milly

Hi Milly

I am waiting on a course of reflexology provided via  a local charity and a general fitness course from my local authority , hopefully in the next few weeks and i will let you know the outcomes , take it easy.

Regards 

Douglas

Hi Everyone.

after 1cycle my only real problem is acid reflux between 12 noon and 5pm every day. I think I am doing the right things like eating slowly and softer food for lunch, + fortisip, and I also have the fortisip and Ames savoury soup to add to normal food. As backup I have a prescribed Peptac liquid which is equivalent to Gaviscon and which coats the stomach lining. My main "defence" is Omeprazole from my GP and the dosage is 2 once in the morning.  I am posting this to give my experience of omeprazole together with peptac.
The issue is this. The omeprazole is not sufficient. My GP says don't take 3 per day but use the Peptac instead of a third omeprazole. Peptic instructions say clearly not to take other medication including the anti-emetics within 2 hours of peptac because it inhibits absorption of the other medication. Any schedule changes I make would not quite fit in stop the pm acid reflux. This will be surmountable so any bright ideas ?

walter Mac

Hi Walter-Mc 

Welcome and glad you found us! I'm afraid I don't know what to suggest but others on here may do and if not I would suggest that you speak to your cancer or GI nurse specialist as they are fountains of knowledge!

keeping the faith

Milly

Hi Millie

as always I contacted my upper IG before anyone. Their suggestion was one in an then one in early evening which didn't work, then they were unsure so suggested taking 3 a day. That won't work because the prescription was not from the hospital but came from the GP who said unequivocally don't take three. So that is why today I asked for anyone on the forum. for good ideas. 

keeping the faith, the only way is up !

Hi y'all.

welcome Walter mac. To the oesophageal club. Hope you find it as useful as most of us do

In fact I have just been for a long weekend in the big smoke, and where is the first place I come when back? Here.

We (husband = victim, me = watcher and resident chatterbox) are out the other side - for now, I always say that, feel like I'm 'jinxing ' if I don't. After 9 months of treatment he is (for now) active/ visable disease free. A year ago last week, we got the shock, sudden diagnosis at the age of 56. Started treatment on 5th September finished on 23 rd March. What a 'spectacular' year it has been. We still look at each other and think what the heck just happened.

Most on here are pretty fit people, the diagnosis coming completely out of the blue, bit of sudden food clogging and bob's yr uncle adeno.

I can probably come in on your 'omeprazole' issues. We are generally NOT a good example to follow, as we do 'tinker', but given the diagnosis, we thought 'well, the worst is happening, so let's just try things.

Husband started before diagnosis on 20mgs, of course it did nothing, it was only once the 2 nd chemo was given did his food clogging improve, but of course with the blockage in decline, the GERD increased. He would take his omeprazole in the morning and quaff a load of graviton of an evening. Since surgery and post op chemo, he still has the reflux, but he now takes 80mgs of omeprazole, 40 in the morning and 40 in the evening. Recently, he has not needed the gaviscon. Also what does sometimes 'escape' is not acidic. So doing it job. Omeprazole does take time to work, about 3 weeks I would say.
Millie- yep the 2nd round/ post op chemo is pretty grim, but of course it will be doing its job. So now 'only' 2 more to go FOUR WEEKS. Then the recovery , both physically and more difficult emotionally,really begins.

One thing for us- anyone have info tips?
Husband eats pretty well, BUT, he can't seem to hold on to much weight. His big losses came during the post op chemo. He muscle loss is quite noticeable, his butt has vanished , legs like sticks, he didn't have much to play with before!. Eats loads of protein, fat etc, but nah, still skinny.

Any tips?
Anyhows laters folks

and keep keeping the faith

Hilts x