Hi Rayb

just been through this had FLOT april and may operation in june  its a long journey but stick witk it.

It may all sound a bit frightening at first i would recommend you read up on your treatment the FLOT is bearable and the operation is not really a worry although it is a major operation i will say that at no point in my journey have i really suffered any major pain and i am 90  percent recovered as of today if i can offer you any help or advice please contact me as it is always good to hear from someone who has been through this procedure recently , our NHS will take care of you by far the best care you can get ,trust me.

do you know what a plo is in an operation? 

would be grateful if you have any idea

sorry to hear about your diagnosis x

Thanx, 

My husband is a bit of a rare breed (: He has not ever, I don't think, taken any of those 'fortified' foods. Can't even get him to sniff them. We too had loads of them, no longer, they now 'sleep with the fishes' LOL.  He can however manage 4 pints!. 
He does eat quite well, steak, had a huge Greek lamb dish yesterday, crisps ++, just had a huge hake from the chippy, but clearly it is not enough, or maybe I am , and he is expecting it to go on just as quick as I came off. It is the muscle mass that he needs to increase, exercise is unlikely to help as that means he will just burn off the calories !!
As for the whiskey- if we've learnt anything through all of this, it really is a case of a 'little of what you fancy does you good'. If you feel like it have it. Alcohol is not a villain in adeno ( is in squamous).

keeping the faith

Hilts

Hi Hilts and all,

It's been busy on here lol. Hilts so good to hear that you're getting to do normal things. As you know we are nearly 10 months and still going so hoping we can soon be out and about. 2nd cycle of post op chemo is this Friday. Your husband is an inspiration and very lucky to have had all keyhole as it doesn't appear to be common? Same op inside I know. . It was very unfortunate that Kev had to be opened back up after having keyhole on his abdomen but he's here!  Two stones lighter and trying hard not to loose any more weight. Going to buy cream cakes today! 

I get what you mean about 'jinxing' when life becomes so uncertain you feel you  can't 'assume'.

I have mentioned this before but just in case it's 'got lost' in the threads my husband has found the electric bed really helpful. I have too as I've been able to elevate my leg! Great for a cuppa too! We chose a super king (independent singles) so single bottom sheets but the rest super king  bedding.  You get VAT off for health reasons. We got ours from a local shop and it was made in Rotherham. I would suggest if anyone decides to look into buying one be a bit careful as some who come to your house can be very expensive. Anyhows we need to find an alternative for when we go away. I've looked at inflatteable wedges - has anyone used these?

Keeping the faith

Milly
 

Hi All,

so good to hear from everyone, Walter Mc, I'm afraid I haven't much advice re the reflux situation, mine was only ever bad enough to take one omepresole, and really only when I knew I may be having rich food that day, I guess it's just trial and error til you get the balance right.

Milly hopefully your foot is healing nicely, my friend broke her arm falling over one of her cats, she said the worst thing was wearing a caste in the summer!

Hilts, as Milly said your hb, really is an inspiration, hope I do half as well as him.

Bfg, thanks for the explanation on the 'dumping'  sure going to look forward to that, lol.

Had daughter number 1's wedding reception at the weekend, proud to say that I managed to bust quite a few shapes on the old dance floor! 
In the meantime I have a scan on Thursday to see how the ablation went, still waiting to hear about a date for the big one. Also having hellish back pain in my left shoulder, so panicking that it's spread to my left lung, aaarg! 
light and love to all, keeping the faith always

Hi Hilts

I'm going to have to remember that one - "excercise is unlikely to help......".    :-)

It'll be the 'only' thing that will help to build muscle back up - a case of use it or lose it - but what I'd suggest rather than cardio-vascular type excercise is some resistance training.  There are some really usefull elasticated bands you can get that wrap around the ankles, legs etc that provide a really good muscle-based workout.  You just need to be careful with them (check it out on the well known video channel) that they don't fall off and snap back as it were...    Looks like he is well into the protein, so that again is good muscle food.

The comment I made about dumping is a cut-and-paste from a medical website - and it contained, what for me was a good explanation that fits with my particular pattern of symptoms.  It may not help everybody.

cheers all

bfg

Hi Tabnabs and all,

Great to hear that you had a good dance at your daughters wedding - must have felt amazing! 
It's hard waiting and understandable when you get pains to be worried. My husband had back pain then we realised it was from the injections they give you to do for a week. You are doing so well - good you've had some very nice distractions.

My husband has been taking part in NHS exercises through zoom before op and is hoping to re-zoom lol soon. Good idea re bands Bfg. We are both members of our local gym (I do more swimming) and classes but with COVID and the diagnosis it's on hold till chemo done. I do miss going especially swimming. Having had two new hips aged 50 and 55 I need to keep active. 
My husband is trying hard to balance everything with meds, food and exercise and he is still doing the deep breathing exercises to try and regain full lung expansion. He now hits the 4000 on the spirometer most times and with less effort so fingers crossed. He has been doing the spirometer since after first op on 4th May! 

I am going to the shops in our market town today - not walking in lol. Bfg there is a song about where we live to do with the sea and a castle - we have a castle but furthest from the sea! The name also sounds French due to William the Conqueror! 

keeping  the faith 

Milly

Hi Millie,  it's Sally here moving over to the "group [@RayB]‍  board"!  I hope your foot is getting better and you can get out more easily soon.     How is your husband getting on with it?   You must be on day 4 (a particularly bad day for us this time).  We are on day 8 of the chemo.   Husband is slightly better and went for a walk yesterday, and just gone out again today.   Side effects of the chemo are getting worse though as time goes on.  The GOG syndrome [@bfg]‍  described by bfg is more difficult and lasts longer. Very helpful to know about this though thank you [@bfg]‍.

thank you very much [@Hilts]‍ [@dooggreg]‍ [@Tabnabs]‍ and everyone else who has posted on here, it has been a support and help to me, even though i feel bad I hadn't written anything, I am sorry.

If I can help anyone going through this horrible episode in their lives by answering any questions I would be more than happy to.   Bearing in mind it isn't me with the cancer, it is my husband.   I am an onlooker, a rather weepy one at that...

Sally

Welcome Sally,

Glad you made it over. Weeping is allowed as is every other emotion! Yes day 4 and this cycle dare I say  he seems better than last day 4, sun helps too! He is just about to go a short walk. Not much appetite but has managed to eat breakfast and a boiled egg and toast for lunch. Had a scone too.

My ankle is improving thanks - keep going and 

keeping the faith

Milly

Milly you are just showing off now!   Blimmin heck,  toast and boiled egg and a scone.  On top of breakfast.   I shan't be telling my husband any of that he'd turn green!    He hasn't had a successful piece of toast since forever, let alone a scone!
 

I am happy for you really tho!   Hope the sun keeps shining for you

Sally

Sorry Sally! I don't mean to upset anyone! I guess it shows how everyone's situation is different. My husband is further on from Oesophagectomy op I guess. Can your husband tolerate milk? I've made milkshakes with ice cream in as they are good for you. I presume the dietitian has given you advice? My husband had compact fortysips which seemed ok. 

Others on here have had Asda milkshakes and trifles seem a good option too. Also custard but everyone is unique but I think time is a big factor. 
 

keeping the faith

Milly
 

Greeting to y'all, 

SallyR - welcome to the club. As I keep saying the ever expanding Oesophageal cancer club. We are still breeding like rabbits.

SallyR- you are a watcher like me, my husband being the victim. I'll get my crystal ball out and see if I can  'see' how you got here

- husband , between 50 and 65, fit as a butchers dog, always had a bit of reflux, Gord, then out of the blue some food clogging, gp, then 'that endoscopy' and bingo - OC.???

That is how most of us arrived here.

We are out the other side (for now- eke, always say that , just in case) after 9 months of chemo, surgery, more chemo, then basically clear off & live (:

So- welcome

Millie- hope that foot is getting better.

i won't tell y'all what he's been eating LOL- but be assured , everyone will get there at some point 

Keeping the faith

Hilts

Greeting to y'all, 

SallyR - welcome to the club. As I keep saying the ever expanding Oesophageal cancer club. We are still breeding like rabbits.

SallyR- you are a watcher like me, my husband being the victim. I'll get my crystal ball out and see if I can  'see' how you got here

- husband , between 50 and 65, fit as a butchers dog, always had a bit of reflux, Gord, then out of the blue some food clogging, gp, then 'that endoscopy' and bingo - OC.???

That is how most of us arrived here.

We are out the other side (for now- eke, always say that , just in case) after 9 months of chemo, surgery, more chemo, then basically clear off & live (:

So- welcome

Millie- hope that foot is getting better.

i won't tell y'all what he's been eating LOL- but be assured , everyone will get there at some point 

Keeping the faith

Hilts