Hi again Leo, 

Now, I like to think of myself as having a bit of a crystal ball in front of me. Would you be sat there with your phone/ pc, jumping on every notification, searching google, just to confirm your worst possible fears??? Don't worry I don't and can't see into your soul, but I SO KNOW what you are feeling right now. You just want it sorted.

Google and survival stats are absolutely appalling LOL- BUT what is hidden in the 'small print', is that those stats are pretty old, I think up to about 2010. Treatment for this has moved on massively. As has diagnosis. I am an ex nurse, left the wards in about 1990 and remember the whole treatment for this was , well grim. Don't get me wrong, it is not great fun now, but it is certainly a  huge amount better than I was expecting.

BUT , you are not in the club ( oesophageal club) yet. You don't know which is truly a horrible time.

As for young kids, yep we have too, not that young , tweens,. My guy  was discharged from hospital xmas eve, best xmas pressie ever, the kids are 'suspicious' about Santa, but xmas for them is still all sparkles and magic, so worked out okay. Whatever this throws at you you WILL get through it and so will your kids.

If you flick back to the start of this thread, you'll see many of us have had the 'doom and disaster' medics experience (:. I can only say that it must be because they do it all,day, every day, forgetting ( not deliberately or intentionally) that we are only planning on hearing such stuff once, even that is frankly too much.LOL

As I have always said on here and truly belive, distraction is the only way to get yourself through this time, whatever it maybe, it doesn't make the problem go away, but it help just to disengage for 5 mins.

so, I'm off to bed now, bush wacked- kids don't half drain the batteries and along with coughing bob, maybe I should to a 'health spa' for a week- preferably run by Keith Richards !

take care! Keep the faith and do let us know either way

Hilts

Morning all from the Island of festivals and rampant covid cases (post weekend ) Before anyone asks, no, luckily can't hear anything from my house, despite the Island being the size of a postage stamp! Besides Tom Jones and Duran Duran really aren't my bag, no if the Stones were playing, that's a different matter, but I doubt if I'd ever see them again now that Charlie's gone.

Getting back into the chemo routine, bloods at home on a Monday, treatment on mainland Wednesday then disconnection at home on a Friday, trying to sort out treatment at home as well, I find getting the ferry afterwards quite draining. Don't they have a hospital on the Island I hear you ask, well, yes they do, but as Matron Nightingale is still in charge, I say no more. Besides I get major PTSD going there (long story!)

Decided to get my hair cut in preparation for losing it, couldn't face the cold cap again, unfortunately my hairdresser took the 'short, choppy' look too far, I now have a skinhead! I admit to owning a pair of rather natty pair of DMs but really didn't want to look like a reject from Sham69, besides my boobs are much too big for braces these days! 
In true Tabnabs style I have gone against the textbook, or off Piste, a phrase the Medical profession like to use when referring to me!  So in theory any pain I should have ought to be from the Metz in my liver and gallbladder but no! It's all down my left side, leaving the nurses somewhat bewildered, anyway got sorted with some oromorph, so onwards and upwards.

sending healing hugs and positivity to all the gang

Hi Tabnabs,

Good to hear from you. You sound like you have a plan, not easy when you have other problems pop up but if the professionals know they can help so hoping the oromorph works. You are and have been an anomaly for good reasons too and have beaten the odds before. 

Your post made me laugh picturing you in doc martins and braces - and why not? Rolling Stones weren't my thing particularly but saw them at St James Park in 1981 and wow! Appreciated them more as I've got older. 
 

Healing hugs back and keeping the faith,

Milly 
 

Hi Leo,

Welcome. We all understand the difficulty of waiting for results. What I would say is you have done something about the situation which is crucial. Distraction helps. I too looked at Google etc and wept, I was totally overwhelmed. A lot is out of date and doesn't take into account the individual's age, health etc 

My advice would be try not to look as you don't know the result yet. Easier said than done I know.

My husband is the patient and has had chemo op and finished his last post op chemo cocktail yesterday. There are good outcomes.

keeping the faith 

Milly

LOL Tabnabs- keeping the faith I see (:

yep 'regional centres' take on a whole new meaning when you live on an island(:. and the ferry, as lovely as it is what an added hassle. As for 'matron nightingale' LOL , more than know the type, Hattie Jaques, and Charles Hawtry as the manager would probably do a better job(:

yeee , the stones , I'd be there like a shot, but rewind to say 69 ish. As you all know I am 'in love' with the   Ledge nd that is Keith Richards, what a guy (((::

As for the braces , get 'em on. My tween eldest has just got into DM's, no idea how ! Bought her first pair of proper lace ups boots for school- wow the price! Never paid that much for school shoes before!, my 3 pairs of different length legs are of course totally different!. As are husbands 4 pairs of boots, shoes etc.....have told her that her feet need to be bound and boots need to last until at least 16 yrs. (((:::

if you don't fancy braces and boots you could always get yourself a CRombie and  pork pie hat, for the cold .... like .   
Keep the faith, we are with you

Hilts.

Hi Hilts,

My husband had his last chemo yesterday! Nurse due anytime to remove the bottle then picc line out on Tuesday. We've been told scan in 6 weeks and Oncology consultant in 8 weeks. I just wondered if the oncology appointment is when they give you the final result of all the treatment? 

keeping the faith (you're catch phrase lol)

Milly

Well I've had a quiet day on sofa watching Downton Abbey.

Feel like I can relax a little more over the weekend as I know I won't hear anything now until Monday at the earliest.

Completely lost my voice thanks to this chest infection so having fun miming things over to the family. However very grateful that I got my first full night's sleep in a week so its the small things making me happy. 

8 weeks sounds like a long time to see the consultant again though even though I know most Post op follow ups are 6-8 weeks. Guess being in the club teaches you patience x

Hi Hilts and Millie 

So great to hear some patients getting to 'the end'.  Good luck with the scan Hilts. I am isolating this weekend then laparoscopy on Monday - biggie on 29th - terrified but you all give me hope and confidence - thank you xx

Andi xx

Hi Leo,

Hope you soon recover from the chest infection soon.  We've been listening to our team play footie and after all the shinanigins announced yesterday a 2-1 win is a big relief!
 

We have seen Consultant Surgeon and Consultant Oncologist since last op and before post op chemo and those results were good. The aim of post op chemo was a 'belt and braces' approach- fingers crossed and everything else lol.

Keeping the faith

Milly