Hi guys. Sending love to you all. We have just lost my mum to this cancer after only 6 months post surgery. My advice push for the chemo after and push for all the scans you can get after too. If this had been possible for mum then she might still be here. Xx

hi,

it,s sad to hear about your loss especially after your mum going through the operation i know its difficult to accept your loss especially when you read posts like mine telling others it will all be fine , god bless you and take care of yourslef and your family.

Hi all,

That's fantastic news Scott! Also very pleased that you can go and see him. Yes the same with my husband re eating as his actual Oesophagectomy went text book. The complications were as a result of the drain removal causing internal bleeding. So the join healed during his prolonged stay in hospital. Not sure why they have advised no dairy if he's eating cheese? The dietitian should visit him so if you have any questions you could write them down for your dad to ask or give to him/her? Such good news and thanks for letting us know. Yes we had a better Christmas thanks. 

Hilts - blimey a new record! Kev was Ok after his stint - it was over a long period of time!  Pleased that you are better from COVID  and no one else has caught it. 

Redski - good to hear from you. I guess you are free from treatment now? Hopefully you finished your chemo and enjoyed Christmas. 

Lee I bet your dad is pleased to be home! Slow and steady is the way forward now. Lots of adjusting to a new plumbing system. 

I hope everyone is doing as well as they can be on their own paths. Andi I think of you often.

Keeping the faith, as always, for everyone 

Milly

Hi all,

Great news Scott - a cheese sandwich is a big step at this stage. Not sure about no dairy...when my Dad was discharged yesterday, there wasn't much advice on nutrition and diet, just a general sheet of foods but they did emphasize little and often and nothing hard for a few weeks. My Dad managed to eat a jacket potato with tuna last night (skinless) and tortilla during the day...had no issues and really enjoyed it. Good news you're over the COVID Hilts.

Lee

Hi Lee,

Thats really good news! If you Google nhs Oesophagectomy (which I guess you've done already) you should find info on diet. Sometimes hospitals have their own advice sheets on there. I think the 'city of spires' has a discharge advice sheet on the internet.
As you said it's little  and often. You could try adding calories with butter, cheese, cream and I add skimmed milk powder to whole milk. White fish is easy to digest, mince like spaghetti Bol etc. I add spinach in dishes. Eggs are a good source of protein. You can scramble these with cream and butter. Pancakes, omelettes. Cakes and shakes! As  we 'onlookers' have said whatever he fancies! We were advised by an ex patient that pomegranate juice is good for your platelets (the 100% one). Also green foods like broccoli are rich in iron. 
Thanks for the update!

keeping the faith

Milly

Thanks Milly, appreciate it - always good to hear your updates too.

Yes, limped across the line with final chemo mid November and trying to fatten back up now as the post op stuff nuked my tastebuds and appetite and I lost quite a bit of weight !

Xmas seems like a good time to try and fatten back up tho !

Think of Andi too, and how they're getting on.

Hi Redski,

Good to hear that you've completed the post op chemo! Yes it's not an easy road but you are all so inspirational.
My husband is also trying to fatten up as he has lost two and a half stones overall due to the op and complications! He wasn't overweight so fortunately he managed to gain over a stone before the op. Anyhow he's trying to gain weight and I'm trying to loose it lol! We have postponed our trip to Tenerife until the end of March due to the current uncertainty. So you never know hopefully he'll have gained and I'll have lost some weight by then! Keep going and I hope your tastebuds start behaving! 

keeping the faith

Milly

Thanks Milly, appreciate that.

Had a good cheerleader squad in my Wife and kids to get me across the finish line when it felt really tough. Was a lot harder than the pre op rounds and the surgery too, it really kicked my butt ! 

Good for him putting the effort in to get it back on, but sorry to hear about having to defer your holiday out. Hopefully, it all works for the greater good and by the time you get to jet off, he's back to his Fighting Weight and you're where you want to be at too !

Taste buds have come back and appetite all good again now too. My biggest issue is remembering to eat little and often - my eyes are a lot bigger than my non existent stomach now - haha ! And, over eating obviously leads to some discomfort for a while after - so am learning to get it right.
 

Hi Everyone,

Just a few words to wish everyone a merry belated Christmas and a happy new year, I wish everyone a better 2022 than 2021 has been to most of us, for those people starting out on this journey post away and your questions will be answered as best as possible, no experts here but loads of experience and that is what counts.

All the best to everyone Ray and family.

Hi RayB, good to hear from you. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you! Let's hope this year is a better one for all of us.

Lee

Hi all,

Good to hear from you RayB the founder member of this thread! Thanks for your good wishes.

Our sincere wishes to everyone on this chat for a better 2022. Some of you are still following your own plans at the moment on the 'snakes and ladders' board or riding your own rollercoasters.

I hope it helps to know that my husbands path crossed two years diagnosis October 2020 to 'visibly clear'  October 2021 fingers crossed this continues. So last year all the Happy New Years and let's hope for a better one were hard to deal with as we knew he faced an uncertain and difficult path (didn't know how difficult it would actually be!). BUT he has got through it all with the skill and dedication of our brilliant NHS staff and  his determination in 3 life threatening situations. This year the Happy New Year holds hope and a continued determination to grab life and live it despite the ongoing issues. 

Everyone's situation is unique but we wish each and every one of you hope.

keeping the faith

Milly
 

Hi y'all,

A happier new year for all you too. I have have stopped, this year saying just 'happy' as let's be honest, most people have challenges in their lives and after the last 18 months for us, all we really wish for is a 'disease free year' LOL- so happier, looking forward- if that makes sense. 
We have a 'family tradition' of relatives popping off on New Year's Eve!! , this year my uncle decided to check out, so now that is 5 relatives that have chosen that so called 'happy evening' to check out LOL.

God, I sound like a real miserable git, but just a pragmatist I guess. Give me midsummer anyday and disease free of course (:.

Really good to hear from RayB, our founding father xx

Husband just 'popped' down the pub for 1-2 early on nye, you can guess the rest, I have NOsympathy whatsoever (: me and kids watched BOND. A much better view than a sticky bar!!! (:

Was it Scott or Lee who's traveller had the cheese sandwich- big clapping emoji's and as Millie so rightly put it, snakes and ladders, but slowly & surly onwards x

Anyway, my house still looks like an explosion!! , but sofa is far to comfy(:

keep keeping that faith

Hilts x

Hi y'all,

A happier new year for all you too. I have have stopped, this year saying just 'happy' as let's be honest, most people have challenges in their lives and after the last 18 months for us, all we really wish for is a 'disease free year' LOL- so happier, looking forward- if that makes sense. 
We have a 'family tradition' of relatives popping off on New Year's Eve!! , this year my uncle decided to check out, so now that is 5 relatives that have chosen that so called 'happy evening' to check out LOL.

God, I sound like a real miserable git, but just a pragmatist I guess. Give me midsummer anyday and disease free of course (:.

Really good to hear from RayB, our founding father xx

Husband just 'popped' down the pub for 1-2 early on nye, you can guess the rest, I have NOsympathy whatsoever (: me and kids watched BOND. A much better view than a sticky bar!!! (:

Was it Scott or Lee who's traveller had the cheese sandwich- big clapping emoji's and as Millie so rightly put it, snakes and ladders, but slowly & surly onwards x

Anyway, my house still looks like an explosion!! , but sofa is far to comfy(:

keep keeping that faith

Hilts x

Hi Hilts, sorry to hear about your run of NYE relatives...I guess you are quite nervous on the run up to that particular date!

Good to hear your husband is out for a few beers celebrating- deservedly so.

Let's hope we all have a better new year

Lee.