Well I'll be blowed!!

[tommo47]

Here I am in hospital for the second time in my life.

The first time was way back in 1966 when I had an argument with the back-end of a coal wagon whilst riding to work on my Triumph T90 motorcycle. I lost!! and ended up spending 5 days in hospital with two cracked ribs and a fractured wrist, and 6 weeks off work.

Here I am again, some 54 years later, second night in hospital and just a tad more serious than the first visit. Having been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer about 5 weeks ago, the last six days barely able to eat or drink anything and becoming severely dehydrated, ending up on Tuesday night at the end of an IV drip feed.

Still on the drip feed and hoping to have what they call a 'stent' inserted later today which should enable me to eat and drink normally, at home , to get some weight back to continue the fight.

Still, at 72, I guess I've been somewhat lucky considering I'm still riding a motorcycle and I did smoke from the age of 12 until I stopped in 1992.

I guess you could say both visits are down to me!!!!! but what the hell - that's life......

 

[MoodyBlues]

I'm really sorry to hear this, @tommo47, but want to offer some encouragement.

During my most recent illness, I was unable to eat for 7 months; after first having TPN (IV 'feeding'), I had a J-tube surgically implanted for food-like nutrition. It sucked, but it was temporary. And it sounds like your situation will be, too. You'll be eating and drinking again before you know it!

Once you are, focus on high quality calories, so every bit of food/liquid really counts. You want to build yourself back up, so don't waste precious stomach space with empty calories.

And please don't be afraid to speak up if you're not ready to go home when they want to release you. If you're not convinced that you're well enough to go home, listen to your instincts and speak up. Not doing so may well necessitate being readmitted. (It did me.)

What kind of treatment are you receiving for the esophageal cancer? I hope it's not too rough on you but it, too, will be temporary.

Sending healing thoughts your way...

 

[Unforgiven]

Having been diagnosed with oesophagal cancer about 5 weeks ago,

My FIL is dealing with this now and had quite an episode last week. God speed tommo.

 

[tommo47]

Thanks for the support and encouragement, it does help. The stent insertion has now been scheduled for tomorrow morning and a lot will depend on the outcome of that. Watch this space .

 

[olbriar]

Hang in there Tommo. Us old geezers are tough bastards. You'll kick this to the curb. You will be in my thoughts. Do keep us posted.
You are AF family and we care.

 

[Hadron]

Fingers crossed mate. Hope it's going smoothly today.

 

[tommo47]

Thanks again to you all, I really appreciate it. The 'stent' is in place and I haven't enjoyed a simple drink of water as much as the one I've just gulped down ever before!!!

Still going to be on the drip for the time being as I start on soft foods tomorrow.

If all goes well I might even be home on Monday.

@MoodyBlues - my treatment plan is still being discussed by the medical team and the initial review of the PET Scan seems to show the cancer is confined to the tumour on the oesophagus and has not spread so fingers crossed I have been very lucky.

The indication is that chemo will be the first stage while I build up strength for surgical removal of the tumour.

I will enjoy the strength/fitness side of it as one recommendation is walking 3 miles a day. Since a high blood pressure scare in 2010 I started walking/hiking on a regular basis in the North Wales hills and the Pennines usually covering between 10 and 15 miles, quite often twice a week.

We are still waiting for details of the long term treatment plan .

 

[olbriar]

I believe the key to longevity is being active. Good on you for the hiking. Thanks for the update. Take care and I hope you are released soon so you can enjoy the comfort of your own digs.

 

[Steven58]

This hits home for me. I lost my first wife to cancer.. God bless you through this. Speedy recovery.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I haven't enjoyed a simple drink of water as much as the one I've just gulped down ever before!!!

Isn't it amazing? Who knew a simple glass of water could provide such enjoyment?!

Your treatment plan sounds very reasonable. And what a blessing that [apparently] the cancer hasn't metastasized. Having gone into this in good physical shape is a huge plus.

Please keep us posted.

 

[Milo Willamson]

Thanks again to you all, I really appreciate it. The 'stent' is in place and I haven't enjoyed a simple drink of water as much as the one I've just gulped down ever before!!!

Still going to be on the drip for the time being as I start on soft foods tomorrow.

If all goes well I might even be home on Monday.

@MoodyBlues - my treatment plan is still being discussed by the medical team and the initial review of the PET Scan seems to show the cancer is confined to the tumour on the oesophagus and has not spread so fingers crossed I have been very lucky.

The indication is that chemo will be the first stage while I build up strength for surgical removal of the tumour.

I will enjoy the strength/fitness side of it as one recommendation is walking 3 miles a day. Since a high blood pressure scare in 2010 I started walking/hiking on a regular basis in the North Wales hills and the Pennines usually covering between 10 and 15 miles, quite often twice a week.

We are still waiting for details of the long term treatment plan .

I was diagnose with esophaug, cancer around in mid 2000ish, made it through with blueberries smoothies my mom has done for me within a year, luckily we caught it duration of the first stages -- But the real killer of my stomach is having GERD and Berrt's, meaning my stomach is pretty close to my upper torso, but here is to taking meds and seeing what is going to occur with me lately, best of luck of speeding recovery mate.

 

[maire5]

Wishing the best for you for a speedy and permanent recovery.

 

[tommo47]

Well, I'm cautiously optimistic that I will be going home today. The ward Sister told me last evening that my Vital Signs have recovered sufficiently for the Doctors to consider discharging me. I won't know until 'Doctors Rounds' mid morning.

Once again I can only express my heartfelt thanks to all that have given me support and encouragement - it really does help.

A special word of thanks to you @MoodyBlues, I know I've got some way to go yet but I feel that my experience of the last 8 weeks or so pales into insignificance when compared to what you have endured. You are truly inspirational xxxxx.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Thanks for the sweet words, @tommo47.

Now let's concentrate on getting you back on your feet! Don't forget to voice your concerns if you're not as ready to be discharged as they think you are. Don't worry about it sounding weird...or whatever--believe me, they've heard it all! Better to speak up than get discharged prematurely.

How are you doing with your nutrition? Are you able to consume enough nutrients by mouth, or are they still supplementing by IV? You know that may continue after release, with nurses coming to check up on you, and changing--or removing--the IV as needed.

Did you eat anything really yummy today? I hope so!

 

[tommo47]

Thanks for the sweet words, @tommo47.

Now let's concentrate on getting you back on your feet! Don't forget to voice your concerns if you're not as ready to be discharged as they think you are. Don't worry about it sounding weird...or whatever--believe me, they've heard it all! Better to speak up than get discharged prematurely.

How are you doing with your nutrition? Are you able to consume enough nutrients by mouth, or are they still supplementing by IV? You know that may continue after release, with nurses coming to check up on you, and changing--or removing--the IV as needed.

Did you eat anything really yummy today? I hope so!

Hi, I started on puree, then yesterday went to soft/small bite and really enjoyed chicken and potato pie with veg. At the moment the IV feed has been taken off and I'm waiting for 'Doctors Rounds'.

Breakfast was a bowl of cornflakes and a strawberry Ensure (do you have Ensure in the US?) which before the stent was inserted was a complete no-no. So I remain hopeful of a discharge - I certainly feel happy and content if it's offered. Fortunately my wife has a catering background and I have total faith in her ability to sort me out diet-wise taking into account the help and advice being offered as far as the nutritional supplements that are available .

 

[Steven58]

Wow! You ARE coming along. Yeah, we have ensure. We have both the thick kind and the liquidy kind. During my late wife's late-stage cancer she couldn't even tolerate the liquidy kind. She hated it. Please keep us apprised, Love, prayers and blessings for you!

 

[Milo Willamson]

I was on an Ensure kick when being treated for my big cancer kick, best of love, prayers and really warm goodness that comes between man

 

[dontpanicbobby]

The next bit is the hard part.
Cancer survivor!

 

[tommo47]

Oh well, I thought it might be too good to be true .

At the moment I'm pretty close to being pissed off (excuse the language but I haven't got a better way to put it).

After the successful breakfast I was looking forward to the Doctor coming to have a chat supposedly around 10:00am. He didn't arrive until 5:00pm by which time I had unsuccessfully tried to eat lunch, my wife and eldest grandson had been and gone and I had started to have serious reflux of the part eaten lunch which was just sitting in my stomach. (Edit :- as I've put in my later post, the food was not getting to my stomach due to a blockage in the stent)

The doctor left having decided I should go back on the drip feed with 'nothing by mouth' overnight and start from scratch today with puree food. He had no idea what was causing the difficulty.

So needless to say the prospect of a discharge has gone out the window. Having proof read the above I've decided I AM pissed off .

My gut feeling (excuse the pun) is that something in the lunch didn't agree with me but that was dismissed by the doctor, but hey, I could be wrong.

I've only just stopped bringing bits of the lunch up having resorted to the old 'two fingers down the throat' remedy .

Oh, and to cap it off, at 2:00am I had a set to with the night sister .

 

[olbriar]

I'm sorry to hear that. I know that you had to be looking forward to going home. Extremely disappointed instead of pissed might be closer to fact. I know that's how I'd feel at least. Proceeding with caution is no doubt playing it way safe but it is your recovery they are after. It's your health and well being that dictated the change of plan. I'm not trying to take their side here but as an outsider, I can see where they are coming from. Hang in there. You'll have to play by their rules.. they surely know what's best. And when you get to go home you'll know that you are fully ready. I am way sorry it wasn't today.

 

[Milo Willamson]

Whenever you are feeling ready though, it is really hard to switch back from solid foods to puree.. You kind of have to watch the stomach though, sounds like Acid Reflux, or is it different then that?

 

[tommo47]

I'm sorry to hear that. I know that you had to be looking forward to going home. Extremely disappointed instead of pissed might be closer to fact. I know that's how I'd feel at least. Proceeding with caution is no doubt playing it way safe but it is your recovery they are after. It's your health and well being that dictated the change of plan. I'm not trying to take their side here but as an outsider, I can see where they are coming from. Hang in there. You'll have to play by their rules.. they surely know what's best. And when you get to go home you'll know that you are fully ready. I am way sorry it wasn't today.

Well, from my point of view it isn't that straightforward. There are a number of things that should have been done but were not done and some that were not done that should have been done. The result of a lack of communication between the doctors and the ward.

 

[tommo47]

Well, talk about being like a yo-yo.

I'm at home, in my own bed with a mug of coffee, a yoghurt and a bottle of Lucozade.

I was wiped out having spent from midday Monday to midday today being sick. When my wife arrived for her visit she decided to put her foot down with a firm hand (she is scarily good at that) and took the doctors to task. They finally agreed to put me in for an emergency endoscopy which revealed a blockage in the stent. It was washed clear and provided that I could consume a bottle of Ensure successfully, they would be prepared to discharge me.

I also enjoyed a large mug of coffee .

Oh happy days

 

[olbriar]

I wish I could like your post multiple times. Enjoy the holiday... at home. Now that's more like it!

 

[MoodyBlues]

Here's a virtual high-five for your wife, tommo47! Good thing she put her foot down.

What a great Christmas gift to be home, nice and comfy in your own bed.

Here's to continued improvement, and happy holidays!