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8/28

I went to BWH today, and saw my surgeon. After having a resident repair my J-tube stitch, he told me the following:

My surgery is going to be on September 26, at 7:30, and will last for about 8 hours. I will be on a ventilation machine for a night, spend a night or two in the ICU, and then stay about 11 days in the hospital. I have to learn how to eat with this new esophagus and small stomach. Full recovery will take from three to six months.

Mortality rate is 2%, complication rate is 15%. He will try to use the minimally invasive procedure as much as possible, which means more than 10 incisions at the back, neck and sides of the body, instead of opening my stomach.

While I was waiting my turn in the waiting room, I could not stop coughing at one time. Mark got worried that people would not like my coughing, mistaking it for a cold, and urged me to go to the bathroom. Before using the restroom, I apologized to a heavy-set man who was sitting next to me, saying, “don't worry, this is not a cold, but from the radiation.”

When I came back to my seat, the man asked how my radiation was. It turned out that he has an esophagial cancer, and he had the same doctor too. He had hair, and he did not have esophagitis (not fair!!). He said he was told to lose 50 pounds by the doctor, but lost only 30 pounds, and was gaining it back…

Throughout my life I was grateful that I stayed fairly slim. Since the diagnosis of cancer, however, I have been wishing that I were heavier.

Although the surgery is scheduled later than expected, it is probably good. I need to get to the point where I can eat before the surgery.