Rehabilitation

It has been one of the most difficult weeks so far. My days are consumed by eating, resting, and taking naps. It is hard to find time to write my blog.

I started “baby food” like diet last Monday. Even though I had known that this is a huge adjustment and could be excruciating from reading some Japanese blogs, to face it as a reality is a different matter.

My stomach, which is hanging right under my throat is now functioning as my esophagus; because the surgeon removed all of my esophagus and created a new one with my stomach. While the esophagus has a muscle function to lower the food down, the stomach does not. So, it is only gravity that pulls down the food. Since the stomach does not provide the previous service as a food holder with digestive function, my small intestine has to work as a stomach as well as intestine.

When my organs are trying to figure out their new functions, the blood goes down wherever the food is, and I feel dizzy and tired for about one hour after eating “a very small amount of food. “ I am repeating this six times a day!

This rehabilitation process is so time consuming and slow, but I am progressing well. On Monday I sent a list of foods I ate during the past week to BWH’s nutritionist via E-mail, and received permission to reduce my canned food to 2 1/2 cans from 3 (originally I was taking 4 1/2 cans. ) Thanks to the advancement of internet, I can consult my nutritionist at any time from a distance!

On Sunday, I received an Email from my friend; a minister of a Unitarian Church in NY was diagnosed with esophageal cancer on 10/17.

Is it only me who feel that the cancer is an epidemic and everywhere? Or is it our age?
This year three of my dear friends fell victim to the cancer. The fashion four of us were diagnosed with cancer one after another was almost like playing “tag” and has become “it”; One day you hear from your friend that she has cancer, then you are diagnosed with cancer less than a month after. Consolation of this 21st century phenomena is that we all are doing fine after the treatment thanks to the early detection.