Esophagectomy Recovery: Relearning To Eat & Sleep
When I came home after surgery for esophageal cancer, a new era of my life began. Esophagectomy recovery meant learning how to eat and sleep again. Although my stomach was now smaller, I still needed the same number of calories to maintain my weight.
In addition, I needed to sleep at a 30-degree angle so gravity would not move the contents of my stomach into my throat at night. Because the sphincter valve that acts as a lid on my stomach was removed during esophagectomy surgery, there was concern that I might aspirate gastric contents, which could lead to pneumonia or even death.
Along with these major lifestyle changes, there was also the lingering fear that I might not have much time left to live. Should I be putting my affairs in order and making things easier for my wife after I was gone? I decided to ask her to start handling our personal finances. If something happened to me, I wanted her to be prepared.
Depression Plays a Role
After surgery, I found that depression made me feel too tired to exercise. I would tell myself, “If I am tired now, how much more tired will I be after I exercise?” As a result, I became inactive.
Because I had no appetite, I wasn’t eating properly. My wife would ask what I wanted, prepare meals with care, and place them in front of me—but I simply couldn’t eat.
Despite her patience and support, I continued to lose weight. At my post-surgical check-up, my doctor saw that my weight had dropped from 250 pounds before diagnosis to 170 pounds after surgery. He warned me that if I lost even one more pound, he would have to insert a feeding tube.
That was the turning point in my recovery. From that moment on, I decided to take control of my health and my life.
The Importance of Exercise
I began to exercise, and it made a significant difference. It helped my body heal faster, stimulated my appetite, and improved my mental outlook.
I came to realize that I had no control over tomorrow—but God does. There was no point in worrying about what I could not control. I chose to live each day fully, and if my time came, I would be ready.
My personal motto, “Make where you are better because you are there,” took on a deeper meaning and urgency.
Relearning How to Eat
I knew I needed to be proactive in my recovery. That meant relearning how to eat properly and get enough nutrition.
Eating smaller meals became essential. Instead of three meals a day, I needed to eat six times daily. My routine became two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners.
Foods I once ate in one sitting were now divided in half. For example, instead of eating a full sandwich at lunch, I would eat half at noon and the other half a few hours later.
Over time, this approach helped me maintain my weight and begin regaining some of what I had lost during seven months of treatment.
Sleep Becomes a New Experience
During chemotherapy, I had already grown used to sleeping on my back because of the chemo pump. After surgery, I continued sleeping this way but also needed to keep my upper body elevated.
I used a medical wedge pillow to ensure that my head and chest remained above my stomach, reducing the risk of aspiration during sleep.
The first two months of recovery were challenging. But relearning how to eat, sleep, and stay active became the foundation of my healing.
Bart Frazzitta is an esophageal cancer survivor and the founder of the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation (ECEF).
Read more of his story here >
- Esophageal Cancer: A Brutal Diagnosis
- Esophageal Cancer Treatment: Chemo & Radiation
- Esophageal Cancer: Overwhelming Emotions
- Surviving Esophagectomy Surgery