Esophagectomy Recovery: Relearning To Eat & Sleep
A New Beginning at Home
When I returned home after surgery, a new chapter of my life began. Recovery from esophagectomy meant relearning some of the most basic functions—how to eat and how to sleep.
My stomach was now smaller, but my body still required the same number of calories to maintain my weight.
Sleeping also changed. I had to rest at a 30-degree angle to prevent stomach contents from moving into my throat. Because the valve that normally keeps food in the stomach had been removed during surgery, there was a real risk of aspiration—something that could lead to pneumonia or even become life-threatening.
Along with these physical changes came an emotional burden. I couldn’t shake the fear that my time might be limited. I began preparing for the possibility that I might not be here much longer, even asking my wife to take over our finances so she would be ready if anything happened to me.
When Depression Took Hold
After surgery, I struggled with depression.
I felt constantly tired and avoided exercise, telling myself, “If I’m this tired already, how much worse will I feel after working out?”
I became inactive, spending most of my time sitting. At the same time, I had no appetite. My wife would lovingly prepare meals, but when the food was placed in front of me, I simply couldn’t eat.
Despite her patience and support, the weight kept dropping—down from 250 pounds before my diagnosis to 170 pounds after surgery.
At a follow-up visit, my doctor gave me a wake-up call: if I lost even one more pound, he would have to insert a feeding tube.
That moment changed everything.
Taking Back Control
From that point on, I made a decision—I was going to take control of my recovery and my life.
I began exercising. Slowly but steadily, it helped me regain strength, improved my appetite, and lifted my mood.
I also realized something important: I couldn’t control the future. Worrying about it would not change the outcome. So instead, I chose to focus on each day and live it fully.
My personal belief became even stronger:
Make wherever you are better because you are there.
Now, it carried a deeper sense of urgency.
Relearning How to Eat
Recovery required a new approach to eating.
Instead of three meals a day, I needed to eat six smaller meals to get enough nutrition. My new routine became simple: split every meal in half.
What used to be one sandwich for lunch became half at noon and the other half a couple of hours later. In effect, I had two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners each day.
This adjustment allowed me to maintain my weight and gradually regain some of what I had lost during months of treatment.
Learning to Sleep Again
Sleep also required adjustment.
During chemotherapy, I had already grown used to sleeping on my back due to the chemo pump. After surgery, I continued in that position but added elevation to protect myself from aspiration.
Using a medical wedge pillow, I kept my upper body raised so gravity would help keep stomach contents where they belonged.
The Road to Recovery
The first two months after surgery were among the most challenging of my life.
But through persistence, I learned that recovery came down to three essential things:
- Eating properly
- Sleeping safely
- Staying active
Relearning these basic habits became the foundation of my healing—and my path forward.
About the Author
Bart Frazzitta is an esophageal cancer survivor and the founder of the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation (ECEF).
- Esophageal Cancer: A Brutal Diagnosis
- Esophageal Cancer Treatment: Chemo & Radiation
- Esophageal Cancer: Overwhelming Emotions
- Surviving Esophagectomy Surgery