THE Surgery

Here's what the surgery was about. I have a condition called esophageal achalasia. It's where the tissue in my esophagus doesn't work quite right, and the muscle around it has been working so hard to try to get that tissue to work that it's gotten so strong and grown so much, that it's blocked a part of the esophagus off. Did that make sense? Anything that is in my stomach stays there, but the hard part is getting it to the stomach. Point being, it's hard to eat.

Had surgery last Tuesday. They did laproscopic (spell check that!) surgery with a robot. I have 5 incision marks on my belly - the middle one going right through the belly button. It was pretty crazy to learn, but the doctor didn't hardly even touch me. He controlled this robot from a "booth" and there are big robotic "arms" that come out from it. He had some assistance from other doctors (next to me) placing the robot arms where they needed to be. I remember "coming to" and not able to open my eyes, but I was shaking so bad. I could hear a guy asking if I could hear him, and asking me to respond and I just couldn't - I just kept shaking. Ugh, it was scary.

Then I have a lot of sleep, and then more sleep - that medication is some good stuff. Then a barium swallow the next morning. I hadn't had anything to drink or eat at that point - just the IV. I know it sounds simple, but all I wanted was to EAT normally. I go in and stand in front of the X-ray machine, drink the chalky white drink, and watch the monitor. Some of it goes down, and some of it doesn't. It was just sitting there at the bottom of my esophagus, the same way the tests before surgery were, and I started to cry through the rest of it. Not saying anything, drinking, holding my breath, and turning when they told me to.

On the positive side, there were no leaks in the esophagus. That was the biggest concern with the doctor. Mine was that things still wouldn't go down. When I talked to the doctor later, he said it was a toss-up with me and one other, but it was the worst case of this he had seen. The surgery included cutting the muscle inside and "butterflying" it, and pinning the sides back. And then wrapped my stomach around my esophagus to prevent a lot of acid reflux.

Doesn't feel one bit different as before surgery except it burns now. lol, I'm hoping the muscle is swollen and will feel better next week. I am taking in 2300 calories and 70 grams of protein on a liquid diet. Have you guys tried those nutrition drinks? Then Harry bought me baby food and apple sauce-type things. He's been wonderful with getting me things and making sure I'm drinking enough. Coudn't have asked for more out of him.

Honestly, though, I would love a big juicy Bacon Cheese Thickburger with curly fries! Haha!