Communication among caregivers is very important Rita called me (the Blogging Caregiver) to give me an update on Cindy’s Status. I usually get nervous when she calls, but it wasn’t awful news. Here is what she said:
Cindy has been having a problem with keeping food down for the past few days. She had a scheduled appointment with her surgeon, Dr. Tsai, today. He told her that she was having a problem with scarring on her esophagus or delayed gastric emptying – the stomach can’t empty food properly. It is possible that she might have started eating solid foods too soon – such as bread and bagels. These foods are too gummy and can be difficult for the stomach to digest after a surgery like she had.
Next week, when the surgeon’s assistant comes back, she will schedule an endoscopy to check the esophagus and a gastric emptying study. If there is a problem with scarring on her esophagus, then he will widen her esophagus. This is an outpatient procedure that can be done in his office. If there is a gastric emptying problem, then it is possible that he tightened her stomach too much and he will have to surgically open the back of her stomach.
Until they find out what is wrong, Cindy has to go back on a liquid diet. The good news? She will probably lose more weight and is at the lowest she has been in many years.
The Blogging Caregiver appreciates all your comments. Please let me know your thoughts below.