Esophageal Cancer Battle Diary | Day 87 | Discharge Decided for the 11th Day After Surgery!

I am an esophageal cancer survivor, 56 years old, and a father of one.
Thank you for finding your way to this article among the many on note.

I am re-reading the battle diary I wrote two and a half years ago, tracing my memories from back then and facing myself as I am now.

Day 87, Thursday, March 9, 2023

Woke up at 6:10
Around 23:30 last night, the final IV drip (nutrition) was finally finished.
The IV needle was finally removed as well.
For the first time in about 10 days, theroughly 10 tubes connected to my body were all gone.
Thinking about it now, I feel like the tubes being removed one by one served as a barometer for my recovery.

Painkillers are now just the oral medication Calonal, and although I spent one night on it, the pain seems manageable for now.
In exchange, though, the persistent cough from the aftereffects has become non-stop.
It's not unbearable, but it feels like I might have caught a cold.

I heard that after surgery, the nerves and airway reactions are weakened, making it easier to cough, so I have no choice but to endure it. I have no fever or fatigue at all, but I feel like I should have asked for cough medicine.


This morning, I am passing gas smoothly. I feel like my intestines are moving, which makes me very happy.
Weight: 80.25kg, Body temperature: 36.2 degrees
My discharge will be finalized depending on today's blood test and X-ray results.


11:00
Dr. KM's rounds.
Initially, I was told I would be discharged on Saturday.
There is a rule that discharge must occur at least 24 hours after the final IV drip (nutrition) is finished, and since 24 hours will have passed by tonight, I negotiated to see if I could be discharged tomorrow, Friday.

I wanted to be discharged as soon as possible no matter what.

As a result, it seems Dr. GT also helped advocate for me, and I successfully got the OK. They also changed the nutritional consultation (dietary guidance after discharge), which I am supposed to attend with my wife, to tomorrow, Friday, so they were able to make arrangements for me to be discharged.

I am truly happy.
This time, I really wanted to go home quickly.
I want to see my wife and daughter soon.
I was truly happy to be able to move my discharge date up by even one day.

I am also sincerely grateful to all the nurses on the 13th floor who took care of me this time.
TG-san, FW-san, YM-san, YD-san (male), HR-san, ST-san (male), ME-san...

Come to think of it, there were no male nurses on the 14th floor.
I was taken care of by many nurses, including those on the 14th floor who helped me during my chemotherapy.

Sometimes they encouraged me and pushed me forward, and other times they accepted my anxious feelings; I believe it was because of everyone's devoted and warm support that I was able to overcome this treatment.

I have nothing but gratitude.
Thank you so, so much for everything.
Thank you very much.

22:00
Even past lights-out time, the WBC opening game against China is being broadcast on TV, so it seems everyone in every room and every bed is watching.

I think I will also soak in the lingering emotions of my final night while watching the WBC.

My writing is clumsy, but thank you for reading until the end.
I would be happy if you could 'like' and follow me to stay connected!

If you'd like, please take a look at the following articles as well.

💉 This is the story of the day my cancer was discovered.

📘 This is the story of what led me to start writing my battle diary.

✨ This is my self-introduction.