Post oesophagotomy

just starting my journey but interesting to read , sorry i cant be of help 

Thanks for your reply.   It just feels such a let down after such a positive result with the chemotherapy and operation.   Physically he is recovering but as others have said eating is such a big part of our life.  I  try and hide when I am eating my meal as it seems so unfair on him. Although he doesn't really complain.  Really we just want something positive.   All the doctors say is if it doesn't work then we will do another stretch.   But if it's not doing anything what else is there.  Or maybe it's just too soon to be thinking like that. 

Hi- I haven't suffered the problem-Yet!- but someone will come along who has had it done, I understand they can only do so many times, another group that may help you in your situation with helping a Partner is the following

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/carers-only-forum/

It's for carers and people like yourself that have to help and suffer at times people like us !!

Take care

Tony

Sorry to read the recovery is still a struggle and hope that matters improve soon.

Hi, 

I quite understand your feelings and frustration, it’s wonderful that your husband is doing well post op and he is cancer free but you want to see him enjoy a nourishing meal.

My husband had his op in 2009 and came through it very well but late last year he started to have problems swallowing again. I was so worried and it took weeks to get him to agree to see the consultant  - scans and a gastroscopy were done quickly & biopsies were clear but 4 dilations later (5th coming up soon) there was some but not much improvement to the thickened scar tissue.   More biopsies were taken that were again clear but they showed that one of his medications (iron tablets) could be affecting the scar tissue as well as the obvious acid that can be a problem. No more iron tablets and further discussion at the next appointment so we’ll see where we go from here.

I don’t know if this is of any help, it’s a very different situation, three months post op is very early days but of course you want to see some progress with his eating, it’s such a natural thing that we all take pretty much for granted until something like this happens.

Take care, J x

Thanks for all your replies so far.  The consultant said that she had never seen anyone with scar tissue that had closed up pretty much altogether so quickly.   I think one of the most frustrating things is that after the investigation endoscopy.   The doctor said it was urgent and should be stretched every 2 weeks.   But for the latest one the appointment was 5 weeks after the second one.  Which was reduced to 3 weeks after a lot of pushing from us.  He is today having the 3rd stretch.   So fingers crossed 

X

Just an update.   Hubby had his 3rd stretch yesterday.   Now at 12mm.  Consultant said it had retracted back to the same opening 8mm as 3 weeks ago.   So now his gullet has been stretched to the width it was 3 weeks ago.   What we are struggling with is the amount of time between stretches.   As if this keeps happening then where do we go from there?  Pretty fed up really 

Hi, has there been any improvement in appointment times? I would contact the consultant’s secretary and tell her that the 2 week plan has slipped to 5 (3 thanks to your persistence)  - endoscopy are always busy but urgent is urgent and the consultant might not be fully aware of what’s happening.  I hope the latest stretch has helped a bit x

Hi jayceeh5

Thanks for your post.  After his last stretch before he came home the consultant said that he had arranged for his 4th stretch to be added to the list himself but couldn't tell us when but it would definitely be within 2 weeks.   That was 1 week ago.   So hubby has phoned the specialist nurse twice as he hadn't heard anything.   They said it was in hand.  But still no details.   Yesterday got a phone call to confirm that the 4th stretch will be done this coming Wednesday.   So that's the good news.  He doesn't think that the last stretch has done anything.   Still same liquid diet.  Still in a lot of discomfort in the  chest area where the gullet is restricted.   Still on night feeds with medication being crushed and fed through the feeding tube.   Not very successfully as no all the medication will dissolve in water.   So again fingers crossed this will be a step forward.   The consultant just said that they are all booked up.  It really isn't their fault i know.   But that doesn't mean that it's ok.  It just seems that his recovery has been delayed for so long due to the time between stretches.   We live in hope. 

X

Hi, has your husband had a scan recently? When my husband’s saw his consultant he ordered a CT scan as well as the gastroscopy to see both sides of the stricture (the scope could not pass through the narrow gap).  It’s worth exploring every possibility to see if they can come up with a reason for the scarring thickening so much, I never thought iron tablets could play a part.  I’m not surprised you are fed up but keep pressing for answers. x