dilation

Hi Seeker. I thought I'd pop on to bump your post up as nobody had answered. I'm sorry I can't help though. I hope somebody has an answer for you....apart from your consultant that is.

Hi Seeker

It must be a real pain to have to undergo those regular endoscopies but your specialist has put them in place for a reason and you need to trust him. Have a discussion with him as he will be able to answer all those questions you have.

My father who is quite elderly is in the same position as you and has to have an endoscopy every now and then as he too has an oesophogus that constricts as it enters his stomach.

I know he definitely needs the dilation from time to time as it gets to the stage where he can’t get the food down and is in a lot of pain and ends up vomiting it back up. Also when we go out we always have to make sure that he has a glass of water to help wash things down and he has to  chew things really well to make sure they are small enough to get down. It can take a while when you eat out with him. We have run into one or two embarrassing situations where he has not chewed the food enough and then has vomited it back up so I always make sure that I carry a plastic bag with me to be on the safe side. Some foods are worse than others and I am always on high alert when I take him out.

So for him the endoscopies are a life saver.

Hope you get the answers you need from your surgeon but you may need to look on it as something that keeps things ticking along for you so you can live a normal life.

Best of luck

Lyn

Thanks Lyn; a wonderful post. This community is a wonderful place. I knew somebody would step up. 

Thanks. My position is slightly different because I have no teeth and my mouth muscles have been ruined by radiation. So chewing food is out and I can anyway only swallow very soft mashed food. So it always goes down as long as the pipe stays open. That is really my question will or can it close.

Hi Seeker1

I think one of the problems with dilation is that it may have to be repeated as the esophagus can gradually narrow again.  As I understand it complete stricture can occur but it is rare.  I agree with Lyn that it's a discussion you need to have with your consultant as he/she is the professional.

Good luck with it.

Linda x