Dilation of esophagus

[Apricot4color]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone that has had an Ivor Lewis pull up, had an issue with not being able to have an endoscopy to dilate the esophagus because staples from the surgery were in the way. How do you cope with an esophagus the size of a straw?

[strangetimes]

Apricot have you had an unsuccesful attempt at an endoscopy ? Or are you anxious about what might happen if you needed one ?

If it helps I I think that the oesphageous after the IL op is larger than a straw .

[Debbiewallis]

Hi hubby Tony has had same issues since I L ... clip in the way and scar tissue narrowed right back so that he couldn’t even drink without throwing up! Nightmare! Tomorrow having his 7th stretch...it IS gradually widening but does take time you have to just keep eating soup poor thing and anything very very soft like he did until it improves. I can remember thinking that for gods sake all he’s been through to be left like this !!! But it has slowly got better after 7 months , and the gaps between the stretching have widened too ...thank goodness. Hopefully eventually will cease!keep strong.

[Apricot4color in reply to Debbiewallis]

Hi Debbie, Thanks so much for responding back. Sounds like our spouses have similar problems. The clip being in the way sounds like the staple here. I think he's been thru 3 scopes, but they couldn't dilate because the doctor was waiting to see if a pinhole in the tissue would heal, the doctor thinks it's another staple behind the lining now, so he doesn't want to take the chance of rupturing the tissue trying to dilate. It's been a tough road, he also had a Diaphragmic hernia repair last month. Does your husband have to deal with pain much? I just wish there was more that they could do to help him. I hope and pray that the last dilation that your husband got was successful and brought him some much needed relief.

[Debbiewallis]

Unfortunately for some the scar tissue (stricture) or joining tightens and shrinks right back so that nothing can pass , and for Tony by two weeks after his op this is exactly what had happened. Usually takes as long on the inside to heal as outside sometimes best part of a year so I’m hoping that by this Aug he’s done with “balloon dilatation “

[gutlesswonder]

Hello Apricot4color

You haven't said how long it's been since the op.

For the long-term prognosis you will be surprised at the straw's ability to transform into a drainpipe!

I know of one surgeon who tells of a patient who has dilated to a diameter of 7 cms. This of course is due to the stretching from an increasing intake of food over, say 5 or more years.

Which, if not approached with moderation brings with it a whole new set of complications.

In my case I have learnt to stop stuffing the sausage when a violent bout of coughing warns me that the balloon is starting to rub on a lung.

[Apricot4color in reply to gutlesswonder]

The surgery was last June. Good to know that the esophagus can stretch it self out over time and that over doing it can put pressure on a lung. I apprecuate everyone that has reached out.