Food stuck

[Von66]

I’m 5 months Ivor Lewis doing well then yesterday got a piece of chicken stuck what felt like it was in my throat made myself sick food came up but after my throat feels sore and like there’s still something in it then this morning finding it hard to swallow my food is this cause my throat is sore from wrenching or is food still stuck in pipe I’m worried I’ve done something to my oesophagus 😢

[ccfc]

Hi, It’s common that over time the scar tissue tightens and makes it hard to swallow. Contact your hospital and they will organise a stretch. It is an endoscopy where they open a balloon to relieve the tightness. I had several over the first 18 months or so. Best Wishes, James.

[Beena45 in reply to ccfc]

My 6 th month endoscopy is due this month and my doctor after reviewing the ct scan ( again 6 th month screening )and feedback on slight hard to swallow scenario said I might need a bit of stretching. With that said, no need to worry too

Much .. all solvable matters. Consult with doctor, always think long term - you will be just fine.

[Beena45 in reply to Beena45]

Also - not sure for others, it was easy swallow for 2-3 months post surgery and then it became a bit challenging and you will easily notice that. I thot I had duck dish I tried stuck .. actually called in doctor off to check on that. They suggested I drink soda for couple of days and see if that helps and it didn’t much. Slowly I realized it’s the tightening and need stretch .. chew chew chew well, ensure you empty mouth before you take another bite .. and go slow

[Cavalier3 in reply to Beena45]

Hi Beena, I was great too until about 2 to 3 months post surgery. My main problem since then has been feeling of something stuck and trapped wind. I think I may have got too complacent about what I was eating due to feeling so good. I’ve taken a step back really and eating softer foods and eating very slowly. Your advice is spot on

[Cavalier3]

Hi Von66,

I’m just 5 months post IL too and I’m having a few problems with feeling of fullness in my throat and trapped wind when I eat some foods as if they are stuck. Reading the group it seems like we both may need a stretch. I get a sore throat when I’ve been sick for a day or 2 as well. Hope you’re feeling a bit better today. Sue

[Von66 in reply to Cavalier3]

I get a sore throat too forever sucking throat lozenges I am , yeah looks like maybe need stretch if it keeps happening x

[Cavalier3 in reply to Von66]

Me too, annoying cough too. I’ve got my next check up towards the end of September so plan to have a chat with them then. See if things improve by then. It’s still very early days for us both. X

[Beena45 in reply to Cavalier3]

I had cough too - it went away in 4 months from date of surgery

[Cavalier3 in reply to Beena45]

Hi Beena, yes mine got better a few weeks ago probably around the 4 month mark too.. I’m just 5 months now

[kiddy]

Hi, Firstly dont panic. Chicken and bread are renowned for getting stuck still. It is still early days you need to chew chew chew and not rush your food.Sometimes a stitch might be in the way. Not everyone needs a stretch but your plumbing does need to get used to small amounts of food.

We do get alot of gas coming up and froth I experienced . It does get better.

Take care

Debbie

[Popsic]

I am 8 yrs post IL and I’m having problems at the mo with swallowing, I have a 2nd endoscopy Tuesday, which I’m petrified of having in case they find something, but I’m thinking maybe they will do a stretch, it will be my first if they do, but I wanted to say to you all really, if you suffer sore throats I suck Manuka honey nuggets, I find they really help ease it, Manuka honey has powerful healing properties, worth a try, Try not to panic too much, it is a scary experience.

[Hidden]

Yes it's interesting how things like this happen, at Royal Leicester Infirmary they have outside caterers who have no understanding of how you need to eat after the op and me being so high on morphine was fairly clueless as well. I was eating breakfast lunch and dinner with surprisingly no issues at all but just before discharge I ate a piece of toast and it stuck to the throat like velcro. I mentioned this to the consultant (who seemed more impressed that I was eating toast this soon) but wasn't concerned. After discharge I started getting a situation where I'd eat and swallow with no issues and then within minutes of eating everything would come back up into my mouth so I was sure I needed dilation. Professor Bowery my surgeon did an endoscopy which showed the gullet to be normal size but the stomach on the other hand was full (even after fasting) and it transpired that just like in the hospital I was overeating so most of the time what I swallowed was sitting on top of food still in my stomach and I had no way of knowing it until it was ejected. Even now I have the appetite warning system of a gold fish and have to gauge what I eat by the size of the plate. Also another possible cause of any kind of mild dysphagia may be how the join was done, leakage being one of the most dangerous post op issues some surgeons stitch and some staple whereas to be completely on the safe side mine did both which I imagine would leave a fair amount of hard scar tissue and food may sit here until washed down or moved with subsequent food.Hope this is of some help even from just my personal perspective.