Post 13 yr. open Ivor-lewis esophageal surgery -

[lightsinthecity]

After all this time I started experiencing "choking" up food that I had eaten 2 days previous. I say choking because it is not throwing up per se but like gagging - it is awful.

I contacted my GI office and requested I have an "esophageal stretch" which I've had several times throughout the years.

Post procedure the dr. said that the esophagus itself did not need to be stretched but that he stretched the pylorus and this should help.

That procedure was done a month ago and I have been fine until today when I "choked" up some orange that I ate night before last and some remanents of my breakfast yesterday. Sorry for the detailed (gross) description.

I don't understand. Are there long time survivors out there who have experienced such a thing so far off from the initial surgery?

I would appreciate any input anyone might have.

Thank you very much!

[Cortex1]

I’m almost 15 years post surgery and I have those symptoms once in a while, although more so in the early years. It’s called regurgitation. You regurgitate old food.

If there’s no blockage it could be gastroparesis, which means the food sit in the stomach because the peristalsis fails.

[lightsinthecity in reply to Cortex1]

Thank you so much for replying. It is really one of the most awful things to experience and it seemed as though it went away after the EGD and the widning of the pyloris.

In the past gastroparesis was brought up but with some changes to my eating habits it has not shown up in the medical report post EGD in a long time. I am almost guessing that I need to slow down a bit when I eat -- after all that is one of the 1st things they tell you that you will have to get used to.

It has given me a bit of relief knowing that some one else has had this happen after so many years post surgery. As you said, it would be more likely to happen in the years right after the surgery.

Do you take a PPI? I was taking a generic Aciphex until my insurance wouldn't cover it and I am now taking 40 mg. a day of Pantoprazole. Everything I have read states you should avoid long-term use of PPIs but I have been taking them for about 17 years!!

Thanks again 😊

[Kathflan in reply to lightsinthecity]

I haven’t had that happen but have been taking PPI’s (aciphex) for 15 years. There is no alternative but I do hate taking something with the warnings. I still get some bad attacks of reflux at night but it depends on what I eat.

[lightsinthecity in reply to Kathflan]

Thanks for your reply Kathflan. As to the reflux problem - I pretty much have that beat BUT I have been sleeping in the upright position in a recliner for the past 5 years!

[Cortex1 in reply to lightsinthecity]

I take ppi’s when I feel I need it, not very often nowadays. I seem to manage without them. They don’t affect bile reflux though so I regurgitate because of bile sometimes. I do take gaviscon every night before bed.

[lightsinthecity in reply to Cortex1]

Thanks so much for your reply. I've been taking PPI's for so long that I am almost afraid to go off of them because they seem to have served their purpose and it seems I would be going backward? Maybe?

[jay2908]

I tend to drink some water a few minutes before bed just to help flush everything down. May be that would help?

[lightsinthecity in reply to jay2908]

Thanks so much for your reply! 😊

[werfvan5]

Hiya, SNAP 13 years on January 4th since my Ivor Lewis, I’m still eating my breakfast, when everyone else, are starting there dinner!!! Yes I have to really chew my food. I need plenty of liquid, to help it down, and many swallows…has got more so in last 6 months. Think a trip to the Docs is coming up…..All the best…

[lightsinthecity in reply to werfvan5]

Thanks so much for your reply! 😊

[purplekey]

I’ve discovered certain food with skins down seem to go down and stick on the sides of my oesophagus. Ie tomato skins, peas etc which causes coughing/reflux. Wondered about your orange! I went for a meal had lovely mushrooms in a thick creamy sauce. Lovely. The next morning I chocked/ vomited up a tiny pine cone!!!, was a shock. I’d keep a food diary again for a bit to monitor what doesn’t go down or comes up and see your team. X

[lightsinthecity in reply to purplekey]

Thanks for the reply purplekey. A pine cone? Is that a part of something in the mushroom/thick creamy sauce? It does make sense that things such as oranges, apples may be rougher on the esophagus because of their skins but for this to happen after 13 years of it NOT happening is odd in and of itself?

[purplekey in reply to lightsinthecity]

I think it must have dropped from a tree when they collected the mushrooms!

[TerriBeikert1962]

hi! Yes and yes to your questions. Try digestive enzymes you can buy over the counter or if not strong enough you can RX zenpep. Digestive enzymes are produced by the pancreas and they break down the food so it can be absorbed and you get the nutrients from it. The pancreas produces less enzymes as a permanent side effect of the surgery and it will get worse. However don’t despair because you can increase the strength of the digestive enzymes. You take digestive enzymes with your first bite of food. 15 minutes later you can take another dose. There are no side effects to the enzymes. You are replacing something that your body produces naturally but now is producing too few naturally. be patient and try different brands and strengths to see what results you get. Your G.I. doc in Caan Rx the zen pep. Health food stores carry digestive enzymes with no added dyes,soy,etc. Best of luck to you and happy holidays!!

[lightsinthecity in reply to TerriBeikert1962]

Thanks for your reply. It just baffles me that it is happening after 13 years? How long has it been since your surgery and has this happened to you? And, if so, how long after your surgery did you have signs of same?

Thanks again. 😊