I'm seven months post op and whilst I feel fine in general, I notice that swallowing certain foods is not painful or difficult, just not as comfortable as I feel it should be.
Things like bread, roast Potatoes, denser baked items such as scones, but crackers and things are fine
I keep telling myself it's only been seven months and just to chew more or take smaller forkfulls, but the other side of me is afraid it's coming back. Especially as I had no post op chemotherapy as I reacted badly to my first session and ended up in hospital for a month.
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Hon-Moonraker
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Hi, It could be that you need a stretch. I am over six years post op and I am fine now but over the first eighteen months I had to have several stretches. My doctor told me the scar tissue contracts and makes swallowing difficult. It just involves an endoscopy and takes a few minutes. Best Wishes, James.
Hi, I am similar to yourself in terms of time post open and the types of food I tolerate. My op was in June at Aintree and I do not eat bread anymore due to trouble before and after procedure. I am managing far more than I did before op but no longer try with things that are known trouble makers. The issue with me seems to be how things are cooked. If it's boiled or in case of potatoes roasted ( aunt bessies ) they are largely ok. If fried in oil they stick. Gannon boiled is ok but roasted is a no no. The stretch is common following the op and my surgeon advised I let him know if food began to stick as stretch has better success the earlier done after op. I have found I have the sensation of sticking more if I am stressed when eating. I know it can be hard not to be but the more stressed the worse food seems to stick. We are still the lucky ones to have had operation.
Morning Hon-Moonraker - I am coming up to 2 years post op next month and so far have had to have 5 stretches - I struggle with the same things particularly bread as we know most breads are very doughy and can form like a ball - crackers will be fine as they crumble to a powdery consistency. I think yes we need to be mindful of the quantity of our bites and what's on our forks, but I'm still learning this myself and often forget, and then suffer for it later. I really do think you would benefit from a stretch being done by the sounds of it. I wish you all the best in your recovery - it definitely is a learning curve. Best Wishes Jo
Hi there 2yrs 10months post op and still have problems with certain meets bread and doughy things. I had a barium swallow and camera down but everything goes down ok. Still a stitch was in situ .Told to chew chew chew or avoid. Toast is better than bread and crispy things like crackers no problem.
Hi, my husband is a year after the operation and there are foods he can eat and ones he can’t, he cannot tolerate bread or pizza or peas, he is better with crunchy things like crackers & crisps, tough red meat roasted is a problem, so just chicken now, we have found if something is hard change it to something else he bread to crackers, it seems the easiest way to learn what you can tolerate and what you can’t.
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