Treatments for a narrowing throat.

[Madge51]

Has anyone on here had a successful intervention to arrest the narrowing of the esophagus?  Its getting that I feel safer with a liquid diet since anything and everything causes problems & no amount of drinking water with food helps.  Gastro guy just told me that when its gets really bad & I start loosing loads of weight (I wish) then they'll insert a feeding tube.  I thought that the idea was if you can intervene i.e. stretch the throat you can delay such drastic procedures.  This guy seems to think that its OK to allow the disease to take over and he's just rolled over and accepted it but I can't.

[judyt]

You say throat, your throat is really just the top part of the Oesophagus and it is usually the Oesophagus that becomes strictured.   One of the first procedures I had for my Systemic Scleroderma was a dilation of the Oesophagus.   Never have had to have another dilation but my Oesophagus is now (25years later) totally without peristalsis and is distended and floppy.

Doesn't mean I can't eat, have to be careful and sensible but I manage fine.   I think you need a different Doc!!!!   Plenty of Sclero Experts would disagree with him methinks.

[renuaaa]

suggest to keep drinking warm water with food to increase food mobility and avoid all processed food items..

[dianekjs]

Agree that you need a new GI specialist who understands scleroderma and is willing to be proactive. It sounds as if you need an esophageal dilation, they're supposed to help a lot. As Judy said, the throat isn't typically the problem, it's the esophagus that has narrowed and needs stretching. Are you under the care of a scleroderma specialist? If not, you need to be, and if so, please ask them for a referral to a different gastroenterologist with experience treating scleroderma patients. In the meantime, check out a Nutribullet, they're great and retain all the nutrients while they blend/purée your food. I make organic green smoothies with kale, cucumber, celery, spinach, lemon, ginger, and apple. Very easy to use as well. Best of luck to you. 

[christef in reply to dianekjs]

Thanks for the info on green smoothie dianekjs - might try that. I have issues with my throat too but when I have issues I have been taking

antihystames which have helped to a degree.  Have ss, raynards, LS, IBS, heart issues, asthma, arthritis, etc etc - one day at a time. Already had to

put 3 doonas on my bed (2 woolen) plus my electric blanket. Don't know what I will be like when winter finally hits. as it gets down to -10 here.   Have a great weekend ladies.  Speed recovery from the dripping nose etc. Hate it when I get that and the nose bleeds, yuck.