It is not difficult at all, but can be a little intimidating at first. Most people I have worked with were afraid of “gagging”. I was a little worried about that also, but the gagging reflex is mostly physiological. I prepared myself mentally for this and have never gagged once in the 700+ times I have done it. No diet restrictions. I eat whatever I want without any issues. I have gained 20 pounds back since starting this. If you would like to witness an actual self dilation, I can share some videos with you. Good Luck.
Thank you for your reply. We haven’t got to that point yet/ but was curious as to what it might entails should we get there.
It has been a rough ride! He goes for another endoscopy tomorrow. He had 3 last week and a stent out in- but still cannabis swallow anything. However, he has gotten 2 popsicles down today.
What instructions were you given by your doctor who installed your stent? Where are you on your EC journey? Are you doing neoadjuvant treatments... still making your way to surgery? What stage are you?
In general, I can't say I'm a fan of getting a stent... although there are situations where they have their justified applications. They tend to migrate, can be uncomfortable, and often have to be fished out of the patient's stomach. If they're being used to help the patient eat, and surgery is still an option, I'd much prefer a J tube for long term use. What type and size stent has been placed? How long will this one last? Is it for very short-term use (a couple of weeks?)
He has had chemo and radiation treatments and then an esophagectomy. He was on a feeding tube until all the places joined healed and certain of no leaking. Then he started protein shakes and water, then soft foods. Then in between he had inguinial hernia surgery, a heart stent put in and they say he had a heart attack and pneumonia. He just spent 6 days in hospital where endoscopies were done and the stent. So hoping and praying tomorrow we might have answers and able to injest something to sustain him and give him strength.
Thank you for listening.
Be very careful when eating them. I have had several stents and it is possible to “plug” them up. When that happens it is extremely difficult to “unplug” it. I no longer have to rely on stents as I do self dilation to keep my junction stretched out.
He was on clear liquid and just liquid except for medication that had been crushed or cut into small pieces. He still cannot swallow and is going for another endoscopy tomorrow.
Thank you for your advice.
He has had chemo and radiation treatments and then an esophagectomy. He was on a feeding tube until all the places joined healed and certain of no leaking. Then he started protein shakes and water, then soft foods. Then in between he had inguinial hernia surgery, a heart stent put in and they say he had a heart attack and pneumonia. He just spent 6 days in hospital where endoscopies were done and the stent. So hoping and praying tomorrow we might have answers and able to injest something to sustain him and give him strength.
Thank you for listening.
So... how old is he? This is absolutely not an incisional hernia... as both of these occur in the abdominal wall? Feeding tube installed to lean on? Date of esophagectomy?
Ok... he's had some setbacks... nasty bumps in the road... and he must be extra careful going forward... not to lift ANYTHING... and baby his hernia repair along. Was a mesh installed? How much weight has he lost?
Come see us on our twice-weekly Zoom calls... next one is Wednesday, 6pm Eastern. Need the link... or the codes?
I have EC stage 4 having my 8th chemo treatment tomorrow. I couldn’t eat for two months and my oncologist advised me to not get a stent. Dilation was attempted but unsuccessful. I’ve begun eating again due to tumor shrinkage which I’m thankful for, but I still rely on g tube for most of my nutrition. I’ve begun to gain weight albeit very slowly. My issue now is pain when food passes the tumor region and I don’t know if it’s esophageal or pressure against the adjacent metastatic spine tumor.
I had a repeat PET scan yesterday and will find out results tomorrow when I see my oncologist- I’m anxious about what I’ll find out- was there further metastasis? Is the esophageal tumor shrinking as expected? Is the spine cancer any better or has it progressed?
I will bring up the pain I’m feeling as food passes that part of the esophagus and if it might stop at some point or not.
I hope your husband does well with the stent and is overall treatment.
I have EC stage 4 having my 8th chemo treatment tomorrow. I couldn’t eat for two months and my oncologist advised me to not get a stent. Dilation was attempted but unsuccessful. I’ve begun eating again due to tumor shrinkage which I’m thankful for, but I still rely on g tube for most of my nutrition. I’ve begun to gain weight albeit very slowly. My issue now is pain when food passes the tumor region and I don’t know if it’s esophageal or pressure against the adjacent metastatic spine tumor.
I had a repeat PET scan yesterday and will find out results tomorrow when I see my oncologist- I’m anxious about what I’ll find out- was there further metastasis? Is the esophageal tumor shrinking as expected? Is the spine cancer any better or has it progressed?
I will bring up the pain I’m feeling as food passes that part of the esophagus and if it might stop at some point or not.
I hope your husband does well with the stent and is overall treatment.
I have EC stage 4 having my 8th chemo treatment tomorrow. I couldn’t eat for two months and my oncologist advised me to not get a stent. Dilation was attempted but unsuccessful. I’ve begun eating again due to tumor shrinkage which I’m thankful for, but I still rely on g tube for most of my nutrition. I’ve begun to gain weight albeit very slowly. My issue now is pain when food passes the tumor region and I don’t know if it’s esophageal or pressure against the adjacent metastatic spine tumor.
I had a repeat PET scan yesterday and will find out results tomorrow when I see my oncologist- I’m anxious about what I’ll find out- was there further metastasis? Is the esophageal tumor shrinking as expected? Is the spine cancer any better or has it progressed?
I will bring up the pain I’m feeling as food passes that part of the esophagus and if it might stop at some point or not.
I hope your husband does well with the stent and is overall treatment.
So... how old is he? This is absolutely not an incisional hernia... as both of these occur in the abdominal wall? Feeding tube installed to lean on? Date of esophagectomy?
Ok... he's had some setbacks... nasty bumps in the road... and he must be extra careful going forward... not to lift ANYTHING... and baby his hernia repair along. Was a mesh installed? How much weight has he lost?
Come see us on our twice-weekly Zoom calls... next one is Wednesday, 6pm Eastern. Need the link... or the codes?
He has done fine with hernia. It was a breeze compared to everything else.
Since his stent he had to go back as it had slipped and they moved it up. He still has had difficulty swallowing.
Tomorrow they are going to put another feeding tube in for nutrition. His cancer is back- sure didn’t stay away long enough. They will start him on chemo again once the feeding tube site heals.
He says he has never felt this bad in his life. He has dropped over 100 lbs.
He had chemo and radiation and finished this last November 2023. Then he had the esophogectomy March 21, 2024.
There was a short time he was able to ingest food, but it had slowly gotten worse because of so much phlegm. Then the opening had gotten smaller thus the stent.
I’m sorry I haven’t had time to join your zoom meetings- to many in and out of hospital stays and another tomorrow.
Just praying that he can get some nutrition and build himself up for more chemo.
Yes, we are scared.
Thanks for your responses.
He has done fine with hernia. It was a breeze compared to everything else.
Since his stent he had to go back as it had slipped and they moved it up. He still has had difficulty swallowing.
Tomorrow they are going to put another feeding tube in for nutrition. His cancer is back- sure didn’t stay away long enough. They will start him on chemo again once the feeding tube site heals.
He says he has never felt this bad in his life. He has dropped over 100 lbs.
He had chemo and radiation and finished this last November 2023. Then he had the esophogectomy March 21, 2024.
There was a short time he was able to ingest food, but it had slowly gotten worse because of so much phlegm. Then the opening had gotten smaller thus the stent.
I’m sorry I haven’t had time to join your zoom meetings- to many in and out of hospital stays and another tomorrow.
Just praying that he can get some nutrition and build himself up for more chemo.
Yes, we are scared.
Thanks for your responses.
You call if you'd like. I talk to hundreds all over the world about EC. I'm leaving in 20 minutes to get my chest and pelvic CT scans with contrast. It's been a year since my last scans (first time going a full year... a bit nervous).
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Thank you for your reply. We haven’t got to that point yet/ but was curious as to what it might entails should we get there.
It has been a rough ride! He goes for another endoscopy tomorrow. He had 3 last week and a stent out in- but still cannabis swallow anything. However, he has gotten 2 popsicles down today.
He has had chemo and radiation treatments and then an esophagectomy. He was on a feeding tube until all the places joined healed and certain of no leaking. Then he started protein shakes and water, then soft foods. Then in between he had inguinial hernia surgery, a heart stent put in and they say he had a heart attack and pneumonia. He just spent 6 days in hospital where endoscopies were done and the stent. So hoping and praying tomorrow we might have answers and able to injest something to sustain him and give him strength.
Thank you for listening.
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHe was on clear liquid and just liquid except for medication that had been crushed or cut into small pieces. He still cannot swallow and is going for another endoscopy tomorrow.
Thank you for your advice.
So... how old is he? This is absolutely not an incisional hernia... as both of these occur in the abdominal wall? Feeding tube installed to lean on? Date of esophagectomy?
Ok... he's had some setbacks... nasty bumps in the road... and he must be extra careful going forward... not to lift ANYTHING... and baby his hernia repair along. Was a mesh installed? How much weight has he lost?
Come see us on our twice-weekly Zoom calls... next one is Wednesday, 6pm Eastern. Need the link... or the codes?
Gary
I have EC stage 4 having my 8th chemo treatment tomorrow. I couldn’t eat for two months and my oncologist advised me to not get a stent. Dilation was attempted but unsuccessful. I’ve begun eating again due to tumor shrinkage which I’m thankful for, but I still rely on g tube for most of my nutrition. I’ve begun to gain weight albeit very slowly. My issue now is pain when food passes the tumor region and I don’t know if it’s esophageal or pressure against the adjacent metastatic spine tumor.
I had a repeat PET scan yesterday and will find out results tomorrow when I see my oncologist- I’m anxious about what I’ll find out- was there further metastasis? Is the esophageal tumor shrinking as expected? Is the spine cancer any better or has it progressed?
I will bring up the pain I’m feeling as food passes that part of the esophagus and if it might stop at some point or not.
I hope your husband does well with the stent and is overall treatment.
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Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsThank you and I hope you get some positive answers.
I'm paying close attention to your case...
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHe has done fine with hernia. It was a breeze compared to everything else.
Since his stent he had to go back as it had slipped and they moved it up. He still has had difficulty swallowing.
Tomorrow they are going to put another feeding tube in for nutrition. His cancer is back- sure didn’t stay away long enough. They will start him on chemo again once the feeding tube site heals.
He says he has never felt this bad in his life. He has dropped over 100 lbs.
He had chemo and radiation and finished this last November 2023. Then he had the esophogectomy March 21, 2024.
There was a short time he was able to ingest food, but it had slowly gotten worse because of so much phlegm. Then the opening had gotten smaller thus the stent.
I’m sorry I haven’t had time to join your zoom meetings- to many in and out of hospital stays and another tomorrow.
Just praying that he can get some nutrition and build himself up for more chemo.
Yes, we are scared.
Thanks for your responses.
You call if you'd like. I talk to hundreds all over the world about EC. I'm leaving in 20 minutes to get my chest and pelvic CT scans with contrast. It's been a year since my last scans (first time going a full year... a bit nervous).
Ok... here if you need me.
Gary, 714 900 0791
Southern California