Welcome to Connect, @pattitoo,

We're so glad that you signed up. Connect member, @jillcresap posted about esophageal dilation, in an older discussion, and I sincerely hope she returns with some information.

@pattitoo, how often have you had this procedure done?

The EGD/Dilatation procedure can be done as often as every 3 to 6 months, which depends on the person situation for having it done and as long as the person feels that there are benefits being gain. This is how my GI Dr. has allowed me to have it done. This may not be the case with other doctors. It's a simple procedure which takes approximately 15 minutes to complete , but takes a total of about 2 to finish which includes prep time and the recovery time.
It started out slow for me at the beginning, then one year I had 5, but with my new circumstances since 2014 I'm down to just 2 per year.
That is basically just to keep my esophagus from closing up.
I have a list of each one that been completed.
And the importance of the location of the restrictor is the same at any level in the esophagus. It is still remains a blockage whether it be at the top, mid range or lower toward the stomach area.
What is going to make a difference is narrow caused by the restrictor and how lengthof the restrictor..

Four (4) times, I try now to be VERY careful when eating, some foods are more problematic for me, rice especially.
Can you believe one doctor said to drink water when food is stuck....NO! NO! NO! that is not to be done.
I do not know the actually pinpointed area. I do not want to be over-stretched so I am just being
careful for now. I will be getting a new Gastro soon and I had such trust in my previous doctor.
One morning toast with jelly caused an episode, I was able to get it up, my husband was concerned
and took me go to the ER though I knew nothing was stuck.
Thank you for your interest.

May I add, the ER nurse did not like it when I told her I had just experienced an ESOPHAGEAL SPASM --saying there
was no such thing.

One problem where I live is that an appointment with a gastroenterologist can take 6 months to get. I liked the one I saw 5 years ago, but short of waiting to see him, I might be able to see a PA within 6 weeks. Until now, no one thought I needed to pursue the information from the esophagram several years ago, but my doctor is going to have me see a speech therapist. Because it can be a symptom of MS, and because my sister and several cousins have MS, and I have all but one or two symptoms of MS, he is reluctantly scheduling me to see the neurologist, another very long wait. My wife thinks that it's a remote possibility that I have MS, and that I shouldn't worry about it. That's not so easy to do, with anxiety disorder and depression. I'm still trying to figure out what, exactly, is going on. From reading online, and knowing what the doctor said about that esophagram, I think that the rings that move in a specific, consecutive order to move the food on to the stomach, are moving randomly in the lower part of the esophagus, causing the food to slow down and stop. Drinking used to help get the food down, but doesn't anymore. Someone mentioned holding your breath when you drink. I've found that to really help. I often aspirate and start a choking cough. Unpleasant. Maybe one of people who study me will know what's going on, and will be able to improve my swallowing.

If this is a little incoherent, blame it on the late hour.

Jim

@squaredancer Thanks for sharing your experiences with this procedure, it is very helpful to hear about this first-hand rather than just reading about it online! We all learn this way. Teresa

@jimhd Wishing you well, Jim. When is your next appointment or test scheduled? Teresa

Teresa, I am happy to help anyone that is having trouble understanding what the are dealing with If I can.
I have been and am going through so much since the 1st journey with cancer in 1973 and all the continual side effects.

I was rereading my post on EGD/Dilatation procedure.
I see that I left off one word where it is " 2 to".
It should have read "2 hours".
I am recovering from a major surgery from last Thursday and didn't take the time to read it before posting it.

Also I should have included more about the EGD/Dilatation procedure.
It is a 2 step procedure which is being done simultaneously if this is right terminology.
First is the EGD procedure and then there's the Dilatation procedure.
An EGD test will be completed at the same time of the stomach dedendum and the esophagus checking for any abnormalities.
If anything is found they will take biopsies and pictures of the area.
Then they will continue to do the Dilatation of the restrictor area.
They are using the same guide wire to send these different instruments into the areas.
This is why it is called an EGD/Dilatation procedure.
I hope this makes sense to everyone, but if it doesn't please let me know and I will try again.
If biopsies are taking, this will add time to the procedure by 10 or 15 minutes. So instead of the initial 15 minutes I previously it may be 30 minutes.
Because of the extra time for the procedure, it also adds extra time that you are sedated, which will also add extra time in recovery.
So it could now be 2 1/2 to 3 hours for total time including prep and recovery.
But it is still a simple procedure.

Again I wasn't feeling well yesterday an had to end the post without including the above information.

Anything to do with the speech muscles is aided by speech therapy. It can involve articulation, swallowing, etc. and can be enourmously helpful.

@squaredancer Sorry I missed this earlier, going back to mayo. I have appointments the 24-28th of April. They have to squish them altogether since I live out of state.