Post esophagectomy swallowing issues.

Yes. I started to have swallowing issues a couple weeks after surgery. My new plumbing was collapsing at the connection point between redesigned stomach and esophagus. Had to have a dilation every week for months, then I had stents for several months. Finally after a conversation with my GI doctor, I decided to try self dilation. I went to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and got the necessary training and my own personal dilator. Have been doing my own dilations for 3 years now. With you being 6 years out from surgery, and this is just starting, my guess is you need one, maybe two balloon dilations and you will be back on track.

I had my surgery three years ago and have had at least five or six dilations since then, about every five to six months. The surgery is very easy and you are usually in and out in a few hours. My last EGD was about eight months ago and I haven't had difficulty swallowing since so fingers crossed, I've reached the finish line.

@v132077 thanks so much for the encouragement.

@dkoehne thanks so much for the helpful insights. I’m encouraged about going forward.

Three years out from surgery I was getting a small amount of food stuck in the base of throat. Endoscopy showed no issues anywhere but apparently there is a muscle in the base of the throat that they stretched and I had not had any problems since.

@seanski Thanks for the input and good news for you. I will have a similar procedure in July that will resolve things. Dave Lawrence

@dave4144 Believe me, it's worth the hassle. I've had four. (I've heard of 40 and my GE doc told me on the last one, he had one who had to have it done weekly.) At last, I can swallow without fear of gagging or having to stay up all night to avoid aspiration. When the doc made the weekly comment, I said that I was afraid I'd have to go DIY, which brought down the OR for some reason. In my case, I had the overlying problem of spasm, which have also subsided...

@earle very encouraging, thanks for the input, Dave