← Return to Esophageal Self Dilation Therapy: An Effective Alternative

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@centuryhouse

3 years ago I started having problems with food getting 'stuck' - at times it wouldn't go down my esophagus and would eventually come back up. It gets better at times and worse at others.

In the last 6 months I have had difficulty breathing, feeling like it is difficult to get air down my throat. I'm starting to panic a little, worried that I will suffocate. Sometimes it seems mostly ok, at others I feel a complete restriction on air intake may occur. In the last month it has gotten especially bad.

I have many symptoms of hypothyroidism and a family history of it, so a nodule or other related obstruction may be the cause. I also have acid reflux issues and a family history of GERD, so perhaps that is it. Maybe it is something else...

I lost my insurance after a lay off a few years ago. I have a new job but no insurance for now. I do not have much money. I cannot afford to go to a doctor. Is there a way by which I can get the dilator needed to do this at home?

I'm getting desperate and was thinking of trying to construct something to do this in an emergency, which is how I found this article. I am in the Northern suburbs of Dallas, TX.

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Replies to "3 years ago I started having problems with food getting 'stuck' - at times it wouldn't..."

I survived oropharyngeal cancer two years ago. As a result , I’ve had difficulty swallowing. It got better for awhile but recently has become more of an issue. After looking around online for options, I stumbled across self dilation. While there are “medical grade” devices out there, I found the most reasonably priced device at siliconenozzles.com.
“The item you ordered will be a smooth shaft at 1 1/8''(1.125'')
diameter. (2.85cm) for the entire length after the smooth tip. The tip
starts at around approximately 0.5'' until it slowly tapers up to the
1.125''.
It was affordable and seems to be working.
This is in no way a recommendation. Only my personal experience.