Esophageal Self Dilation Therapy: An Effective Alternative

Yes my GI doctor is willing to help me. We are currently looking into how to go about getting the device (I have actually found them in different sizes on ebay new and used if you can believe that) and if Insurance will cover it. I plan to do it regardless. I too feel it will help me stay open more regular instead of stretching and closing over and over. My doctor is currently using a 48 but has gone bigger in the past. He says he thinks the 48 is a good size for clear passage. I hope to end up using the 48 daily or weekly but may start with a size or two smaller. Could you share with me the small things you have discovered to make it go smoothly for you? I watched a very helpful video on youtube but they will not let me post a link. You can find it by searching Esophageal Self Dilation it is by MarletteAcres

Yes my GI doctor is willing to help me. We are currently looking into how to go about getting the device (I have actually found them in different sizes on ebay new and used if you can believe that) and if Insurance will cover it. I plan to do it regardless. I too feel it will help me stay open more regular instead of stretching and closing over and over. My doctor is currently using a 48 but has gone bigger in the past. He says he thinks the 48 is a good size for clear passage. I hope to end up using the 48 daily or weekly but may start with a size or two smaller. Could you share with me the small things you have discovered to make it go smoothly for you? I watched a very helpful video on youtube but they will not let me post a link. You can find it by searching Esophageal Self Dilation it is by MarletteAcres

Hi @rlp63
I noticed that you wished to post a URL to a video with your post. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Clearly the link you wanted to post is not spam. Please allow me to post it for you.

Esophageal Self Dilation

We were fitted with ours by a thoracic surgeon who specializes in esophageal strictures amongst other things. We use a 46 and so far it’s been a life saver.
We insert up to the white 35 mark as directed by the doctor. I coat the dilator with KY jelly. My husband takes a few deep breaths and I lay it on his tongue and direct him to swallow. As soon as he swallows I know it’s going in correctly and I ease it down quickly until the 35 is at his lip. As it’s going down I coach him to breathe around it, very important not to hold your breath! Then I count to 10 and pull it out. The whole thing takes 20 seconds and the swallow has to be timed exactly right to when I start easing it down. You should not have to push!
You may want to look at a product on Amazon called Healios, it’s made by a doctor and provides nutrients to the esophagus for people who’ve had radiation. My husband finds it soothing before or after dialsting.
Hope this helps

Hello today's date is June 15th 2022, and I am going through esophageal dilation and I am now using the home therapy with a self dilation device twice a day and I want to let you know that as difficult as it is to even think about doing this, It is equally as difficult to actually attempt it, but it is all in your head I'm here to tell you that, and you can get past it when You realize that the alternative is worse. The first words out of my mouth when I seen the video in my doctor's office at Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota of how to do it was "no way give me a feeding tube" , but then I realized I can't breathe through my stomach and if I ever was in an accident God forbid I couldn't be intubated safely. So I agreed to give the home self dilator a try or at least try it while sitting in my doctor's office and I was able to do it after a few tries by myself, but I was so terrified and turned off at the thought of it that all the way home I said to my husband "I can't I can't I can't" . However when I got home I was able to do it the first time with just two slight gags, and each day since has gotten easier and I've gotten into a routine. Once you have a routine established it becomes just like anything else take your morning shower, make your pot of coffee, do yourself dilation, have your breakfast and it becomes part of your new normal and you don't even think about it. This is hopefully just a little encouragement for those of you who have not tried it or are thinking about trying it but don't know if you can, yes you can.
Peggy

@peggyschr, what a great story. Love your attitude!
The tip of incorporating self-dilation into your establish routine is very wise. How long does it take each day? How long have you been doing this?

I've been doing it for a month, twice a day, and it only takes me 30 seconds.
Peggy

We have been using a size 46 for about a month and a half. Do you have someone to help you with it? The doctor showed us how to do it but we have discovered a few small things that make it go so much easier! It takes a total of 20 seconds start to finish and the trade off is normal swallowing!