Teresa,

I''m not exactly sure. I know most of the basics, they'll do an endoscopy, as well as a barium swallow exam, they may do what's called an esophageal manometry (I've had that one three times now; it's not fun). Outside of that they take an individualized approach based on each patient. And a lot depends on when they can schedule. Like many places they are still overrun because of Covid.
I'll know more after I meet with the gastroenterologist, who is in charge of ordering everything. That happens this afternoon.

Philip

Teresa,

I met with the gastroenterologist, last week and the first step is to schedule and upper endoscopy exam, she took a quite a few records from me and said I should hold on to the rest I'd brought they may be needed. I was told it may be necessary to repeat the esophageal manometry, to try and find why it was inclusive in the past.
As far as the possibility of an esophagectomy, she said it's not inevitable at this point, but I'm clearly running out of exclamations that will allow me to avoid it. I find that difficult because what I have to is plan for that being a very real possibility and hope it doesn't happen at the same time. It' s a rather weird state of mind.
We'll know a whole lot more after the endoscopy. Schedule is tuff there. Like most hospitals, they have too many patients right now.

Philip