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Esophagus keeps restricting
Hello everyone,
I had an esophagectomy, followed by a major complication of a leak, in July 2023. This past April I had 3 procedures, 3 weeks in a row, to expand my esophagus with a balloon because it had constricted and I could not swallow food. Then last Tuesday I had another procedure because the Sunday before i couldn’t swallow food or water and I kept throwing up. Tomorrow I’m having my 5th procedure. Has anyone else had this experience after an esophagectomy? Is there any other way to keep the esophagus open without these procedures which are repeated assaults on my body?
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Your GI doctor who dilates you should be able to help in finding someone who can do the training. I don’t know where you are located but in the Midwest there is the Cleveland Clinic, Northwestern in Chicago and I believe IU Health in Indianapolis does it also. I chose Mayo because my GI doctor knew the doctors there and I was able to get in quickly. I also snowbird there in the winter so it was no problem for me to go there. You are lucky that you can be stretched to 60FR. I don’t know anyone who can do that after surgery. My best was 54 and it wouldn’t stay there long. 48 works well. I can eat pretty much anything I want and I have gained weight back after starting this. Keep in touch on your progress.