Esophageal Dilation due to a narrowing of the esophagus

[sword78910]

What is the diameter of an average healthy esophagus and how much can it be stretched?

[TheLonelyLumberJack]

I'm wondering if this is a possibility for me because I have GERD and Esophagitis. I was diagnosed with it when I was 16, Now I am 18. I've been on PPI's for awhile and at first, they worked fairly well. Just about a month ago though, I started once again having a major difficulty swallowing foods like, potatoes, breads, meats, and vegetables. I have to chew for an eternity and even drink small doses of water with solid food to keep it from sticking or creating a blockage(really agonizing).

[snasrulla]

@TheLonelyLumberJack

Might be achalasia, I was diagnosed 12 years ago, tried balloon dilations and botox, neither had any impact. Laproscopic myotamy was performed and although it never completed reversed the effect, it greatly reduced my difficulty swallowing solid foods.

[pallet9019]

i am 15 an i have esofigel asofigides it has been srinking for 9 monts sence i chocked how do you get it to stop srinking i have to have mine striched every 2 weeks

[niltomega]

It was a wonderful world when I had medical insurance. Any doctor visits now would be financial suicide.

[KnottCoBoys]

I have eosiniphilic esophagitus and it is the worst thing I've ever dealt with. I also have GERD and a hiatal hernia. I had an EGD on Jan 5 and had my esophagus dialated. It really helped me with swallowing, but I still have the throat spasms from teh EE. I had another EGD done today (Jan 31) and the Doc dialated me to 54 French, which is as far as he can go for now. I'm taking Buspar and Domperidone and Fluticasone (steroid spray) for my EE. If you're a praying person, please pray for me.

[ThePacman196]

ive got that thanks to a gastric ulcer :(

THANKS IBRUFEN

[tomcamp6023]

Ok. So I was diagnosed with this. They say the cause is reflux and eosinophillic esophagitis . Been a pain in the Arrss. The doctor gave me flovent a steroid spray. You swallow it and its supposed to help with inflammation. Did anyone do this? did it work? I probably need to get the dilation next. Has anyone had allegies. That is a known cause. I am supposedly going to the best doctors in the country. I will let you know the next chapter of this story. Hopefully with a happy ending.

[simply14u]

@tomcamp6023 I have reflux and eosinophillic esophagitis as well (also a bad form of gout - in joints tendons & in kidneys). They are still looking for a connection as all problems started at the same time!

Just been booked in today to get dilation done as it is getting worse.

[locomoto48]

looks like it's inside the anus.

[tomcamp6023]

@locomoto48 . I heard through the grapevine thats what your mother said when you were born.

[DrusillaC]

I've had it done 3 times and each time it's stayed ok for about a year. I take Nexium for acid reflux but have a feeling I need to take a higher dose to keep the problem from reoccurring. For anyone who hasn't had it done before - you'll be given sedation and so you're not really aware of what's going on. I had very little pain afterwards, more like soreness, and it does help with swallowing though in my case only temporarily.

[tomcamp6023]

@DrusillaC . My doctor said I might need to have this done. Have you ever had a tear after surgury. Did it stop the pain after eating. I would really appreciate hearing from someone that has had it done. Will help alot.

[DrusillaC]

@tomcamp6023 - I've never had a tear after surgery. I know this can happen but think it's pretty rare. Does your doctor think a narrowed esophagus is what's causing you pain after eating? If so, then the dilation would probably be helpful for you. My problem isn't pain, it's food sticking because of narrowing caused by acid reflux. Not sure about allergies, but yes they can make acid reflux worse so might be worth looking into. Best of luck!

[tomcamp6023]

@DrusillaC Yes they think it is an allergy that is causing the inflammation which in turn causes the swelling or closing . Can I ask you if you if you had the procedure only once and how was the outcome. Thanks.

[DrusillaC]

@tomcamp6023 - I had it done 3 times, it helped each time, but then the problem came back because of too much stomach acid. I take Nexium to reduce this acid and am not keen to take a higher dose, though I may have to. I don't like taking high doses of any medication.

Have you had allergy testing done yet? If they could find out exactly what you're allergic to you might be able to solve your problem by avoiding whatever the allergen is. Worth thinking about, anyway.

[itpeach]

@tomcamp6023 My wife had it done on April 21, 20011 and it has helped her a lot. She could hardly swallow any meat or bread and would get large pills lodged in her throat prior. The only side effects she has had is her throat is somewhat sore and she is congested. I assume the procedure aggravated her sinuses. If anyone would have any knowledge of why this is happening I would appreciate you letting me know.

[DANCEAHOLIK4]

i have trouble swallowing solid foods n liquids would this help me.

[DrusillaC]

@DANCEAHOLIK4 - first of all, you need to find out what's causing your swallowing problem. Usually they do an endoscopy (tube down your esophagus) so they can see what's going on and what needs to be done; sometimes they take biopsies. If they think dilation would help, they'll probably do it. It's a simple procedure and you get sedated so you're not really aware of what they're doing. This can give great relief, but the problem sometimes recurs and you might need it done again. Hope this helps.

[stevealexR1]

I have a Schatski Ring and had a dilation (via BUPA) three years ago which has now "sprung back" and needs doing again... I was warned this might happen before. I had a slight "graze" to the lining of my gullet so they're going to only risk stretching it slightly this time. I was heavily sedated and don't remember anything about the procedure (although had no sedation for my first ever endoscopy on the NHS which was fairly unpleasant).

[azoresgurl]

im gettin this done friday is it painful?!?!?!?!??!

[tomcamp6023]

@azoresgurl . How did the Dilation turn out. Is it working? 

[BrandonToledo2010]

I'm going to have it done August 11th. 4 times i've gone through it.

[tomcamp6023]

@BrandonToledo2010 . Why 4 times. Did it not work. What happened? Would appreciate you experience.

[BrandonToledo2010]

@tomcamp6023 Long story

[punkbabe945]

i had this done and my esophagus was stretched and it did not help me with eating after until my specialist gave me an anti-spasm medication.. it did wonders and now i can finally swallow foods and liquids again

[xkillahx0]

i had this done 2 years ago and it completley healed my problem immediatley after the procedure. so i guess its different for everyon

[bharfarar]

I'm working on a personal theory that my narrowing of the esophagus is due to Valley Fever (of all things). The VF usually does some lung damage, and sometimes dissemanates to the stomach. The stomach reacts to the VF fungus by attracting excess leukocytes and builds up in the esophagus, causing the narrowing.

[Blah3156]

and still people say you look beautiful on the inside, well fuck that

[iloveaha]

I had this done 2 wks ago for a swallow function issue and sorry to say it did nothing but leave me with a constant cough and no relief for the my issue. I would really get a couple of opinions before doing this. I considered this to be surgery and it does have some of the same risks. I wish I could say their was a positive payoff but there wasn't. The kicker is, I'm a singer and I don't know how this will affect me in this area. I totally regret my decision to do this. Flame me if you want!

[USNACandidate2012]

Can symptoms of this problem (the narrowing of the esophagus) be trouble wallowing, severe pain in chest/esophagus after swallowing?

[mayhemlee]

i just had some chicken pulled from my throat this week-- and the pictures are cool, there's one of my stomach and you can see the green pool of bile in the bottom of my stomach, so cool and going down on a iv drip was sweet it was like black velvet, so nice........

[cassyyxo]

lol wow

[GreenDayRoxer1]

lol i had a dilatation when i was like 10, still need to do it now still the same problem from dysphlexia but no time and not too much money :( so ya.. its not too bad i was asleep the whole time (drugs).

[WeLiveOnline]

Does it make you sick?

[caddict69]

think thousand times when you smoke cigar.....death will come....cancer of the esophagus..

[societyofcells]

My stricture was from an angry stranger throwing lye in my face. I have a stronger stricture than most. Over the years the stricture has gotten smaller. Now I can't pass a 36 Maloney dilator. To keep eating, I blow up the balloon every day myself. It hurts sometimes, but if I do a little Tai Chi before, and think of all I have to be thankful for - I can blow up the balloon without much pain. Luckily 1-3 dilatations treats most people.

[greatman243735]

Hi friends,

My Father he is 76 yrs after oesphagus cancer now he is doing Dilation also dona 5 times now he feel heay havy dry caugh he feel very tired after this caugh.

What is the remady pl reply

[Blmdude2k7]

I'm gonna have this done on the 20th. Wish Me Luck Guys!!

[THfanJassy]

yes, me too, don´t know when... for the 5th time.

ur goin 2 be ok.

[az09mcr]

good luk lol thnk jelly icream 4 a couple of days  heeh lol

[tomcamp6023]

@Blmdude2k7 . How did the dilation of the eso go?

[LittleMatt925]

i hav just got back from having an endoscopy, and the sedation was useless, but i was destracted by how uncomfortable it was that i didnt notice that they also did a dilation. altho i hav a VERY sore throat, i am glad that i had it done.

[tomcamp6023]

@LittleMatt925 . How is the dilation holding up. I should be getting this in a week or so.

[kellyr1976]

I have had the dilation before did not know I even had it it was performed I was a sleep and durning a reqular endoscope procedure I am having upper endocopy performed thursday morning at 630 am more like 7

[MistressDracona]

ack I'm going to get this procedure done this saturday!!!! well there goes my calmness about it

[tomcamp6023]

@MistressDracona . How did the procedure go. If you share your story it could help alot of people. DId it work?

[MistressDracona]

@tomcamp6023 This procedure did NOT work for me. I had to have a esophageal myotomy done instead(my procedure was invasive instead of non). I may have a 7 inch scar running down my abdomen but I'm much better than I was 2 years ago.

[tomcamp6023]

@MistressDracona . Glad you are feeling better. I think it's great you are sharing your story. Really helping other. Take care

[kellymann]

I hope they forwarn you that your throat or colonscopy will be on youtube- I think I will just keep my hemmoroids on

[msmustang33]

On tuesday to get my throat dilated.I have had it done several times before,but the very first time they used tubes bigger and bigger i woke up halfway thru and started chokin, i ended up with a bad infection. I said would i wouldnt go back but i choked very badly,had dilated again with the balloon and i was fine no pain at all.I cant have no local anestheic's i am highly allergic to them Thanks for sharing this!

[wittlefweak2007]

I have had this procedure done every 2.5 months for the last 5 years.

I have had it performed more than 41 times now.

Just had it done last week and will have another done in December.

It's painful for me when i awaken so I spend 3 days in hospital afterwards.

So thanks for sharing the video so I can see what's happening to me.

[tomcamp6023]

@wittlefweak2007 . Seriously . I think you need to find another doctor to find out what is going on. There are raking in the money with you. Half million buck or so. Just wrong

[balckbettystack]

@tomcamp6023 It doesn't cost me a cent.

Signed in before under my son's name.

I am going to go get even more opinions.Although I have already had 3 and non will operate.

[dragonston19]

Well that right there, makes me never want to eat again.

[placeborick]

eugh.

i was searching for some advice on sore throats and i found this video :-D

:-S

[air1989]

i have the norrowing of my osophagus and its also called

acid refulx and i have had it all my life witch is 18 years and it is very painful thanks for sharing that vid

with me :)

[DjMikeless]

it felt hecka weird after all

[bfboobie]

I've had this procedure performed on me and no it does not hurt. They sprayed some anesthetic in my throat and gave me some pretty nice/strong sedatives so I was asleep for the whole procedure. Didn't feel a thing and felt good as new when I woke up. Prilosec fixes it! But shitty cuz if you quit taking it for a few days you go right back to your old choking ways :(

[orangejulius3]

is that your throat?

thats pretty interesting i bet it hurt

[greenmanlance]

owch that relli hurt watching but is that what you would go through if you had anorexia or sumthing