Donna

sorry to hear about the fibrosis. The test for cartoid artery is accurate and easy with zero pain, it's an ultrasound. As for throat dilation, you should ask your ENT or an experienced Speech Therapist. According to both of mine, the barium swallow tests I had showed clearly that throat dilation would be of zero benefit to me since my esophagus and throat are fully open and operational. It's a trio of bad luck: lack of tongue motility and strength plus a frozen epiglottis and radiation scarred cricopharyngeal muscles that all combine to leave me with the inability to swallow. So while it helps many, for some of us, it does not work at all.
Charm