I thought I would post this update here. I went back for a 4 week check-up with the docs in Boston who cut through my esophageal stricture, dilated the esophagus, and then ended up putting a stent in because there was a tear or perforation. Thye said all looks good in terms of the stent staying in and my lungs looking good (after the collapsed lung).

The big surprise was that the thoracic surgeon said, if the stent isn't causing too much discomfort, I can keep it in for a year and then when they take it out it's likely I won't have to have lots of dilations after that--that the stent being in that long will sort of train the esophagus to stay open insted of thightening back up. I have mixed feelings about this as I am having daily discomfort and pain from the stent, but it isn't horrendous pain that I need prescription meds for and I'm not thrilled about the possibility of having to return for dilations every month either .

Any thoughts on this are welcome (or experiecne with this? I seem to be in relatively uncharted territory)

Nelie