Tim had a swallow test last week and there was good news and bad news. The good news is that his epiglottis is moving some, although not closing properly. The bad news is that his esophagus is only allowing tiny drops down at a time.

I did a search here on dilatation and it seems that it�s more than a simple morning in outpatient surgery. Is this still the case? Does it require a general anesthesia? Will it keep him from teaching? He�s back in the classroom finally and, after 8 months of no eating, drinking or lecturing, he would rather keep lecturing.

I just had another Dilation done. It is very easy procedure. In and out in one day. Yes, it does mean general anesthesia so he will need someone can drive him home. The procedure it self usually takes about 20 min. the rest of the time is recovery. It is well worth it and it can be done more than once.

Get it done it helps so much!!

Take care.. Diane

I have had three dilations done and will have more done. The reason they usually schedule more than one is that the scar tissue is tight and likes to bounce back so after one dilation it will usually close up a little. VERY easy and pretty painless. I had a little bit of a sore throat for a couple days afterwards but that was all. In and out the same day as stated above.

Ditto all the above. I've had at least half a dozen. You go to sleep, you wake up 20 minutes later, your throat is sore for a few days. But it really helps, so don't be afraid of it!

d2

Tim went in today for the dilatation. It's a procedure to widen the esophagus. His esophagus was closed up due to radiation treatments. Not even water could go down, hence, his months of aspiration pneumonia caused by spit going into his lung (a common cause of death with head and neck cancer). During the procedure a tiny wire with a balloon is put down the throat into the stomach. The balloon is filled and the esophagus is cracked open. It was successful!

There is another side to aspiration. Tim cannot swallow. Hasn�t since surgery nine months ago - pre radiation and chemo. Tomorrow he starts VitalStim therapy. VS involves applying an electrical pulse to the throat muscles. The jolts of electricity remind the muscles how to work. If this works as well as the dilatation did, then Tim may actually be able to start swallowing and eventually eating. VS takes weeks of treatments until the muscles are strong enough for eating, but if it won't work it only takes a few sessions to realize this.

The procedure was outpatient. Tim was given a general anesthetic. He coughs and chokes on his spit so much that he doesn't sleep well, but now he's sleeping off the drugs and breathing easily. He coughed up wads of bloody loogie after the procedure, and I was told that huge clumps of mucus were suctioned out during. This is the first time in months that he's slept for over an hour straight! I hope that's a sign that some spit is actually going into his stomach.

Tim isn't recovering from cancer; he's recovering from cancer treatments. Please, pray that the VS works.

I get those done every 3 to 6 months and had one a few weeks ago. You are put out for a total of maybe an hour to an hour and a half. Not much to it.

AAArrrggg! Please, don�t tell me that this is a 3 to 6 month thing FOREEVER

I don't believe it will be an every 3 - 6 month thing. Part of it is how well your body reacts to the dilations. Usually you will have to have several as your body closes it back up a little due to the elasticity of the throat. After a several it shouldn't want to close up. I will be putting you in my prayers that the VS works and he is able to swallow again.

The dilatation's are more frequent in the beginning (first six months) and then taper off. You may end up only needing it one time per year. It really just depends on how your body reacts to each procedure. Your doc should be able to tell you how stable the opening is from one procedure to the next. Based on the stability you make the plan. Best of luck we are all very hopeful for you.

FYI, I had 2 or 3 dilations following treatment several years ago. However in the last 7 years or so, I have not had to return for any further dilations, so please know that not everyone must have them perpetually.

Best of luck.