My husband was scoped this past week and discovered that his inability to swallow was due to a stricture. His Rad treatment ended 5 weeks ago and chemo ended 3 weeks ago. A swallowing study will be done and a dilation to follow. Has anyone been able to swallow normally after this procedure or will he have to have frequent "stretchings" from now on?

DSM, I have not had this procedure, however there are quite a few that have. Some have had to have it done more than once. From what I recall it works quite well. I am sure you will get some replies here in the next few days.

DSM,
We have patients occasionally who come in for esophageal strictures. I think the body's response to the stretching is very individualized. In other words, your husband may only need it this once, since you are so close in to the time of the radiation treatment, and it may hold him. Or, as the radiation scars heal, he may have to do it again later on. Either way, it is a procedure that is done daily by docs all over the country, and so it won't be hard to find someone who can help you out later down the road if you guys need it. And while NOTHING is risk free, it is something that I have seen extremely few complications from. They start off with a little tiny tube with a balloon on it, move up to a bigger balloon, and so on until they get the diameter they feel is optimum for the patient's anatomy and needs.
He may have to have another swallow study after the dilatation to see how effective the procedure was, but if he likes orange-flavored chalky drinks, that's alright.
Hope this is a one time shot for you guys and things keep getting better.

Andrea

Is the person awake during the procedure of stretching? I feel so uneducated about a lot of the treatments but not what I have been through.
Terry

It's done differently for different folks, ask your doc, it seems like you two need to have a chat concerning the procedure, anyhow. Even if you have talked to him already, sometimes we don't catch everything we want to know in one sitting. (I know I don't!). I am sending you a website you can look at, has some good basic info. Your husband may be awake, or slightly drowsied (most likely) and they will numb his throat for him, sometimes they do it in the x-ray department under flouroscopy (Where the doctors can see everything as it moves through, like a x-ray motion picture).

http://www.gicare.com/pated/epdgs25.htm

Hope this helps some,
Andrea

Thnaks, Andrea. You are so right about not catching everything the first time. I believe the ENT said it appears the stricture was caused by a mucous adhesion. Will that be harder to dilate? I am waiting to hear from the swallow study technician to set up an appointment. Is there a sense of urgency to getting this done ASAP?
Sheila

While I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV, I would think it is not an emergency/urgent situation. You will know if it becomes something you have to fix right away. If things have been going along the same for a week or so, it will most likely wait until the first available appointment. (I hate saying things like that, you have to understand, this is ONLY an opinion!)
If he starts having trouble with choking, I would certainly step into a local ER and get things moving quicker, but if he is cruising right now, you should be fine.
Is the adhesion mucous, or mucosal? That seems like the same, but truly isn't. Won't make much difference in the procedure, but might be something else to ask. (Make a list of questions as you think about them, then take the list in and get 'em answered.)
He is very lucky to have you by his side. The more you know, the more you can help!

Andrea

Bad news. My husband will have to have the dialtion done through his PEG. It will be a joint procedure with the ENT and GI docs. Anyone else ever have it done?
Sheila

If there is one thing we all have learned on this board it is to always, always get a second opinion. We had Tim's GI doc take a look at his stricture and he had him dilated through his esophagus this morning without any problem at all.
Thanks to everyone for your advice and concern.
Sheila