complete esophageal blockage

amy_evan2005 said:

update
Dear William & Loretta,
Thank you so much for your help and advice. The Thorasic Surgeon that Evan saw referred us to this doctor. He also happened to be in the same group at IU Medical Center that Angela recommended. Both the thorasic and ent doctor operated on his esophagus to get it open. One went through the mouth and the other through the stomach with scopes basically until one saw the other ones poke through. Surgery took several hours, but once they got it through it wasn't very thick so that made it easier. Evan has had several dilations in the past few months and is finally starting to eat again. He has some issues now with the muscles and all not working properely. He won't see the doctor again til the end of July. Just now waiting to see how everything goes for awhile before they decide if he needs dilated again.
All his biopsies and his pet scan have come back clear so that is the best news we could get. The rest is just going to take some time and work.
I'll keep everyone updated now that I have internet service again. And yes the blockage was from scar tissue. The Thorasic surgeon told us that a stint should have been put in when he started having problems swallowing so early in radiation.
Thanks again,
Amy & Evan

I have the same case with evan, i need your help.
Hi good day! I am Frederick Emil R Tapawan from the Philippines, I am 31 year-old male and was diagnosed with a tonsillar cancer last March 2010.
I went through a lot of treaments already. Radiation therapy, chemo, cryosurgery, etc
amy, i am happy that your husband evan can eat already. I am so happy to see your posts regarding evan's problem , because it is just the same as mine. I had chemo radiation last aug 2010, but in early 2011 I was not able to take in foods anymore even liquids. I had endoscopy very recently and found out that my esophagel opening is completely blocked by scar or fibrosis. I have been feeding thru a tube for more than 2 years already, and was not able to eat by mouth also. So, i was so happy that you were able to find a treatment for your husband evan.
If it is not too much for you, may i ask for the hospital and the doctors who conducted the operation to evan, and also the estimate costs you incurred.
I am desperately looking for a treatment facility to be able to eat again normally. I hope you can give me the information i need so i can plan my possible treatment there in the US. i hope you can help me, i know u fully understand what i am goinng through just as you and evan did.
I am hoping for you reply , thank you!

Complete blockage

I went in today for an endosccopy to dialate my esophagus.  I completred chemoradiation (35 rad, 6 chemo) in October 1012 for throat cancer at the base of the tongue but have had no success at all swallowing anything since treatment.  I had a total response to the chemoradiation as far as the cancer goes but swallowing is severely impaired.  They did not dialate today because the doctor could not get the endoscope into my esophagus.  He only said that he would set up a procedure in hospital with an ENT.  I am not sure what to expect.

Any ideas?

Mr Mike

 

 

 

Amjosmom said:

Mr. Mike
Maybe they will place a stent to help keep the esophagus open? Since you've completed chemo/rads, I'm not sure they would place a feeding tube, but that's an option if you can't eat anything...

By the way, welcome to the board. Hopefully you will find some answers here.

follow-up on complete blockage

A disappointing day for me.  Went to the gastroenterologist for an endoscopy and  dialation.  I am not sure of details as when I talked to the Dr. I was still under the influence of the light anesthesia.  But he could not dialate because it interfered with my respiration and they had to bring me out.  The blockage is at the top of the esophagus.  He is sending me to an ENT for a laryngoscopy, will then confer with the ENT and reattempt the dialation under full sedation at the surgical center.  So it'll be another month or more before all this gets done. You know how pushing up appointments works. I have been on the PEG tube exclusively for more than four months now.

I was so hopeful that he could dialate and get me possibly sipping some fluids but no luck.  I should be thankful that the the PET showed a complete response to the chemo radiation treatments, but I am bummed out over this outcome.  For a guy who likes his wifes cooking more than anything this was not a good day.

Better tomorrow I guess after I put some more resolve in the bank.

Mr Mike

MrMike said:

follow-up on complete blockage

A disappointing day for me.  Went to the gastroenterologist for an endoscopy and  dialation.  I am not sure of details as when I talked to the Dr. I was still under the influence of the light anesthesia.  But he could not dialate because it interfered with my respiration and they had to bring me out.  The blockage is at the top of the esophagus.  He is sending me to an ENT for a laryngoscopy, will then confer with the ENT and reattempt the dialation under full sedation at the surgical center.  So it'll be another month or more before all this gets done. You know how pushing up appointments works. I have been on the PEG tube exclusively for more than four months now.

I was so hopeful that he could dialate and get me possibly sipping some fluids but no luck.  I should be thankful that the the PET showed a complete response to the chemo radiation treatments, but I am bummed out over this outcome.  For a guy who likes his wifes cooking more than anything this was not a good day.

Better tomorrow I guess after I put some more resolve in the bank.

Mr Mike

dialations

Are repeat dialations/stents avoidable?

I pose this as hubby's gullet is to brittle to attempt further dialations - some limited relief has been found in coke -  with small mouthfuls several times a day, always flushed with water 20mins later this helps control the build up of "rubble" added initially was a short course of low dose steriods. While not brilliant the gap is just big enough to for small amounts of liquid everything else is through the peg!