Dilation

mmr19
mmr19 Member Posts: 75
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi all-
I know I have read many times about dilation here and that it is a common procedure.
Lou is scheduled to have it done next Tues.

He was having difficulty swallowing again the end of June. Had an EGD. Dr found a fungal infection, a narrowing and ulcerations. Dr said he gently pushed the scope through the narrowing to open it up which did help a little. Lou was given meds for the infection and ulcerations.

Lou again has been having swallowing issues and went for a follow-up EGD last Tues. Dr said his esophagus has narrowed and needs dilation. Because of the length of the narrowing he wouldn't be able to do the regular balloon dilation. He will have to do a fluoroscopic dilation (?) with long tubes that are gradually increased in size. 3 sizes each session. This will be done in 3 sessions with 2 weeks healing time in between each one.

The Dr keeps expressing how risky this is due to radiation damage and the esophagus and blood vessels being brittle and not having the pliability they would have normally.

This sounds very scary. Plus we're talking a total of 6 weeks before it is complete.!!
Does this sound normal? Anyone have experience with this?

Thank you-
Marta

Comments

  • BJeastOR
    BJeastOR Member Posts: 18
    #2
    Dilation experience
    Hi, Marta. My husband also had narrowing of the esophagus after surgery. Scar tissue build up- made him throw up again. We went to our local gastroenterologists and they had never seen the MIE type of surgery with staples that hubby had, so they said the same sorts of things you are hearing. The would only stretch it a little at a time and I think we went back 3 or 4 times with a couple weeks in between. When we finally had a chance to discuss it with hubby's original surgeon she said if he had more problems to come back to her because they were too afraid of it, it needed to pushed back aggressively. I am not a doctor, and my husband's situation may well be very different than yours, and after all, it IS an invasive procedure with risks. So, consider my comments with caution. I suggest that if this Dr is not the original surgeon that you call the original surgeon's office to discuss it. I will say that the dilation helped a lot and hubby could eat right away after each time. It also takes time before the scar tissue quits re-closing and settles into an open enough situation. My hubby also had the fungal thing and clearing that up is important too. Sounds like you're on that. Lastly, about a year later my hubby started throwing up again, and his original surgeon dilated the pylorem (?) at the intenstine end of the stomach. She said they botox it during surgery to make it relax and sometimes it comes back too strong and tight so holds the food in the tiny new stomach longer than it should. Doesn't sound like that's Lou's issue now, but I thought you might just put that possibility for later into your mind. I know that we were distraught, as you sound, when we first had to face the dilation thing, but I guess it is not that uncommon. Just one more thing.

    Jen
  • mmr19
    mmr19 Member Posts: 75
    #3
    BJeastOR said:

    Dilation experience
    Hi, Marta. My husband also had narrowing of the esophagus after surgery. Scar tissue build up- made him throw up again. We went to our local gastroenterologists and they had never seen the MIE type of surgery with staples that hubby had, so they said the same sorts of things you are hearing. The would only stretch it a little at a time and I think we went back 3 or 4 times with a couple weeks in between. When we finally had a chance to discuss it with hubby's original surgeon she said if he had more problems to come back to her because they were too afraid of it, it needed to pushed back aggressively. I am not a doctor, and my husband's situation may well be very different than yours, and after all, it IS an invasive procedure with risks. So, consider my comments with caution. I suggest that if this Dr is not the original surgeon that you call the original surgeon's office to discuss it. I will say that the dilation helped a lot and hubby could eat right away after each time. It also takes time before the scar tissue quits re-closing and settles into an open enough situation. My hubby also had the fungal thing and clearing that up is important too. Sounds like you're on that. Lastly, about a year later my hubby started throwing up again, and his original surgeon dilated the pylorem (?) at the intenstine end of the stomach. She said they botox it during surgery to make it relax and sometimes it comes back too strong and tight so holds the food in the tiny new stomach longer than it should. Doesn't sound like that's Lou's issue now, but I thought you might just put that possibility for later into your mind. I know that we were distraught, as you sound, when we first had to face the dilation thing, but I guess it is not that uncommon. Just one more thing.

    Jen

    Thanks Jen
    Thank you for the info.
    Lou has not had surgery. He is not a canidate for surgery though the GI Dr mentioned resection could become necessary if the esophagus was torn or perforated during dilation. It has us quite concerned.

    Marta
  • BJeastOR
    BJeastOR Member Posts: 18
    #4
    mmr19 said:

    Thanks Jen
    Thank you for the info.
    Lou has not had surgery. He is not a canidate for surgery though the GI Dr mentioned resection could become necessary if the esophagus was torn or perforated during dilation. It has us quite concerned.

    Marta

    Keep us posted
    Will be praying extra prayers for you Tuesday. Let us know how it goes.

    Jen
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #5
    mmr19 said:

    Thanks Jen
    Thank you for the info.
    Lou has not had surgery. He is not a canidate for surgery though the GI Dr mentioned resection could become necessary if the esophagus was torn or perforated during dilation. It has us quite concerned.

    Marta

    Dilation
    Hello Marta
    My dad had one dilation, dr said there was a lot of scar tissue closing shut the esophagus. This is caused from radiation. The first dilation did not do much. He then had to have a stent put into his esophagus to open it up more. This turned out very well. I would suggest asking about a stent as well. Best of luck. Keep in touch.
    Tina

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