Endoscopy

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jackflash22
jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I had an appt with the surgeon who will carry out my endoscopy. I was in two minds whether to have it done or not. It's not the normal endoscopy, they will go through my PEG tube site up to my esophugus and another surgeon will go through my throat and hopefully they will meet in the middle. They haven't done many of these but assure me they have an expert team. The problem may be the scar tissue has healed pulling my esophugus in two directions then they can't do it. If it's healed straight then they will make a tiny incision. Then for ten to fifteen week I go in weekly to get it a little wider each time. I should be able to swallow liquids but still rely on my tube for keeping me from starving. All I ask is to be able to swallow again even if it's only liquid. They can't do more than tiny widening at a time because they said scar tissue is sort of dried up and not so elastic and may perforate. It will be under general anesthetic and day surgery. They have another similar surgery to do next month so hopefully they can practice on him!!!!!!!!!!!!before they do me. I'm a bit apprehensive as they said if they do go through the esophugus that would mean an operation then and there. If I'm out of it I'm not going to know anyway.

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  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #2
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    May they meet in the middle with good news.

    Let's hope they meet and find good news and do the repair. I understald the hope to swallow liquid but we're hopping for food as well when healed. Many prayers going your way.

    Bill

  • Ladylacy
    Ladylacy Member Posts: 773 Member
    #3
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    Endoscopy

    I remember our head and neck specialist telling my husband (after his second round of radiation) that he may have to do the same thing, but Joe was lucky and he didn't have to have it done that way.  Of course, for Joe the sad thing is that his esophagus never stayed open after a second round of radiation plus a reoccurrence at the cervical of his esophagus and he has to rely on his PEG tube for everything.  He does try to drink a cup of coffee but he can't swallow it.  Says he enjoys the taste of it in his mouth and then he has to spit it out.   He says he thinks a little does go down and especially in the afternoon.

    For me I would want someone very experienced in doing this type of procedure but then again I am scared with any type of procedure.

    Wishing you the best -- Sharon

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #4
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    Ladylacy said:

    Endoscopy

    I remember our head and neck specialist telling my husband (after his second round of radiation) that he may have to do the same thing, but Joe was lucky and he didn't have to have it done that way.  Of course, for Joe the sad thing is that his esophagus never stayed open after a second round of radiation plus a reoccurrence at the cervical of his esophagus and he has to rely on his PEG tube for everything.  He does try to drink a cup of coffee but he can't swallow it.  Says he enjoys the taste of it in his mouth and then he has to spit it out.   He says he thinks a little does go down and especially in the afternoon.

    For me I would want someone very experienced in doing this type of procedure but then again I am scared with any type of procedure.

    Wishing you the best -- Sharon

    Coffee

    I swallow but it just goes so far, turns round and comes back up again. I make a coffee...extra strong and tepid, have a mouthful spit it out so the tastes there and pour the rest through the tube. I get a coffee kick and it gives me enery all day. I only have one ..not every day, otherwise I don't sleep well at night. I have been warned my throat may close again but I'm willing to take a chance.

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #5
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    jf, this makes me so sad that

    jf, this makes me so sad that you can't swallow.  i can only imagine how hard that is.  i have a lot of trouble swallowing but i can finally get it down and I know how frustrating that is.  i am praying all goes better thank expected and that they don't have to do it too many times before you are swallowing again.  i'm thinking positive and i hope you are too.  sending positive thoughts, good vibes, lots of mojo, crossing my fingers and toes and prayers that it works!

    dj

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #6
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    debbiejeanne said:

    jf, this makes me so sad that

    jf, this makes me so sad that you can't swallow.  i can only imagine how hard that is.  i have a lot of trouble swallowing but i can finally get it down and I know how frustrating that is.  i am praying all goes better thank expected and that they don't have to do it too many times before you are swallowing again.  i'm thinking positive and i hope you are too.  sending positive thoughts, good vibes, lots of mojo, crossing my fingers and toes and prayers that it works!

    dj

    Thanx debbiejeane

    I'm hoping that some progress can be made even if it's the smallest of holes. I do want to be able to drink. It's frightening not being able to swallow anything. The food part don't bother me, they said I'll probably have the PEG tube left in to top up. I don't fancy the one day a week for 10 to 15 weeks endoscopies but I'll go through it. I'll keep posted how it goes incase someone else has the same problem.

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #7
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    jackflash22 said:

    Thanx debbiejeane

    I'm hoping that some progress can be made even if it's the smallest of holes. I do want to be able to drink. It's frightening not being able to swallow anything. The food part don't bother me, they said I'll probably have the PEG tube left in to top up. I don't fancy the one day a week for 10 to 15 weeks endoscopies but I'll go through it. I'll keep posted how it goes incase someone else has the same problem.

    Keep it posted also just because we care......

    We all do............

  • michdjp
    michdjp Member Posts: 220
    #8
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    Tread procedure

    Hi, my dad had this procedure 2 and 1/2 years ago.  We travelled from ny to North Carolina to have it Done.  My dad could not swallow even water.  The first surgery he had two drs. One to go down the esophogus and the other thru the peg.  He had two more dilitations after that every three weeks but only down the esophogus.  Because of this he is able to swallow and eat most foods with the exception of meats which he can get down but they are difficult.  I believe the problem is a weakened epiglottiS.  I hope you have as much success. All my best , Michelle 

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #9
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    michdjp said:

    Tread procedure

    Hi, my dad had this procedure 2 and 1/2 years ago.  We travelled from ny to North Carolina to have it Done.  My dad could not swallow even water.  The first surgery he had two drs. One to go down the esophogus and the other thru the peg.  He had two more dilitations after that every three weeks but only down the esophogus.  Because of this he is able to swallow and eat most foods with the exception of meats which he can get down but they are difficult.  I believe the problem is a weakened epiglottiS.  I hope you have as much success. All my best , Michelle 

    This is

    the news I wanted to hear. How long was he unable to swallow by mouth, I'm 8 months now. My repeat dilations will be once a week by throat only, for 10 weeks. They will open it tiny bit by tiny bit. They said they don't want to stretch it too much at a time incase it splits. I'm so pleased you put this answer on I feel a whole lot better about it. Thank you.

  • michdjp
    michdjp Member Posts: 220
    #10
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    jackflash22 said:

    This is

    the news I wanted to hear. How long was he unable to swallow by mouth, I'm 8 months now. My repeat dilations will be once a week by throat only, for 10 weeks. They will open it tiny bit by tiny bit. They said they don't want to stretch it too much at a time incase it splits. I'm so pleased you put this answer on I feel a whole lot better about it. Thank you.

    Almost a year

    It was about a year without food.  His peg was put in sept. of 2011 and the following August we went to North Carolina.  By December of 2012 we took the peg out.  (that was all my dad wanted for Christmas that year! ) just this year we did a barium swallow to check on things and all was still open.  My dads muscle including his epiglottis is weak which allows food to get hung up in the back of his throat but he works thru it.  

    All my best, Michelle 

  • Guzzle
    Guzzle Member Posts: 710
    #11
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    michdjp said:

    Almost a year

    It was about a year without food.  His peg was put in sept. of 2011 and the following August we went to North Carolina.  By December of 2012 we took the peg out.  (that was all my dad wanted for Christmas that year! ) just this year we did a barium swallow to check on things and all was still open.  My dads muscle including his epiglottis is weak which allows food to get hung up in the back of his throat but he works thru it.  

    All my best, Michelle 

    Flash

    Good luck honey. You might even be able to have a 'bevvy',!

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #12
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    Guzzle said:

    Flash

    Good luck honey. You might even be able to have a 'bevvy',!

    Bevvy

    would love one, in the summer when it was hot and dry I yearned for an ice cold beer, and maybe a packet of crisps. oh! The joy of an ice cream I envied my little granddaughter enjoying a cornet with it running down her chin. Maybe when the summer comes again I can join her the runny chin an' all. You don't know until you can't have how nice food is. I was fine after the neck dissection I got back to eating anything, then after rads it all went west. I think my last meal was a chicken  Sunday roast with all the trimmings. I could even eat toast and marmite......"

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #13
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    jackflash22 said:

    Bevvy

    would love one, in the summer when it was hot and dry I yearned for an ice cold beer, and maybe a packet of crisps. oh! The joy of an ice cream I envied my little granddaughter enjoying a cornet with it running down her chin. Maybe when the summer comes again I can join her the runny chin an' all. You don't know until you can't have how nice food is. I was fine after the neck dissection I got back to eating anything, then after rads it all went west. I think my last meal was a chicken  Sunday roast with all the trimmings. I could even eat toast and marmite......"

    Trimmings

    trimmings that's what I wrote but my ipad has a mind of it's own and puts in what's it wants not what I type

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #14
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    jackflash22 said:

    Trimmings

    trimmings that's what I wrote but my ipad has a mind of it's own and puts in what's it wants not what I type

    It's done it again

    is it a bad word in USA it means all the bits and bobs that go with a chicken dinner!!!!!!!!

  • rclranger88
    rclranger88 Member Posts: 1
    #15
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    I am wondering about

    I am wondering about throat widening, after 9 weeks of radiation, my throat is ruined, and swells up feels real tight. I can drink a little milk, but food won't fit, so I nearly choke to death ever day trying to eat. I have lymph edema in neck, arm, leg and foot on right side, this is a big problem and I can hardly move. Radiation has burnt out my lymph nodes and half my voice box as well. I wish to just have one more cheeseburger and a beer.

     

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