Complete Esophagus Obstruction

What is the treatment they are using for treating the esophagus scarring?

John,
It really gave me some hope to read your message. I hope you are experiencing continued success and are still checking in here. I am 9 weeks post treatment, could swallow a little, though painfully, as recently as 10/8 by my records. I tried to tell the hospital people that my swallow was disappearing but they said "it takes time". A barium swallow test this past week showed no opening so in a about 10 days I'm scheduled to have the upper probe thing to look for an opening to dilate- if that doesn't work, they'll try from the peg tube up approach. Did you have both ENT and GAstro drs. at the same time or just the lower? I used to live in Nashville-which hospital and DRs?(if they let you say on here.) I'm in Atlanta and hoping for success in the next 2 weeks but I can tell my doctor is quite worried, and I'm not sure he's the most knowledgable when it comes to this.MY swallow function is fine, its just that nothing can get to my esophagus- and its clearly been in the last month it closed to whatever it is now. Tell me how you're doing and the hosp/dr please. Thanks for any help you can give me.

John,

How are you doing? My Mom is 75 she needs a feeding tube in her stomach.. the doctors have tried twice to go down her throat to see inside stomach and they say there is old food in there and they cannot get past it. she now has a feeding tube in her nose that is supposed to be into her stomach. Dr. also say there is not much more they can do. Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you

Clay

Kimberly,

CAn you please tell me where the doctor is that treated your Mom? My Mom has an obstruction in her espaphagus and the doctors are not able to get through to put in a feeding tube. They have a tube in her nose now but were trying to use an endoscope to go into her stomach to put a tube in through her abdomin and in the side of her stomach so they can remove the feeding tube from her nose. PLEASE Help ASAP. The doctors today sound like they are giving up.

Thank you,

Clay (Columbus Ohio)

From John 1946 squamosu cell May 17 2004/left tonsil. esophageal stricture from radiation. feeding tub for one year. could not swallow at all for six months. Tub taken out May 2005. I am doing well, eating anything wet and juicy, just went to see my ENT last week December 15th 2005. Everything looks good, he wants to see me in July 2006. All MRI's have been clear. I am due my 6 month folow up MRI in Feb 2006. That is always hard waiting on those results. My life is getting back to normal as possible, working, my weight is up to 165 now from the low of 145. I was 180 before any treatment. Overall my team of doctors are very pleased with me, but I have done everything to help my case. Getting on a schedule, three meal a day, rest and exercise daily. Vanderblilt is a great hospital!!. If anyone has any questions I would be happy to try to answer them. John 1946.

Do you think if you had used the flaxseed and primrose during your radiation instead of at the end of treatments that you wouldn't have had complete closure of your throat?

 

 

Can the thorasic surgeons do anything to help...or is it useless?  My dad is about to begin radiation and he has already been thru complete restruction of his esophagus and had a laryngectomy.  He has been thru so much.  Just in the last 2 weeks he has been able to eat. (After months of eating nothing by mouth).   Before the surgery, his tumor in his hypopharyx had gotten so big he couldn't even swallow spit.  It's been nice to see him be able to eat again.  Now, after reading all these posts, I'm afraid he is just going to be back where he was before.  We were told his throat would be sore and he would experience a little trouble swallowing for a few months, but it looks as though we've been mislead.  All of you seem to be suffering with stricture that is forever.  My Dad is going to feel like the surgery was for nothing...why do reconstruction of your esophagus if the radiation is just going to close it up anyway?  Thank you in advance for your response.