Ivor Lewis post-op cough

Hi folks, I've never posted here before, just found this board.  I looked through many of the posts and haven't found any related to my problem.  I'm nearly 3 years post-op from an I/L procedure and all my follow-up scans have been clear.  I'm 67, my energy level is great and I feel good all the time.  Problems with reflux are minimal if I watch my diet and don't eat spicy foods.  I do, however, have one problem that won't go away and doesn't seem to be getting any better.  I have a chronic cough that happens only when I swallow food.  Anyone else have this?  Taking small bites helps some, but it's still there.  Different doctors have different opinions on what's causing it.  One says it's from acid, one says it's from radiation burn, and one says it's caused from nerves cut during the surgery that get irritated when I swallow.  I tend to believe it's from cut nerves, but have no way to really know.  Please let me know if you have experienced anything like this. 
Thanks, Bill 

Hi Bill,

I just want to say welcome to the board and congratulations on your almost 3 years post IL surgery.  My husband Joe had his surgery in March 08 for Stage 3 EC followed by chemo (so far so good, next scan is 11/12) and never had radiation.  He told me this morning that he's had close to 2 weeks of waking up with no GERD in the morning so I think his system is finally starting to adjust and he's figured out the diet thing and tries not to overeat.  

Sorry, I do not have an answer to your question because Joe never experienced hasn't experienced this symptom.

Maria 

Maria--Diet has been  the key for me to the GERD problem.  I will have it occasionally and can always cure it immediately with a Prevacid ODT.  I'll get GERD if I sleep on my left side, but no GERD if I sleep on my right side or on my back.  Propping my head up on 2 firm pillows helps too, letting gravity keep the acid down. 

Thanks for sharing about the sleeping on the left side and GERD.  I'll check with Joe to see if he might have been doing this and not realizing it.  A few months ago, I purchased a sloped hard foam pillow that seems to be working out for him (our Yorkie loves it, too.  When Joe is not using the pillow, she climbs on it and can see out the bedroom window to the street).

This board is great for finding solutions to problems that may be unique to EC. 

Maria

I had my surgery last Nov and I do cough when I eat.  It feels like it hits something on the way down that makes me cough. I just try and ignor it. I never did ask the doctor I guess I just figured its part of the program. God bless you and good luck. Bill

I had surgery August of 08 and still have a residual cough.  Mine doesn't seem to happen with food but from persistant post nasal drip.  I also experience huge amounts of musous immediately after eating.  No one seems to know why.  Otherwise all is as well as can be expected.

Hi luv--thanks for your reply.  I'm beginning to think it's just something I'll have to deal too with since I've had it for nearly 3 years now.  I guess it's really not that big a deal, and is more of an annoyance than anything.

Hi cj--glad you're doing well.  I had the mucous early on following the surgery but it went away on its own after about two months, I think.