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EGD with Dilation

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Posted 1/1/2009 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone had EGD with dilation more that once or twice in span of 4 months? I've had 4 done in the last four months and they want to do it again next week. I told them I would think about it while I see what my insurance says about Mayo Clinic. My surgeon thinks it's way too much in a short period of time and believes there is a high risk for perforation. Which would mean he would have to go fix it, but still wouldn't know the underlying cause I had to start with.
I am beginning to feel like a Yo-Yo. Or at least a tennis ball on a LONG volley.

Hope everyone has a Happy New Year.

Bill
Posted 1/3/2009 5:31 AM (GMT 0)

Bill,
I am sorry you are having this issue.  I hope one of our members has some info that will help you out.

Keep us posted.

Sincerely
Kitt

Posted 1/20/2009 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry to hear about all of the problems you have been experiencing. I am 28 years old and I have long suffered from difficulty swallowing since I was 6 years old. Food gets stuck on its way down my esophagus and I have to violently choke it up or else it is stuck for hours and hours. It is extremely painful and disgusting. I also suffer from GERD, erosive esophagitis, and a hiatal hernia. The particular issue with swallowing was due to esophageal strictures. When I was finally 18, a doctor referred me to a GI specialist who performed the EGD with dilation. The doctor stretched my esophagus with a balloon. It seemed like a miracle cure, but it was only short-lived. I should get it done more often, but it is just agony. Do you experience pain afterwords? If so, for how long? I have had 5 EGDs total in the last 10 years, two with the dilation of strictures, and one with dilation coming up on Friday, 1/23/09. I have been told many times that there is no pain associated with this procedure, but I have experienced very much pain when the EGD is accompanied with the dilation of strictures. How can I manage my pain if I can not eat or drink anything afterwords for many days, and the doctor says I should be fine and can return to work the next day? It is hard for me to swallow anything and I find myself drooling into buckets uncontrollably afterwords. I am extremely anxious over the outcome of my next procedure. I am finding myself unable to sleep and I feel defeated because I can not find a way to stress enough to my doctor how terrible it truly feels. How can I minimize my agony afterwords. any suggestions?
Posted 1/20/2009 5:46 AM (GMT 0)
Do you have other family members who suffer? I also have a twin sister with the same issues.
Posted 1/21/2009 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Katieblackburn,

My sister does have a slight problem, but not nearly as bad as mine.

I do experience pain after they dilate, but it only last a couple days. It feels like a sore throat but farther down. Kind of hard to explain it. Most of my problem now is believed to be a problem stemming from a Nissen Fundoplication surgery. The surgeon at Loyola University thinks it may have slipped or is twisted. I should know for sure after the tests in Feb.
Have you ever had a motility study done? Seems they would due to your severity of dysphasia. I'm sorry to hear the your doctor doesn't understand your pain after an EGD. I think some doctors believe that everyone is the same and react to tests and such the same.
I hope everything goes better this time around.

Bill
Posted 1/22/2009 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
I hope you get the answers with the tests you will have in February. I can definitely understand what you are going through, although my condition is nowhere near as severe as yours. I was told that my being worried, stressed, anxious, nervous, and a perfectionist is worsening my condition. The last time I had my esophagus dilated, I had to drool into a bucket and couldn't eat or drink anything for at least 6 days. The strictures were from the back of my throat all the way down my esophagus. The doctor said he had to take the scope down many times. I have never had a motility study. I tried to have a 24 hour pH study, but I couldn't tolerate it for more than 45 minutes. The doctors believe my stricture condition stems from severe acid reflux. I have brought up having the Nissen Fundopication surgery, but was quickly assured that I do not need it. I have had several upper G.I.s that have never shown the strictures. I have had a barium swallow, a lower G.I., a nuclear medicine swallowing study, and a few chest X-Rays. After the first dilation, it was like the floodgates of hell opened up and I experienced severe acid reflux for the first time. Prior to that, I don't recall ever having experienced any heartburn or acid effects. Now I can't bend over to tie my shoes without getting acid in my mouth. I also gasp and hiccup frequently. I am on Protonix after having tried Prilosec and Nexium. Protonix works for me so much better than the others. My twin sister also suffers from severe strictures, but has never had her esophagus dilated because of the fear she has after seeing me going through it. She decided that it is time for her to have her esophagus dilated, so she will be seeing a G.I. doctor for the first time on February 9th.
Posted 1/22/2009 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
I had dilation back in 2005, I haven't had any since then.   I'm not sure how often you could get it done...sorry.   I had some pain after the procedure and they assured me it was fine.  I didn't have much trouble after that.
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