Successful dilation?

Hello everyone,

I am having a dilation of my wrap this week and wonder is there are any folks who have had this done, and was it successful the first time. I am 14 weeks post op after my second fundoplication and I am still having problems swallowing properly. What can I expect after I have had this done? I'm really very anxious to get this sorted out.

Thanks for reading

Buzz

Hi rager and thanks for your prompt response.
My swallowing sometimes starts off ok, and then it seems after a few swallows things feel as if they are backing up and I need to take 3 to 4 good hard swallows to get things moving. Sometimes I have to stop completely as things don't move at all. I am still on a soft diet and most times I seem to tolerate fluids ok depending on how much I drink. I had problems immediately after surgery which is to be expected because of swelling, but mine actually worsened after I attempted to eat meat which I had chewed well, 8 weeks post op. I also got gas bloat a few days after that which I put down to gulping in air because of excessive swallowing. That has since passed, pardon the pun. I haven't had any reflux in the true sense, but I did have a just over a week of what I think was maybe gastritis and no acid came up, but there is a sensation of a lump in my throat and what feels like maybe food/fluid in my esophagus most of the time. The best time for me to eat is at breakfast time (cereal and yoghurt) and the rest of the day is usually a challenge. I didn't have any swallowing problems pre op.
Thankyou for your well wishes and will keep you informed.
Regards Buzz.
( This is my second fundoplication due to re-herniation, and it is the same surgeon. )

Hi,just had a dilation today! Didnt even know i was going for one.was just going for a endoscopy.Surgeon said wrap was a bit tight as alot of mucous was sitting at the wrap.I can tell you i never felt a thing,just the usual discomfort of a endoscope down your throat,i had no sedation either so youll be ok! Barry

Barry,

what issues lead you to have an endoscopy? Let us know if dilation helped with the issues you are having. Thanks.

Barry,

if I can ask, who was your surgeon and which state do you live in? The reason I am asking because I can recommend the best surgeon you will find for Nissen in NYC. Since you are having so many problems this probably means your surgeon didn't do it correctly - I know one guy who had the same thing happen and couldn't eat for a year - even though he has countless dilations - he finally went to NYC for a redo and has been fine since.

Hi Rager201216,i live in Northern Ireland so im stuck with a surgeon who is the only one in the country apparantly can do this surgery.Im now looking into going to England to find another surgeon for a second opinion which is very hard to do over this end of the world.Thanks for your help.

Hi Buzz, hope all goes well for you! Let me know how you get on. Barry

Hi all,
I was advised by my surgeon, after waking up in the procedure room that he had done the dilation and to give it one to two weeks to see if it worked. On fluids only for 48hrs then back to a soft diet. Didn't get to ask any questions as to whether it was very tight or what. I won't see him now until the end of the month so I am hoping all is well.
Thanks to everyone reading, will keep you posted.
How are you feeling Barry?
Regards Buzz

Hi All, Well I hate to say it but I think that nothing has improved since the dilation. In fact, I am even getting pain between my shoulder blades when I drink anything thick or when I attempt to eat. Does anyone know why my swallowing would become more difficult 8 weeks post op? I can understand it getting better after swelling decreases or not improving at all, but getting worse is not part of the normal healing process surely?

Hi Barry. My wrap is a 180 apparently. Was yours a 360? I seem to be fluctuating with gas bloat as well. My first fundoplication was very successful and I never had any problems with swallowing. I recall a little bloating but not like this. I had mesh the first time as well, but apparently the new mesh repair is above my stomach this time. He said that the wrap might be getting caught up on that, but I'm assuming that he found the wrap tight as well or he wouldn't have dilated it I guess. I know things need time to settle down but add swallowing problems into the mix and it's hard not to feel a little disheartened. Sometimes I can't eat much at all and often feel hungry all the time.
Roll on the end of the month and then we can see what his next plan of attack is.
Take care
Regards
Buzz

Hey Rager 201216, How are you going? Did you end up having a barium swallow meal done and if so, what were the results?
Regards buzz