Has Anyone Ever Dealt With BENIGN ESAPHAGUS STRICTURE | MyChronicPainTeam

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Has Anyone Ever Dealt With BENIGN ESAPHAGUS STRICTURE
A MyChronicPainTeam Member asked a question 💭

I've been having trouble swallowing food for about 6 months now. It happens randomly and when it happens it doesn't have to be any certain type of food and their is no sign that it will be happening, it just happens. I did a barium swallow last week and just got the results. Dr says GERD( which we already knew I had) and BENIGN ESAPHAGUS STRICTURE. They are setting me up with a GI so on to another specialist. I was just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this and what types of treatment… read more

posted March 1, 2017
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A MyChronicPainTeam Member

Well benign means it does not have a sinister cause like cancer, so that is good stricture just means narrowing. Cause is usually wear & tear, causing the muscle in the oesophagus to cramp/spasm, over time parts of it might just not relax back to normal and it stays that way, normally the tube (oesophagus) works by contracting and relaxing so pushing the food forward into the stomach, but if it is not relaxing then the food you have taken just sits there, now eventually gravity and liquids will probably carry it down but it is not comfortable. It happens to me occasionally usually if I eat rice to quickly although one or two other things can trigger it too. There is not one treatment fits all & different folks find things that will help them, me I find if I eat slower it happens less, and smaller mouthfuls help too but sometimes I just have to sit and wait take small drinks and it eventually goes. I am sure there is medication they can give you that helps but for the life of me I just can't think what it is just now. No doubt the DR will explain it all to you and if there is a tablet that helps he will tell you about it. There is a surgical procedure either bougie (stretching the tube) or a stent to hold it permanently open depends on how bad the stricture is.
The less they have to do to make it comfortable the better for you. Hope this helps some
Good luck
Sandra

posted March 3, 2017
A MyChronicPainTeam Member

my sister is 82 and had swallowing problem they stretched her ESOPHAGUS am 71 an notice am having a very problems with swallowing.

posted March 14, 2017
A MyChronicPainTeam Member

RobynH have you tried asking them for liquid meds not absolutely everything comes that way but some do & often there is an alternate they can use that is either smaller or in liquid form. The Dr probably just has not thought about it but if you mention it,.. worth a try. Also some tablets can half (although they wont actually recommend it) but then they are not the ones having to swallow it. Whatever it takes to make it easier is worth a try, also try swallowing it with something like yogurt or jam, sounds counterintuitive I know but it's a bit thicker and slippy so goes down better

posted March 5, 2017
A MyChronicPainTeam Member

@A MyChronicPainTeam Member.... thank you for the information on this issue. You provided more than the doctors office did when they called with the test results.. I did look it up online but I always feel better talking with someone who has dealt with the same issue. Once again Thank You💜

posted March 3, 2017
A MyChronicPainTeam Member

@A MyChronicPainTeam Member The Thyroid issue is complex the answer is yes..... & No the thyroid function does affect metabolism but doesn't actually affect the muscle directly, the other thing is that both TEND to happen to the same age group I have exaggerated the "tend" because you do get young people with ....well either or both these problems for all sorts of reasons, you don't have to be middle aged+ it's just more common so the thyroid can have some effect, but not always & usually what joins them both is the age group.

posted March 6, 2017

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