Guest guest Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 Hey everyone- I was wondering why are you guys still having to do dialations after the ectomy? Im confused Tonia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 Hi Tonia, Though the procedure is the same, yet there is a huge difference. In achalasia dilatations are done to widen up the narrowing, but it concerns the muscles. After an -ectomy one can get a narrowing as well, caused by scar tissue. Not every -ectomy patient gets this complication, but some of us do (I joined this lucky club...). The circle where the little bit of rest esophagus is sewed to the stomach (gastric pull up) can get closed (or almost closed) by scar tissue, which is a sign of healing, yet not the best sign one can get, eh? In most cases about 10 dilatations do the trick. Yet, everybody is different and I am already heading for my 5th tomorrow, knowing I will need plenty more the coming months. The build up will go on for about a year, thus the dilatations need to go on for about a year as well. During that year the build up will slow down and the elasticity of the tissue will also get less, resulting in the tissue finally staying where it must: aside. After that the food will be able to pass through without trouble. It is a normal complication and my surgeon (who has done more than plenty -ectomies) told me he had never seen the scar tissue form a permanent problem, in his patients the problem has always been solved. It is annoying though. Another year full of moments will swallowing problems, but when you are under permanent care like I am, there is no need to suffer from it. I get regular dilatations, thus giving me the chance to eat pretty normal. Love, Isabella Question about Ectomy Hey everyone- I was wondering why are you guys still having to do dialations after the ectomy? Im confusedTonia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 Gosh girl that is crazy! I thought once all that was done(ectomy) it was the end.I guess its not really a end to this damn disease. I hope other than that, you are doing well.I dont get on that often just been so busy with work and such. Tonia > > Hi Tonia, > Though the procedure is the same, yet there is a huge difference. In achalasia dilatations are done to widen up the narrowing, but it concerns the muscles. After an -ectomy one can get a narrowing as well, caused by scar tissue. Not every -ectomy patient gets this complication, but some of us do (I joined this lucky club...). The circle where the little bit of rest esophagus is sewed to the stomach (gastric pull up) can get closed (or almost closed) by scar tissue, which is a sign of healing, yet not the best sign one can get, eh? > In most cases about 10 dilatations do the trick. Yet, everybody is different and I am already heading for my 5th tomorrow, knowing I will need plenty more the coming months. The build up will go on for about a year, thus the dilatations need to go on for about a year as well. During that year the build up will slow down and the elasticity of the tissue will also get less, resulting in the tissue finally staying where it must: aside. After that the food will be able to pass through without trouble. > It is a normal complication and my surgeon (who has done more than plenty -ectomies) told me he had never seen the scar tissue form a permanent problem, in his patients the problem has always been solved. > It is annoying though. Another year full of moments will swallowing problems, but when you are under permanent care like I am, there is no need to suffer from it. I get regular dilatations, thus giving me the chance to eat pretty normal. > Love, > Isabella > > > > Question about Ectomy > > > Hey everyone- I was wondering why are you guys still having to do > dialations after the ectomy? Im confused > Tonia > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 Yes, Tonia, the -ectomy IS the end of this d... disease. It's just not an end that comes straight after the surgery. One needs to be patient (and patient and patient...). All in all I am doing fine, it's one of the last bridges to cross towards a normal life. Love, Isabella Question about Ectomy> > > Hey everyone- I was wondering why are you guys still having to do > dialations after the ectomy? Im confused> Tonia> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 Hi Tonia, I can't speak for everyone but after my e-ctomy a stricture developed at the surgical site and it took many dilations to finally be rid of it, I think however my problem was an exception also my e-ctomy was in 1993. f ----- Original Message ----- Hey everyone- I was wondering why are you guys still having to do dialations after the ectomy? Im confusedTonia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 I am headed to Cleveland next week for a dilation. This will be my first after the surgery in February. In VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 Ok, so, if you have an ectomy and replace it, do you get the peristalsis back?? That is what is confusing me. I didn't think anything could be done for that. ??? > > > > Hi Tonia, > > Though the procedure is the same, yet there is a huge difference. > In achalasia dilatations are done to widen up the narrowing, but it > concerns the muscles. After an -ectomy one can get a narrowing as > well, caused by scar tissue. Not every -ectomy patient gets this > complication, but some of us do (I joined this lucky club...). The > circle where the little bit of rest esophagus is sewed to the > stomach (gastric pull up) can get closed (or almost closed) by scar > tissue, which is a sign of healing, yet not the best sign one can > get, eh? > > In most cases about 10 dilatations do the trick. Yet, everybody is > different and I am already heading for my 5th tomorrow, knowing I > will need plenty more the coming months. The build up will go on for > about a year, thus the dilatations need to go on for about a year as > well. During that year the build up will slow down and the > elasticity of the tissue will also get less, resulting in the tissue > finally staying where it must: aside. After that the food will be > able to pass through without trouble. > > It is a normal complication and my surgeon (who has done more than > plenty -ectomies) told me he had never seen the scar tissue form a > permanent problem, in his patients the problem has always been > solved. > > It is annoying though. Another year full of moments will > swallowing problems, but when you are under permanent care like I > am, there is no need to suffer from it. I get regular dilatations, > thus giving me the chance to eat pretty normal. > > Love, > > Isabella > > > > > > > > Question about Ectomy > > > > > > Hey everyone- I was wondering why are you guys still having to do > > dialations after the ectomy? Im confused > > Tonia > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 Good luck, let us know how it all goes and give us the day to day happenings. Until lately, I assumed the ectomy surgery was it and the problem was solved as much as it could be. I have to admit, the past year, seems like the removal is much harder than I realized. People say it takes a year to get back to normal and that is longer than I thought, makes a myotomy look like a piece of cake. Years ago, when I joined here, may have mentioned needing dialations, but it didn't stick. My thoughts will be with you. Sandy>> I am headed to Cleveland next week for a dilation. This will be my first> after the surgery in February. > > > > In VA> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 No, you never get peristalysis back. The ectomy is either stretching out your stomach to make a tube, just like a laundry chute, the new les, being like the floppy door to dump the laundry in the basement. Or they take a piece of bowel and it is still only a chute. Gravity does it all. Doesn't seem like that is the biggest problem after surgery, you don't have peristalysis now, and for most of us after a myotomy surgery, you get used to it. Just can't drink laying down and a few other things. The ectomy is just making a connection to join the cut pieces where the esophagus is cut. Some people have all their esophagus, others maybe 3/4 or half. But those that have had ectomies can give you more details. Ectomies are likely more common for cancer patients than us, I believe. That is why you may find out the best surgeon is a thoracic chest surgeon specializing in lung or chest cancer, not necessarily a bariatric or gi specialist. It is a complicated path to find the right surgeon, you might start w/ your heart doctors, as the heart has to be considered also. Again, I'm slightly less encouraged that removal is the way to go, the way I was a few years ago perhaps living with a feeding tube isn't so bad, but there are a lot of choices and considerations to be made. Until this year, I just thought get it over with and get on with your life, but it isn't a surgery apparently, like a C-Section, or other things, it is hard and seems like complications are common. Sandy> > >> > > Hi Tonia,> > > Though the procedure is the same, yet there is a huge difference. > > In achalasia dilatations are done to widen up the narrowing, but it > > concerns the muscles. After an -ectomy one can get a narrowing as > > well, caused by scar tissue. Not every -ectomy patient gets this > > complication, but some of us do (I joined this lucky club...). The > > circle where the little bit of rest esophagus is sewed to the > > stomach (gastric pull up) can get closed (or almost closed) by scar > > tissue, which is a sign of healing, yet not the best sign one can > > get, eh?> > > In most cases about 10 dilatations do the trick. Yet, everybody > is > > different and I am already heading for my 5th tomorrow, knowing I > > will need plenty more the coming months. The build up will go on > for > > about a year, thus the dilatations need to go on for about a year > as > > well. During that year the build up will slow down and the > > elasticity of the tissue will also get less, resulting in the > tissue > > finally staying where it must: aside. After that the food will be > > able to pass through without trouble.> > > It is a normal complication and my surgeon (who has done more > than > > plenty -ectomies) told me he had never seen the scar tissue form a > > permanent problem, in his patients the problem has always been > > solved.> > > It is annoying though. Another year full of moments will > > swallowing problems, but when you are under permanent care like I > > am, there is no need to suffer from it. I get regular dilatations, > > thus giving me the chance to eat pretty normal.> > > Love,> > > Isabella> > > > > > > > > > > > Question about Ectomy> > > > > > > > > Hey everyone- I was wondering why are you guys still having to do > > > dialations after the ectomy? Im confused> > > Tonia> > >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Hi Sandy, Yes, complications with this surgery are very very common. And indeed anyone that has been recommended to go for it should really really think it over very well. Each and everyone's achalasia is different and so are each and everyone's post surgery complications. One should weigh the risks and benefits carefully. I've been through the removal of my appendix, 2 C-sections and 2 myotomies before and believe me, this -ectomy is nothing like that! Yet, it is something I would do all over again if I needed to. You know, you recover and get better. But it's important to make the right decisions and have the right doctors at your side. I honestly should write about the differences in -ectomies, like I promised before. One of the most important difference is indeed the complete or partial removal of the esophagus. Why talk about transplant, when the complete thing can be removed and replaced by your stomach? Transplant can cause severe complications as well, as it's not your own body tissue that replaces the esophagus. In my opinion the solution is simple: never go for partial removal. Why would you? Once they are removing it, why not have it removed completely, without doubts and fears they remove too little? I asked my doc straight away whether or not he was going to remove the whole d... thing and he said he wouldn't do it any other way. I think many other doctors do it only partially and in our case that isn't the best solution, whereas it might be in cancer patients with whom they have more experience of course. I live on and off the feeding tube nowadays, untill the scar tissue build up will stop (within the year). You bet having an -ectomy done is way better than living on tube feeding for the rest of your life. But this is my personal opinion, everybody may seek another quality of life. Tube feeding for me is a no go, compared to one year of trouble healing from the -ectomy. But it's a personal choice of course and opinions on this one might differ. At the moment I am indeed dealing with many complications, but they are honestly temporarily and once they have gone (within the year), my life will be almost normal and so much better than it has been for the last 15 year! It's worth it all!!! Love, Isabella Question about Ectomy> > > > > > > > > Hey everyone- I was wondering why are you guys still having to do > > > dialations after the ectomy? Im confused> > > Tonia> > >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Dear , Good to hear from you again. Good luck on your dilatation next week, I hope it'll give you a lot of relief. Furthermore I want to let you know not to worry, the dilatations are OK and we don't get spasms afterwards anymore! Love, Isabella Re: Question about Ectomy I am headed to Cleveland next week for a dilation. This will be my first after the surgery in February. In VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Hi Tonia We still have dilations after the ectomy because of the build-up of scar tissue. Question about Ectomy Hey everyone- I was wondering why are you guys still having to do dialations after the ectomy? Im confusedTonia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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