A quick update on the swallowing and eating saga. At this point I can drink liquids in a more normal manner than I was in the past. Also drinks like the yogurt smoothies you can by in the store with bits of fruit in them are also OK. I can feel the fruit going down but it isn't a problem.
Eating solids on the other hand is still not there at this time. After the dilation procedure I esophagus was widened to 8 mm. That is about the size of a cherry bit. However I think it has shrunk a bit based on how drinking liquids feel and 8 mm is the max opening. As I learned trying a very watery pork and beans eating anything that is near that size just doesn't work. Jello on the other hand seems to go down OK. Its slippery enough and when you chew it it breaks into small pieces and doesn't stick together. That helps it go down. Outside of that non liquids are not possible at this point.
The next dilation procedure is scheduled for the second week in August. Hopefully after that procedure I will be able to try to eat some solids. From what I understand 3-5 dilation procedures may be required to get my esophagus to be wide enough to eat "normal" foods and not have the opening close back down.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
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