Stricture of the esophagus is a common ailment of the digestive tract. It may be characterized by pain on swallowing, difficult swallowing, regurgitation, weight loss, and weakness.
I may have stricture of the esophagus. My symptoms vary a bit from those found in the literature: a pressure in chest and/or upper abdomen following the ingestion of food and relieved only by spitting up the food. It is decidedly worsened by tension. I constantly have mucous in my throat and am always clearing my throat. It is difficult to speak audibly and I am hoarse because of it.
Diagnosis is made by barium enema , which is a certain type of X-ray and endoscopy.
Endoscopy is done by putting a tube down the esophagus with a camera on the end of it and viewing the area. When diagnosing conditions of the digestive tract, there are a host of conditions to consider.
One of the most common is irritable bowel syndrome, which is what it sounds like and a condition that produces diarrhea on a regular basis.
Chrohn’s Disease is another fairly well known digestive condition characterized by inflammation of the digestive tract.
Treatment for esophageal stricture includes dilation, in which the esophagus is stretched, insertion of a plastic tube, and surgical reconstruction. Dilation is most common.
The doctor does an endoscopy where he inserts a tube with a camera on the end into the esophagus, and visualizes the area. Upon certain findings, he establishes a diagnosis of esophageal stricture and proceeds to do a dilatation.
I was dilated about fifteen years ago for the same or a similar condition. At that time I had to have a barium enema, where I drank a thick chalky substance. It was definitely not a pleasant experience. After the dilatation, I was not to eat at night past a certain hour and I was to sleep with my head of bed elevated.
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