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Suggest Treatment For Narrowing In The Esophagus And Swallowing Difficulty
Question: I had a barium test yesterday and was told by the radiologist that there was a narrowing in my esophagus. I had a feeding tube (J tube) in for 6 months and after I had it removed I noticed I had trouble swallowing. Do you think this tube could have formed scar tissue in my esophagus? If I do have scar tissue can it be fixed? Thanks for your response
Brief Answer:
J-tube can not cause scar in the esophagus.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
By J-tube you understand jejunostomy tube (tube placed in the small intestine). Why do you have it placed? What was the reason?
It is rather hardly possible for jejunostomy tube to cause scar in the esophagus. If such tube is placed correctly it goes through small intestine and has no touch with esophagus. So this can not be the reason.
Esophagus narrowing can be due to inflammation, resulting with scar. In such case there might be stent placed which will stretch the esophagus improving eating ability.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
J-tube can not cause scar in the esophagus.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
By J-tube you understand jejunostomy tube (tube placed in the small intestine). Why do you have it placed? What was the reason?
It is rather hardly possible for jejunostomy tube to cause scar in the esophagus. If such tube is placed correctly it goes through small intestine and has no touch with esophagus. So this can not be the reason.
Esophagus narrowing can be due to inflammation, resulting with scar. In such case there might be stent placed which will stretch the esophagus improving eating ability.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
It was a J-tube that went through my nose down to the small intestine. They placed it when I was having an endoscopy after being checked into the Hospital by my Primary doctor because my Potassium was low and i was very low in weight. i had no idea they were going to place the tube through my nose. I woke up from the procedure with this horrible feeding tube. It has been a nightmare ever since. Finally, after gaing weight by eating enough regular food (not canned) they let me have it removed. Now, i've got a totally separate problem with this narrowing of my esophagus and im having trouble swallowing which is affecting how much i can eat. Im hoping there is something that can be done to fix this. Do you think so
?
What about dilating the esophagus with an endoscope? Is there a chance this could be successful
?
What about dilating the esophagus with an endoscope? Is there a chance this could be successful
Brief Answer:
Dilatation with endoscope can be effective as well.
Detailed Answer:
Ok, so this was not a real jejunostomy tube. When the tube is placed through the nose, and stays in the esophagus for some time (like few weeks) inflammation and narrowing is very possible.
If you had it for few weeks, narrowing of the esophagus is caused by it for sure.
We have tools to fix it. Endoscopic dilatation is one option for sure. But if its a scar, very often such procedure is effective for a short time so the esophagus becomes narrow again (it comes back to the size from before the procedure very quickly). But it is worth to try for sure.
Stent is the most effective solution.
Dilatation with endoscope can be effective as well.
Detailed Answer:
Ok, so this was not a real jejunostomy tube. When the tube is placed through the nose, and stays in the esophagus for some time (like few weeks) inflammation and narrowing is very possible.
If you had it for few weeks, narrowing of the esophagus is caused by it for sure.
We have tools to fix it. Endoscopic dilatation is one option for sure. But if its a scar, very often such procedure is effective for a short time so the esophagus becomes narrow again (it comes back to the size from before the procedure very quickly). But it is worth to try for sure.
Stent is the most effective solution.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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