Strictures

I am just over 4 years out from surgery.(may 2009)   Last year I ended up having a stricture (opening was about the size of a pen tube) as well as an ulcer. I was going every week, then every two weeks, then once a month  and graduated to once every two months...   I have been doing this for just over a year now.  (just over 20 scopes!!)  He has dilated me up to 15.. I feel good for now.. but then I will start not being able to eat or have  it feel like my esophagus is closing on me. Stress makes it worse...   

i was just wondering if anyone knew how much they got dilated to and if they have run into the same problems. I have also been trying to keep a diary of food as I am finding that when I eat pasta or tomato sauce/pizza,etc/ .. any tomato or bread/wheat product...(trying to sort out if its just the pasta/pizza or just the sauce) or any added "extra" stress i seem to have more issues. 

I am under my goal and don't really want to lose anymore weight... 

Any help/insight would be great.. 

Thanks in advance!

I am 9 weeks out and had 2 stretches so far with my third scheduled for next week.i started out with a 1/4 inch opening with symptoms of severe nausea and tightness in my esophagus and chest pain. Opening now is now 3/4 inch with less symptoms but I have to be very careful with what I eat. Very limited diet with not much spices or acidic foods. I had ulcers also and take Prevacid twice daily along with Carafate 3 times daily. Looking forward to my next stretch! Hope you continue to improve, are you taking any ulcer meds? Stress of anticipated problems when eating definitely contributes to tightening of throat for me too. Good luck!

I seem to be getting better.. Although I am going to ask for my Dr to do a gluten test to see if there is an allergy there because it seems that every time I eat something that I have problems.  I take Prevacid twice a day and also Misoprostol four times a day for the ulcer (which I am told is gone). i am wondering because of previous ulcer issues if that is why acidy products bother me.. I remember when  I was going weekly for stretches..I couldn't wait until the next one.. My last stretch was july 5th and so far.. with the exception of a few throat closings I have been doing great.  Also I was reading that after a stretch you should do liquids for the next day... Do you do that? My doctor told me I could eat as normal so that is what I have done.. have they said how big they are going to stretch you?

I hope that you do not have to go through that as long as I have had too.. Good luck and I hope it gets better for you quickly!! 

I'm glad to hear you are feeling better! I just had my 3rd scope and stretch 2 days ago and they were able to stretch it to 12mm from 10 mm. I'm so elated that the nausea and pain are so much better. They tell me I can resume a normal diet right after stretch but I never really feel like eating much that day. Sauce does not bother me and I try to eat gluten free as much as I can only because that I read other grains can bunch up in the pouch. I also take Prevacid twice a day and Carafate(an ulcer med) 3 times a day. Ulcers are healing nicely and I go for one more stretch in a month. They are going to try for 14mm and be happy with that, big difference from 5mm!  So sorry you had to go through it 20 times! Hopefully that is all behind you for good and Gluten test sounds like a good idea. I had one and it was negative. Good luck!