Question:
Why do I have excruciating pain after I swallow?

When I swallow my food(small bites, chewed well), the pain that I experience almost brings tears to my eyes. I am 9 weeks post op, open RYN 9/20/02 I also had a haital hernia repaired and I am down 41 lbs. The only way I can describe it is like fingernails scratching across a chalkboard. You have to close your eyes and grit your teeth and just wait on it to pass. It feel slightly on the left, right under my breast. Anyone have any ideas how to deal with this. At first, the doctor gave me librax, and that helped about 2 weeks, but not anymore. I am living on crackers and cheese now, and getting tired of them both. Help. Melissa    — mgp032266 (posted on December 2, 2002)

December 2, 2002
From what you said it sounds like you are either a) eating too fast or b) your stoma has closed some and you have a stricture that requires an endoscopy to dilate the opening. Call your dr. right away. There's no reason for you to be having the pain when a dilation could make you feel 100% better. Let us know how you are doing on the message board. Jerri Arnold
   — Jerri A.