Pharyngeal Stricture Dilatation Treatment in India

Reyansh Iyer, a 72-year-old retired school...

Reyansh Iyer, a 72-year-old retired school principal, has always been an avid reader and storyteller. For the past year, he has struggled with increasing difficulty swallowing. It started with occasional choking on pills, but progressed to trouble with soft foods like yogurt and mashed potatoes. Meals became a slow, anxious ordeal, and he lost 15 pounds, worrying his family. His voice also became weaker. After a barium swallow test and endoscopy, his ENT, Dr. Mehta, diagnosed a benign but tight pharyngeal stricture, likely from long-term acid reflux. Dr. Mehta recommended pharyngeal dilatation to gently stretch the narrowed area. Reyansh was terrified of choking during the procedure but trusted his doctor. Under mild sedation, the dilation was quick. He felt immediate relief in his throat, though it was sore. In recovery, he sipped water without choking for the first time in months, tears of relief in his eyes. After a week of a soft diet, he gradually reintroduced solid foods. Now, three months later, he enjoys meals with his grandchildren and has regained his weight and strength. The constant fear of choking is gone, replaced by profound gratitude and a renewed joy in life's simple pleasures.