Schatzki's ring

Posted By Andr Aubut on September 21, 1998 at 12:31:52:







I was diagnosed last year with a Schatzkis ring. I had had
difficulty swallowing for about 3 years prior and when it became
severe enough, an endoscopy showed the ring. A bougie was
inserted to open the passage, that was in June 1997. I was told
that the condition might not be cleared completely and that a
second procedure might be necessary eventually. At the end of
July of this year, while on holiday, I had to be brought by
ambulance to the closest hospital, because, while eating at a
restaurant, my food had blocked completely in my esophagus to
the point where I couldnt even swallow my saliva. The emergency
room surgeon did an endoscopy, saw and showed me the Schatzki
ring on the monitor and told me that the condition was NOT
congenital but was caused by acid reflux and prescribed Pantoloc.
He did not perform the opening because I had obligations that
prevented me from a prolonged stay at the hospital, I am
currently on the waiting list for that procedure. My question
is related to the apparent contradiction with your glossary
definition of the Schatzkis ring as a congenital condition and
what that surgeon told me. The symptoms only started when I was
about 41 years old, so I am inclined to rule out that this was
congenital in my case. Is there a good case to pursue with the
Pantoloc once the second opening is done? Or am I doomed to
repeat this ordeal on a regular basis? Thank you very much.