Groundbreaking therapy is a life changer for people with swallowing disorders
After extensive research and clinical trials at the esteemed Mayo Clinic in the United States, Gastroenterologist Dr Magnus Halland brings the groundbreaking Oesophageal Self Dilation Therapy to Newcastle.
Self Dilation Therapy has proven to be an effective and successful treatment for select people who have a persistent narrowing of their oesophagus, resulting in difficulty swallowing. Narrowing can occur after oesophageal surgery or radiation therapy, but also because of allergic and autoimmune disorders.
“People experiencing difficulties swallowing often require multiple endoscopies every year to open the oesophagus,” says Dr Halland. “It can be a frustrating, challenging and expensive process for patients. Self Dilation Therapy allows people to learn to open the oesophagus themselves and manage their condition without the need for hospital visits.”
Patient Kerry Corney had been struggling with chronic coughing and swallowing issues for ten years, because the muscles at the top part of his oesophagus do not work properly. Endoscopic dilation procedures only provided short term relief. After years of doctors, prescriptions and endoscopies, Kerry embarked on Self Dilation Therapy seven months ago.
“Self Dilation Therapy has changed my life,” says Kerry. “It’s great to be able to sit down and eat a meal or drink a glass of water, without having a fit of coughing, or bringing the food back up.”
For some people with a swallowing disorder, the problem can be so severe that a feeding tube is needed to get food into the gastrointestinal tract. In many cases, Self Dilation Therapy means feeding tubes can be removed and people are able to go on to lead a normal life.
“It was a bit scary at first having to learn to push the dilator, which is essentially a flexible tube, down my throat each day, but now it is just a part of my day and takes less than a minute to do the procedure,” says Kerry.
Self Dilation Therapy is currently offered by a small number of Gastroenterologists across Australia, and Dr Halland hopes this will increase for the benefit of patients, and to ease pressure on the hospital system. Dr Halland specialises in all oesophageal disorders and is happy to see anyone who would like to investigate if Self Dilation Therapy will help them with their swallowing disorder.
Lingard Private Hospital offers a world-class Day Centre, with a full suite of colonoscopy and gastroscopy services. Patients over 50 are recommended to undertake regular screening and visit their GP for a referral to one of our Specialists.
