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I have had swallowing problems, oesophagus pain, burning in chest feeling as though food is getting stuck and an awful sensation of a lump in my throat for the last four years. I was wrongly diagnosed with GERD and treated with PPIs. My symptoms have gradually got worse and after three attempts managed the manometry and twenty four hour pH test following this I have been recently diagnosed with achalasia. I feel so unwell and life is feeling unberable I can only tolerate liquids at present and my symptoms seem to have deteriorated since diagnosis feels like everything sticking in my throat an awful taste the lump has got worse and feels like I cant feel my throat properly and my swallow feels weak. All my symptoms are bringing on the most awful feeling of anxiety and I just don't know where to turn no one understands how bad this feels. Has anyone else had this terrible sensation of a lump and at the same time a sort of lack of sensation in the throat. Would appreciate any advice anyone has.
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R2351 hannah30321
Posted
if if you have been diagnosed with achalasia the next step is to find a doctor who specializes in achalasia. The doctor can tell you which course is the best one for you.
there are a few procedures available , but only a doctor can suggest the best option for you.
Surgery has has a very high success rate, but you have to know that this disorder can't be cured. Surgery helps control the disorder to various extents, but it doesn't cure it.
there is help out there for people with achalasia. You just have to find the right doctor.
best of luck to you.
AlanJM hannah30321
Posted
Getting through the manometry test is a great milestone; the next is to speak to the specialist about what might be done to help you.
Meanwhile try ( and I know it is difficult) and relax, because nervous tension will make things worse. Think about whether your posture and the environment when you eat can be adjusted to make you feel less tense. Try concenrating on liquid foods for a while until your morale improves, and think about adopting relaxation techniques (or even acupunture?) as a means to supporting the medical side of things.
hannah30321 AlanJM
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AlanJM hannah30321
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hannah30321 AlanJM
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hannah30321 AlanJM
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Hannah
AlanJM hannah30321
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The diagnosis that you describe through the private doctor sounds logical, and it seems to have involved the usual tests (but perhaps not an endoscopy, unless one was done earlier?).
The NHS surgeon is probably being cautious. The myotomy might increase reflux, and as you say yourself, you have a high level of anxiety about your condition, understandably, so the NHS surgeon is probably thinking that trying to reduce the tension in the nervous system might help the situation.
It does happen that some experts have a different approach to each other, so my inclination would be to try and see the private doctor again, to try and resolve the difference (they might even do this on the telephone perhaps). They might write to the other doctor in advance to help the process? Everyone is entitled to a second opinion and doctors should be used to discussing these issues with each other.
There is a thought that sometimes these things do get caught up with NHS practice as opposed to private practice, but it is probably best to try and separate out the best medical option for yourself as the first priority; there may be some rubbing points from having gone private first (or even what one doctor thinks of another!). I think the general principle is that one should have a thorough testing process and proper diagnosis, and then go for the best option as early as posisble rather than escalating through different options just because they may be easy to try medically.
Reducing your anxiety levels about it would almost certainly help things. I hope this gets sorted out for you.
hannah30321 AlanJM
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AlanJM hannah30321
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hannah30321 AlanJM
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hannah30321 AlanJM
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AlanJM hannah30321
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hannah30321 AlanJM
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rosslyn21419 hannah30321
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hannah30321 rosslyn21419
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rosslyn21419 hannah30321
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hannah30321 rosslyn21419
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hannah30321 rosslyn21419
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