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Achalasia

Posted , 6 users are following.

mdjohnson18
mdjohnson18

Hello All,

I'm very new to this website/forum.  I was diagnosed with Achalasia this summer after dealing with symptoms of acid reflux for 20 years.  During this time (past 20 years), I've had to take Prevacid (30mg per day every day) to keep the reflux under control.  That being said, I've still been able to lead a very normal life, with the exception of diet restriction (for example, trying to avoid spicy foods, fried foods, no sit-ups, not lifting heavy weight).  I'll be 40 in a month and I'm still in great shape, play basketball routinely, run on the treadmill or outside every morning, etc.  Though the reflux has been very frustrating, it has always responded pretty well to the medication.  No one, including the doctors knew that I had Achalasia until this summer.  Over the past couple of months, things seem to be getting worse.  During the Holidays, after eating and drinking (alcohol) for a couple of days, my reflux was terrible for a week, stomach was upset and I just didn't feel great.  I just got back from a work trip two weeks ago in which we ate a lot of food and drank alcohol on 2-3 consecutive nights.  I haven't been able to eat or drink much since then (terrible heartburn, feels like food is stuck in my throat, upset stomach, and a cough).  The cough seems to be a more routine thing and it feels like, at times, the reflux is causing fluid to get into my lungs.  When things get bad, my lungs seem tight and I start coughing a lot (without the head cold).  Sometimes green mucus comes up.  I do not see a specialist for the Achalasia but plan on trying to find someone very soon.  It's only a 90 minute drive from my house to Boston so I'll likely try to find a doctor out there.  Any thoughts/advice are welcome.  I'm just looking for some support/guidance at this point.  Listening to others who have dealt with similar issues will be very helpful.  Thanks in advance for any consideration. 

Matt J

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • neil32387
    neil32387 mdjohnson18

    Posted

    Hi Matt, 

    Greetings from the UK..smile Like most of us with Achalasia there is a bit of a sketchy background re what may have caused it. I think (just my personal unqualified opinion) there are prob several route causes but the main are - neurological (possible immune system malfunction), virus related (measles or other), or nerve damage caused  by direct contact (stomach acid or other acid/irritation)... Your concern sounds GERD related, but I have also heard of people wrongly diagnosed with GERD when discomfort was just stuck food caused by Achalasia - and vice versa. I had a friend who suffered GERD and occasionally he lost the ability to swallow; but after drugs and diet changes he returned to full health. So its obviously important to try and understand your condition/causes, and make sure you actually have perminent Achalasia ( Sorry if stating the obvious).. Others here may direct you better than I can but there are tests, such as Manometry, Barium Swallow, and obviously Endoscopy that will help with this... Maybe try and see a Doc with Achalasia experience... I keep fit too, which helps, if drinking Alchohol I only drink beer (as not very acidic) not wine and only at the weekend, I avoid acidic foods and drinks, I also chew on anti acid tabs- even though I don't think I have stomach acid, these are meant to help stop irritation by food/drink that may stick around...

    Wishing you good luck and healthy karma!smile I will follow your thread..smile 

    Neil 

    Wishing good luck and healthy karma!smile

    Neil 

  • quantumq4
    quantumq4 mdjohnson18

    Posted

    Hi Matt,

    Welcome to the club no-one want to be in.......

    Your first step should be to see a specialist in Upper Gastronomy. When I had my POEM op a few months ago in the UK there were 3 surgens from the US watching + being taught how to do it.

    You 'should' be able to find someone in a big city who can treat it.

    Good Luck smile

  • AlanJM
    AlanJM mdjohnson18

    Posted

    There is 'A Patient's Guide to Achalasia' that you may find helpful to download from the website of the Oesophageal Patients Association under The Oesophagus and then Achalasia.  In the back of this you should find links to the Achalasia Awareness Organisation that is US-Based and they may know of a specialist in Boston.

     

  • arthur73119
    arthur73119 mdjohnson18

    Posted

    Many times Achalasia negates reflux given the fact that both food and liquids get stuck and delayed in the esophageal sphincter. It is a bit odd for you to have symptoms of reflux if food and liquids are getting stuck at the lower esophageal sphincter in conjunction with Achalasia. The Achalasia should be blocking the gastric acid from refluxing back into the esophagus at least to a significant extent. Did you have the manometry test to confirm Achalasia.        
    • AlanJM
      AlanJM arthur73119

      Posted

      I agree that it is often the case that the lower oesophageal sphincter is clamped tight shut a lot of the time and therefore stops reflux as well, but it may just depend on where the problems occur over the length of the oesophagus, and you are quite right that a manometry test will tend to help with this.
  • arthur73119
    arthur73119 mdjohnson18

    Posted

    The manometry test is essential in the diagnosis of Achalasia. If there has been no manomertry  test, a diagnosis cannot be made.
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