Acid reflux, Heartburn

Most definitely watching what I eat, all the time.  Since I have type 1 Achalasia, my esophagus is paralyzed, so everything has to be washed down with copious amounts of water.  Having surgery, does not equal being able to eat a normal, regular diet.  Each person is different.  I had a very small, and I mean small, piece of bbq chicken last night, and this did not work well for me.  I eat very little meat. Meat has to be in a gravy or sauce, to help it 'slide' down as the esophagus does no work at all.  Your life 'will' be better, you will be able to eat more solids etc., but if you have a paralyzed esophagus right now, like I did prior to surgery, you will have to learn to eat in a new way.  Very small portions, several times a day, and 'grazing' all day...to get calorie and nutrition into your body.  It is a learning curve, you can do it, and then life is lived, differently in terms of eating, but if you have a good attitude, then you will 'live' your life, as best you can.  Bitter, dark, chocolate, because of the flavenoids in it, helps the esophageal sphincter muscle to relax somewhat.

I have been avoiding lots of triggers that I know will

cause acid reflux but have been a bit hit and miss taking my

tablets.

This has lead to inflammation in my oesophagus and I have

been adviced to take them constantly from now on.

I am on esomaprazole 40 mg and usually have to take 1 a day

but the specialist I saw yesterday has increased it to 2 a day

for four weeks to allow the inflammation to go down.

He has said that they are the best you can take.

I would ask your Doctor to prescribe you rather than over

the counter because they are better able to monitor you.

I'm not sure on what stage I have but I do know my muscles do nor work together or maybe at all. It like spaz or clamps or closes up sometimes when I eat or drink. I been trying to eat small little bird notes but I still dont sound good cause I know what's gonna happen. Any chocolate is a forbidden food , its cause spams bad. Oh such as life. I need to see about it being further in my intestines. Have you heard of that ?

I am not sure if this is true, but someone once said, that Achalasia 'can' affect the stomach, intestines, etc.  Again, I'm not sure about this.  Did you ever read the patient's handbook for Achalasia?  If not, perhaps Alan from OPA, can direct you to it.  This guide is really helpful, and there is a section about the 3 different types of Achalasia, and there are some pictures.  Its funny, but bitter, dark chocolate helps to relax the sphincter muscle, for me.

Where do I find Alan from OPA ?

Alan, is a volunteer from OPA, and I believe, that he reads all the posts.  Whenever I've suggested the above, he usually responds.  Maybe try: OPA, the Oesophageal Patients' Association, the document is:  A Patient's Guide to Achalasia.  This guide is well worth printing....I've done this, and have it in a binder.

It is good material to read. There's a lot about Alchalasia on the WEB worth reading. You just have to look for it. It's pretty much the same stuff. Alchalasia is not that difficult to understand nor is the treatment for it. Once you learn the basics you can pretty much understand all the rest. There's a lot of differences though in opinions about how one chooses to treat it. I think less invasive measures always first. Botox along with Nitrates and calcium channel blockers are the least impressive ones to have. I had Botox and it only lasted me six days. Nitrates, etc. are rarely given because of the side effects of the drugs and their inability to relax the LES enough to make a difference. However, pneumatic dilatation is promising and is the most likely less invasive procedure to bring you relief for up to one to two years. Most have to have it repeated annually. But, if it can buy you a few years relief that's good. Because that gives those researching this disease more time to perfect the surgical treatments they offer for it. Surgeries that are not that cut and dry. Most all surgeries for Alchalasia present their own problems post-op. Mainly, continuing disphaygia, acid reflux and pain. The Heller Myotomy was first performed in the early 1900's. And they have not come that far on improving the principle technique of it. But it, and a POEM are at least good options to consider. I have to have a Dor Fundoplication with a Myotomy. But, I'm also a great candidate for a POEM. I would have the dilatation but I'm not a candidate for it because I have stage 3 spastic Alchalasia which is the most difficult to treat according to the surgeons that I've seen. I can't stress enough the importance of getting a second, even a third opinion from both a GI specialist and surgeons alike.

DJRN

Donna, Alchalasia can affect the entire GI tract from throat to anus.

DJRN

I was wondering about it passing through in tire GI tract . cause I know I feel bad all the way through to my last spincher it closes up and well I won't go into that. I was told I had IBS.in my pass but know I have achalsia , I think its all over in me 😞

Hi Cowgirl. It might very well have affected another area. I'm not sure if that's common or not to have it in two places or not, but I know for a fact it can effect your entire ailamentary tract. Most usuall associate Alchalasia with the throats however.

I hope you get to feeling better. I aspirated a sandwich in my sleep last night. I haven't went to ER yet because I know they will keep me and I hate being in hospital. I started on 2 Augmentin 825-125 mgs, Bronchodilator and steroid pack to lessen my chances of developing aspiration pneumonia in a day or so. Something I'm very use to doing and it isn't fun. I'm trying to cough as much up and out as I can but think it be best that I go ahead and go because my lungs need suctioned out. You get well Hun!

DJRN

Darn I dont asperate my food I just can't get it to go down or chew it cause I know . I do hiccup when eating breads so o try not to eat. I have to still cook for my hubby which is hard knowing I can't eat it. I do cough a lot mostly after I pit either food or liquids. I'm sure is why I cough along with new allergies. My nutrition is down I'm sure but hope to get better here soon

Hun, I wish you well too. I hate you're struggling with this. I feel for anyone who is. It is a horrific disease and can hit one at anytime and anywhere along the GI tract. I've gained 15 pounds. I should weigh 165 for being 5-9" but I'm over 180 now. When I eat my food may take up to 24 to 48 hours before all of it finally squeezes through my hypertensive LES. And, unlike everyone else, given that food doesn't go straight to stomach, the signal between the brain and stomach, telling you that you are full never happens. So I keep eating. My esophagus is the size of another large stomach or reservoir. So, food is always being gradually sent to the stomach 24/7. Therefore, I tend to over eat and take in too many calories. My Alchalasia is much different than most, I can eat whatever I like. The problem is I aspirate severely most every night and have one bout of aspiration pneumonia after the other. It usually happens 24 to 48 hours after I aspirate. I'll awake around 4am last with a fever of 103.4, severe chills, sweating to where I'm soaking wet, short of breath and wheezing. Often leading to hospitalizations. I am about to buy a bed where the head raises and I can sleep upright. I try now on pillows but usually slide off. If this stops me from aspirating I want have any surgery done. But right now I'm looking at either a POEM or a Dor Fundoplication with a Myotomy. The surgeons that I've seen have told me type 3 spastic Alchalasia is the most difficult to treat. All I know is I'm tired of aspirating. I have to follow up with Pulmonary to have a Bronchoscope to see how much damage has been done to my trachea and lungs thus for. Hopefully not any but I can tell I have some Pulmonary deficits.

DJ

I asked my docs what type achalasia I have . Well that was Thursday and no callback yet.😒 I stopped eating die to the pain I got. I can swallow good at time but man when it starts to go through or just layer a few min. to an hour I will get that unbearable chest pain I can't breath. That kinda why I think its further in me than just my esphogus. I also sweat bad mostly at night . I soak up shirt and bed . I guess due to the pain while sleeping or trying to sleep. And I dont know where all the fluids come from cause I dont drink even close to what's needed. My calorie intake is about 600aday and that mostly from sprite. It sucks!

Hi there, ducky1...thought I would update you.  Saw my GP last week, and she prescribed Rabeprazole for me.  She also asked me to stop taking Gaviscon and Zantac.  With the Rabeprazole, I no longer have acid coming up into the esophagus.  So, that is really good news.  Having said that, I decided to try putting a little onion in the ground beef that I cooked tonight....bad decision...system not liking this at all.  As with this journey, one step forward, one step back!

I would be beating his door down. Lol.

DJRN