diagnosed at last
Posted , 3 users are following.
I have stumbled upon this site tonight and am so glad I did. I think I have read all the postings and suddenly I begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel...maybe.
Like everyone on here, I have had problems with swallowing which have got worse over the course of many months. I have lost weight and can not keep anything down. My biggest low was taking my 2 year old son to the park and picnic and I had to sick up what I had tried to eat. This should have been such a normal thing, but I feel that this disease is taking away normality from my life!
I was petrified that I had the big C, however one endoscopy and barium milkshake later this is not the case.
My consultant has diagnosed achalasia today and has referred me for balloon dilation.
I am still trying to figure out why this has happened to me, however deep down I know that there is no answer to this. I guess I must just accept it (which I don't want to).
I have taken positivity from others who have also faced this and I will let you know how my dilation goes x.
0 likes, 3 replies
Guest
Posted
I know exactly how you will be feeling having had your condition finally recognised.Mistakenly many people say that achalasia is a disease whereas in fact it isnt and certainly its very understandable that youre wondering why you've succumbed to it at all. We all ask that same question and the truth is nobody knows why we get it. The balloon dilation is usually the first preliminary step towards relief and it may well be that this course of treatment will help you considerably. Do take time to read through as many of the postings on here as you can You will find every single bit of information both informative and very useful and you will discover that there are variations of the condition as noted by the ability of the sufferer to deal with the difficulties in each particular case. Im probably the exception in this forum in many ways. Achalasia has been with me now for well over 40 years and through this time apart from the initial barium meal test I have never had any treatment nor taken any prescribed or non prescribed medicine for it in any form. Falling foul of achalasia for the first time as an adult I can only imagine is a dreadfully horrifying experience, and the comment you make about not being able to sit at a picnic in comfort without feeling you need to vomit your meal back up I could write volumes about !
Please allow me to give you one piece of advice. Be determined above all that you will not allow this condition to rule your life.It is not impossible to keep it under control by yourself. You must learn all over again to relax and let nothing trouble you when you are taking your meal. Try gently forcing your food down with gulps of water and air. Its what I do and its worked for me for over 40 years. Experiment with cold and lukewarm water and at first stay away from fizzy drinks since the carbon dioxide may make your swallowing worse,..it isnt always the case, some say the fizzier the better,.its what works best for you. I know you will feel embarrased if youre trying to eat in public, but with your child eat in a quieter place away from people and turn your head away from anyone who's approaching you as you try to swallow. Control is the answer here. Be brave go for it,. you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
cuse
Posted
Thankyou for your reply. I think I am at a point where this condition is starting to creep into and infiltrate my life, but your words have given me some hope and determination.
My biggest difficulty is trying to relax when I am eating. I only have to look at food and already I am anticipating problems. I know that this is becoming some kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. I need to break this cycle and, as you say, try to learn to relax all over again. Thanks again, cuse.
david777
Posted