Esophogeal Achalasia Problems

Have you had any treatment for your condition, e.g. surgery?

Hi Kayla, Sorry to hear of you troubles.  I have had achalasia for over 20 years now.  Is you job going to be an office setting ?  If so, I used to nibble all day.  I became a grazer rather than trying to eat meals.  I nibbled on things that were high calorie to keep weight on.  Sweet cereals like fruit loops, things like chex mix or other such things.  I would truly eat one fruit loop at a time, but all day long.  I kept a stack of coffee machine filters on my desk to use like a bowl.  Then just remove the top one each day and the clean ones are underneath.  May I ask if you have had any treatment yet, so that eating becomes easier for you ?

My heart goes out to you because working and trying to keep hydrated as well as getting enough food down. I think its quite imossible to be honest. I spend my days drinking being sick a few times nibbling on a bit of cheese and crackers being sick try again. I have kept my weight on by living on sugary things. I know it is  unhealthy and I have been rushed into hospital with severe kidney pains 2 weeks ago rushed in with life threatening Asthma attack because can affect the lungs if you dont keep your esophugas clean or Acid reflux. Are you british there must be benefits to help you out. 7 years I have had this and there hasnt been one week where i could say i been feeling fine. If it isn't one thing its another. I do wish you all the luck in the World though. Manual labour is out of the question but everyone is different.What about surgery ?

I feel for you. One approach that I have found very helpful is the following. Each morning I swallow a Phenergen 25mg tablet (promethazine hydrochloride). I do not know in which country you live so it may go under different brand names. In Australia it is available over the pharmacy counter. It may make you drowsy so don't drive. However, over the years my system has become accustomed to it so it doesn't effect me that way. The phenergen relaxes the osephageal sphincter muscle, allowing solid food and liquids to pass into your stomach. It is not a panacea and may not be effective every time but it works for me by far the majority of time. Allow about two hours agter taking the tablet before you eat and eat slowly and use room temperature water to assist (not cold water, that will only make the sphincter spasm and possibly close).

Also, before my evening meal I take a spoonful of sodium bicarbonate in a glass of water. This has an effervescent action that makes your stomach burp and forces gas up into your esophageous and as a by product allows the passage of food and liquids back down into your stomach.

Meals are always better of small, readily digestible foods more frequently than large coarse food, like steaks. Avoid white starchy bread too, it will expand with liquid and is the perfect plug for the esophageal sphincter - just what you don't want.

Having said all this, everyone is different and such conditions can vary somewhat. However, I would experiment along these lines using the same objective though of opening that sphincter muscle as easily and as often as possible. It allows me to lead as near normal life as is possible under the circumstances. Do not be put off by the odd failure when you have periods of regurgitation or vomiting. You will make it. Although I have had a few balloon dilations and botox injections over the years, I have also avoided the other surgical options, as they have mixed results and I have been able to manage the condition reasonably.

Good luck.

Thank you I take omeprazole and a tablet called Domperidone which i hardly take because I think it irritated the lining of my esophugus but thank you I will try what you said. I find ice water breaks up the gunky stuff and i can feel the water pass down which is nice warm water thickens aand blocks but like you said everyone is different..

Acupuncture has been a key role for myself. I have gone from not being able to keep anyhing down , including water, to now living an almost normal life. I am now able to eat out with my family. While I still eat slow i leave fulfilled and not left with a feeling of inconvienience or even an eating disorder.(we all know it feels that way when it doesnt go down)  I avoid trigger foods. and while spitting up is still a daily occurance its completely managable. 

Have you considered a more permanent procedure than having the balloon stretch?  The POEM procedure or Heller Myotomy are considered as the gold standard treatment for Achalasia, and typically last many years, or permanently.

Since my Achalasia began 24 years ago, most of my career has been in the Education sector (college lecturer and school teacher) and like you suggest there are definite complications that can affect you in the workplace.

However, I have found that with a bit of concerted planning these issues can be resolved without too much difficulty.  My advice would be to begin your day with something substantive like porridge or muesli, which will have the benefit of being a 'slow release' energy source that can sustain you throughout the working day.  Furthermore, I find that by having this type of breakfast, I generally don't need to have anything to eat during the day - which in my case removes the greatest concern; namely, dealing with regurgitated food when I'm in mid-sentence (delivering a lesson).

On the few occasions when I have some sort of snack at lunchtime, I try to incoprorate a brief walk into my itinerary - as I find walking after eating always improves the digestive process.

Is Phenergen a type of ant-acid ?