Has anyone had symptoms return after the hellers operation

Ian,

Really sorry to hear you're fearing the worst.

I do think most people would say that after the op things take quite a while to settle down and that \"symptoms recurring after several months\" could be a part of that, so I really wouldn't worry yourself .... just yet at least.

I have to say I have bouts where food/drink get's lodged or severe pain in the night. It seems to go in phases and I am convinced is exacerbated by certain foods (in my case potato!!!). But as you say .... this is much better than without the op!

I think you need to keep an open and analytical mind as to whether there is a pattern rather than progressive degeneration.

I guess many people would be hugely interested to hear how things progress for you.

Keep in touch and hopefully we can offer some advice.

:-)

Hi Richard

Thanks for replying to me. I hope I am panicking for no reason, but it is hard not to. My GP re-referred to my surgeon, who said that he would expect swallowing to be normal by now. He sent me for another gastroscopy and barium swallow, and now says it could be coming back, but thinks it will be less severe and possibly treatable with a balloon dilation. I have just had another gastroscopy and the report quoted 'a constriction indicating achalasia' and I am having manometry and Ph testing on Thursday.

Hopefully I will get the results soon and my mind can be put at rest.

It is funny that you find potato causes a problem as that is one of the worst things for getting stuck or coming back for me.

I will post my results when I get them.

Here's hoping for good news :zen:

Hi Ian

i wish u the best of luck and i would like to share this with u coz i have the same sequence of events.

first of all symptoms will not be as severe as it was in the first place, but when i had barium swallow after my myotomy it showed a huge dilatation of the lower third of the oesophagus due to resistance to passage of food to a now weakened oesophageal wall after its muscular wall has been torn in the myotomy procedure.

After several consultations i was adviced to do a balloon dilatation with the risk of perforation , it is really confusing wether to take the risk or live with it :?:

Hi there

I had the Hellers procedure 9 years ago and the symptoms didn't ease. I was just as bad afterwards as I was before.

In the end I was referred to a gastro specialist at another hospital who performed a balloon dilatation and this worked on the first attempt.

Even though I have to have an endoscopy every year to monitor the width of my gullet I would highly recommend this procedure. The night after I had it done I ate a Roast Chicken dinner...the first meal I had had in 3 years!!!

There is a higher risk of perforation however I have never suffered this from having a balloon dilatation...I did suffer a very bad perforation following the Hellers procedure!!!

I do suffer from increased heartburn and reflux however this is easily manageable.

Hope this helps

Julie x

thanks alot for your assurance ...

would you kindly tell me since when you had the post myotomy ballooning and for how long did you stay between both procedures coz i have severe dilatation of the lower third of the eosophagus due to improper relief of the stenosis.

And is there any degree of recurrence of your symptoms ?

Sorry if im asking too much but could you tell me where you had the balloon dilatation ?

much thanks.

Hi there

Sorry I haven't replied sooner...haven't been online.

My first dilatation lasted just over a year and so did the next 2. The 2 following these lasted about a year and a half. The last one I had done was in August 2007 and the surgeon stretched it to 45mm (he said that this could be quite risky with the amount of damage my gullet has but he was willing to try). I'm so glad he did as I have not had to have it stretched since (so far). I had an endoscopy in February last year to check things and he said that it was still holding. I'm due for another endoscopy shortly and hopefully the outcome will be the same.

I do find it hard swallowing some things such as dry bread and steak but if I drink plenty of milk while i'm eating them I can manage.

I would tell you which hospital I get this done at but the site won't allow you to put names of hospitals or consultants on. I can say that it is in the North East of England in a quite well known city.

Hope this helps.

Take Care

Julie x

Thanks alot Julie for your concern ...

I hope that ballooning would help my condition as well coz this dysphagia is getting out of hand and is affecting me physically and psycologically.

I got to discuss my condition with a German surgeon who is known to be of a good experience and skill who mentioned something about putting a temporary STENT to mantain dilatation?? As for my knowledge i know that these stents are used in malignancies of the esophagus and i havent seen any one mentioning being treated by a stent for achalasia on this site, strange?

Any way thanks again Julie and i wish you the best of luck with no recurrences after you last dilatation :smiley:

this is the first time i came across the stent because my next door nabour said somthing about a friend of hers had a stent put in it does make sense as it keeps the closure open so food can pass i find the sergeons dont tell you much unless u ask pump inhibuters ,balloon dialation,then dialation with botox then hellers myotomy and now the stent i wonder what is the last resort???? :?