Help with managing the pain associated with Achalasia

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Hi, I'm a 41 year old mum of 4 who lives in Jersey Channel Islands and have had Achalasia for 17 years now, (I have had a balloon dilatation and botox 3 times) to manage the pain that comes with the condition I drink warm water which generally helps, but there are times when nothing I do stops the agony of the spasms (I do think of knocking myself out) which can last for hours anytime of the day or night until I end up being sick, I would be really grateful if anyone could suggest anything else that may help with the pain.

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  • Posted

    Hi tamar72

    I know this post is year after your first discussion but my key ingredient to help with the pain is a BANANA!!..eat it then take drink of something doesn't matter if it's fizzy or still, usually it helps within 10 mins unless I'm having a really bad episode of pain then after the banana I lie down on my front for a short time this helps sometimes also . Otherwise I just use the usual stuff double action gaviscon, rennies etc, but a banana is my first thing I go for ?? hope this helps you and any other achalasia sufferers that see this.

    • Posted

      I know others who have found banana helpful.   Not sure anyone knows why, but it is worth a try.
  • Posted

    Hello from San Diego!

    I was finally diagnosed with achalasia 1 summer of 2016. I do not have painful spasms, but I do have times when my esophagus freezes and won't let food or water down.

    I'm wondering if you did the surgery? I have heard it's the gold standard, and I have heard of the POEM surgery from Japan.

    I've lost 35 pounds so far from not eating or drinking. I have made a routine: gumny vitamins in the morning, I like smarty pants vitamins, then I go to jamba juice and have a 12 oz. fresh green juice blend (not with pineapple or carrot) over extra ice.I get a sausage and egg wrap with three sauces. Then I may have soup for dinner. I'm debating how long to wait for the new POEM surgery to be approved by my insurance. I feel fatigued from not eating. Any ideas are welcome!

    Warm regards from Elka

    • Posted

      Pneumatic dilation so far has worked for 2 months for me.  So well I would be willing to do again.  The surgeries aren't reversable.  And I didn't like the idea of constant GERD, or if I do this surgery I still have to stay on the soft food diet.  So you do a major surgery instead of a simple procedure that shows better long term outcome and less problems.  Again everyone is different, I tried regular dilation and botox.  Nothing improved and the Botox seemed to make matter MUCH worse.  But for whatever reason beside the achalasia they say my esophagus was/is narrowing and also I have esophagical dysphagia which is really messed up. I have to swallow everything twice, my epigliotis doesn't always close so I cough like crazy when trying to swallow and liquids can't be held in my mouth to swallow, they just kind of drain to the back.  Watching the video was cool as hell but the report was scary.  So I try to take the least evasive thing at this point.  

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