I've been diagnosed with Achalasia

Let me tell you what happened to me because I kept putting off the diagnosis. First, have you been diagnosed and has surgery been recommended? I had a Hellers Myotomy during the Spring of 2014. My symptons were that everything I ate and I mean everything, would not go down causing me to spit it back up. In 2/3 months I lost 23 lbs because I was recieving any nutrients. I was also short of breath doing the simplest tasks like climbing 13 stairs in my home. When I had finally seen a doctor, and was diganosed with Achalasia, it was determined that my sphincter muscle was totally closed. This situation is somewhat rare but because it was closed, the food would back up. As  result, my esophagus became stretched to the point where as the natural function of it had been compremised. I had a wonderful surgeon at the time and the recovery from the surgery was a breeze except for one additional issue. The food on it's up up entered my lungs causing me to have pneumonia. This is not something to put off. If you've been diagnosed, have it taken care of immediately!!

I just met with my surgeon after having 2 EUS's, barium swallowing test, 2 EDG's, and esophageal manometry because I've been in and out of hospital for 2 years. Going from 110 lbs to 88 lbs due to vomiting and pain. First visit was pancreatitis (lipase was high and pain debilitating) next 3 hospitalizations for same pain but pancreas was fine. Constantly throwing up sick. EUS showed "possible" Achalasia. Barium swallow showed it happening (food drink stopping). Second EUS to make SURE no mass on pancreas was thumbs up, pancreas ok, but possible Achalasia , I thought we told you that last year when you had EUS done, why are you back in here? I don't know! This is where they pushed me on the gurney!! Then I had that pressure test (ughhh hose in nose). So today at consultation he says I have two things going on, a hiatal hernia (I never have heart burn or acid reflux. Never have. It's either straight up throwing up instantly or the food or drink gets stuck and I either hit my chest thinking that's going to help 🙄Or end up spitting it out) and second thing he says, Achalasia. He will be the surgeon performing the POEM surgery (I think he either invented it or only one around my part of the country who does it) but everything I read it says having both Achalasia AND hiatal hernia is VERY rare. I'm so confused from all the different diagnoses. It's like they're passing the basketball off to each other, "it's Achalasia! You take it!" "No! It's hiatal hernia ONLY you take it!" "Hey give it to Bob, Bob knows about pancreas issues and how it can cause symptoms of Achalasia!" "No I don't want it, her pancreas only has dilated ducts. I'll see her in a year or two for possible pancreatic cancer (I was told they need to watch closely) so you guys figure this problem out" Meanwhile I'm repeating my entire story to the next doctor in Clinic who will be performing some other test. Honestly, I used to journal what I ate, what caused pain & vomiting to begin, what helped, etc until this month I just stopped writing everything down because no one would look at it. I have learned more good information from sites like this and all of you than I have from two years of specialists and 20 years of increasing pain and symptoms. I always leave my long awaited specialist appointments defeated. Like, I just spent 20 minutes doing speed round answering of questions as fast as I could because he's busy, repeating my story again, all records, scans, findings right there, then SILENCE as we stare at each other as if to say, "you passed! Correctly answering all your symptoms. You may go now, we'll be in touch" huh? I thought today's visit was to talk about how you will be performing my surgery to fix Achalasia and giving me my instructions and surgery date. No, not yet, someone will be "in touch" with you. Oh! Kind of like the wizard of Oz, I'm waiting to see the man behind the curtain, I thought you were it but I guess not so back home (3 hour drive) I go! Hey I'm not in the hospital currently so this is good. But now the hiatal hernia/Achalasia thing has me and them puzzled. I have to say, for all of you and the people who love and support you, Achalasia, or any illness for that matter, can consume you and make you feel helpless. However reading through your stories and sharing your experiences and your ideas have helped me today get back on track towards getting this fixed, whatever it is. I also have Lupus SLE, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. I thought that was hell. Nope.