Life after heller myotomy

Please let me begin by saying in my experience everyone is different and as one size does not fit all when it comes to treatment, the same appears to be true when it comes to success rates and how the surgery will ultimately affect you.

1. Initially surgery tends to be an uphill learning curve but eventually you will develop strategies to cope with how it has left you. As for Sports, there will be a period of healing. It would depend on how much nutrition you have on board and you may need to plan your activity to ensure you have enough nutrients on board to sustain you during activity. Your stomach is reduced in size post-surgery and so what you consume needs to high in nutrient within small amounts.  As with all sporty activities Whey and Casein shakes are always an option along (to boost stamina) with creatine to ensure you have carb take-up depending on whether you are using fast twitch or slow twitch muscle activity. Monohydrate Creatine will ensure you have already begun the breakdown. BUT you will have to see if you are able to tolerate these post-surgery.

2. In short yes. One of the ladies on here I recall had dilation post-surgery and my husband has had Botox with good affect – the surgery needed a little tweak to make it truly affective.

3. Not completely. Your anatomy is changed forever and you have to learn to use this new mechanism of eating. The way you ate before will change I am afraid. So you have to learn what foods you are able to manage to consume and tolerate. It is a learning curve. Initially at least, the quantities are very small. Symptom wise, if you get it wrong, you will probably still have swallowing issues and maybe even spasms. But these tend to lessen. GERD is a genuine hazard post-surgery too and medicinal management is the key here.

4. My husband is three years post op and now lives a normal life within the confines of what they surgery has left him with. He manages the GERD symptoms well (to the point where he says he does not have it anymore!) and eats mainly soft easily digested foods. But he still rides a Motorbike, bicycle, swimming and enjoys his pre surgery activities. He has even managed to gain a little weight! He and I often eat out and he can always manage to negotiate a Restaurant menu.  

Everyone is different when it comes to the healing process. This is very sensitive and highly

vascularized areas within the body. If your sports doesn't put a lot of straining in the upper GI tract and stomach, most return to full activities within a month or few weeks. It may be a bit longer say if you were weight training.

I personally haven't ever heard of one getting Botox after a Myotomy because the LES is more or less removed and a makeshift valve is created. I'm curious to know if you've considered less invasive options before undergoing a Heller Myotomy? You

may be a candidate for nitrates, Ca Chanel Blickers, Botox and pneumatic dilatations that could buy you perhaps a year or more relief. Then, you may be a candidate for having them repeated. I personally think it's best to start with less invasive procedures first before undergoing a Myotomy and/or a Fundoplication, a Myotomy or a POEM. Everyone is different though and you may not be a candidate for some of them or you may want to go ahead with surgery. Again, I think less invasive procedures are best to start out with.

The symptoms will be improved, but just like my surgeon told me you may always feel it somewhat difficult for food to pass through the LES into the stomach. You have to remember that your perestslusis and low motility will still be part of the equation. No surgery or procedure will eliminate all of your symptoms. They mote or less just decrease them so that you can get the relief that you need and go about living a strong, healthy and more manageable life. Also, after surgery there is a chance that you may develope acid reflux/GERD after a Myotomy. This isn't a definite, but there's a strong probability that you might.

I have type 3 spastic Alchalasia which is the hardest to treat according to my GI specialist, surgeon and what I've read. I chose to have Botox first about 4 weeks ago and my symptoms totally subsided for about a week then I started back aspirating in my sleep. This is highly unusual because Botox can last 4 to 6 months and even longer for some people. I'm not a candidate for a pneumatic dilatation. So, for now I'm sleeping sitting up and my aspirating has decreased. The surgeons that I've met with have all told me that a POEM or Dor Fundoplication with a Myotomy is what I need. I'm in Birmingham and work as a Cardio/Thoracic RN at one of the most world ranked institutions. Especially in Cardiology and cancer research. However, we don't do POEMS as of yet and I was referred to one surgeon at Northwestern in Chicago and another in Baltimore.

I wish I could tell you more about what the surgery is like. I'm sure you'll learn a lot here and through your own research. I know that acid reflux is one symptom many experience after their surgery. My surgeon told me that I will always feel good and liquids getting hung up a bit.

Please consider all your options and think about

going with less invasive procedures first. They could by you years of relief before you have to have surgery. That's just ones personal decision.

Good Luck!

DJRN

Mathew, I'm sure you will do well. Just don't be afraid to ask questions and make sure that you and your surgeon are on the same page. I don't know anything about your case, but I'm curious as to why they are just doing a Myotomy on you and not one of the four Fundoplications? If you haven't already, please get a second, even a third opinion from both a GI specialist and surgeon alike. Many surgeons excel in one particular method of doing surgery and not always does that mean what their expertise lies in is the best for you. I think a GI doc who specializes in Alchalasia would be most beneficial in telling you what type of procedure you need. They have nothing to lose or gain as a surgeon does. I've been told that I am against surgery by one on here when that's far from the case. Because I have stage 3 spastic Alchalasia that is the most difficult to treat I am just a big believer in one going with less invasive measures first before surgery. One, it can buy you more time and two, during that time new advances may come about that they may not have known about earlier.

You take care. Wish you well.

Btw, just listen to other people who have actually had the surgery or disease for that matter themselves.

Hiya Matthew, I've just seen your question on here and thought I'd share my experience with you. I,like you,was very worried that I wouldn't be be able to keep up with my level of fitness after the heller myotomy. I'm older than you(50!) but have always kept fit. I had the op in October and since then have been eating anything I like(it feels like a miracle to me), have been running(did Debrovnik half marathon last week), hillwalking(carrying really heavy rucksacks) and cycling every day(and carrying bike up 4 flights of stairs every day). I very rarely think about the surgery I have had..I just feel completely normal and I'm sure you will too! Your op will be fine! Enjoy being pampered for a couple of days,recover for a week or so then keep up your wonderful fitness! Best wishes, Colette x