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more confused with diagnoses

Posted , 5 users are following.

dorsetgirl
dorsetgirl

Saw my consultant to day I was expecting more infomation re Achalasia I was diagnosed on my last visit 3 months ago. She now says not sure wether I have Achalasia but my results from the manometry showed abnormalities. so ive been referred again to have another endoscopy and take some biopsy's. I get such pain when I eat also chest pain its now a year since I've struggled continuously with pain. waiting list is 6-8weeks. I asked about barium with xray apparently that is now old fashion test. I wonder if I'm

in the early stages of achalasia because I do have a lot of the symptons. 

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • saxman
    saxman dorsetgirl

    Posted

    You may have Shotsky's ring . And fungus growth in the E

     

    • dorsetgirl
      dorsetgirl saxman

      Posted

      Thank you for replying I've just read the symptoms for Shotsky's ring . I think you might be right  the pain I get is at the bottom of my esophagus during & after eating. R u medically trained? If only my consultant would give possible reasons for this pain then I could cope, instead it's like a secret diagnoses. I get so down suffering with this pain which takes my breath away it's so painful.

      Francesca 

  • AlanJM
    AlanJM dorsetgirl

    Posted

    There are a number of conditions relating to impaired motility, and one has to be careful about what one means by 'achalasia' so it might be that the doctor is doing her job by making the best investigation first.   Barium swallow tests are still widely done, and usually people will be diagnosed after that test, an endoscopy, and a manometry.   So all three will probably be needed, but there may be some new equivalent test that the doctor was referring to.

    It is worth getting thoroughly checked and tested at an early stage.

     

    • Merryl
      Merryl AlanJM

      Posted

      Hi AlanM

      I had a barium swallow a month ago and was told I have a motility problem but it is not bad. I had this done because of food sticking in my chest especially lumpy food so I now eat soft foods only. As far as I am aware I will not be having the manometry. My local Dr did not mention it either when he told me the results. I have an hiatus hernia but nothing was said about that, whether it is a large or small hernia. Because I don't need the manometry does this mean I have'nt got Achalasia.

      Thank you

      Merryl    

    • AlanJM
      AlanJM Merryl

      Posted

      Dear Merryl

      The manometry test monitors the muscular contractions / peristalsis through the length of your oesophagus, I believe, and helps to pinpoint where the problem is with the lack of motility ie where the nerves are not operating the muscles.   Sometimes it is higher up than the sphincter valve between your oesophagus and stomach for instance, and sometimes it may be to do with the sphincter itself being clamped tight shut. 

      I think your hiatus hernia would be a complication, because that means that part of your stomach protrudes above the sphincter (which effectively is part of your diaphragm).   Quite a lot of people have a hiatus hernia.   Women sometimes develop them during pregnancy / childbirth.   They vary in seriousness, but will tend to give you more acid reflux because part of your stomach is above the valve that is designed to keep the stomach acid from rising.   Many people learn to live with them.  Some surgeons advise against having a hiatus hernia repaired, especially if things are not too serious, but if it ever comes to the point of having to have some surgical procedure done, the surgeons might well sort out both aspects at the same time.   I am not sure whether a private surgeon might be more willing to do a hiatus hernia repair if the patient wanted this done rather than on the NHS, but in either case it is a balance between putting up with the problems you have at the moment - or coping with the (hopefully temporary) discomfort of surgery, after listening carefully to the surgeon and their advice.  

      That has been a long answer to your short question!   I do not think that having a hiatus hernia excludes achalasia, but it might possibly affect the way that the nerve system operates, and might possibly be a contributory factor to some parts of your swallowing difficulty - but it is only the specialist who could give you the definitive answer.

       

    • Merryl
      Merryl AlanJM

      Posted

      Thank you Alan for your helpful advice.

       

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