My experience.

Keep in there!! I am currently pregnant and still unable to keep food/drink down after 4 years of this horrible condition. My Consultant has referred me to a Dietician for extra food supplements and also mentioned about having a nasogastric tube for the rest of my pregnancy (lucky me!!).

I completely understand how you feel about your social life. Although my friends and family try to understand, but whenever they mention about going out for a meal I go into a panic.

Good luck with everything. I am hoping to have my op 3 months after the baby is born.:D

Hi thanks for your support, it must be awful being pregnant and having this condition. Good luck.

How long till your baby is born?

Are you in the London area?

My appointment on Friday has been changed to Monday I know its not long to wait but I hate waiting. Looks like another weekend without drink!!!

You poor thing. Fingers crossed things will be sorted on Monday. My baby is due in September, so not long now.

I live in Suffolk. You are lucky to have the specialist hospitals in London.

Good luck for Monday and let me know how things go. :D

UPDATE

Hi all I went to the hospital today and the consultant confirmed that I have Achalasia. I have to have two different endoscopy and managed to get the appointments for this Wednesday and next Tuesday!!! You have to be firm but polite with people in the hospital.

The consultant spoke about dialation, botox and then the surgery but basicly said (not in so many words) that the surgery was the option I should go for. He is going to refer me to a surgeon within the hospital, so fingers crossed I will get an appointment in next couple of weeks!!

Managed to eat a little tonight, still think this condition is slightly stress related. Will keep u all updated.

Thanks for the support.

I am glad things are going in the right direction. I have had 4 endoscopies and they are ok, make sure they give you lots of sedation.

I totally think this condition is stress related. I also beleive that it was stress that started the whole thing off. I am going through a lot of stress at the moment and I am struggling to keep even water down.It will be great to hear from others if they see a link between stress and achalasia!

Good luck for the next appointments and keep in touch. :D

Hi all, I went to the hospital on Wednesday to have one of the tests it was the esophageal manometry , when they put tubes in your nose, and down into your stomach. Really not nice but I coped. The nurse said that muscles were very tight and even muscles at top of esophagus were tighter then normal. Said anything that was going down was going down by gravity!! She said to avoid bread, meat, acidyfood and drink and sit up straight if I am eating or drinking.

On tuesday I am going to have an endoscopy, think it may be worse as camera goes in through your mouth but apparently only lasts 5 mintues.

I have had the manometry as well as 4 endoscopies (2 of those I received the botox).The endoscopies are ok, but I would stress you ask for sedation. I have had sedation with all of mine. I was so relaxed that I feel asleep. You may get a gagging sensation when the scope is coming up, but the next thing I knew I was being taken into recovery.

As for me, I have now been put on Fortisip drinks to increase my calories as I have only put 6lbs on since I got pregnant.

Good luck for Wednesday.

Hi all,

went to hospital today for endoscopy, decided to go for throat spray as appointment in pm and wanted to get home. Quite uncomfortable but did not actually hurt. Nurse said their was lots of saliva and he sucked it out :o. Has def confirmed achalasia and results now going to surgeon via gastro constultant. Waiting again!!

It was very stressful when the endoscope was in, you just have to think about your breathing through your nose. I have a bit of a sore throat now but managed to drink half a cup of tea. Have a bit of a pain on my left side assuming this is coz of scope prodding around and the fact air was pumped into stomach.

Can't believe you've only put on 6lbs during pregnancy (well I can) but can't believe they doctors are only doing something now, how stressful!!

They did not do any therapy as far as I was aware when the endoscope was in. :cry:

Good luck with it all, do you actually have a date for your surgery?

Wow - you are so brave just to have the throat spray. I do admire you. I am just a big chicken. :lol:

Have they put you on the urgent waiting list for the op?I am hoping they will induce me early so I can get on the waiting list sooner rather than later. I would love for this to be all sorted by Christmas.

Keep in touch.

Hi,

My case has been changed to urgent but have not actually seen surgeon yet so not sure about waiting list etc. Yeah I would like to be sorted sooner rather than later as well as I'm getting married on 27th December!!!

Hope all goes well with the baby. Keep in touch.

Went to see surgeon today and he explained the 3 options again, botox, ballon and hellers op with a toupay (a flap to stop acid going into e) said I should go for op as young and fit (!). He provisonally told me the 6th August but I'm waiting for call to confirm. :D

He also explained that although the operation will help it will not completely cure as muscles within the e will never work properly again and most food that goes down will do by gravity. Said I might not be able to eat a rare steak (wouldn't anyway even now when i feel so hungry!!)

Hope everybody else is ok. Oh yeah surgery will be done via keyhole and should be hospital 2-3 days.

Take care x

Hi Its great that you have a date. How do you feel about having the op?

I saw the Dietitian today and she has give me more supplements. I asked about my op, but this is something I need to discuss with my consultant and Obstetrician.

I am really pleased that the end is in sight for you.The op you are having is the same one they are going to give me. So it will be really interesting to know how it goes. To be honest I am a bit scared about the whole thing, as I have never had an operation before.

Good luck with everything, I will be thinking of you on 16 August.

Hi Its great that you have a date. How do you feel about having the op?

I saw the Dietitian today and she has give me more supplements. I asked about my op, but this is something I need to discuss with my consultant and Obstetrician.

I am really pleased that the end is in sight for you.The op you are having is the same one they are going to give me. So it will be really interesting to know how it goes. To be honest I am a bit scared about the whole thing, as I have never had an operation before.

Good luck with everything, I will be thinking of you on 6th August.

Hi all, getting a bit nervous bout op now. I know the surgeon knows what he is doing. This time next week I'll be in a hospital bed waiting!!

I will let everybody knows how it goes as soon as I can get back on computer. Can't wait to be able to eat and drink properly again.

All the best for next week. Just think about the future, especially your wedding. Good luck.