Oesophageal Achalasia

Hi,

It's been a year to the day (only just realised when I looked at date, strange how something told me to search achalasia today!) that I had the lap hellers myotomy for achalasia that I had been suffering with for a year- it was awful for a year let alone years. This was the main treatment my consultant suggested and I am so glad I did it having heard about the dialations. In my case the difference has been amazing and the severe weight loss (5 stone), pain and being unable to eat very much at all are a bizarre memory for me.

I have been able to eat as close to "normal" since a week after the operation, i occassionally have what feels like trouble getting certain foods down but in comparison to what it was like, well its no problem, some water usually helps. I have had a few times when i have felt the old symptons of feeling like i am going to be sick but these have cleared very quickly. I occassionaly get heart burn, particularly at night which can keep me up for a few hours but seems to be once in a while with it getting less and less the further i have gone post op.

This is only my experience but thought it might help- i know i searched these forums when i was awaiting my operation and I hope it helps.

Good luck on whatever you choose to do

Hi Pam and Katie 4,

I have been living with achalasia all of my life and refused to seek doctor assistance.

Recently at the age of 47..it became your level of pain and suffering and finally seeked professional help and diagnosed properly as achalasia.

I went from 14 stones down to 7 stones and trying my best to keep from losing more while performing these tests.

My doctor is recommending we stick with medication for a couple of months before evasive surgery.

I have found some home remedies that work for me and curious if anyone else has success with the same remedies I use..or any other suggestions.

The drinking soda to help burp out the fizzies worked many years for me and I was addicted to Dr. Pepper. But now the sphincter is completely closing and using home made Slurpess/Smooothies to relax the sphincter/cool it down..to allow liquids to go through. It also keeps me from dehydrating as quickly..this is my biggest problem for now. I also ice the beak from top.

I am still on liquid diets and can progress up to a puree and solids if I use this trick to recover from their tests.

I also had a therapy cat that kept me alive for the past 20+ years.

After she passed away..my problems increased exponentially.

I have trained my next therapy cat and he has helped my improvements since getting out of hospital.

A therapy cat can sense pain and will massage it with their paws..and sit on your chest while purring.

The weight of the cat on my chest alleviates or distracts my chest pains, and the purring sound massages as well.

I have learned a lot in the hospital from the nurses and have a new bag of tricks to help me move on to your level of treatment if needed.

I also use milk for massaging the sphincter..but it does not work when fully closed.

I know each person has different things that work..please share any insights that work for either of you no matter how crazy they may seem.

I waited too long and will be waiting until I gain some more weight back before letting the doctors proceed with more test etc.

I will keep you both in my prayers...I agree..this has been the cruelest disease I have ever witnessed. Last year I aspirated into my lungs six times..passed out..visted many spiritual planes..only to re-awake covered in...and 6 hours of pnuemonia symptoms while trying to clear lungs.

Hi,

Whilst I'm aware that the outcome from a Heller's myotomy can vary for different patients, my experience has been that it greatly improved my quality of life and I would recommend it.

My 'case history' is as follows - after developing regurgitation / vomiting symptoms in 1992 (aged 35), it was 2 years of investigations (usual script of barium meals, manometry, etc. - but no stents / balloons, so far as I can remember) before a diagnosis of Achalasia was confirmed.  I recall that my weight dropped from 82Kg to 72Kg and I guess most of that would have been early / rapid weight loss, rather than gradually over the 2 years.  During the 2 years, eating solid food was essentially impossible, and I became accustomed to a selection of protein drinks / milkshakes, soups - and, of course, ice-cream.  Also, I was unable to sleep lying down due to routine regurgitations whilst asleep / associated risk of choking, etc.

The impact of the operation was dramatic and very welcome - even although it did not result in a return to a 'normal / unrestricted' diet and routine meals.  Now aged 59, and 24 years on from the Heller's myotomy my situation is that I've enjoyed sleeping in a bed (rather than propped up in an armchair) without any difficulty and eating modest meal portions, whilst avoiding a number of different (and unrelated foodstuffs).  Regurgitation of most food is so routine / incidental that I almost don't think about it, and I like to think that the condition is being well managed.  Occasionally there are mishaps - such as absent-mindedly eating too fast, or not thoroughly masticating before swallowing; which invariably lead to more significant chest pain / prolonged difficulty swallowing / persistent regurgitation / vomiting... c'est la vie!

In essence, the Heller’s myotomy certainly gets the 'thumbs -up ' from me.  Hopefully that resume is of some assistance.

All the best,

Mick

I had a modified Heller Myotomy two years ago with a year and a half of good results for the swallowing but I continued to have chest pain.  In the last two years my Achalasia has progressed from type I to type III.  Am working with a good team of specialists at the University of Iowa and will be undergoing POEM surgery in the next month.  It's the only option for type III.  It was recently suggested by another member of this forum to try Omega 3 for some relief (I had taken O3 for join pain with good results). I've done alot of research getting to this point and will keep reading everything I can moving forward.  God bless whomever started this page.  I have gotten good information from Mayo Clinic site, from Cleveland Clinic and from University of Iowa.

God Bless!