painful oesophageal achalasia

I get pain in my ribs. It starts right in the centre of the rib cage (sternum) and often extends right through to my back. I find drinking large gulps of very cold water helps.

I found that that certain foods made it more frequent and worse.

I carefully studied the foods I was eating and the symptoms I had and removing the offending foods from my diet has made a dramatic difference. Not totally gone but much better.

I am sorry to read you so downhearted. Anyway removing some kind of food of course help a lot. I did the same, and unfortunately I know exactly how Acalasia evolves. The same for me, the pain starts from the stern, enlarge in all the ribs cage, rise up strongly above the heart and then extend right through the shoulders. In the same while the esophagus pipe get so hard that became very difficult breath normally, the breath get short and speed up, the heart beats hardly and speedy. Then the pain take all the nerves from the shoulders up to the neck, the jaws, the nerves below the ears, and rise up to the temples. It looks like an hart attack because the bust, chest, shoulders and neck became like a a rigid wooden trunk. I can' t move, just feel the atrocious pain and cry, wishing and waiting goes away as soon as possible.

Pain killers did not work at all sometimes, sometimes just a little. Just drink cold water to flush away the acid along the esophagus, sip by sip and wait, trying to keep calm also in that absurd condition. It melt down after 10-15 minutes and then starts again and again and again until finally leave me alone, sometimes after several hours. This is my Acalasia experience. Does not exist cure, there is no way to get rid of it, so needs you help yourself in any way possible to reduce the pain, and the only way to reduce part of the pain is do not let the acid rice up and inflame more your esophagus pipe.

I feel like reborn.

I'm currently 21 years old and was first diagnosed with Achalasia since I was 8 years old, in which I had the Heller myotomy. 

My achalasia started when I was about 6 - 7 and was vomiting everytime I ate or drank. My GP at the time thought that it was a phase i was going through and said I would grow out of it.

I got to the age of 8 and was still having these problems, I also weighed about 4 stone and was very weak.

After a lot of visits to the GP he finally reffered me to St james hospital in Leeds, UK.

I found that the Myotomy was life changing, and I could finally eat without vomiting, and I was putting on weight finally (I was also on a feeding tube for a few months)

But a year or so after the op i started getting very bad pains in my throat, Chest and back. I have had many endoscopies, barium swallows etc but still haven't had luck with finding the problem.

I'm still in pain a lot now and still seeing the doctors, I have another endoscopy on the 22nd May. 

My personaly experience of this has been horrible, I never know when the pain will strike and It's caused me a lot of problems at university (the university are denying mitigating circumstances). I really hope to find something that will help the pain and I will update hear as I hear more information.

Some people find eating a banana can help with the pain; others find buscopan helpful.

It is easier said than done, but there is often also a nervous tension element to achalasia and trying to find ways of relaxing the nerves involved can be helpful in easing the condition.

I had Heller's Myotomy on May 27 here in Montreal. I was so excited the first night eventhough in pain from surgery that finally the vomiting I had laboured with for 11 years had finally stopped.  The hospital staff who seemed to know quite well the disease and it's consequences were excellent in helping. The Surgeons were marvelous and very descriptive in their own ways.  "Achalasia had no cure". "See the surgery as preventative measures". "That I was now in remission of Achalasia cause it may come back". etc, etc.. Cancer crosses my mind daily.  

I was discharged from hospital the next day, due to all vital signs ok. Dietician's discharged advice, "stay away from solid foods" etc,,,. Happy no more vomiting, until monday June 2nd, 2014.  Had breakfast, pureed cereal, cup of tea with Lactose free milk, apple juice and jello. Same thing I had since I was discharged and almost same food served at hospital, (exception the milk). Then it started.  A SHARP, WEAKENING BELLY PAIN.  Mind you, I weigh only 110lbs from 130lbs normal weight.  My shrunken body started to tremble. I got the hot sweats. My esophagus started to expand as if to burst out of my body. I had pain everywhere, back, front and sides. I couldn't walk, breathing laboured, heart pounding. Vomiting, according to my surgeons, was to be a big NO-NO but there I was vomiting slim. I WANTED TO DIE!!  My poor husband and adult daughter who have seen me suffer with this illness couldn't find words soft and tender enough to console and comfort the pain.  Slowly, they dragged me up the stairs to my room to rest. Then came the gas. You name it, I had it.  I laboured for 5 hours in slow and excruciating pain. Hail Mary's and Lord please help, carpetted the floors of my home.

Almost a week gone by, following my diet like soldier watching for ennemies on battle posts. Today, at 03:00 am, I woke up to use the bathroom, there came the same pain.  Confused and not knowing what to do, I find myself asking myself, "Was it worthwhile to have this Heller's myotomy surgery"? OR was it better to have stayed with the vomiting? which I had known would come after each bite of food and was ready to deal with it, even shamefully. My friends and family have gotten use to my vomiting habits, now they have to see me lament to breath.  I am torn cause after reading all of your posts here, I am as confused and concerned as I was before I had the surgery.  My next appointment with them surgeons is on June 25, 2014 and I hope to bring some hope to you all here.

Meanwhile I don't know what results my body will produce from the surgery. So far, the only comfort is I am not walking around with a plastic cup to catch my vomit or a plastic bag in my hand bag or car which I was always hiding. No more "I am sorry" to my daughter after throwing up in front of her even after 11 years.

Stay tuned, maybe the medical team can clear up the mystery of this disease.  

even i'm suffering with the same pain since six years, am 24  now. Had 3 dilatations in consistent three years, n its been three years till now that i havent been to any operation, because now i can reduce my pain by drinking water immediately when i feel pain,. and i suggest ur kid to have fruits which doesnt contain citric, and stop having oily crispy foods as much as possible. mostly at nights,dont allow him to eat oily or citric foods.. and make him drink water everyday morning.. am sure this reduces the pain... i wish he recovers soon. the pain is too horrible

Hi Mandy89, this post of yours is from 5 yesrs ago, so I don't know if you are still active on this site. I hope your son is doing much better by now. 🍀Hope your family found much needed relief from any treatment that he might have had since that of 5 years ago.

Hello, this is an old thread but one I found on the front page of google when researching this condition and it’s treatment. I hope it helps someone. There are elements of treatment I have not found so far but I will to address here and it begins with our perception of the issue. First I would like to give some quick backstory about myself. I am 29 at this moment. Male and have been dealing with this since infancy. My first surgery was in the first six months and after an open surgery for Craniosynostosis. 1988 was a year of much debate over infant anesthesia but that’s another topic but I would like to make a note of the stress I must have felt. My symptoms became to much to bear when after feeding me I would projectile vomit across the room like a possed baby from the exorcist (I wish it was recorded haha). So surgery was done to remove tissue and I have a nasty scar to prove it. Symptoms have been mild since then but have always been there (this is due mostly to our social perception norms) but now are getting worse as apparently the onset is 30 to 40 in adult cases. I believe this has been brought on by stress again and some laziness on my part. So what are these perceptions? First of all the obvious three square meals. I won’t go into detail but to say it’s outdated is an understatement in my book. Eating small amounts throughout the day will actually have benefits to your body in other ways. Not shaming your child for not eating the same, all of it or on YOUR time. Actually eating food perceived to be tasty and healthy are another. Low stress environment and expectation. I think anyone with this curse can attest to the shame felt when everyone is eating one huge meal and we’d rather eat small and slowly, something I have naturally rebelled against. Next is chewing more than is perceived to be normal, especially with denser foods. Eat small amounts throughout the day and stop trying to fit in as normal will alone open up huge doors. Think placebo effect but reversed when at every dinner, you dread eating.  Medicinal THC and CBD oil are also highly recommended and can even increase appetite while making nearly zero negative impact in small doses even in developing children. You’re not trying to get high, just relaxed. Surgery should be the last option as the cost is insane in America and will lead to further complications with age. Remember doctors want to make money. A second opinion is always recommend and can save you thousand or even hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifespan. Acid reflux is horrible and avoided as much as possible since this can create a multitude of problems. Spicy foods for dinner or even around 3pm should be removed completely from the diet or anything else that seems to trigger it (this should probably go for everyone). Do not fall for big pharma’s lies and overpriced medications. Free youreself from negative perceptions and adapt. Turn a curse into a blessing. Your child has the potential to be healthier than most with better habits if formed early with care and love ?? Youre not alone.