what to do?

I was diagnosed with Achalasia two years ago with a very sudden onset of the problems associated with the disease . After a complete shut down of even trying to get water down i went in to hospital in Aug 2006 for a helliers myotomy and a fundoplication and was the best thing i ever had done . The down side My weight ballooned and i do get the pain which a lot of people complain about although this is tolerable compared with the problems you encounter with the achalasia . The op gives you your life back and i cannot believe how low i was and how different i am now . I do have to drink water when i eat but i eat more a less what i want just a bit slower . I would strongly recommend the op to any one just make sure you find a good surgeon who is experienced with this procedure

I would recommend the operation. With keyhole the discomfort is not bad and you will feel so much better. I gues the quality of the sugeon is a key factor, but it is difficult to know who is the best.

Good luck.

i don't mean to thread jack but i have just been officially diagnosed with achalasia - although i suspected this for some time.

after two visits to an ENT doctor i was submitted for a barium swallow. the fact i had a chance to actually see what was going on inside me kind of relaxed me. i was told that although achalasia is a condition i wouldn't wish on anyone (well maybe not everyone!) it was certainly nothing sinister and can be treated as a result.

the barium swallow meant i could then be referred to another gastro specialist who was 95% sure achalasia was the problem. after a lengthy chat about my symptoms and the possible remedies i was able to have i was then put forward for having a manometry (that was today).

the manometry itself was a rather unpleasant experience but i'm thankful nothing was 'perforated' during the procedure. this was the real confirmation that i had achalasia and now a letter will be sent back to my gastro surgeon/doctor for analysis and decisions on where to go next.

the gentleman who carried out the manometry was a decent man who gave me plenty of information about the possible 'cures.'

with this, he was sure i'd need a dilatation. i was thinking \"yeah, great. let's just finally get all this over with.\" he said that although i'm only 27, only one dilatation should be necessary for my entire lifetime. herein lies the problem... i was told by the gastro doctor that if i was to go the balloon route, i'd more than likely need at least one dilatation.

so here i have two conflicting views and after spending the last half an hour reading fellow sufferers reports on ballooning, i just don't know what to think or who to believe. if i'm going to have hospital treatment, then i'd rather it be just the once and if that means keyhole surgery then that's what i'd prefer.

there is something else i wanted to discuss here. most of you seem to suffer with a lot of chest pain. i personally don't get this. my symptoms are simple: difficult to swallow (sometimes water) for over 2 years now, will need to bring up some food after the meal and then again later on. i used to be sick during the night but this has since stopped. i'm not currently taking any medication although i have a months supply of losec omeprazole sitting at home.

anyway, it's great that i've found this site/forum and can share my thoughts and read those of others. i'd really like to meet up with any fellow sufferers as i've yet to encounter one socially. just being able to talk frankly about our condition is quite a weight removed from the shoulders.

perhaps we could all meet up for an annual dinner somewhere in the country. on second thoughts, maybe just a glass of water

I can understand ur want not to be put through multiple procedures, but it is fairly rare to find a doctor to put u straight for surgury if there is a less invasive option, i.e. the dilation. I personally had 2 dialations fail before I had the surgery. The dialation is very simple and will only put you out for a day, the down side is the possibilty of acid reflux, which I suffered from terribly as the sphincter between ur stomach and throat will likely allow acid from the stomach out, but this can be treated with antacids easily. But if it works, no scars, no hospital stay, no further weight loss. The chest pains people talk about don't affect every one but with me I found it hit later on in my illness, after dilation. I personally feel my dilations failed because I was young (18) and my bodied healed itself (the procedure is designed to stretch the muscles out and they just sprang back!)

The best advise I can pass on is that after whichever procedure you opt for be careful what and how much you eat! I wish somebody had said this to me because my weight ballooned and because my metabolism was so messed up from the achalasia 4 years on I'm still struggling to shift the weight!

[quote:0e41fe3e11=\"JamesAussieBound\"]i don't mean to thread jack but i have just been officially diagnosed with achalasia - although i suspected this for some time.

after two visits to an ENT doctor i was submitted for a barium swallow. the fact i had a chance to actually see what was going on inside me kind of relaxed me. i was told that although achalasia is a condition i wouldn't wish on anyone (well maybe not everyone!) it was certainly nothing sinister and can be treated as a result.

the barium swallow meant i could then be referred to another gastro specialist who was 95% sure achalasia was the problem. after a lengthy chat about my symptoms and the possible remedies i was able to have i was then put forward for having a manometry (that was today).

the manometry itself was a rather unpleasant experience but i'm thankful nothing was 'perforated' during the procedure. this was the real confirmation that i had achalasia and now a letter will be sent back to my gastro surgeon/doctor for analysis and decisions on where to go next.

the gentleman who carried out the manometry was a decent man who gave me plenty of information about the possible 'cures.'

with this, he was sure i'd need a dilatation. i was thinking \"yeah, great. let's just finally get all this over with.\" he said that although i'm only 27, only one dilatation should be necessary for my entire lifetime. herein lies the problem... i was told by the gastro doctor that if i was to go the balloon route, i'd more than likely need at least one dilatation.

so here i have two conflicting views and after spending the last half an hour reading fellow sufferers reports on ballooning, i just don't know what to think or who to believe. if i'm going to have hospital treatment, then i'd rather it be just the once and if that means keyhole surgery then that's what i'd prefer.

there is something else i wanted to discuss here. most of you seem to suffer with a lot of chest pain. i personally don't get this. my symptoms are simple: difficult to swallow (sometimes water) for over 2 years now, will need to bring up some food after the meal and then again later on. i used to be sick during the night but this has since stopped. i'm not currently taking any medication although i have a months supply of losec omeprazole sitting at home.

anyway, it's great that i've found this site/forum and can share my thoughts and read those of others. i'd really like to meet up with any fellow sufferers as i've yet to encounter one socially. just being able to talk frankly about our condition is quite a weight removed from the shoulders.

perhaps we could all meet up for an annual dinner somewhere in the country. on second thoughts, maybe just a glass of water [/quote:0e41fe3e11]

Since July of this year, I have had classic symptoms of achalasia, including a dry cough and inability to swallow food and difficulty with liquids. However, no vomiting.

I have already had endoscopy and barium swallow, both negative and next week a scan. I am now getting concerned that there will be no definite diagnosis and wonder where I go from there. Has anyone had this same experience? I feel so alone with this.

Hi .Iam six weeks recovering from hellers myotomy and fundoplication. I have had no acid or chest pain. so far. I still ache in my stomach,particularly in the afternoon as im nw trying to do normal activities. I feel better than ive done in a long time, more normal.I chew my food more, and have smaller amounts, but dont ned to have water with my meals like before.so far so good. I have also lost weight, but hadnt prior to surgery like most sufferers do.I wonder if thats why people are experiencing weight gain cause they lost so much before but its had reverse effect on me cause im eaten less than before.My surgeon didnt bother offering me dilataion and I also just wanted to go for it once and Im so pleaased I did. It is a very hard decision but im glad I went for it.

good luck with whatever you decide.