To cut a long story short, I have Achalasia which is now rapidly getting worse, difficulty getting food through, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, nausea. I’m on the local NHS list for myotomy here in Leeds but have been told waiting times are very long. I of course understand that Covid19 has delayed everything but I am getting desperate. I’ve tried contacting the two surgeons private practices but am getting no answer.
I had a telephone consultation with a very well known and respected surgeon in London and he’s hoping to restart in early August virus permitting. I’m willing to travel and pay privately but wondered if anyone knows of a surgeon experienced in myotomy for Achalasia nearer to Leeds who may be restarting surgery soon.
Thank you.
Steve.
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Steve-C
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Hi Steve, I completely understand your difficulties and I have been in a similar situation with rapidly worsening symptoms and no treatment because of the lockdown. It's when I called the surgeon and said liquids too were becoming difficult plus painful to swallow that they could then raise the priority level of this procedure and put me on a theatre list sooner. I should have surgery within this next month. Perhaps you could explain the same to your surgeon? Depending on what your local policies are, your surgeon too might be able to push your surgery date sooner. I'm afraid I don't know of any surgeons in your region.
Thank you for your reply Reshma. I'll try but we only have two surgeons here doing myotomies, and they job share meaning in effect there's only one surgeon at any one time.
Have you tried St Thomas’. I believe that whilst they have a backlog they have resumed elective services. They are the third largest oesophageal centre in the world so they may have capacity. They have been managing me for twenty years (although my myotomy was not performed there) and I have nothing but respect for their upper GI service. I don’t know if any of them do private practice but it would be unusual for no one in the team to offer that expertise to the private sector.
had Cardia plasty for Achalasia end stage nothing has changed + found out 3 days ago my surgeon was untruthful about Barium meal results 2023 op was 2022 showed I still have an atonic oesophagus which means still going into spasms n difficulty eating im having Nutricia supplements to keep me alive .
There are no further operations that could help me .
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