Achalasia

[Jojotracey62]

Hi recently diagnosed with vigorous achalasia any advice pls?

[JosephR]

If your esophagus is salvageable have a myotomy or cutting of the lower ring of the esophagus. Don't delay. I had severe achalasia for over 20 years. I had my whole esophagus removed 15 years ago.

[deveretth in reply to JosephR]

What did they replace your esophogus with?

[chris_usa]

There are multiple treatments for achalasia. With vigorous achalasia, it is a bit different. In those patients, chest pain is often the predominate symptom. The LES (lower esophageal pressure) pressure is often normal, but without proper relaxation. Many of the normal treatments (balloon dilation, botox) don't work as well. Even myotomy surgery sometimes is not as effective as in "classical" achalasia.

So much depends on the resting LES pressure and relaxation, your symptoms, and age. More is being learned all the time about which treatments are better for certain populations, instead of treating all achalasia patients the same.

My best advice is to get a referral to a specialty center which has capable gastroenterologists, radiologists, and surgeons with experience in achalasia. In this disease, it truly is paramount to have practitioners with a lot of experience in this area.

Best of luck. \wc

By the way, I have had balloon dilations, myotomy with partial fundoplication, botox injections in the LES, and transhiatal esophagectomy for achalasia. I will be happy to answer any more questions you have as best and honestly as I can.

[chris_usa]

Please also know that this site aggregates the patients that have had esophagectomy for achalasia.

Esophagectomy for achalasia is very rare (maybe 1-2% of achalasia patients), and only done in the late stages when no other treatment is available.

[Terri1962USA in reply to chris_usa]

Chris or Alan (OPA)

How do I get into the aggregate group for Achalasia you mention?

[Hidden]

There is some useful information on the OPA website from the various meetings that have been held:

opa.org.uk/pages/achalasia....

[Terri1962USA]

I also would be happy to be of support and advise. due to Achalasia I had Heller myotomy at age 11 and then due to end--stage Achalasia I had transhiatial esophagectomy with gastric bypass pull up at age 44. This means they used my stomach to make my new esophagus. There is also an option to use the intestines to make your new esophagus. ism more than happy to answer questions and give you any guidance I can.