Life after achalasia

[Jimmerjay]

Hi , I'm new here ! I had operation to help with achalasia 10 days ago after living with it for 3years .if you're out there wanting advice from someone who's been through it or just someone to talk to please get in touch , my op was a great success ! There is light at the end of the tunnel !

[drsteve]

Hello, Please see my book at livingwithachalasia.org. It is a free download and has a wealth of information. Written by a doctor with achalasia who has been through dilations, myotomy and an esophagectomy.

[Hidden]

Glad it went well. Could you tell us the details of your surgery?

Many thanks

Alan

[Jimmerjay in reply to Hidden]

Hi alan, under general anaesthetic , I had laparoscopic surgery to cut away part of the muscle ( sphincter) in my stomach that enables us to swallow .the achalasia had essentially weakened the muscle so that it would no longer do its job. Previously , I had a Botox injection which did help for a short time but then I was back to square one .the op was done keyhole and I was sore after for a week .Its no understatement saying the op has changed my life!

[JosephR]

I had an open esophagectomy in Boston for end stage Achalasia 16 years ago. You name the complication from the surgery, I have had it. I was on a feeding tube for 10 years but my dumping has subsided. I would love to hear your story.

[Jimmerjay in reply to JosephR]

Hi Joseph , the laparoscopic surgery which cut away part of the muscle that allows us to swallow went really well . For three years swallowing was incredibly difficult resulting in losing around 3 stone ,a severe loss in self confidence ,a mild onset of depression and an embarrassment when eating out ! I couldn't eat without a can of Coca Cola at hand ( the only thing that helped !) on average I vomited once or twice a day ! When the achalasia was diagnosed it was a relief just putting a name to it , an injection of Botox had limited success , then the op was a success .how have you been since your op ?

[PedroDias]

Hi Guys,

Really good to see that it worked for some of you.

My father (72 years old) has diagnosed with achalasia more then 6 or 7 years ago. He was submited to laparoscopic surgery at the time but it didn't work quit well as he would still have dificulties swallowing. Then he did also the balloon dilation but it didn't work too. This last March we was again submited to a second laparoscopic surgery. He had to stay in the hospital about 2 weeks to recover and be able to eat something again. After he came home he started having fever. Then he went to hospital again, made some exams and they discovered that he has tuberculosis too so they started giving him 8 tablets a day. As he wasn't eating much with all this tablets his stomach just started reject everithing, even any quind of liquid. Now he is on the hospital again (one week and half) and his stomagh is still rejecting any kind of food or tablets so he is on saline solution. Not sure if the doctors have any idea in what else then can do. Would you guys have any advise?

[Jimmerjay]

Hi Pedro ,sorry to hear about you dads problems after the op . I'm sorry I haven't got any advice but please tell him he's not alone with his condition and many of us know what he's going through !hope all goes well in the future .

[PedroDias in reply to Jimmerjay]

Thanks Jim! The problem also is that the doctors between all this time never gaving like a special diet or nutrient complements to compensate the lack of food, so he lost a lot of weight during all this time...

[Jimmerjay in reply to PedroDias]

I lost around 3 stone myself Pedro , it is hard because even supplements are hard to swallow ! Keep at his doctor for help with supplements .

[Bazman123]

Hi I'm waiting to have a heller myotomy and am hoping this will help me. I have had exactly the same symptoms as you and also beginning to feel extremely depressed.

How are you getting on now after a few months?

[famousamos]

Which operation did you have? Did you do the hew POEM surgery? Sandy