UPPER ESOP.SPHINCTER (Lynda and )

[Guest guest]

Hello Lynda and :

Read your Messages 884 and 885. I began having problems with food sticking

in upper throat about 2-l/2 mths. after my Myotomy in Feb. 2000. I

returned to my Surgeon in Tampa in May and the Barium Swallow, Bagel

Swallow, Manometry and 24 hr. ph test were done over a period of a month or

so. Nothing was found to be wrong except I did have a high degree of acid

and it was refluxing to a small degree. I was put back on Prilosec.

I had to continue (against strong objections from my Surgeon) to put my

finger down my throat to get the stuck food up. This is the only way I can

get relief.

This was and is not a daily occurrence. Some days I could and can ear

normally for a person with Achalasia.

On Sept. 9th 2000 I began with leg pains and 2 days later I was paralyzed

from toes to head with Gullain Barre Syndrome. I was in hospital here in

St. Augustine for 2 mths and while in hospital I could not eat so when I

was able to take liquids fed to me with syringe put into my mouth a test

was done and it showed that the upper esophagus sphincter muscle was

damaged due to the GBSand was not seating properly. I have not returned to

my Surgeon in Tampa as after coming home I did not have swallowing problems

as I was on pureed foods. About 2 weeks ago I began having the upper

sticking problems again.

It might be because of allergies to blooming trees, shrubs, etc. I have

gone back on Ensure this week and Carafate hoping this will help heal the

esophagus.

My Surgeon was basically doing a repair job of a botched operation on

exophagus done over 20 yrs. ago. He had to remove a reoccuring esophageal

diverticula by cutting out the bad section and moving my stomach up. He

also had to do several other repair things while in there. I often wonder

if the food sticking hasn't just moved up to the upper esop. sphincter. I

will always have Achalasia as I have a narrowing of the esop. in the mid

chest area and sometimes I do feel food dragging thru and have some pain

associated with it.

But I am almost 65, alive and 90-95% better with both rare diseases -

Achalasia and GBS.

Sorry this is so long and I hope it makes sense. Good Luck to you both and

hope your doctor visit helps you.

Barbara in Fla.

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbara-thanks for your reply. My latest manometry (and my last!!)

showed a hypertensive upper esophageal sphincter- which may confirm why I

have that lump feeling and the feeling that this is the level that the food

is getting stuck. This new symptom appeared just prior to a downhill slide

in my general health--I have Dx's of irritable bowel syndrome,

thyroiditis, fibromyalgia, chronic lyme disease--but am not being treated as

of yet. I have alot of symptoms to deal with--it has almost made the

achalasia take a back seat. I just can't help but to wonder if it is all

related. I just want to be well.If that is not possible, than better would

do. I am only 35 and the mother of two young children. So as I said, I

am off to the achalasia Dr. for his opinion. Be well and think well. Lynda

[Guest guest]

I truly do believe that achalasia, and the fibromyalgia are related.

I was diagnosed with it a few years ago, before the achalasia. I have

read other posts that mention this, both here and other places. I

wish they would hurry up with studies on this. Janet

> in my general health--I have Dx's of irritable bowel syndrome,

> thyroiditis, fibromyalgia, chronic lyme disease--but am not being

treated as

> of yet. I have alot of symptoms to deal with--it has almost made

the

> achalasia take a back seat. I just can't help but to wonder if it

is all

> related.