Guest guest Posted August 18, 2001 Report Share Posted August 18, 2001 Magg, Please don't think that you are " nuts. " That's exactly how I felt, (and still do, quite honestly). This disorder is insidious, and has the patient feeling alone and scared to even mention it to family members and friends. Since people can't see it, they think that it is probably " all in your head. " I had the very same symptoms as you did. Even while I couldn't swallow, and water was coming back up, everyone including me, thought that it was psychosomatic. Please get a motility test. After having a barium swallow, and seeing the trademark, " bird beak " I underwent a balloon dilation. The spasms got worse, and sometimes I still choke, but at least I can live with it. I started Nexium three weeks ago and have had only one spasm bad enough to wake me up. Please, don't despair. YOU ARE NOT NUTS!!!!! Gayle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2001 Report Share Posted August 18, 2001 Thanks to all who wrote. Gayle, I have had two barium swallows and a motility test. They showed classic Achalasia. I too lose water as readily as I do food. Of course I will not just stop treatment without discussion with my doctor, but did want to know your thoughts and if your chest pains increased with the endoscopic procedure. I really appreciate this group and the information I have received from it. Hugs, Magg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2001 Report Share Posted August 18, 2001 Hi Magg, I did have increased chest pain after the procedure. I have gotten increasingly stronger spasms the farther away from the procedures I get. It is very strange how you can feel them creeping up on you. When I am teaching, I can feel when they are starting and immediately take a big gulp of carbonated Poland Spring Water, then, I usually chew two Tums Ultra. I used to follow it up with a Zantac 75. Now that I am on Nexium, I haven't had any painful spasms and seem to choke less frequently. Do you get exhausted after every severe attack? I always feel like a truck ran me down and have an awful headache. When I get severe chest pains into my teeth and jaw, I also drink a lot of Maalox Extra Strength. It seems to quiet the attack down. I also drink hot cocoa. Cold drinks seem to increase the pain. Please let me know who you are today. Gayle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2001 Report Share Posted August 20, 2001 Maggie, I just thought of something else my doctor said. I am stilla bout 30 pounds overweight, and so I said the loss of weight due to achalasia was not a problem. He said that I could be malnourished and dehydrated while still being overweight, because of a non-balanced diet, and the body goes into starvation mode, using calories from muscle instead of fat. It could get to the point that other parts of the body suffer due to the malnourishment. a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2001 Report Share Posted August 20, 2001 a thanks for your reply. You brought up some valid points that I was not thinking about. I guess I am just so frustrated at this point, my only thought was what's the use if we are still going to suffer from all the symptoms anyway. I too am still about 20 pounds overweight and feel that some of the food is going down, because I don't stay as hungry as I did in the beginning. It is strange that some days it seems everything that goes down comes back and others days are not as bad. Again thanks for writing. Magg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2001 Report Share Posted August 21, 2001 Yeah..I find that I do a lotta hard grazing if I get a good spells. M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2001 Report Share Posted August 21, 2001 Magg, Hi! I had a myotomy about a year and a half ago and am doing very well. However, I too have days that seem to definately go better than others. I sometimes wonder if stress doesn't play some part. I always have a much harder time eating if I am in an environment where there are a lot of people around or if I don't think that I have a big enough glass of water or if there isn't a bathroom or at least a sink nearby if I run into trouble. If I stick to my little routines at home I seem to manage a lot better. Achalasia is a very frustrating thing because it really doesn't go away and unfortunately we have to keep eating. Just remember that there are a lot of us out here who know exactly what you are going through and the frustration it yields! Take care, Re: Magg > a thanks for your reply. You brought up some valid > points that I was not thinking about. I guess I am just so > frustrated at this point, my only thought was what's the > use if we are still going to suffer from all the symptoms > anyway. > > I too am still about 20 pounds overweight and feel that > some of the food is going down, because I don't stay as > hungry as I did in the beginning. It is strange that some > days it seems everything that goes down comes back > and others days are not as bad. > > Again thanks for writing. > > Magg > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2001 Report Share Posted August 22, 2001 Can anyone help me unsubscribe from this list? owensjj@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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