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Hi Eugene--

You asked about balloon dilatations. I think a lot of us on this list have

had them done. In general, my experience was that they helped, but only on

a very temporary basis.

Others on this list may disagree, but now feel like I wasted a lot of time

going through dilatations--I would have been better off going straight to a

myotomy.

Guess I sort of needed to work my way up to the surgery! If I had it to do

over again, I would have skipped this part and booked an appointment with a

surgeon and saved myself a lot of hassle.

Best of luck to you--

Vicki

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I've had several dilitations. The first time they

ruptured my esophagas, so it took them several years

and me getting to the point where I couldn't survive

without doing something that I let them do it again.

I understand that the ruptured esophagas is not the

norm and most of the time there is no problem. When I

FINALLY let them do a second dilatation, I was in and

out of the hospital in about 2 hours with no

complications and no pain. That time it worked very

well and I didn't have much of a problem eating for

quite a long time. I think it was probably a couple

of years before I had to think about doing it again.

I would let them do it. I've had several done since

that first (disastrous) experience and have not had a

problem with them since. My problems now stem from

the scar tissue resulting from the ruptured esophagas.

That is supposed to be a very rare complication.

Good luck!

__________________________________________________

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Eugene,

I had my first and only ballon dilation a year ago last November. All goes

well as long as I eat consciously and wisely. Sometimes I experience

esophageal spasms and chest pains related to gas. Sipping water and GasX

helps relieve the symptoms. Relaxation exercises and after meal walks also

make a difference.

duva69@... wrote:

> Hey Everyone,

>

> I'm considering having a Balloon Dilatation. But before I decide I

> was curious to see if anyone who had this procedure done, whether or

> not their problems progressed rather then gotten better. I ask this

> because currently I can cope with the swallowing difficulities, so I

> don't want to risk losing this 'privledge' by having a dilatation

> done.

>

> Thanks for the help,

> Eugene

>

>

>

>

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when did you have this dilatation done?

>From: nanny_og@...

>Reply-achalasia

>achalasia

>Subject: Re: Balloon Dilatation

>Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 04:04:31 -0000

>

>-I too was very nervous about having this procedure done, and had in

>fact cancelled one appointment. However about a month later the

>decision was taken out of my hands as I had got to the stage whereby

>nothing would pass down, I had not taken solid food for ten days and

>was reduced to sipping teaspoons of dioralyite for the four days prior

>to the procedure. I was admitted as an emergency and was told later

>that had I not had it done when I did do, that I would probably have

>found myself in intensive care!

>

>However, I did have it done, and although it was uncomfortable at the

>time the results, so far are brilliant. I was at the hospital for a

>few hours, and the first thing I did when I arrived home was down,

>virtually in one continuous gulp, an entire litre of fresh orange

>juice. The sensation of feeling it going directly into my stomache

>was amazing, and made me realise just how long I had actually been

>suffering with the symptoms without realising it.

>

>As for after effects, so far none whatsoever. I can eat and drink

>what I want when I want, no indigestion, no dyspepsia, no reflux, no

>nothing, it is as if I never had a problem.

>

>Of course I am aware that it is quite possible that the symptoms can

>return at any time, but in the meantime am enjoying the freedom the

>procedure has given me, and keeping my fingers crossed that it will

>not return.

>

>So good luck, it is worth it.

> > > Hey Everyone,

> > >

> > > I'm considering having a Balloon Dilatation. But before I decide

>I

> > > was curious to see if anyone who had this procedure done, whether

>or

> > > not their problems progressed rather then gotten better. I ask

>this

> > > because currently I can cope with the swallowing difficulities, so

>I

> > > don't want to risk losing this 'privledge' by having a dilatation

> > > done.

> > >

> > > Thanks for the help,

> > > Eugene

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

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  • 2 years later...

Hi Ann - I haven't had the surgery yet, but I have seen several people here have had a dilation after their myotomy, with some successful and some not -- everyone seems to be different.

If you search on "dilation" in the archives, you should be able to find some references to it. Also, I know I saw some references to it while I was working on updating the Links section this weekend, so you may be able to find more info in there.

Debbi in Michigan

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Ann --

I have had numerous bougie dilations post-myotomy but not a balloon dilation (only had that pre-myotomy). In talking with surgeons regarding "next steps" for me, I've had one surgeon talk to me about doing a balloon dilation. From what I understand, it is not common to do this post-myotomy due to the risks involved. The one surgeon who suggested it basically said to me "it's hard to find someone with the guts to do it." I had a bougie dilation shortly after my myotomy -- probably at about the time post-op that you are -- to "fine-tune" my stomach wrap, and that held me quite well for a considerable time (several years).

Best luck with this decision --

in CAanneh4015 <jaholliday5@...> wrote:

I had heller myotomy surgery about 4 mths. ago. I am still having problems and my Dr. is wanting me to have a balloon dilatation. Has anyone had one after their surgery and if so how are you now? Also has anyone had to have the surgery again to either clean up scar tissue or make the stomach wrap not so tight?Thanks, Ann

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Ann,

I had a heller myotomy with dor fundoplication last February 3rd. Around

March 15th, I had a bougie dilation because I was still having trouble

getting anything very solid down and they wanted to try to stretch

things out a bit (cant remember the size of the balloon). I would say

that it helped maybe 5%. In May, I had a second dilation (if I recall

correctly, it was a 15mm balloon). What my GI found is that the location

of the stricture is at the location of the wrap. Is the wrap too tight?

I don't know! I've heard a few theories....the wrap loosens over

time....scar tissue forms at that location and makes things even

tighter over time....it might just be individual for everyone and both

theories are correct! I didn't find much relief from the second

dilation. Both times, I had spasms for about 4 days afterwards but that

was the only side effect.

I have decided in my own mind that the problem is not really the

wrap...but the fact that nothing is helping to push the food down (no

peristalsis). I feel like I take a bite, swallow and then it just stops

and I need a ton of water to push it down. Sometimes it's a

hassle....but I ate Christmas dinner this year and last year I only had

the broth from French Onion Soup!

Hope this helps you a bit. If you decide to try a dilation to see if it

loosens anything up for you, make sure you have a great doctor with

experience.

Keep us posted!

Santa Cruz, CA

balloon dilatation

I had heller myotomy surgery about 4 mths. ago. I am still having

problems and my Dr. is wanting me to have a balloon dilatation. Has

anyone had one after their surgery and if so how are you now? Also

has anyone had to have the surgery again to either clean up scar

tissue or make the stomach wrap not so tight?

Thanks, Ann

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Ann, i have been diagnosed with spastic achalasia for the last 2 and

a half years although my symptoms began 26 years ago but were

dismissed as 'anxiety'. I had a balloon dilatation last year and I

think there have been pluses and minuses with this. it is not

painful, just like having an ordinary endoscopy. My doctor assured

me that the risks were low, he had never had to repair a tear caused

by the procedure. It helped in that the opening to my stomach has

been stretched and, when food eventually moves down, it is easier for

it to enter the stomach. Unfortunately, nothing can be done to help

the passage of food through the osephagus and I think this is my main

problem. Since the dilatation I have suffered more occasions of

reflux. My doctor now wants me to have botox injections but I am not

sure about this. I'm meeting with a consultant soon to discuss this.

My diet is restricted to soup, porridge, creamed potatoes, pureed

vegetables and gravy. I can't eat ice cream anymore as I am

aspirating this into my lungs (I have a lung disease as well and the

two do not go well together) and often get pneumonia. I also used to

eat a lot of chocolate but last month I was diagnosed with Meniere's

disease (an imbalance of the inner ear) and I found out from another

website that salt and chocolate should be avoided.

If you go ahead with the dilatation I hope it brings some relief.

Best wishes

Maureen

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