Achalasia Survivor After Surgery

[Guest guest]

Hi Group,

I did not know about this group until today. I just happened to stumble upon

it and found some of the stories to be very interesting so I decided to join.

I can identify with what most of the people have to say. I had Achalasia

for 16 years. For the first year I was really waiting to die because I

though I had cancer. When I researched the symptoms of difficulty swallowing

it mentioned cancer so I immediately assumed that's what I had. I had made a

decision that I was not going to have chemo so I didn't tell anyone about the

problems I was having and I wouldn't go to the doctor. Yes, I was 21-years

old, young and foolish. Once I realized I wasn't dying I figured I needed to

find out what the real problem was. It would at times take me hours to eat a

meal and as soon as I would get the food down, I would throw it back up.

I checked in a hospital and was told it was Achalasia. I was told then that

one option was the dilatation. Over the 16 year period I had the dilatation

done 5 times. It is only recommended no more than 3 times because of the

risk of ripping the esophagus. However, I kept changing doctors until I

found one who would do it.

In 1996 I was told NO MORE DILATATION! My only option was surgery. I waited

all these years thinking over a period of time the procedure could be done

laser. I did find a doctor in Atlanta who was going to do laser surgery but

two days before I was to enter the hospital, I was told my condition was too

far gone and the old conventional surgery was the only way. I was in the

hospital 9 days and home recovering for 9 weeks. I must say that was the

hardest and most painful experience I have ever endured in my life. I

thought I was going to lose my mind. It took me at least a year before I

could say that I was glad that I had it done. Today, five years later, I

know it was the best decision. My whole life had been controlled by the

disease. The first thing I would have to do is find the bathroom whenever I

would go into a restaurant.

For those of you who are experiencing reflux after the surgery, it could be

that your surgeon did not incorporate another procedure called Fundoplication

in with the surgery. This would have helped to prevent the acid from flow

back up. For those of you who will be having the surgery, make sure you ask

about this. I do occasionally have the spasms but I do not have acid reflux.

Saved by surgery in Atlanta