Another New Member

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I too have been viewing this site for awhile and I have been meaning to

join. This is an awesome site that I wish I could have stumbled upon long

ago. It is comforting to know there are other people who have similar

problems. Although I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy!!!

I can't really bring anything new to this group that hasn't already been

discussed: white foam, gurgling and burping constantly, sleepless nights and

waking up choking and gagging, drink coke with my meals to help build

pressure to overcome the LES.... All ditto's from me.

I am from the great state of Michigan, at least great in June, July, and

August!! I ended up getting sent to and diagnosed with achalasia in August

of 1996 at the Cleveland Clinic. I struggled for two years prior before

finally getting relief.

I had the dilation then and it was tolerable for me until about a year

ago. I then started having difficulty sleeping again and food was sticking

longer. I finally made another appointment at Cleveland Clinic and had the

laproscopic Heller myotomy in late August of this year.

For anyone thinking about this surgery, from my perspective, it was a

piece of cake. The monometry test in my opinion was worse than the surgery,

and I am a big wimp. I would say that I am 90 to 95% normal. It took a

couple weeks for things to settle down, but one Prilosec a day is all I deal

with now. Very infrequently do I struggle with food now (I hope it lasts).

Great doctor's there named Dr. Richter and excellent surgeon named Doctor

Rice for anyone in that area who may be in need.

I guess the only thing I believe I can add to the conversation is that I

feel very confident as to what the cause of my achalasia was. I have seen

postings from some people about stress and anxiety. I went through a very

stressful time in 1994. I couldn't barely sleep or eat. I went thru the

days drinking nothing but coffee to keep me going. When I would fall

asleep, I would wake up with the most " on fire " heartburn I could have

imagined. I was never a heartburn sufferer prior to this time. To make a

long story short, it was during this time I first experienced this disorder

or disease.

My doctors feel it is possibly an auto immune disease, and the stress I

experienced probably just hastened the onset of it. I not so sure, but I've

seen other postings to this subject as well.

Anyway, thanks to all for your postings and sharing of info. May you all

have a Happy New Year!!!