Carl Sagan had Achalasia

[Guest guest]

Just came across the interesting discovery that the world famous

scientist Carl Sagan suffered from achalasia and nearly died from

surgery to correct it.

The biography I am reading, “Carl Sagan, A Life†by

Keay son, states that Carl developed achalasia at age eighteen

while halfway through college. The author says “…achalasia, a strange

and frightening ailment that causes the esophagus to constrict

uncontrollably. Sufferers have trouble swallowing food. Sometimes the

constriction is so severe that they struggle to breathe…â€

The author goes on to say â€Gastroenterologists do not fully

understand the etiology of achalasia. Stress is partly implicated in

some cases, judging from a review of recent medical literature,

however, little research on psychosomatic factors is being done. Far

more ink is devoted to surgical solutions. Whatever caused

Sagan’s achalasia, the condition would haunt him well into

adulthood. When he was an adult, it necessitated surgery that almost

killed him. He feared choking so much that he nibbled at his food,

slicing it into miniscule pieces. Sometimes he stood and literally

hopped up and down, struggling to make the food go down his throat.

He once confessed to his friend Tim Ferris that being able to finally

swallow a mouthful of food gave him a absurd sensation of relief and

pleasureâ€.

Later in the book, “[Carl] had undergone esophageal surgery in

hopes of correcting the condition…But he later suffered a

pneumothorax, a condition in which his lung cavity filled with blood

from the surgical insisions…. They put drains in and gave him

nine units of blood ..Sagan cameâ€very close†to dying…

Sagan recovered.. but the operation was unsucessful and the achalasia

continued to trouble him for years.â€

A friend recalls, “He had some problem swallowing, he took

forever to chew. He took very tiny bites. Whether this was ‘in

his head’, I don’t know. He was very upset about the [marriage] break-

upâ€

Later in the biography Carl is lambasted by an associate. “He

came out one time to be part of our review committee and-stupid thing-

he needed to eat special food because of his [health] experience. So

he had Billington and two of our administrative assistants

working for an hour and a half or two to get exactly the right kind

of corned beef sandwich from a deli-he couldn’t eat this, he

couldn’t eat thatâ€

Not exactly a sympathetic portrayal and understanding of achalasia

is it! Is this how achalasia is perceived by outsiders?

Mara

[Guest guest]

Scary story. DO you know whar year this happened? I hope doctors and

technology are better nowaday and this misshaps dont happen to all of

us that are considering surgery or having " A' symptomps.

Please let me know the year of the story.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Man Poor guy! sounds like some of the stories I have read here. Now days

they automatically do chest tubes that prevents a pneumothorax from the

beginning! That is if you don't get to have the lap (you lucky spoiled

brats........ just kidding)

J.C.

Carl Sagan had Achalasia

Just came across the interesting discovery that the world famous

scientist Carl Sagan suffered from achalasia and nearly died from

surgery to correct it.

The biography I am reading, â?oCarl Sagan, A Lifeâ? by

Keay son, states that Carl developed achalasia at age eighteen

while halfway through college. The author says â?oâ?¦achalasia, a strange

and frightening ailment that causes the esophagus to constrict

uncontrollably. Sufferers have trouble swallowing food. Sometimes the

constriction is so severe that they struggle to breatheâ?¦â?

The author goes on to say â?Gastroenterologists do not fully

understand the etiology of achalasia. Stress is partly implicated in

some cases, judging from a review of recent medical literature,

however, little research on psychosomatic factors is being done. Far

more ink is devoted to surgical solutions. Whatever caused

Saganâ?Ts achalasia, the condition would haunt him well into

adulthood. When he was an adult, it necessitated surgery that almost

killed him. He feared choking so much that he nibbled at his food,

slicing it into miniscule pieces. Sometimes he stood and literally

hopped up and down, struggling to make the food go down his throat.

He once confessed to his friend Tim Ferris that being able to finally

swallow a mouthful of food gave him a absurd sensation of relief and

pleasureâ?.

Later in the book, â?o[Carl] had undergone esophageal surgery in

hopes of correcting the conditionâ?¦But he later suffered a

pneumothorax, a condition in which his lung cavity filled with blood

from the surgical insisionsâ?¦. They put drains in and gave him

nine units of blood ..Sagan cameâ?very closeâ? to dyingâ?¦

Sagan recovered.. but the operation was unsucessful and the achalasia

continued to trouble him for years.â?

A friend recalls, â?oHe had some problem swallowing, he took

forever to chew. He took very tiny bites. Whether this was â?~in

his headâ?T, I donâ?Tt know. He was very upset about the [marriage] break-

upâ?

Later in the biography Carl is lambasted by an associate. â?oHe

came out one time to be part of our review committee and-stupid thing-

he needed to eat special food because of his [health] experience. So

he had Billington and two of our administrative assistants

working for an hour and a half or two to get exactly the right kind

of corned beef sandwich from a deli-he couldnâ?Tt eat this, he

couldnâ?Tt eat thatâ?

Not exactly a sympathetic portrayal and understanding of achalasia

is it! Is this how achalasia is perceived by outsiders?

Mara