Re: Re: Early Stages of Achalasia

[Guest guest]

Did they ever do any tests prior to your diagnosis early on? I'm trying to

find out if symptoms go undiagnosed in the early stages when barium &

endoscopy show normal?

>From: " lindwoodwebtv " <lindwood@...>

>Reply-achalasia

>achalasia

>Subject: Re: Early Stages of Achalasia

>Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 15:36:24 -0000

>

>

> > Judy,

> > It took 4 years for the doctors I had to properly diagnosis Achalasia.

>The

> > problem is most doctors, even gastros have never seen Achalasia. I

>would

> > ask for a second opinion and then find someone who is experienced

> > withAchalasia.

> >

> > J.C.

>Oh, we could write a chorus of " ditto " to this post. Judy, if you are

>still having trouble swallowing and you are not satisfied with the gerd

>diagnosis, by all means, go to someone else who SPECIALIZES in achalasia.

>Start at a Univeristy Medical Center, go to the gastroenterology department

>there, and ask for an appointment with someone who treats achalasia and

>specializes in swallowing disorders. Ask for the head of the department,

>but don't just go to anybody.

>

>I went through 8 years of bizarre symptoms. The first thing I noticed was

>a gurgling up my throat when I would lay down. I received prevacid for

>that. No help. I went back and was diagnosed with esophagitus. Still

>nobody had done an endoscopy or a swallow. I took whatever they gave me.

>I might have gotten better for awhile, but the gurgling never stopped once

>it started. I think that is the spasmy valve. I had my first MINI spasm

>about 7 years ago. It would happen SO infrequently, and only lasted a few

>seconds, but I was so afraid I had heart trouble. No serious heart tests

>were ever conducted, and I was given more acid reducing medication. Doctors

>would shake their heads and say " well, that's acid reflux " , looking at me

>like " YOU ARE BUYING THIS< AREN " T YOU??? " I felt crazy because I didn't

>think I had it either when I read the symptoms. At the time I was in a

>crummmy hmo where my primary care had to approve any referrals. He seemed

>to think I didn't warrant further investigation. I kept taking his newest

>attempt to control my acid reflux. After a while, I stopped going. I

>started having more spasms, but drinking would ease them. I started having

>white foam regurgitation. Then I started regurgitating food. Wow. I

>thought I had cancer. At the same excact time, my MOTHER, who is 87

>developed serious medical problems and had to be hospitalized, have

>surgery, move into a care facility, have her house sold, and so on. I was

>the only child in town and guess who did it ALL???? As a result, I used my

>whole summer vacation taking care of her and putting out fires wherever

>they happened to spring up. It was horrible. All the while I knew there

>was something seriously wrong with me. When school started in the fall,

>she was finally stable, moved in to her new apartment, house sold, etc. I

>finally decided to take care of myself. I instinctively called Baylor

>college of Medicine's gastro dept.and said to the receptionist... " I want an

>appointment with your swallowing disorders specialist " . That happened to

>be a wonderful woman named Gulchin Ergun who was head of the department.

>She was compassionate, took my complaints very seriously, ordered tests

>quickly, and within a week, I knew what I had. By this time Ihad found

>this board, and was pretty sure I had A myself. I went through a period of

>feeling helpless and hopeless. My diagnosis was not a big surprise, but I

>was FREAKED OUT!!!! This is normal. But then I started to realize that

>there was hope. Thank goodness, even after all that wasted time, my

>esophagus was not dilated much at all. I was offered all of the fixit

>solutions...dilation, botox (which they did not recommend), and myotemy

>with a partial wrap. I had read enough by then to know that dilation and

>botox are not always long term solutions, and I felt like I was already 50.

> If surgery was inevitable, I wanted to do it while I was still young. It

>sounded to me like I had a very good chance of living a normal life after

>the surgery, so I knew right away that I wanted the surgery. Mind you, I

>had never had great surgery stories to tell before. I had a lot of

>lingering pain after an ankle fracture surgery. They were afraid I had

>Reflex Sympatetic Distrophy because the pain should have been long gone.

>But it finally did get better. I had some troubles after a hysterectomy.

>I was not THRILLED to have surgery again. I was scared at first. But

>something just happened to me. Out of the fear and out of the blue emerged

>a gift of peace and calm about my situation. It was like a voice said to

>me....relax, you're in good hands...you need to do this...worrying won't

>HELP you, you have great doctors...you have good chances for

>success...trust! And from that moment, that is what I did. I have to tell

>you, I don't know if it was my attitude prior to surgery that helped me so

>much during and after the experience, or if it was all my doctor's

>expertise, but I had a very easy time compared to my other surgeries. I

>was in otherwise good health, and I had no problems whatsoever and a rapid

>recovery. My life is normal now. I will always have to drink water when I

>eat to help wash it down, but I can eat anything and have no reflux.

>

>Bottom line....get a GREAT doctor and don't settle for less. Trust that

>things will work out, but do your homework. This site is an excellent

>resource, no matter what course you take. SO many compassionate and caring

>people in here. Best of luck, and stay in touch with us. >

>

> > Early Stages of Achalasia

> >

> >

> > Hello:

> >

> > I am wondering the following....

> >

> > has anyone been diagnosed w/ acid reflux (after having the barium

>swallow &

> > endoscopy w/ no signs of achalasia) and then developed it down the road?

> >

> > I have had symptoms of a ball in the throat everytime after I eat (no

> > vomiting). I went to the drs. & had the bs & endoscopy with all normal

> > results (however, the radiologist did say that I had a hard time getting

>the

> > pill down).

> >

> > They diagnosed me w/ acid reflux, however, I have absolutely no burning

>or

> > pain. Just the terrible feeling of my food not going down after I eat.

> >

> > Could the drs. be wrong? Is there a chance that it's too early for

>symptoms

> > such as the enlarged esophogus to appear?

> >

> > I am wondering if anyone else was diagnosed the same as me and then had

> > achalasia develop down the road?

> >

> > My doctor cannot seem to give me a firm answer on this. My body is

>telling

> > me it's not acid reflux.

> >

> > Thanks for listening...Judy T.

> >

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> >