Guest guest Posted May 7, 2004 Report Share Posted May 7, 2004 Saw my surgeon and my myotomy (abdominal w/loose wrap)is scheduled for Monday, June 14th. So am on liquids until then because LES opening is very small. My husband's birthday is that week. The surgeon says I should be home for it. Won't be able to do much myself, so may ask a friend to bring a surprise for him on the day. He will be taking time off to be with me and help me for a week or so. Good news is that the radiologist and the endoscopic specialist were not totally correct. Led me to believe the esophagus was extremely swollen and in danger of tearing. Turns out that it is well within the < 8 cm for successful myotomy specs. so will not have to have esophagectomy. Surgeon says they probably have not seen enough Achalasia to know what's what. He sees no danger of tearing, but because of small opening wants me to remain on liquids until a week or so after the surgery to make sure nothing is in the esophagus that might leak into the abdominal cavity in case there is any cut made while doing the operation. He says that one of the reasons they keep us on liquids and soft food for a while is that when you cut anything on the body the tissue around it swells. So the esophagus is swollen after surgery and must calm down. How long it takes depends on how fast your body heals itself. So until it calms down, you will experience some obstruction. It doesn't mean the myotomy was a failure. So I am on liquids for the next 6 weeks. Already been on them for about 4 - 5 weeks. Will use this as an opportunity to balance weight, activity and health. Have found most of my clouds have Gold linings. Some even platinum or is the new thing titanium?( Never could keep up with all that anyway.) Chaitanya Rupa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2004 Report Share Posted May 7, 2004 Chaitanya, this is sounding WONDERFUL!!!!! It's sad that the radiologist and endoscopy specialist are so mis-informed about achalasia, but it's great that they were WRONG about the severity of your stretching! )I hope that the next five weeks just FLY by for you and your birthday present to your husband is a much better-performing esophagus for his wife! ;o)Debbi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2004 Report Share Posted May 7, 2004 Chaitanya, Hooray!!! So glad to hear the good news of your upcoming surgery! I have one concern that keeps sticking out in my mind based on the following comment: >He sees no danger of tearing, but because of small opening wants me to remain on liquids until a week or so after the surgery to make sure nothing is in the esophagus that might leak into the abdominal cavity in case there is any cut made while doing the operation. I hope he plans on repairing the perforation if it happens. It almost sounds like he's anticipating it and then just letting it heal after surgery. I had a perforation with my myotomy. My perf was due to an extensive amount of scar tissue and was repaired on the spot. I was on a " nothing by mouth " diet for a week after having surgery. The only thing I did have by mouth was the lovely iodine drinks that they made me drink before each upper GI to check for leakage. The reason for the iodine drink was because in case of possible leakage into the abdominal cavity, the iodine is easily absorbed. Other than the iodine drink, I wasn't even allowed to drink water until I got the O.K. that there was no leakage! You might want to question your surgeon about this! Sandi New News Saw my surgeon and my myotomy (abdominal w/loose wrap)is scheduled for Monday, June 14th. So am on liquids until then because LES opening is very small. My husband's birthday is that week. The surgeon says I should be home for it. Won't be able to do much myself, so may ask a friend to bring a surprise for him on the day. He will be taking time off to be with me and help me for a week or so. Good news is that the radiologist and the endoscopic specialist were not totally correct. Led me to believe the esophagus was extremely swollen and in danger of tearing. Turns out that it is well within the < 8 cm for successful myotomy specs. so will not have to have esophagectomy. Surgeon says they probably have not seen enough Achalasia to know what's what. He sees no danger of tearing, but because of small opening wants me to remain on liquids until a week or so after the surgery to make sure nothing is in the esophagus that might leak into the abdominal cavity in case there is any cut made while doing the operation. He says that one of the reasons they keep us on liquids and soft food for a while is that when you cut anything on the body the tissue around it swells. So the esophagus is swollen after surgery and must calm down. How long it takes depends on how fast your body heals itself. So until it calms down, you will experience some obstruction. It doesn't mean the myotomy was a failure. So I am on liquids for the next 6 weeks. Already been on them for about 4 - 5 weeks. Will use this as an opportunity to balance weight, activity and health. Have found most of my clouds have Gold linings. Some even platinum or is the new thing titanium?( Never could keep up with all that anyway.) Chaitanya Rupa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2004 Report Share Posted May 7, 2004 Sandi & Chaitanya - based on what Sandi had said about this a few months back, I asked my surgeon what he does when there is a perforation. He said that before they finish, they blow air through the E to check for perforations. He said it is very easy to perf. Then they do the fundiplication over the perf. If it is in the front, they do a Dor fundiplication. If in the back, he does the Toupet like he usually does. I asked if they put liquid through & he said that they do air because if it leaks...no biggie. Probably the same with whatever they have Sandi drink. I know different docs do it different. Just be sure they do check for perf-ing before closing because it is apparently easy to do. Cindi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2004 Report Share Posted May 7, 2004 Cindi and Sandi Ya'all nailed it on the head. My surgeon says they don't normally perforate the esophogus, but there is always a chance it will happen. They are very careful and paranoid about doing so. He actually brought it up himself. He feels that he should not operate unless the patient understands all the possible complications they may face. Was very detailed in his description of the proceedure and possible complications. Told me what he and the other surgeon assisting him would be doing. And to my husbands great amusement, after asking to see my belly button, the doctor drew the locations where the incisions will be on my belly with an ink pen!!! Was very intense about the drawing, like an artist !!! You could tell he loved his work. My husband almost fell off of the exam room table where he was sitting at that one. He was trying hard to keep from LOL!!!! The doctor seemed pleased when I told him about being a member of this group and when I brought up TCC. He liked the fact that I was informed. It made his job easier. He even knew in great detail about Boerhaave's syndrome (a tearing of the esophagus) and could tell me immediately what Admiral Boerhaave was eating the night he tore his E in 1723 (knew the doctor was really interested in diseases of the E when I heard that). http://www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/2800.html He says they cover the area of the myotomy with saline solution and blow air into the E when finished with the myotomy before wrapping up the fundoplication. Then if they see any bubbles, they correct it immediately. Kind of like looking for a gas leak with soap bubbles. They also watch you carefully overnight NPO (nothing by mouth) and if there are no problems (which they deal with STAT), they send you the next morning to X-ray for a dye swallow which makes sure there are no perforations. Only then do they consider releasing you. He says, if you have no other health problems or surgical complications, he likes to have his patients on their feet as soon as possible after surgery. Helps with recovery. He was a very positive and open person. It was a very good experience and helped my husband feel confident about the surgery. Can add it to the jeweled lining on my pet clouds. (Got to have some clouds around ya know. Keeps you from getting burned by the noonday sun. Just some of those big cotton candy ones here and there for effect. Some castles in the air don't ya know.) Chaitanya Rupa > Sandi & Chaitanya - based on what Sandi had said about this a few months > back, I asked my surgeon what he does when there is a perforation. He said > that before they finish, they blow air through the E to check for > perforations. He said it is very easy to perf. Then they do the > fundiplication over the perf. If it is in the front, they do a Dor > fundiplication. If in the back, he does the Toupet like he usually does. I > asked if they put liquid through & he said that they do air because if it > leaks...no biggie. Probably the same with whatever they have Sandi drink. > I know different docs do it different. Just be sure they do check for > perf-ing before closing because it is apparently easy to do. Cindi > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2004 Report Share Posted May 7, 2004 He sounds fantastic, Chaitanya - glad you have him! (both the surgeon and the husband! lol! ). Cindi ____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2004 Report Share Posted May 7, 2004 He sounds absolutely wonderful Chaitanya! You have my blessings! Sandi (a frequent visitor of those castles in the sky!) Re: New News Cindi and Sandi Ya'all nailed it on the head. My surgeon says they don't normally perforate the esophogus, but there is always a chance it will happen. They are very careful and paranoid about doing so. He actually brought it up himself. He feels that he should not operate unless the patient understands all the possible complications they may face. Was very detailed in his description of the proceedure and possible complications. Told me what he and the other surgeon assisting him would be doing. And to my husbands great amusement, after asking to see my belly button, the doctor drew the locations where the incisions will be on my belly with an ink pen!!! Was very intense about the drawing, like an artist !!! You could tell he loved his work. My husband almost fell off of the exam room table where he was sitting at that one. He was trying hard to keep from LOL!!!! The doctor seemed pleased when I told him about being a member of this group and when I brought up TCC. He liked the fact that I was informed. It made his job easier. He even knew in great detail about Boerhaave's syndrome (a tearing of the esophagus) and could tell me immediately what Admiral Boerhaave was eating the night he tore his E in 1723 (knew the doctor was really interested in diseases of the E when I heard that). http://www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/2800.html He says they cover the area of the myotomy with saline solution and blow air into the E when finished with the myotomy before wrapping up the fundoplication. Then if they see any bubbles, they correct it immediately. Kind of like looking for a gas leak with soap bubbles. They also watch you carefully overnight NPO (nothing by mouth) and if there are no problems (which they deal with STAT), they send you the next morning to X-ray for a dye swallow which makes sure there are no perforations. Only then do they consider releasing you. He says, if you have no other health problems or surgical complications, he likes to have his patients on their feet as soon as possible after surgery. Helps with recovery. He was a very positive and open person. It was a very good experience and helped my husband feel confident about the surgery. Can add it to the jeweled lining on my pet clouds. (Got to have some clouds around ya know. Keeps you from getting burned by the noonday sun. Just some of those big cotton candy ones here and there for effect. Some castles in the air don't ya know.) Chaitanya Rupa > Sandi & Chaitanya - based on what Sandi had said about this a few months > back, I asked my surgeon what he does when there is a perforation. He said > that before they finish, they blow air through the E to check for > perforations. He said it is very easy to perf. Then they do the > fundiplication over the perf. If it is in the front, they do a Dor > fundiplication. If in the back, he does the Toupet like he usually does. I > asked if they put liquid through & he said that they do air because if it > leaks...no biggie. Probably the same with whatever they have Sandi drink. > I know different docs do it different. Just be sure they do check for > perf-ing before closing because it is apparently easy to do. Cindi > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2004 Report Share Posted May 7, 2004 Great Chaitanya ! Now you are on the right track ! The time will pass and before you know it the op will be over and you will be home. Liquids are not so bad - one can liquefy a whole ordinary meal and it still tastes good ! Joan Johannesburg South Africajpearse@... New News Saw my surgeon and my myotomy (abdominal w/loose wrap)is scheduled for Monday, June 14th. So am on liquids until then because LES opening is very small. My husband's birthday is that week. The surgeon says I should be home for it. Won't be able to do much myself, so may ask a friend to bring a surprise for him on the day. He will be taking time off to be with me and help me for a week or so.Good news is that the radiologist and the endoscopic specialist were not totally correct. Led me to believe the esophagus was extremely swollen and in danger of tearing.Turns out that it is well within the < 8 cm for successful myotomy specs. so will not have to have esophagectomy. Surgeon says they probably have not seen enough Achalasia to know what's what. He sees no danger of tearing, but because of small opening wants me to remain on liquids until a week or so after the surgery to make sure nothing is in the esophagus that might leak into the abdominal cavity in case there is any cut made while doing the operation.He says that one of the reasons they keep us on liquids and soft food for a while is that when you cut anything on the body the tissue around it swells. So the esophagus is swollen after surgery and must calm down. How long it takes depends on how fast your body heals itself. So until it calms down, you will experience some obstruction. It doesn't mean the myotomy was a failure.So I am on liquids for the next 6 weeks. Already been on them for about 4 - 5 weeks.Will use this as an opportunity to balance weight, activity and health. Have found most of my clouds have Gold linings. Some even platinum or is the new thing titanium?( Never could keep up with all that anyway.)Chaitanya Rupa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2004 Report Share Posted May 8, 2004 This surgeon sounds like an absolute dream! ) Deb, so glad that Chaitanya found a caring surgeon and such good news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2004 Report Share Posted May 9, 2004 Chaitanya, Wishing you well with your upcoming procedure. I was glad to have it done, and feel like a new person. Bobbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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