Re: To wrap or not to wrap - that is the question

[Guest guest]

I've been so busy w/ work lately, I haven't been able to keep track of Thelma and Louise! LOL

Keep track of them my foot...the truth is you two can't

keep up with them.

[Guest guest]

Chaitanya, you CRACK ME UP!

You must be a hoot and a half at parties, huh? Some day we need to have a big "reunion" and get all these characters together in one place.... our ribs will ache from all the laughter! LOLDeb, thinking that Thelma and Louise might be given a run for their money by Chaitanya....

[Guest guest]

I LOVED it, Chaitanya! That was beautiful work of art!!!!

Holt-

To wrap or not to wrap - that is the question

With sincere apologies to the Bard ( Shakespeare)

" To wrap, or not to wrap: that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler to enter in through the abdomen to suffer the

fundoplication and possibly the arrows and cuts of outrageous

fortune,

Or to transverse the thorax against a sea of troubles, and by

opposing fundoplication mayhaps to end them?

To swallow: to regurgitate no more; and by a wrap to say we end the

acid reflux-ache and the thousand natural burps and shocks that

Achalasia is heir to, 'tis a consummation devoutly to be wish'd.

To eat, to sleep;

To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;

For in that sleep with head elevated what dreams may come

when we have shuffled off this myotomy,

must give us pause: there's the respect

that makes calamity of so long life with Achalasia;

For who would bear the injections and dilations of time,

The publics scorn, the isolation, the pangs of despised love, the

swallow's delay,

The insolence of ignorance and the spurns that patient merit of the

unworthy takes,

When he himself might his quietus make with a simple proceedure? who

would a wrap to bear,

To gurgle and burp under a weary life, but that the dread of acid

reflux from whose bourn

No traveller finds enduring peace, puzzles the will and makes us

rather bear those ills we have

Than fly to others that we know not of?

Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;

And thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the pale

cast of thought,

And enterprises of great pith and moment with this regard their

currents turn awry,

And lose the name of action "

In other words, from what I can see, each camp is simply doing what

they think is best for the patient. There are always risks involved.

So collect you research, ask questions and when you come to a

conclusion. " Screw your courage to the sticking point "

Chaitanya Rupa

Again, sincere apologies to the Bard

[Guest guest]

> Chaitanya, you CRACK ME UP!

Glad to be of service ;-)

> You must be a hoot and a half at parties, huh? Some day we need

to have a big " reunion " and get all these characters together in one

place.... our ribs will ache from all the laughter! LOL

Actually more of a hoot and a holler.........

For the reunion, just make sure that no one has had thoracic surgery

recently or their ribs may not be the only thing that aches.

> Deb, thinking that Thelma and Louise might be given a run for

their money by Chaitanya....

Think of me more as an enhancement than competition. After all this

is the era of surgical enhancement is it not??????

Chaitanya Rupa

[Guest guest]

What have those Strawberry Blondes been up

to anyway…..I really do miss them!!!!! :-)

Sandi

TS(MSTI)INC

Re: To wrap

or not to wrap - that is the question

Chaitanya,

you CRACK ME UP!

You

must be a hoot and a half at parties, huh? Some day we need to have a big

" reunion " and get all these characters together in one place.... our

ribs will ache from all the laughter! LOL

Deb, thinking that Thelma and Louise might be given a run for their money by

Chaitanya....

[Guest guest]

For the reunion, just make sure that no one has had thoracic surgery recently or their ribs may not be the only thing that aches.

Good point! )

> Deb, thinking that Thelma and Louise might be given a run for their money by Chaitanya....Think of me more as an enhancement than competition. After all this is the era of surgical enhancement is it not??????

Gotcha -- kinda like the tv show "Friends" where there is no "one superstar" in the group of actors, but rather it's a collaboration of equals......

[Guest guest]

I've been so busy w/ work lately, I haven't been able to keep track of Thelma and Louise! LOL

What have those Strawberry Blondes been up to anyway…..I really do miss them!!!!! :-)

Sandi TS(MSTI)INC

[Guest guest]

Last I heard, they had ditched the sailors

and were making their way down to Tasmania! ;-)

Sandi

Re: To wrap

or not to wrap - that is the question

I've

been so busy w/ work lately, I haven't been able to keep track of Thelma and

Louise! LOL

What have those

Strawberry Blondes been up to anyway…..I really do miss them!!!!! :-)

Sandi TS(MSTI)INC

[Guest guest]

Uh, oh, those two girls in Tasmania can only mean..... TASMANIAN SHE-DEVILS!

Maybe they oughta issue "warnings" to the residents of Tasmania?

Last I heard, they had ditched the sailors and were making their way down to Tasmania! ;-)

Sandi

I've been so busy w/ work lately, I haven't been able to keep track of Thelma and Louise! LOL

What have those Strawberry Blondes been up to anyway…..I really do miss them!!!!! :-)

Sandi TS(MSTI)INC

[Guest guest]

Too true, Maggie -- they life a lifestyle that is a lot faster than Sandi and I are accustomed to living!

Deb

I've been so busy w/ work lately, I haven't been able to keep track of Thelma and Louise! LOLKeep track of them my foot...the truth is you two can't keep up with them.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/6/2004 9:38:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time, pandava@... writes:

Chaitanya Rupa

My, Chaitanya, how creative you are!

To read, perchance............

to dream.........

Thank You

You made my day.

Jan in Northern KY

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/6/2004 2:51:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time, heiser@... writes:

Chaitanya, a business in my town has a sign up that says:"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

It always makes me think of our group here every time I drive by it.... achalasia can be just another annoyance in life, or it can sap the joy right out of us, depending on what we're willing to do mentally with our approach to it.

Deb

Deb,

Thanks for the reminder.

This may save me yet.

Jan in Northern KY

[Guest guest]

> I LOVED it, Chaitanya! That was beautiful work of art!!!!

>

> Holt-

All credits to the " Immortal Bard " Shakespeare. His art is

so amazingly good, that it could be altered like that and still be

beautiful.

Kind of humbles me to think how his words are still so current and

speak to the heart of human experience even today.

This passage (soliloquy) from Hamlet summarizes our struggle to make

major life changing decisions and the danger of just giving in and

doing nothing.

" Lord grant me the courage to change the things I can, The serenity

to accept the things I cannot change and the wisdom to know the

difference. "

St. Francis of Assisi

'nuff said

Chaitanya Rupa

> To wrap or not to wrap - that is the question

>

> With sincere apologies to the Bard ( Shakespeare)

>

> " To wrap, or not to wrap: that is the question:

> Whether 'tis nobler to enter in through the abdomen to suffer the

> fundoplication and possibly the arrows and cuts of outrageous

> fortune,

>

> Or to transverse the thorax against a sea of troubles, and by

> opposing fundoplication mayhaps to end them?

>

> To swallow: to regurgitate no more; and by a wrap to say we end

the

> acid reflux-ache and the thousand natural burps and shocks that

> Achalasia is heir to, 'tis a consummation devoutly to be wish'd.

>

> To eat, to sleep;

> To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;

> For in that sleep with head elevated what dreams may come

> when we have shuffled off this myotomy,

> must give us pause: there's the respect

> that makes calamity of so long life with Achalasia;

>

> For who would bear the injections and dilations of time,

> The publics scorn, the isolation, the pangs of despised love, the

> swallow's delay,

> The insolence of ignorance and the spurns that patient merit of

the

> unworthy takes,

> When he himself might his quietus make with a simple proceedure?

who

> would a wrap to bear,

>

> To gurgle and burp under a weary life, but that the dread of acid

> reflux from whose bourn

> No traveller finds enduring peace, puzzles the will and makes us

> rather bear those ills we have

> Than fly to others that we know not of?

>

> Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;

> And thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the

pale

> cast of thought,

> And enterprises of great pith and moment with this regard their

> currents turn awry,

> And lose the name of action "

>

> In other words, from what I can see, each camp is simply doing

what

> they think is best for the patient. There are always risks

involved.

> So collect you research, ask questions and when you come to a

> conclusion. " Screw your courage to the sticking point "

>

> Chaitanya Rupa

>

> Again, sincere apologies to the Bard

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Chaitanya, a business in my town has a sign up that says:"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

It always makes me think of our group here every time I drive by it.... achalasia can be just another annoyance in life, or it can sap the joy right out of us, depending on what we're willing to do mentally with our approach to it.

Deb

This passage (soliloquy) from Hamlet summarizes our struggle to make major life changing decisions and the danger of just giving in and doing nothing."Lord grant me the courage to change the things I can, The serenity to accept the things I cannot change and the wisdom to know the difference."St. Francis of Assisi'nuff saidChaitanya Rupa

[Guest guest]

Brilliant Chaitanya!!!!

Joan

Johannesburg South Africajpearse@...

To wrap or not to wrap - that is the question

With sincere apologies to the Bard ( Shakespeare)"To wrap, or not to wrap: that is the question:Whether 'tis nobler to enter in through the abdomen to suffer the fundoplication and possibly the arrows and cuts of outrageous fortune,Or to transverse the thorax against a sea of troubles, and by opposing fundoplication mayhaps to end them? To swallow: to regurgitate no more; and by a wrap to say we end the acid reflux-ache and the thousand natural burps and shocks that Achalasia is heir to, 'tis a consummation devoutly to be wish'd. To eat, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;For in that sleep with head elevated what dreams may comewhen we have shuffled off this myotomy,must give us pause: there's the respectthat makes calamity of so long life with Achalasia;For who would bear the injections and dilations of time,The publics scorn, the isolation, the pangs of despised love, the swallow's delay,The insolence of ignorance and the spurns that patient merit of the unworthy takes,When he himself might his quietus make with a simple proceedure? who would a wrap to bear,To gurgle and burp under a weary life, but that the dread of acid reflux from whose bournNo traveller finds enduring peace, puzzles the will and makes us rather bear those ills we haveThan fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;And thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,And enterprises of great pith and moment with this regard their currents turn awry,And lose the name of action"In other words, from what I can see, each camp is simply doing what they think is best for the patient. There are always risks involved. So collect you research, ask questions and when you come to a conclusion. "Screw your courage to the sticking point"Chaitanya RupaAgain, sincere apologies to the Bard

[Guest guest]

To wrap or not to wrap - that is the question. Maybe you could publish this

in the next journal of Gastroenterology.

I up loaded this to the web. It's too good to loose.

http://f4.grp.fs.com/v1/MIuaQMBq1UrgwqBD4Mkr98xkUFi6VmR-c4uvh8kJGuNcF4r

5kqeLtpAWv6BwcbNTAjccmmyNjWr89HRYlcs1YLdWg9RhHONFIzwfcHzkKKz09w/Heller%20Myo

tomy%20with%20Dor%20Fundoplication.doc

I hope you don't mind. (The border is made up of little muffins!)

Can I give this to my doctor when I go for a follow up next month?

Boston Pete

Date: Thu, 06 May 2004 13:31:04 -0000

From: " Chaitanya Rupa " <pandava@...>

Subject: To wrap or not to wrap - that is the question

With sincere apologies to the Bard ( Shakespeare)

" To wrap, or not to wrap: that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler to enter in through the abdomen to suffer the

fundoplication and possibly the arrows and cuts of outrageous

fortune,

Or to transverse the thorax against a sea of troubles, and by

opposing fundoplication mayhaps to end them?

To swallow: to regurgitate no more; and by a wrap to say we end the

acid reflux-ache and the thousand natural burps and shocks that

Achalasia is heir to, 'tis a consummation devoutly to be wish'd.

To eat, to sleep;

To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;

For in that sleep with head elevated what dreams may come

when we have shuffled off this myotomy,

must give us pause: there's the respect

that makes calamity of so long life with Achalasia;

For who would bear the injections and dilations of time,

The publics scorn, the isolation, the pangs of despised love, the

swallow's delay,

The insolence of ignorance and the spurns that patient merit of the

unworthy takes,

When he himself might his quietus make with a simple proceedure? who

would a wrap to bear,

To gurgle and burp under a weary life, but that the dread of acid

reflux from whose bourn

No traveller finds enduring peace, puzzles the will and makes us

rather bear those ills we have

Than fly to others that we know not of?

Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;

And thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the pale

cast of thought,

And enterprises of great pith and moment with this regard their

currents turn awry,

And lose the name of action "

In other words, from what I can see, each camp is simply doing what

they think is best for the patient. There are always risks involved.

So collect you research, ask questions and when you come to a

conclusion. " Screw your courage to the sticking point "

Chaitanya Rupa

Again, sincere apologies to the Bard

[Guest guest]

You

got that right Maggie! There’s no way Deb and Sandi could ever keep up

with those two! LOL

In my last communication with those Tasmanian

she-devils, Louise had mentioned something about bridge-climbing over the top

of Harbour Bridge with Hans, Lars and Ian. Well, apparently the sailors were no

match for Thelma and Louise, because those men were last seen hanging on the

top of the bridge while T & L took off on yet another adventure to the Great Barrier Reef for some snorkeling and 4Wheeling through the Daintree

Rainforest.

There was also some talk about checking

out the tuxedos on Philip Island before heading out to Tasmania! Thelma’s a little bit crazy about those sweet things in their

tuxedos! ;-)

Sandi

Re: To wrap

or not to wrap - that is the question

I've been so busy w/

work lately, I haven't been able to keep track of Thelma and Louise! LOL

Keep track of them my foot...the truth is you two can't

keep up with them.

[Guest guest]

Hi .... can someone please tell me how to join your group.. I keep getting emails and I'm not really sure how I signed up for this other than searching for people who have achalasia. My daughter tried to get some information for me. I had surgery about 4 and 1/2 weeks ago and I'm having some problems. I was hoping there would be some people I could talk to about it and get some moral support.

Thanks for any information

Deb S

[Guest guest]

Chaitanya wrote:

" Lord grant me the courage to change the things I can, The serenity

to accept the things I cannot change and the wisdom to know the

difference. "

St. Francis of Assisi

Definitely some words to

listen to. If only it were so easy!

'nuff said

> To wrap or not to wrap - that is the question

>

> With sincere apologies to the Bard ( Shakespeare)

>

> " To wrap, or not to wrap: that is the question:

> Whether 'tis nobler to enter in through the abdomen to suffer the

> fundoplication and possibly the arrows and cuts of outrageous

> fortune,

>

> Or to transverse the thorax against a sea of troubles, and by

> opposing fundoplication mayhaps to end them?

>

> To swallow: to regurgitate no more; and by a wrap to say we end

the

> acid reflux-ache and the thousand natural burps and shocks that

> Achalasia is heir to, 'tis a consummation devoutly to be wish'd.

>

> To eat, to sleep;

> To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;

> For in that sleep with head elevated what dreams may come

> when we have shuffled off this myotomy,

> must give us pause: there's the respect

> that makes calamity of so long life with Achalasia;

>

> For who would bear the injections and dilations of time,

> The publics scorn, the isolation, the pangs of despised love, the

> swallow's delay,

> The insolence of ignorance and the spurns that patient merit of

the

> unworthy takes,

> When he himself might his quietus make with a simple proceedure?

who

> would a wrap to bear,

>

> To gurgle and burp under a weary life, but that the dread of acid

> reflux from whose bourn

> No traveller finds enduring peace, puzzles the will and makes us

> rather bear those ills we have

> Than fly to others that we know not of?

>

> Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;

> And thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the

pale

> cast of thought,

> And enterprises of great pith and moment with this regard their

> currents turn awry,

> And lose the name of action "

>

> In other words, from what I can see, each camp is simply doing

what

> they think is best for the patient. There are always risks

involved.

> So collect you research, ask questions and when you come to a

> conclusion. " Screw your courage to the sticking point "

>

> Chaitanya Rupa

>

> Again, sincere apologies to the Bard

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Deb S wrote:

Hi .... can someone please tell me how to join your group.. I keep getting emails and I'm not really sure how I signed up for this other than searching for people who have achalasia

Deb, it looks like to me you are a member. You seem

to be getting emails from the group and we have received

yours, so just keep posting the way you did this one, and

keep reading.

Welcome to the Achalasia family.

Maggie

Alabama

[Guest guest]

> To wrap or not to wrap - that is the question. Maybe you could

publish this

> in the next journal of Gastroenterology.

Don't know how much they would appreciate it. Will try it on my own

doctors to see how they react.

Would be nice if it could help others to see what we go through

daily. Most times, just telling isn't enough. That's why poets,

musicians and actors are so popular. When they say things, it

reaches deeper than mere words.

> I up loaded this to the web. It's too good to loose.

> http://f4.grp.fs.com/v1/MIuaQMBq1UrgwqBD4Mkr98xkUFi6VmR-

c4uvh8kJGuNcF4r

>

5kqeLtpAWv6BwcbNTAjccmmyNjWr89HRYlcs1YLdWg9RhHONFIzwfcHzkKKz09w/Helle

r%20Myo

> tomy%20with%20Dor%20Fundoplication.doc

> I hope you don't mind. (The border is made up of little muffins!)

Don't mind at all as long as everyone realizes that Shakespeare did

the majority of the work. I just changed a few words to make it

current.

> Can I give this to my doctor when I go for a follow up next month?

> Boston Pete

No problemo. Maybe it will enourage them to drop by the forum as

many here have written they wish more doctors would.

Chaitanya Rupa

[Guest guest]

> Chaitanya, a business in my town has a sign up that says:

>

> " Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. "

>

> It always makes me think of our group here every time I drive by

it.... achalasia can be just another annoyance in life, or it can

sap the joy right out of us, depending on what we're willing to do

mentally with our approach to it.

Once while dealing with depression I saw a sign which really changed

my life. It was at a bank of all places!!!

" Inch by inch, life's a cinch

Yard by yard, life is hard "

Amazing that something so simple could do such much to help me

overcome so many obstacles.

From Miriam Webster dictionary online - Cinch

Main Entry: cinch

Pronunciation: 'sinch

Function: noun

Etymology: Spanish cincha, from Latin cingula girdle, girth, from

cingere

cinch 3 a : a thing done with ease b : a certainty to happen

Chaitanya

[Guest guest]

Hi Deb - if you are getting the emails, you are part of the group. Perhaps your daughter signed you in. You can get to the site by clicking on the first link at the bottom of any of these emails.

I had the surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago. There are several others who have had it this year & you will probably hear from them. I know you are having complications. I'm going from memory, so please clarify any problems you are having. this is what I think your daughter said:

Trouble with back pain - this is probably spasms, particularly if it comes & goes & is intense. The spasms are in your esophagus....mine radiate to the back from the chest. These are common for achalasia patients & are often more prevelant in the weeks following a myotomy. I have had trouble with this & find a popsicle helps (or ice chips) & then slathering Ben Gay all over my neck, back & shoulders. Maybe that will help you. Others have used medications & you can check back on some of the emails for info on that. Your doc should also be able to help.

Trouble swallowing - what kind of diet were you put on? I have been on soft diet since leaving the hospital. I can now try new things. The hardest thing I have had is a turkey sandwich. I find I must have very small portions (if you had a wrap, or fundiplication, with the surgery, your stomach is literally smaller. Overeating & even over drinking will cause pain, discomfort & difficulty getting food down). 1/2 a sandwich & 4 oz of drink is about my max right now. Small, soft portions may help. Eat frequently - maybe every 2 hours.

I hope this helps - please let us know the other troubles you are having & folks will help out. You are not alone!!!!!!

Also, it has taken me months to accept, but this IS a life-long condition. My swallowing is greatly improved, but I know that I will never be the same. I'm OK with that now. Also, my surgeon told me that you tend to improve to about 3 months after surgery & then you plateau. So what we can eat at barbeques this summer will probably be as good as it gets....I can live with that, because it sure beats last summer. I hope the same for you -Cindi in Pennsylvania.

PS - where are you located? Have you talked to your surgeon since the surgery? Has your GI doc treated achalasia? Mine hadn't...most haven't. It might help to search for someone with more experience if you aren't satisfied.

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