Re: BaylorUniveristyMedical Center

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann,

Sorry to hear about a 3rd myotomy. I just had my 2nd in July. I'm

in Houston, and so is and Patty. I'm almost sure that

said her doctor is at Baylor. Mine's at St. Lukes.

I'll e-mail to get back with you. She may not have checked

the board recently.

Good luck with the myotomy. Let us know how you're doing.

Sharlene.

> Hi, I was wondering if anyone else out there is from Texas and has

> gone to Baylor University Medical Center for treatment of their

> achalasia? I go back on Oct. 8th for my 3rd myotomy surgery. You

> know 3rd times a charm, hope so at least.

> Blessings, Ann:)

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the well wishes. I will be glad when it is done. The only good thing I guess is that I know what is ahead of me since I have had it done twice before.

Blessings, Annsharly401 <srochen@...> wrote:

Hi Ann,Sorry to hear about a 3rd myotomy. I just had my 2nd in July. I'm in Houston, and so is and Patty. I'm almost sure that said her doctor is at Baylor. Mine's at St. Lukes.I'll e-mail to get back with you. She may not have checked the board recently.Good luck with the myotomy. Let us know how you're doing.Sharlene.> Hi, I was wondering if anyone else out there is from Texas and has > gone to Baylor University Medical Center for treatment of their > achalasia? I go back on Oct. 8th for my 3rd myotomy surgery. You > know 3rd times a charm, hope so at least.> Blessings, Ann:)

[Guest guest]

> Hi, I was wondering if anyone else out there is from Texas and has

> gone to Baylor University Medical Center for treatment of their

> achalasia? I go back on Oct. 8th for my 3rd myotomy surgery. You

> know 3rd times a charm, hope so at least.

> Blessings, Ann:)

Hi y'all, my name is and I just found this group today!

YIPPEE! Others who " get it "

Ann -I had dilitation with Dr Polter, BUMC on New Years Eve 2002. I

like Dr Polter, but he was never able to give me any answers on how

to help with the spasms. I have not been back to him, just seemed

like a waste of time. After six years of dealing with this, I found

more answers thru' trial and error. Who is your Dr and how was your

surgery?

The dilitation has worked pretty well. I still get " choked " on water,

my face turns all red, my eyes water and my friends and family think

I'm going to die - and it ceratinly feels that way. I feel bad for my

kids and husband, I know they feel so helpless.

For the most part I have figured out how to eat and drink. My biggest

concern is the spasms. Last night I was up from 1 am - 6:30 am when I

had to get for work. The spasms lasted till about 10. It hurts so

bad, I just want to stick my hand down my throat and rub the muscle -

like you would a charlie horse. There are times when I'm crying

because they hurt so bad. Even my dogs get worried. I've tried the

calcium blockers and the nitro - they didnt help one bit.

Oddly enough sometimes laying on my stomach helps - go figure.

For those of you that have tried accupunture - what did you tell

them? And the homiopathic medicines, any suggestions?

As for food and stress, those really dont seem to influence when my

spasms will occur. They seem to be random.

This may sound odd, but has anyone noticed that their spasms occur at

the same time? When mine are on a roll -several days in a row - I

will wake up at the same time every night, say 2:00 a.m. Any ideas?

Sorry for all the questions - as someone said - all these years of

pent-up questions...

Cheers

kathryn

[Guest guest]

, welcome to the group. I am sorry you have Achalasia,

but glad you found us. There is a lot of knowledge here.

Some people, and I am one of them, find relief from the spasms

by drinking or gulping water. Some use cold, some warm, some

room temperature. I have to drink the water as soon as I feel

the spasm coming on for it to work. I have read that a lot of

us can't keep water down, but I don't recall anyone choking on

it the way you do. That may prevent you from using the water

trick. Some other members have tried dry crackers and some

carbonated drinks to stop them. You might want to experiment

with some of these.

We are all alike and yet we are all different in some respect. I

had no success with the calcium blockers or nitro either. My

spasms come it seems for no apparent reason either, but I wonder

sometimes since so many can relate it to eating, if it might be

something that I have eaten hours before that has been sitting

in my esophagus and is trying to get through to the stomach.

Keep asking questions....and tell us where you live.

Maggie

Alabama

[Guest guest]

>

>

> Hi y'all, my name is and I just found this group today!

> YIPPEE! Others who " get it "

>

** Glad you found us.

I've tried the calcium blockers and the nitro - they didnt help one

bit.

** I took them also, they got rid of the spasms but nifedipine twice

sent me into shock because of the lowered BP so I've since given up

on them. I just tried NuLev for the first time, only took 1/2 because

I'm pregnant and need to be extra careful. It helped get rid of my

spasms just made me very tired all day long - but - better than 5-6

hours of pain in the night preventing you from sleeping anyway!!

>

> For those of you that have tried accupunture - what did you tell

> them?

** I did 6-8 acupuncture treatments about 3 1/2 years ago and felt

like I got very good results. Fortunately, the guy I found is an MD

who KNEW what A was!! I explained to him that my major issue is not

swallowing (I'm 16 years post-op) but more of the spasms. Now I have

to tell you here that most of my spasms are stress triggered so that

was how he treated me. I would do acupuncture again if I felt like my

spasms worsened.

And the homiopathic medicines, any suggestions?

** You need to find a good health food store or homeopathic expert,

I've even used an herb encyclopedia to do my own research. Here's

what I have found - for what it's worth. I take ginger capsules every

night before bed - actually gives me alittle heartburn once in while

but I'd take raging heartburn over spasms any day of the week!! If

I'm stressed or having difficulty sleeping I find that very hot

camomile tea helps. When I have spasms I also make a tea out of

camomile and an herb called skullcap - a natural muscle relaxant.

They usually help me relax enough to doze off and that usually takes

care of my spasms. I, too, most often get them during the night.

>

> As for food and stress, those really dont seem to influence when my

> spasms will occur. They seem to be random.

> Sorry for all the questions - as someone said - all these years of

> pent-up questions...

** Ask Away - that's what we are here for and thank God we have this

resource available to us. I've learned more here about managing my A

then I've ever learned from 20 years of doctors and surgeons!!

Happy Swallowing!!

- in Va.

p.s. did you mention if you had had a heller?? If not, that seems to

be the most effective course of action that we've all found. I'm 16

years post op and have very few problems with swallowing!