A couple of questions

[Guest guest]

Happy New Year to all of you!

I joined this group a couple days before Christmas after learning that I

probably have

achalasia in early stages. I have been exploring the site and it is a great

support and

source of information. Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences. It

feels very

scarey to be thinking about how this disorder will affect my life in the longer

term.

I have had swallowing difficulties for about a year and a half -- my symptoms

got really

bad between Nov 03 and May 04 (lost 40 pounds and felt like I was starving to

death) and

have been more stable and manageable since going on a calcium channel blocker.

I am

proceeding to work on getting referred to a specialty center in California and

probably

face another manometry (the first doctor didn't get the essential reading on the

LES

pressure). My barium swallow test shows my esophagus is only slightly enlarged

at this

point.

A couple of questions I didn't see the answer to or reference to that I am

wondering about:

1. Does anyone else have a history of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (a motility

disorder of a

different sort) and how does this disorder (especially flare ups) affect

problems with the

esophagus?

2. How has this disorder -- with nighttime regurg and coughing -- impacted the

quality

of sleep and how does that impact your life? Any suggestions for managing

energy?

3. Did anyone else's onset start with what appeared to be the WORST heartburn

ever --

such that it felt like my whole esophagus was injured? That happened to me

several times

-- very scarey and then swallowing difficulties slowly started developing over

the next six

months.

4. Do the women who have this disorder notice symptoms seem to get worse just

before

their menstrual periods and then calm down when flow starts (sorry, gentlemen!)

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Peggy