heller myotomy

[Guest guest]

Could some of you who have had the heller myotomy (laproscopic) please

email me about how you have felt after the surgery. My biggest problem

other than not getting the food down without difficulty is coughing at

night which at times is pretty bad. Does the surgery take care of this

and is there no escaping acid relux after the surgery (so I have heard)

I am 57 years old and have had this since 1999 - I have learnt to

manage it fairly and did have a dilitation done which was not very

helpful.

[Guest guest]

it was rough. but well worth it. I have small problems now compared to where

i was before.

heller myotomy

>

> Could some of you who have had the heller myotomy (laproscopic) please

> email me about how you have felt after the surgery. My biggest problem

> other than not getting the food down without difficulty is coughing at

> night which at times is pretty bad. Does the surgery take care of this

> and is there no escaping acid relux after the surgery (so I have heard)

> I am 57 years old and have had this since 1999 - I have learnt to

> manage it fairly and did have a dilitation done which was not very

> helpful.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello ... Welcome to the Group.

Please let us know your first name, and tell us where you are from.

My name is Kathie, from Pittsburgh, PA. I too, am 57 years old.

I had my Lap Hellers Myotomy on March 16, 2005 (3 1/2 months ago). I

was in the hospital for 3 nights..4 days, but I had other health

issues, so I think I may have been one day longer than most.

I had lost 50 pounds in 14 weeks and could not eat ANYTHING solid by

the time of my surgery.

I was very fortunate, I had an EXCELLENT surgeon ( Luketich in

Pittsburgh), and I had no complications. I was uncomfortable for a

short time, but recovered quickly. When you come home, you are on a

liquid diet for about 3 days ... then a soft diet for about 2 weeks,

then VERY SLOWLY introduce solids a little at a time.

This was the best decision I have ever made. This group helped to

direct me to the best treatment. They taught me to make POSITIVE that

my doctor was qualified and had preformed MANY surgeries for

Achalasia ... not just Thorasic. They taught me to ask questions,

research .... research .... research, and take responsibility for the

decisions I made. They have been my family thru this nightmare. I am

doing VERY well now, but I understand that it is a progressive disease

and will most likely return. (That is the tough part)

Please go to the data base on the left side of this post and find the

brochure on " Achalasia " . This comprehensive and very understandable

brochure will help you alot. It was written by our wonderful member,

Joan Pearse, who has just passed away.

We are all here to help. Please do not hesitate to ask questions.

Good luck on your journey of knowledge.

Kathie in Pittsburgh, PA

>

> Could some of you who have had the heller myotomy (laproscopic)

please

> email me about how you have felt after the surgery. My biggest

problem

> other than not getting the food down without difficulty is coughing

at

> night which at times is pretty bad. Does the surgery take care of

this

> and is there no escaping acid relux after the surgery (so I have

heard)

> I am 57 years old and have had this since 1999 - I have learnt to

> manage it fairly and did have a dilitation done which was not very

> helpful.

[Guest guest]

I am 29 and had the surgery 5 weeks ago. I could not eat anything solid - Now I

can eat

almost anything. I chew well, and avoid some foods still, but am still playing

it safe since I

am still healing.

I do not cough anymore at all at night. I had no fundoplication and have had

acid reflux

once since surgery and that was because I had 3 beers and then tried to eat a

meal with

tomatoe sauce.

Dr Anvari is an excellent surgeon who has done many myotomies - 3 the day I had

mine

done.

>

> Could some of you who have had the heller myotomy (laproscopic) please

> email me about how you have felt after the surgery. My biggest problem

> other than not getting the food down without difficulty is coughing at

> night which at times is pretty bad. Does the surgery take care of this

> and is there no escaping acid relux after the surgery (so I have heard)

> I am 57 years old and have had this since 1999 - I have learnt to

> manage it fairly and did have a dilitation done which was not very

> helpful.

[Guest guest]

I was only in the hospital for 1 day - but I am very healthy and am fairly

atheletic except

for the achalasia. Overall, so far I am pleased.

>

> Could some of you who have had the heller myotomy (laproscopic) please

> email me about how you have felt after the surgery. My biggest problem

> other than not getting the food down without difficulty is coughing at

> night which at times is pretty bad. Does the surgery take care of this

> and is there no escaping acid relux after the surgery (so I have heard)

> I am 57 years old and have had this since 1999 - I have learnt to

> manage it fairly and did have a dilitation done which was not very

> helpful.

[Guest guest]

Hi -

My daughter was really quite poorly and the Heller was

a miracle for her - she does not have any more spasms

- no coughing at night, no regurgiation, no terrible

taste, she does have to drink with her food - and

sometimes( depending on what she eats) it can be slow

to go down. She recently had a baby and there was no

change during her pregnancy or labour to her throat.

Look forward to the future.

--- Kay Withrock <kayw@...> wrote:

> it was rough. but well worth it. I have small

> problems now compared to where

> i was before.

> heller myotomy

>

>

> >

> > Could some of you who have had the heller myotomy

> (laproscopic) please

> > email me about how you have felt after the

> surgery. My biggest problem

> > other than not getting the food down without

> difficulty is coughing at

> > night which at times is pretty bad. Does the

> surgery take care of this

> > and is there no escaping acid relux after the

> surgery (so I have heard)

> > I am 57 years old and have had this since 1999 - I

> have learnt to

> > manage it fairly and did have a dilitation done

> which was not very

> > helpful.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

with a lap..not open

it was pretty much anesthesia..

out..back. morphine..most of

the pain was with the breathing

exercises to get lungs back to

capacity.

M.

>

> Hi, can anyone inform me as to what takes place with a heller

myotomy.

> What pain if any, recovery time etc. ?

>

[Guest guest]

Are you having the procedure done in the States or in the UK.

I was told before hand it would be keyhole but the day before surgery it was changed to open surgery the surgeon said he would rather open me up as he though it might get a bit complex and would have better access via open surgery.

At the end of the day I am now eating (mushy diet at the moment) but it goes down and stays down and that fantastic after living on one cup of tea a day.

Take care

Pippa (Northants, England)

-- Re: Heller myotomy>Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 08:13:38 -0000>>I had a Heller Myotomy by open surgery 2 weeks ago, (26th September)>>Can't really give you a real detailed explaination but other on the>board will help. (, , Notorn can you help?)>>The surgeon told me that they cut about ten 10cm of the oesophagus>to open it up again and then wrapped my stomach around the bottom>part of the oesophagus to stop any reflux.(bit more complex than>that but thats the jist of it)>>I had an epidural in my back for 4 days and there after didn't feel>the need for any pain killers.>>Two weeks on the incision is still tight(My incision starts just>before the navel and goes up to my breast bone so about 5-6 inches>long) and it does stop me from standing up straight at the moment>but it will improve in time.>>I have been told I can return to work in about 6 to 8 weeks.>>But it could take my body 3 to 6 months to recover complety from the>surgery.>>>If you need any further questions answering don't hesitate to>contact me and then can give you more details in post surgery.>>Are you having this procedure?>>If so when and will it be open or keyhole?>>Pippa (Northants, England)>>>> >> > Hi, can anyone inform me as to what takes place with a heller>myotomy.> > What pain if any, recovery time etc. ?> >>>>>>

[Guest guest]

My gosh, Pippa, congratulations for being able to communicate and so clearly, too, after an open surgery! I will be thinking of you and wishing you the speediest recovery possible. all best, Deborah