Guest guest Posted October 24, 2005 Report Share Posted October 24, 2005 Hi Cindi: Welcome to our group and I am sorry your son has achalasia. Where is he living and who is he getting treatment from? In my opinion, surgery has been the best and most complete relief for me. But the surgery must be done by a specialist familiar with the disease and excellent, precise skills. Achalasia is not life-threatening -- it does create problems with health if not treated and watched. The only life-threatening aspect is the risk of aspiration at night, which can result in pneumonia from inhaling fluids and food particles. In my opinion, holistic approaches can only provide symptom and supportive care, not fix the obstruction. It is essential that he get to a good surgeon who can explain the procedure. Read up on the posts and files and links on this site and you will know the right questions to ask. Take care. Peggy from Lompoc, CA > > My son has this achalasia and I am scared to death.He is only 27. He > was diagnosed about 5 years ago. Underwent the balloons. Now a new > doctor says surgery is the way.Any one here with a holistic approach? > Is this life threatining? He has all the symptoms and has lost weight > but also is in great health other than this. Please help.He is going > to have a tube again put down his esophagas this Sat.to see just what > damage there is now. He does not do well with anestisia. Thank you > cindi > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2005 Report Share Posted October 24, 2005 >I am 29 and had the surgery 6 months ago and am doing well. Achalasia is not life threatning and it is controversial wether there is an increase in esophageal cancer associated with achalasia. I am not worried about that. The surgery has given me a normal life back. > My son has this achalasia and I am scared to death.He is only 27. He > was diagnosed about 5 years ago. Underwent the balloons. Now a new > doctor says surgery is the way.Any one here with a holistic approach? > Is this life threatining? He has all the symptoms and has lost weight > but also is in great health other than this. Please help.He is going > to have a tube again put down his esophagas this Sat.to see just what > damage there is now. He does not do well with anestisia. Thank you > cindi > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2005 Report Share Posted October 24, 2005 Cindi, I hope all goes well with your son's procedure coming up. I do not know of any holistic approach in helping with this disease. "A" is a progressive disease and even though there is no cure for it as of yet surgery is on the top of the list for people that have it so they can return to a more normal way of eating. I woukd suggest finding a specialist that deals with this disease and then they can advise you and dirrect you in a proper direction. I do know that the more dialations that are done that having a succsessful surgery drops. If you have any other questions please fell free to ask or even e-mail me directly. in Suffolk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2005 Report Share Posted October 24, 2005 Thank you so much for your reply! I am not as worried now you are great! But a mother always worries. The doctors say that it is sooo rare and that scared us all. Good health to you and please keep writhing to me, I will forward to my son. Thanks again Cindidrgioia75 <santanagioia@...> wrote: >I am 29 and had the surgery 6 months ago and am doing well. Achalasia is not life threatning and it is controversial wether there is an increase in esophageal cancer associated with achalasia. I am not worried about that. The surgery has given me a normal life back.> My son has this achalasia and I am scared to death.He is only 27. He > was diagnosed about 5 years ago. Underwent the balloons. Now a new > doctor says surgery is the way.Any one here with a holistic approach? > Is this life threatining? He has all the symptoms and has lost weight > but also is in great health other than this. Please help.He is going > to have a tube again put down his esophagas this Sat.to see just what > damage there is now. He does not do well with anestisia. Thank you > cindi> FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2005 Report Share Posted October 24, 2005 Not to start a riot or anything. But mine was very life threatening. I went from a very healthy 125lbs to 97 in a matter of 5 months, my immune system has now been effected, my whole body shut down. They were not able to get veins for IV’s on me because I was so malnourished (had a pic line put in my neck, yeah that was fun). This disease can progress very seriously. I was very sick all the time with bronchitis because of regurgitation. On the other hand I had to fight with insurance companies and this caused a longer time between treatments. You can actually get disability with this disease if you are sick enough long enough. I may end up that way. I had my surgery in 2002 September, I have started having problems again. The doctor that did my surgery (open myotomy and partial removal of my E) said my surgery may last me 5 yrs then I would have to have further surgeries (as you can see its been 3). Only bread, noodles, meats bother me now. I only have regurgitation every once in a while now, when something doesn’t find its way down, because the surgery left me unable to vomit. Ok I’ve said my peace. in Indiana From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of drgioia75 Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 10:00 PM achalasia Subject: Re: hi my son has this >I am 29 and had the surgery 6 months ago and am doing well. Achalasia is not life threatning and it is controversial wether there is an increase in esophageal cancer associated with achalasia. I am not worried about that. The surgery has given me a normal life back. > My son has this achalasia and I am scared to death.He is only 27. He > was diagnosed about 5 years ago. Underwent the balloons. Now a new > doctor says surgery is the way.Any one here with a holistic approach? > Is this life threatining? He has all the symptoms and has lost weight > but also is in great health other than this. Please help.He is going > to have a tube again put down his esophagas this Sat.to see just what > damage there is now. He does not do well with anestisia. Thank you > cindi > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2005 Report Share Posted October 25, 2005 thank you I hope you are better. He is not malnurished and he had a full blood panel drawn up. He is a little borderline diabetic. But all inall he is ok. Just has this problem. He does regurgitate very often and sounds terrible when he sleeps. I hope we canfix all of you. Mimms <juliemimms@...> wrote: Not to start a riot or anything. But mine was very life threatening. I went from a very healthy 125lbs to 97 in a matter of 5 months, my immune system has now been effected, my whole body shut down. They were not able to get veins for IV’s on me because I was so malnourished (had a pic line put in my neck, yeah that was fun). This disease can progress very seriously. I was very sick all the time with bronchitis because of regurgitation. On the other hand I had to fight with insurance companies and this caused a longer time between treatments. You can actually get disability with this disease if you are sick enough long enough. I may end up that way. I had my surgery in 2002 September, I have started having problems again. The doctor that did my surgery (open myotomy and partial removal of my E) said my surgery may last me 5 yrs then I would have to have further surgeries (as you can see its been 3). Only bread, noodles, meats bother me now. I only have regurgitation every once in a while now, when something doesn’t find its way down, because the surgery left me unable to vomit. Ok I’ve said my peace. in Indiana From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of drgioia75Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 10:00 PMachalasia Subject: Re: hi my son has this >I am 29 and had the surgery 6 months ago and am doing well. Achalasia is not life threatning and it is controversial wether there is an increase in esophageal cancer associated with achalasia. I am not worried about that. The surgery has given me a normal life back.> My son has this achalasia and I am scared to death.He is only 27. He > was diagnosed about 5 years ago. Underwent the balloons. Now a new > doctor says surgery is the way.Any one here with a holistic approach? > Is this life threatining? He has all the symptoms and has lost weight > but also is in great health other than this. Please help.He is going > to have a tube again put down his esophagas this Sat.to see just what > damage there is now. He does not do well with anestisia. Thank you > cindi> FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2005 Report Share Posted October 25, 2005 Cindi, you have not said where your son lives. We are scattered all over the world and some one might have an excellent doctor recommendation for your son in his area or might know the doctor he has chosen. As others have said it is very important to get a surgeon that has done this surgery. Experience in doing myotomies is rare even by good surgeons so tell him not to hesitate to ask the doctor how many myotomies he/she has done and ask for recommendations. In the meantime it is important for your son to sleep with his head elevated so that he does not regurgitate during the night. Either raise the head of his bed with blocks, sleep on a wedge pillow or stack other pillows to keep his head elevated. I believe someone else mentioned the danger of aspiration by get fluid or food partial into the lungs. There is no cure for achalasia but it is not fatal by itself. I often tell people I have a disease which I will die with but will not die from. Please do not hesitate to keep asking questions and if he has a computer it would help if he joined this group as well. Best wishes, Maggie Alabama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2005 Report Share Posted October 25, 2005 Dear Cindi,I agree with the last poster that it would be a very good idea for your son to come personally in to the group. There are a lot of 20-30 year olds around who will be able to understand what he is coping with.By the way, you sound just like my mum (except she's a lot older than you). And I know what it feels like to be a mum myself. You wish you could take the burden off their shoulders and carry it yourself don't you? I think they call that love. Tell him he will get a very warm welcome if he would like to talk to us,Love and Best Wishes from Ann xx>> Cindi, you have not said where your son lives. We are scattered> all over the world and some one might have an excellent doctor> recommendation for your son in his area or might know the > doctor he has chosen. As others have said it is very important> to get a surgeon that has done this surgery. Experience in doing> myotomies is rare even by good surgeons so tell him not to> hesitate to ask the doctor how many myotomies he/she has done> and ask for recommendations.> > In the meantime it is important for your son to sleep with his> head elevated so that he does not regurgitate during the night.> Either raise the head of his bed with blocks, sleep on a wedge> pillow or stack other pillows to keep his head elevated. I > believe someone else mentioned the danger of aspiration by get> fluid or food partial into the lungs.> > There is no cure for achalasia but it is not fatal by itself. I > often tell people I have a disease which I will die with but will> not die from. > > Please do not hesitate to keep asking questions and if he has> a computer it would help if he joined this group as well.> > Best wishes,> > Maggie> Alabama> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 26, 2005 Report Share Posted October 26, 2005 Hi Cindi know exactly how you feel. It is very scary -this website is very good. Surgery for my daughter, who is now 25, was like a miracle. She lost 4 stone, her hair and her periods and was unable to get anything down - her sphincter muscle was like a tiny hole. But within 2 months of her surgery she had regained her weight, in one year she was married and then 2 years she had a baby. She is not trouble free but her problems are like a pinhead in comparison to a mountain, today. She has to drink a lot of water when she eats but can eat everything and anything. reedcindilove <reedcindilove@...> wrote: My son has this achalasia and I am scared to death.He is only 27. He was diagnosed about 5 years ago. Underwent the balloons. Now a new doctor says surgery is the way.Any one here with a holistic approach? Is this life threatining? He has all the symptoms and has lost weight but also is in great health other than this. Please help.He is going to have a tube again put down his esophagas this Sat.to see just what damage there is now. He does not do well with anestisia. Thank you cindi FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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