's intense spasms, Peggy, Sandy in So.Cal.

[Guest guest]

Hello, , When first I joined this group, I'd never had much in the way of spasms, just a few mild "clenchings" here and there, sort of like having a muscle cramp and I just sat it out. After reading about others' spasms, I wondered as if, because I didn't have them to those extremes (and they did sound really, really evil and painful), then, perhaps, I really didn't have Achalasia at all. I didn't stay in that zone for very long. I started having stronger "cramps", ie./spasms, and I wondered just how fast I might be able to get into the hospital (before the spasms got evil). I hope you don't have to suffer with these evil spasms very often, and I do hope they decrease soon, asap, as a matter of fact. Those chest pains can be frightening. I had a stroke years ago, about two days after my son was born. I was already in the hospital, recuperating from a last-minute Cesarion section; my son was fine, but I hemorrhaged, had transfusions, and then got a not-so-lovely infection through my mid-section. I remember the stroke coming on and how I couldn't move. I remember chest and head pain followed by a left side weakness and the inability to speak clearly. Luckily for me, a nurse, who'd liked to drop in and say 'Hi' to me from time to time, dropped in at that moment and my stroke was nipped, fixed, etc. So, what am I saying? I guess I am saying that these chest pains frighten me a lot. When other people at this site mention their chest pain, I tend to pay close attention. I hope all of us feel

great today. I hope those of us having chest pains (and I do have spasms, still, but popsicles help me a lot, as do sodas, thanks for men- tioning them) can ride the spasms out without any setbacks, either physical or emotional or any other psychological stuff. By the way, my surgeon, Dr. Fuller at Cedars, told me that Achalasia has very strong connections with depression, asthma (which, is probably NOT asthma but the cough of Achalasia and stress, etc.) and with other problems connected with the vagus nerve. I mean to look this up a bit more. I find it all rather fascinating. Peggy! Do you happen to know of an article about adhesions that I might read? I'd love to hear more about how they form, why

they form, what's going on, etc. And, you are right, the adhesions are there, I feel them snap, and I'm glad I have a better idea of where I am going post-op. I am also thankful for your post about your fatigue and how it was six weeks before you went back to the class- room and traveling. I have been a business traveler for about 16 years now, plus, and I can say that since I am getting older, even though I go to the gym, I can see that I need to pace myself more. It's not just because I need to rest a bit, but perhaps more importantly, I deserve to enjoy my business trips more. I don't mind putting in long hours and going from one city to another on a two or three week gig, but now I take off Sundays (unless I am asked to do a special keynote somewhere with friends). I actually walk in neighborhoods I've never explored

before, I try the local cuisine, I sniff around the bookshops and museums. I love working, mostly, but after years of working myself very hard, even when I've been ill (strep throat hiking around Basil en route to meetings in another place, serious bleeding problems as I climbed Delphi after a week of hard work in Cairo, etc.) and taking my kids with me. Woof! And I loved it. But I'll live longer if I watch those slight spasms and eat popsicles and sip sodas, and I, too, have been going to bed early (I now go to bed at around 11 p.m. instead of 1 or 2 a.m.), and I get up at 6:30 a.m., feeling really good, despite the sore left side. And Sandy in So. Cal., hang in there with your work and your kids and your spouse and all the fantastic

things you do. But, since you give me advice, I'll give you a little bit right here: treat yourself to something wonderful once in a while. It took me thirty-five years to discover massages. wow! are they great! Haagen Dazs, a 50-50 orange/vanilla bar, a great cuppa Jo., a new perfume sample, funny socks, a wild new read from the library, something great and something JUST FOR YOU. And, thank you very much for all the sudoku! Let's see if I can "get" any of it! With many thanks for all the wonderful posts here! Deborah, at the beach P.S. Hi, Ann in England! Any word yet on when you go to hospital?