Re: The Heller and additional dilitations

June 1, 2006

When I had my first surgery I did have to have a few dilation's done. After my second surgery I have not had to have any dilation's at all. I would recommend not getting any more dilation's if you can help it. The surgery is a much better option for long term relief.

in SuffolkVisit www.achalasia.us

In a message dated 6/1/2006 10:55:23 AM GMT Standard Time, pfriso@... writes:

Hey everyone, I was just reading 's story on the achalasia.ussite and had a question for those of you who have had the laproscopicheller done. Do you still need to get periodic dilitations? I am goingin for my second dilitation since my diagnosis with achalasia and wasconsidering getting the heller done but am not ready for that yet. Iknow nothing is a cure for our disease but I was hoping if i did dothe heller it would mean no more dilitations. I will post a new polland ask the question to make it easier for you all to answer. Thanks abunch!!Phil

June 1, 2006

I agree with , I have had dilations done

since my surgery in 2002, 2 as of now! Some people don’t have any

trouble after a surgery, guess I’m just one of the lucky ones!!

Please visit my new site,

www.achalasia.us

From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of muellmeris@...

Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 6:47

AM

achalasia

Subject: Re: The

Heller and additional dilitations

When I had my first surgery I did have to

have a few dilation's done. After my second surgery I have not had to

have any dilation's at all. I would recommend not getting any more

dilation's if you can help it. The surgery is a much better option for

long term relief.

in Suffolk

Visit www.achalasia.us

In a message dated 6/1/2006 10:55:23 AM

GMT Standard Time, pfriso@... writes:

Hey

everyone, I was just reading 's story on the achalasia.us

site and had a question for those of you who have had the laproscopic

heller done. Do you still need to get periodic dilitations? I am going

in for my second dilitation since my diagnosis with achalasia and was

considering getting the heller done but am not ready for that yet. I

know nothing is a cure for our disease but I was hoping if i did do

the heller it would mean no more dilitations. I will post a new poll

and ask the question to make it easier for you all to answer. Thanks a

bunch!!

Phil

June 1, 2006

The heller myotomy is a much better option - I have been fine since I had mine done last year at Mt. Sinai by Dr. Salky - I can't say enough good things about him.

Wishing you all as much good health.

Pushpa

From: muellmeris@...Reply-achalasia To: achalasia Subject: Re: The Heller and additional dilitationsDate: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 06:47:09 EDT

When I had my first surgery I did have to have a few dilation's done. After my second surgery I have not had to have any dilation's at all. I would recommend not getting any more dilation's if you can help it. The surgery is a much better option for long term relief.

in SuffolkVisit www.achalasia.us

In a message dated 6/1/2006 10:55:23 AM GMT Standard Time, pfriso@... writes:

Hey everyone, I was just reading 's story on the achalasia.ussite and had a question for those of you who have had the laproscopicheller done. Do you still need to get periodic dilitations? I am goingin for my second dilitation since my diagnosis with achalasia and wasconsidering getting the heller done but am not ready for that yet. Iknow nothing is a cure for our disease but I was hoping if i did dothe heller it would mean no more dilitations. I will post a new polland ask the question to make it easier for you all to answer. Thanks abunch!!Phil

June 1, 2006

Hey Phil - might I add my 2 cents here? You may want to increase your

options on the number of years post op. Myself, for example am 17 years

post op and have had 2 post op dilations - the 2nd one about 10 years

ago so although I've had to have dilations, one every 10 years on

average is not so bad - compared to the every year or 2 I was having

them pre-op. I think most of us have had post-op dilations but they

weem to work much better and for much longer than pre-op. Surgery is

still your best long term option.

Good poll though. All the newbies should really appreciate the

information.

Happy Swallowing!

- in Va.

>

> Hey everyone, I was just reading 's story on the achalasia.us

> site and had a question for those of you who have had the laproscopic

> heller done. Do you still need to get periodic dilitations? I am going

> in for my second dilitation since my diagnosis with achalasia and was

> considering getting the heller done but am not ready for that yet. I

> know nothing is a cure for our disease but I was hoping if i did do

> the heller it would mean no more dilitations. I will post a new poll

> and ask the question to make it easier for you all to answer. Thanks a

> bunch!!

>

> Phil

>

June 24, 2006

Hi, I haven't been on the site since I got my Heller in April of 2005.

Well, 6 months later I started having trouble again. I still can't eat

without taking my Procardia. (Normally used for high blood pressure

but it relaxes the smooth muscle of the esophagus.) I just got my

esophogram the other day as a precursor to my first ever dilation. I

was so bad that my doctor put me in surgery before even trying the

dilations. When they dilate you, are they dilating your LES? I don't

know that works. If they are not dilating the LES, then a Heller might

work for you. I have had an appendectomy in the past and to be honest,

the Heller was no worse. I have 5 new scars on my abdomen now. Don't

let the surgeon use that awful glue stuff in place of regular stitches

though, the glue leaves bigger scars.

Well, good luck and don't be afraid of the Heller, it helped me for

about 5 glorious months of being able to eat like a regular person. It

was worth that 5 months. As for dilations, yes, chances are you will

still need them after the Heller at some point. I am at that point now.

Remember, this disease does not go away, all we can do is continue to

treat the symptoms, so don't base everything you do on whether or not

you will need dilations in the future, because irregardless of what you

do, you will need to treat the disease. If you haven't tried the

Procardia yet, check with your doctor. Taken 30 minutes before a meal,

I can usually eat pretty well.

Good luck!