Ann's Myotomy - (Long Post)

[Guest guest]

Ann, I was also told not to have any fizzy drinks. I was told though that I could start on them after about a month or so. Thank you for the play by play of your last 11 days. That is a good thing for everyone that is coming up on there surgery to read. I am very glad you are getting stronger and able to get back into your normal routine. Just to let you know I was thinking of the first weekend in July for the next meet up. Let me know if that will work for you. Remember take it slow and try not to hurry your recovery.

...pleased to see you post again... in Suffolk

In a message dated 6/6/2006 3:26:07 PM GMT Standard Time, lilac_blossom_lady@... writes:

Well I have just had my second bath (had showers in between, I'm not a total stink pot) and this time I managed to get out without help. So I must be getting stronger. Also I have managed to peg the washing on the line, which my sister had to do for me yesterday. So I am getting stronger day by day. This is how the last eleven days have gone for me:

Friday 26th May - 6pm, had my last solid food, if you can call it that - mashed potato and grated cheese.

Saturday - Tootled off to meet , Hannah and Meghan. has reported how I was of help to Hannah. What hasn't been mentioned yet is that Hannah helped me. I met a perfectly normal, happy and pretty young Mum with a big future and a perfect child. She had had the myotomy and was already over the hurdle I was about to face. She helped me to hold on to my positivity and happiness. There's the thing about friendship, it's hard to know who benefits most, the supposed giver or the supposed receiver.

Stuart (husband) picked me up from the Coach Station and we met up with our best (couple) friends and went out for a chin wag and a giggle on my last night of freedom. The bar we went to was celebrating someone's 40th Birthday and I had a happy evening.

Sunday - Off to the Hospital. Put on clear fluids, which is all I had had on Saturday anyway, and got to know the lady in the next bed, Beth. Can you believe this? Beth had just had a lap HM for her Achalasia. Same age as me, lives within one hour's drive - instant friendship,lots to talk about, no time for worrying.

Monday - Put on a saline drip and kept being visited by nurses for blood tests, vitals etc. Also an injection to prevent DVT. That went in my abdomen.

Tuesday - 8.30am, a Doctor came to give me the consent form to sign and the anaesthetist came to introduce himself. Asked if I was allergic to anything and I said not that I knew of, but bear in mind it was my first surgery and on the discharge papers it said that I had been allergic to 'anaesthetic vapours'. Don't know what that means but will check it out with the Consultant at my follow-up appt in 4-6 weeks. I have fantasies of me going all doo-lally on the operating table and levitating or something, but don't think it will be quite like that.

The surgery itself for the patient is nothing. You start out in the ante-room, where they put the sedation into your IV thingy, can't remember the name. Then seconds later, it seems, you are in the recovery room and a nurse is telling you it is all over. It's great really. Just imagine what it must have been like in the Middle Ages having your leg chopped off !

As far as I can make out the op took about 4 hours. Back to the ward for 1.15pm, I am told. At that point I was not sure which planet I was on. Planet Morphine, I think. I was kept a good eye on for the next 24 hours and my pain relief kept up - one more shot of morphine, then onto paracetamol (tylenol?) which seems like good progress to me. Of course you cannot take it orally, so it goes (whisper) up yer bum !

Wednesday - pain still needed controlling regularly, but I think I was able to talk a bit more sense by then. Went for a (whisper) wee unaided. Felt helpless and vulnerable and it was on that day that good nursing really really mattered, and not only efficiency. I cannot remember feeling so dependent in my life before. My chief carer was wonderful- made me feel safe. How I needed to feel safe!

Thursday - went to the X-Ray department for barium swallow. It wasn't the cement they give you in a barium meal, just a bitter-tasting liquid - a lot easier to get down actually. The Radiologist was able to show me immediately on the video that liquid was getting through. He said "I would have thought it would have been quicker than that" but I think he was probably only used to normal oesophagi (getting posh and latin now). I was just relieved that it did not reveal any leaks, because that would have meant more treatment, not sure what - didn't ask !!

A couple of hours later my Surgeon (aka God) came to see me and say that he was pleased. Bear in mind that I have had this disease for 16 years now so it was not too much of a shock to be told that the whole of the oesophagus is dilated and is like an S bend. But if it works in the kitchen, I don't see why it shouldn't do alright for me (lol).

Friday - Allowed home, feeling indescribably happy, got the IV thingy taken home and felt like a 'loose woman' - nothing new there then.

Visited just before departure by the Dietician who gave me some great ideas for meals. The by-word for me is "think sloppy"- weetabix (do you have that?), liquidised soups, ice cream (yeah!), yoghurt, puddings, custard, anything that mushes up- back to the mashed potato of the last Friday. When the Surgery was done, there was still food in there, can you believe it? BUT she also said, no fizzy drinks. She said that carbonation made you burp a lot and put pressure on the oesophagus. That comment worried me because I know that many of you use carbonation as a tool. Somebody may want to comment on that.

Saturday - Happy. Could potter around but was very limited and could not lift a pan for example.(oh shucks! )

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - it just gets better. My strength and energy are ambling back and my incisions are looking clean. Four of them are stuck up with surgical glue and the top one is dressed because it was stitched (but will dissolve). I can shower and go in the bath and get completely clean and fresh, no worries. My appetite is not particularly good as yet, but that will improve with time. I have to stay on the sloppy diet for 4 weeks. That is fine by me. I have no desire to ruin my wonderful Surgeon's magnificent handiwork and also think I have a responsibility to myself to do the best I can for myself.

- Everyone is different, but going by my progress I reckon you have a very good chance in making your vacation (unless you are planning to climb Mount Everest) and also the keyhole surgery really does not make a mess of your belly. The incisions are nothing to get excited about and they are a good excuse to treat yourself to a tankini, which looks great anyway.

By now you are probably looking at the word 'Myotomy' and thinking it should say 'Monotony'. Sorry it's such a long post. It was not so that I could go on at length talking about myself. It was just to give the ones to follow me a few ideas of what to expect. I am sure I have left out lots of things, but I will answer any questions you need. Just don't take too long doing it. At the moment I can remember how it was, but next week? (well I am no spring chicken you know). LOL

Love by the bucketload to everyone, from Ann in beautiful sunny England XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[Guest guest]

Ann, so good to have such a long post from you. It shows

that you are indeed getting better and we're so glad to have

you back.

What more can I say that has not been so eloquently said

before by ?.

Big hug and lots of love,

Maggie

[Guest guest]

Well I have just had my second bath (had showers in between, I'm not a total stink pot) and this time I managed to get out without help. So I must be getting stronger. Also I have managed to peg the washing on the line, which my sister had to do for me yesterday. So I am getting stronger day by day. This is how the last eleven days have gone for me:

Friday 26th May - 6pm, had my last solid food, if you can call it that - mashed potato and grated cheese.

Saturday - Tootled off to meet , Hannah and Meghan. has reported how I was of help to Hannah. What hasn't been mentioned yet is that Hannah helped me. I met a perfectly normal, happy and pretty young Mum with a big future and a perfect child. She had had the myotomy and was already over the hurdle I was about to face. She helped me to hold on to my positivity and happiness. There's the thing about friendship, it's hard to know who benefits most, the supposed giver or the supposed receiver.

Stuart (husband) picked me up from the Coach Station and we met up with our best (couple) friends and went out for a chin wag and a giggle on my last night of freedom. The bar we went to was celebrating someone's 40th Birthday and I had a happy evening.

Sunday - Off to the Hospital. Put on clear fluids, which is all I had had on Saturday anyway, and got to know the lady in the next bed, Beth. Can you believe this? Beth had just had a lap HM for her Achalasia. Same age as me, lives within one hour's drive - instant friendship,lots to talk about, no time for worrying.

Monday - Put on a saline drip and kept being visited by nurses for blood tests, vitals etc. Also an injection to prevent DVT. That went in my abdomen.

Tuesday - 8.30am, a Doctor came to give me the consent form to sign and the anaesthetist came to introduce himself. Asked if I was allergic to anything and I said not that I knew of, but bear in mind it was my first surgery and on the discharge papers it said that I had been allergic to 'anaesthetic vapours'. Don't know what that means but will check it out with the Consultant at my follow-up appt in 4-6 weeks. I have fantasies of me going all doo-lally on the operating table and levitating or something, but don't think it will be quite like that.

The surgery itself for the patient is nothing. You start out in the ante-room, where they put the sedation into your IV thingy, can't remember the name. Then seconds later, it seems, you are in the recovery room and a nurse is telling you it is all over. It's great really. Just imagine what it must have been like in the Middle Ages having your leg chopped off !

As far as I can make out the op took about 4 hours. Back to the ward for 1.15pm, I am told. At that point I was not sure which planet I was on. Planet Morphine, I think. I was kept a good eye on for the next 24 hours and my pain relief kept up - one more shot of morphine, then onto paracetamol (tylenol?) which seems like good progress to me. Of course you cannot take it orally, so it goes (whisper) up yer bum !

Wednesday - pain still needed controlling regularly, but I think I was able to talk a bit more sense by then. Went for a (whisper) wee unaided. Felt helpless and vulnerable and it was on that day that good nursing really really mattered, and not only efficiency. I cannot remember feeling so dependent in my life before. My chief carer was wonderful- made me feel safe. How I needed to feel safe!

Thursday - went to the X-Ray department for barium swallow. It wasn't the cement they give you in a barium meal, just a bitter-tasting liquid - a lot easier to get down actually. The Radiologist was able to show me immediately on the video that liquid was getting through. He said "I would have thought it would have been quicker than that" but I think he was probably only used to normal oesophagi (getting posh and latin now). I was just relieved that it did not reveal any leaks, because that would have meant more treatment, not sure what - didn't ask !!

A couple of hours later my Surgeon (aka God) came to see me and say that he was pleased. Bear in mind that I have had this disease for 16 years now so it was not too much of a shock to be told that the whole of the oesophagus is dilated and is like an S bend. But if it works in the kitchen, I don't see why it shouldn't do alright for me (lol).

Friday - Allowed home, feeling indescribably happy, got the IV thingy taken home and felt like a 'loose woman' - nothing new there then.

Visited just before departure by the Dietician who gave me some great ideas for meals. The by-word for me is "think sloppy"- weetabix (do you have that?), liquidised soups, ice cream (yeah!), yoghurt, puddings, custard, anything that mushes up- back to the mashed potato of the last Friday. When the Surgery was done, there was still food in there, can you believe it? BUT she also said, no fizzy drinks. She said that carbonation made you burp a lot and put pressure on the oesophagus. That comment worried me because I know that many of you use carbonation as a tool. Somebody may want to comment on that.

Saturday - Happy. Could potter around but was very limited and could not lift a pan for example.(oh shucks! )

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - it just gets better. My strength and energy are ambling back and my incisions are looking clean. Four of them are stuck up with surgical glue and the top one is dressed because it was stitched (but will dissolve). I can shower and go in the bath and get completely clean and fresh, no worries. My appetite is not particularly good as yet, but that will improve with time. I have to stay on the sloppy diet for 4 weeks. That is fine by me. I have no desire to ruin my wonderful Surgeon's magnificent handiwork and also think I have a responsibility to myself to do the best I can for myself.

- Everyone is different, but going by my progress I reckon you have a very good chance in making your vacation (unless you are planning to climb Mount Everest) and also the keyhole surgery really does not make a mess of your belly. The incisions are nothing to get excited about and they are a good excuse to treat yourself to a tankini, which looks great anyway.

By now you are probably looking at the word 'Myotomy' and thinking it should say 'Monotony'. Sorry it's such a long post. It was not so that I could go on at length talking about myself. It was just to give the ones to follow me a few ideas of what to expect. I am sure I have left out lots of things, but I will answer any questions you need. Just don't take too long doing it. At the moment I can remember how it was, but next week? (well I am no spring chicken you know). LOL

Love by the bucketload to everyone, from Ann in beautiful sunny England XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann, it sounds like you're doing wonderful! My surgeon said he

has seen many achalasia patients with dilated " esophagi " and most

have a better time with swallowing because there is less obstrution

than a normal size esophagus. Since I've had the disease for 2 yrs,

my esophagus is normal at 2.8 cm so he said the food has more areas

to get stuck on. I beleive that humans have a wonderful natural

ability to adapt. I'm having surgery out of town(4hrs from home),

so the hotel is expensive and if the surgery goes to an open

procedure I would probably be looking at 2 weeks in Ohio! I just

have to keep thinking postitive... everything will work out in the

end.

Maybe the carbonation is held until you heal from the surgery? I

could see how they would not want to build up pressure until the

tissues have decreased in swealling. I'm one of those that use pop

to flush out food but maybe we won't need that post myotomy? I sure

hope my surgery stays with just the pinholes! No Mount Everest

climbing Just a nice bed and breakfast in Boston.

All the Best!

in Michigan

>

>

> Well I have just had my second bath (had showers in between, I'm

not a

> total stink pot) and this time I managed to get out without help.

So I

> must be getting stronger. Also I have managed to peg the washing

on the

> line, which my sister had to do for me yesterday. So I am getting

> stronger day by day. This is how the last eleven days have gone

for me:

>

> Friday 26th May - 6pm, had my last solid food, if you can call it

that -

> mashed potato and grated cheese.

>

> Saturday - Tootled off to meet , Hannah and Meghan. has

> reported how I was of help to Hannah. What hasn't been mentioned

yet is

> that Hannah helped me. I met a perfectly normal, happy and pretty

> young Mum with a big future and a perfect child. She had had the

> myotomy and was already over the hurdle I was about to face. She

> helped me to hold on to my positivity and happiness. There's the

thing

> about friendship, it's hard to know who benefits most, the supposed

> giver or the supposed receiver.

>

> Stuart (husband) picked me up from the Coach Station and we met up

with

> our best (couple) friends and went out for a chin wag and a giggle

on my

> last night of freedom. The bar we went to was celebrating

someone's

> 40th Birthday and I had a happy evening.

>

> Sunday - Off to the Hospital. Put on clear fluids, which is all I

had

> had on Saturday anyway, and got to know the lady in the next bed,

Beth.

> Can you believe this? Beth had just had a lap HM for her

Achalasia.

> Same age as me, lives within one hour's drive - instant

friendship,lots

> to talk about, no time for worrying.

>

> Monday - Put on a saline drip and kept being visited by nurses for

blood

> tests, vitals etc. Also an injection to prevent DVT. That went

in my

> abdomen.

>

> Tuesday - 8.30am, a Doctor came to give me the consent form to

sign and

> the anaesthetist came to introduce himself. Asked if I was

allergic to

> anything and I said not that I knew of, but bear in mind it was my

first

> surgery and on the discharge papers it said that I had been

allergic to

> 'anaesthetic vapours'. Don't know what that means but will check

it

> out with the Consultant at my follow-up appt in 4-6 weeks. I have

> fantasies of me going all doo-lally on the operating table and

> levitating or something, but don't think it will be quite like

that.

>

> The surgery itself for the patient is nothing. You start out in

the

> ante-room, where they put the sedation into your IV thingy, can't

> remember the name. Then seconds later, it seems, you are in the

recovery

> room and a nurse is telling you it is all over. It's great

really. Just

> imagine what it must have been like in the Middle Ages having your

leg

> chopped off !

>

> As far as I can make out the op took about 4 hours. Back to the

ward

> for 1.15pm, I am told. At that point I was not sure which planet

I was

> on. Planet Morphine, I think. I was kept a good eye on for the

next

> 24 hours and my pain relief kept up - one more shot of morphine,

then

> onto paracetamol (tylenol?) which seems like good progress to me.

Of

> course you cannot take it orally, so it goes (whisper) up yer bum !

>

> Wednesday - pain still needed controlling regularly, but I think I

was

> able to talk a bit more sense by then. Went for a (whisper) wee

> unaided. Felt helpless and vulnerable and it was on that day that

good

> nursing really really mattered, and not only efficiency. I cannot

> remember feeling so dependent in my life before. My chief carer

was

> wonderful- made me feel safe. How I needed to feel safe!

>

> Thursday - went to the X-Ray department for barium swallow. It

wasn't

> the cement they give you in a barium meal, just a bitter-tasting

liquid

> - a lot easier to get down actually. The Radiologist was able to

show

> me immediately on the video that liquid was getting through. He

said

> " I would have thought it would have been quicker than that " but I

think

> he was probably only used to normal oesophagi (getting posh and

latin

> now). I was just relieved that it did not reveal any leaks,

because

> that would have meant more treatment, not sure what - didn't ask !!

>

> A couple of hours later my Surgeon (aka God) came to see me and

say that

> he was pleased. Bear in mind that I have had this disease for 16

years

> now so it was not too much of a shock to be told that the whole of

the

> oesophagus is dilated and is like an S bend. But if it works in

the

> kitchen, I don't see why it shouldn't do alright for me (lol).

>

> Friday - Allowed home, feeling indescribably happy, got the IV

thingy

> taken home and felt like a 'loose woman' - nothing new there then.

>

> Visited just before departure by the Dietician who gave me some

great

> ideas for meals. The by-word for me is " think sloppy " - weetabix

(do you

> have that?), liquidised soups, ice cream (yeah!), yoghurt,

puddings,

> custard, anything that mushes up- back to the mashed potato of the

last

> Friday. When the Surgery was done, there was still food in

there, can

> you believe it? BUT she also said, no fizzy drinks. She said

that

> carbonation made you burp a lot and put pressure on the

oesophagus.

> That comment worried me because I know that many of you use

carbonation

> as a tool. Somebody may want to comment on that.

>

> Saturday - Happy. Could potter around but was very limited and

could

> not lift a pan for example.(oh shucks! )

>

> Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - it just gets better. My strength and

energy

> are ambling back and my incisions are looking clean. Four of them

are

> stuck up with surgical glue and the top one is dressed because it

was

> stitched (but will dissolve). I can shower and go in the bath and

get

> completely clean and fresh, no worries. My appetite is not

> particularly good as yet, but that will improve with time. I have

to

> stay on the sloppy diet for 4 weeks. That is fine by me. I have

no

> desire to ruin my wonderful Surgeon's magnificent handiwork and

also

> think I have a responsibility to myself to do the best I can for

myself.

>

> - Everyone is different, but going by my progress I reckon

you

> have a very good chance in making your vacation (unless you are

planning

> to climb Mount Everest) and also the keyhole surgery really does

not

> make a mess of your belly. The incisions are nothing to get

excited

> about and they are a good excuse to treat yourself to a tankini,

which

> looks great anyway.

>

> By now you are probably looking at the word 'Myotomy' and thinking

it

> should say 'Monotony'. Sorry it's such a long post. It was not

so

> that I could go on at length talking about myself. It was just

to give

> the ones to follow me a few ideas of what to expect. I am sure I

have

> left out lots of things, but I will answer any questions you

need.

> Just don't take too long doing it. At the moment I can remember

how it

> was, but next week? (well I am no spring chicken you know). LOL

>

> Love by the bucketload to everyone, from Ann in beautiful sunny

England

> XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

>

[Guest guest]

Ann, I'm very happy things seem to be going 'just ducky'! I think somebody already mentioned this, but the no fizzy thing is short term - just 'till the E heals. I personally can't have any even almost 3 years later, but in my case fizz = spasm. He said "I would have thought it would have been quicker than that" The guy who did my barium follow-up said the same thing. But except for needing a dilitation after 1 year, I haven't had a problem swallowing anything! Take it easy, and enjoy the 'light duty' time!mike in WI __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Ann wrote:

... The

Radiologist was able to show me

immediately on the video that liquid was getting through. He said "I

would have thought it would have been quicker than that" but I think

he was probably only used to normal oesophagi (getting posh and latin

now).

After my surgery, I was given just a swallow of that stuff and it went

down to the LES and stopped. Then I was given a glass of water and as

soon as the water reached it, it shot through the LES. This seemed good

to me and the radiologist seemed happy with it. A little resistance to

keep acid down but little enough to not stop a glass of water. This

makes me think that it is still a good idea after eating, even after

surgery, to wash down any little bits of food that may not be heavy

enough for gravity to pull through the LES/fundo on their own. Not

something to worry about though.

.... BUT she also

said, no fizzy drinks. She said that carbonation made you burp a lot

and put pressure on the oesophagus. ...

I was also told that.

Happy eating!

notan

[Guest guest]

Ann:

You so perfecfly described my experiences during surgery and I am so glad you

are doing

well. No spasms, then? Your post is a great contribution to those looking

forward to

surgery for a real life example.

I, too, remember feeling so vulnerable and dependent on that first and second

day after

surgery, glad when I was shaken loose from all the tubing! My 6 foot- 6 inch

hubby slept

on a cot about an inch wide and a foot long -- keeping watch over me all the

time!

Glad you are eating -- isn't it great?

Peggy

>

>

> Well I have just had my second bath (had showers in between, I'm not a

> total stink pot) and this time I managed to get out without help. So I

> must be getting stronger. Also I have managed to peg the washing on the

> line, which my sister had to do for me yesterday. So I am getting

> stronger day by day. This is how the last eleven days have gone for me:

>

> Friday 26th May - 6pm, had my last solid food, if you can call it that -

> mashed potato and grated cheese.

>

> Saturday - Tootled off to meet , Hannah and Meghan. has

> reported how I was of help to Hannah. What hasn't been mentioned yet is

> that Hannah helped me. I met a perfectly normal, happy and pretty

> young Mum with a big future and a perfect child. She had had the

> myotomy and was already over the hurdle I was about to face. She

> helped me to hold on to my positivity and happiness. There's the thing

> about friendship, it's hard to know who benefits most, the supposed

> giver or the supposed receiver.

>

> Stuart (husband) picked me up from the Coach Station and we met up with

> our best (couple) friends and went out for a chin wag and a giggle on my

> last night of freedom. The bar we went to was celebrating someone's

> 40th Birthday and I had a happy evening.

>

> Sunday - Off to the Hospital. Put on clear fluids, which is all I had

> had on Saturday anyway, and got to know the lady in the next bed, Beth.

> Can you believe this? Beth had just had a lap HM for her Achalasia.

> Same age as me, lives within one hour's drive - instant friendship,lots

> to talk about, no time for worrying.

>

> Monday - Put on a saline drip and kept being visited by nurses for blood

> tests, vitals etc. Also an injection to prevent DVT. That went in my

> abdomen.

>

> Tuesday - 8.30am, a Doctor came to give me the consent form to sign and

> the anaesthetist came to introduce himself. Asked if I was allergic to

> anything and I said not that I knew of, but bear in mind it was my first

> surgery and on the discharge papers it said that I had been allergic to

> 'anaesthetic vapours'. Don't know what that means but will check it

> out with the Consultant at my follow-up appt in 4-6 weeks. I have

> fantasies of me going all doo-lally on the operating table and

> levitating or something, but don't think it will be quite like that.

>

> The surgery itself for the patient is nothing. You start out in the

> ante-room, where they put the sedation into your IV thingy, can't

> remember the name. Then seconds later, it seems, you are in the recovery

> room and a nurse is telling you it is all over. It's great really. Just

> imagine what it must have been like in the Middle Ages having your leg

> chopped off !

>

> As far as I can make out the op took about 4 hours. Back to the ward

> for 1.15pm, I am told. At that point I was not sure which planet I was

> on. Planet Morphine, I think. I was kept a good eye on for the next

> 24 hours and my pain relief kept up - one more shot of morphine, then

> onto paracetamol (tylenol?) which seems like good progress to me. Of

> course you cannot take it orally, so it goes (whisper) up yer bum !

>

> Wednesday - pain still needed controlling regularly, but I think I was

> able to talk a bit more sense by then. Went for a (whisper) wee

> unaided. Felt helpless and vulnerable and it was on that day that good

> nursing really really mattered, and not only efficiency. I cannot

> remember feeling so dependent in my life before. My chief carer was

> wonderful- made me feel safe. How I needed to feel safe!

>

> Thursday - went to the X-Ray department for barium swallow. It wasn't

> the cement they give you in a barium meal, just a bitter-tasting liquid

> - a lot easier to get down actually. The Radiologist was able to show

> me immediately on the video that liquid was getting through. He said

> " I would have thought it would have been quicker than that " but I think

> he was probably only used to normal oesophagi (getting posh and latin

> now). I was just relieved that it did not reveal any leaks, because

> that would have meant more treatment, not sure what - didn't ask !!

>

> A couple of hours later my Surgeon (aka God) came to see me and say that

> he was pleased. Bear in mind that I have had this disease for 16 years

> now so it was not too much of a shock to be told that the whole of the

> oesophagus is dilated and is like an S bend. But if it works in the

> kitchen, I don't see why it shouldn't do alright for me (lol).

>

> Friday - Allowed home, feeling indescribably happy, got the IV thingy

> taken home and felt like a 'loose woman' - nothing new there then.

>

> Visited just before departure by the Dietician who gave me some great

> ideas for meals. The by-word for me is " think sloppy " - weetabix (do you

> have that?), liquidised soups, ice cream (yeah!), yoghurt, puddings,

> custard, anything that mushes up- back to the mashed potato of the last

> Friday. When the Surgery was done, there was still food in there, can

> you believe it? BUT she also said, no fizzy drinks. She said that

> carbonation made you burp a lot and put pressure on the oesophagus.

> That comment worried me because I know that many of you use carbonation

> as a tool. Somebody may want to comment on that.

>

> Saturday - Happy. Could potter around but was very limited and could

> not lift a pan for example.(oh shucks! )

>

> Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - it just gets better. My strength and energy

> are ambling back and my incisions are looking clean. Four of them are

> stuck up with surgical glue and the top one is dressed because it was

> stitched (but will dissolve). I can shower and go in the bath and get

> completely clean and fresh, no worries. My appetite is not

> particularly good as yet, but that will improve with time. I have to

> stay on the sloppy diet for 4 weeks. That is fine by me. I have no

> desire to ruin my wonderful Surgeon's magnificent handiwork and also

> think I have a responsibility to myself to do the best I can for myself.

>

> - Everyone is different, but going by my progress I reckon you

> have a very good chance in making your vacation (unless you are planning

> to climb Mount Everest) and also the keyhole surgery really does not

> make a mess of your belly. The incisions are nothing to get excited

> about and they are a good excuse to treat yourself to a tankini, which

> looks great anyway.

>

> By now you are probably looking at the word 'Myotomy' and thinking it

> should say 'Monotony'. Sorry it's such a long post. It was not so

> that I could go on at length talking about myself. It was just to give

> the ones to follow me a few ideas of what to expect. I am sure I have

> left out lots of things, but I will answer any questions you need.

> Just don't take too long doing it. At the moment I can remember how it

> was, but next week? (well I am no spring chicken you know). LOL

>

> Love by the bucketload to everyone, from Ann in beautiful sunny England

> XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

>

[Guest guest]

Ann,

Thank you for all the useful info. It is great you have such a

positive outlook to life.

I have a minor question. You mentioned a shot to the stomach for

DVT. I've never had a shot in the stomach and thus was wondering how

painful it was (such as how it compares to a flu shot).

Also, did you have much nausea?

Thanks,

Vicki

>

>

> Well I have just had my second bath (had showers in between, I'm

not a

> total stink pot) and this time I managed to get out without help.

So I

> must be getting stronger. Also I have managed to peg the washing

on the

> line, which my sister had to do for me yesterday. So I am getting

> stronger day by day. This is how the last eleven days have gone

for me:

>

> Friday 26th May - 6pm, had my last solid food, if you can call it

that -

> mashed potato and grated cheese.

>

> Saturday - Tootled off to meet , Hannah and Meghan. has

> reported how I was of help to Hannah. What hasn't been mentioned

yet is

> that Hannah helped me. I met a perfectly normal, happy and pretty

> young Mum with a big future and a perfect child. She had had the

> myotomy and was already over the hurdle I was about to face. She

> helped me to hold on to my positivity and happiness. There's the

thing

> about friendship, it's hard to know who benefits most, the supposed

> giver or the supposed receiver.

>

> Stuart (husband) picked me up from the Coach Station and we met up

with

> our best (couple) friends and went out for a chin wag and a giggle

on my

> last night of freedom. The bar we went to was celebrating

someone's

> 40th Birthday and I had a happy evening.

>

> Sunday - Off to the Hospital. Put on clear fluids, which is all I

had

> had on Saturday anyway, and got to know the lady in the next bed,

Beth.

> Can you believe this? Beth had just had a lap HM for her

Achalasia.

> Same age as me, lives within one hour's drive - instant

friendship,lots

> to talk about, no time for worrying.

>

> Monday - Put on a saline drip and kept being visited by nurses for

blood

> tests, vitals etc. Also an injection to prevent DVT. That went

in my

> abdomen.

>

> Tuesday - 8.30am, a Doctor came to give me the consent form to

sign and

> the anaesthetist came to introduce himself. Asked if I was

allergic to

> anything and I said not that I knew of, but bear in mind it was my

first

> surgery and on the discharge papers it said that I had been

allergic to

> 'anaesthetic vapours'. Don't know what that means but will check

it

> out with the Consultant at my follow-up appt in 4-6 weeks. I have

> fantasies of me going all doo-lally on the operating table and

> levitating or something, but don't think it will be quite like

that.

>

> The surgery itself for the patient is nothing. You start out in

the

> ante-room, where they put the sedation into your IV thingy, can't

> remember the name. Then seconds later, it seems, you are in the

recovery

> room and a nurse is telling you it is all over. It's great

really. Just

> imagine what it must have been like in the Middle Ages having your

leg

> chopped off !

>

> As far as I can make out the op took about 4 hours. Back to the

ward

> for 1.15pm, I am told. At that point I was not sure which planet

I was

> on. Planet Morphine, I think. I was kept a good eye on for the

next

> 24 hours and my pain relief kept up - one more shot of morphine,

then

> onto paracetamol (tylenol?) which seems like good progress to me.

Of

> course you cannot take it orally, so it goes (whisper) up yer bum !

>

> Wednesday - pain still needed controlling regularly, but I think I

was

> able to talk a bit more sense by then. Went for a (whisper) wee

> unaided. Felt helpless and vulnerable and it was on that day that

good

> nursing really really mattered, and not only efficiency. I cannot

> remember feeling so dependent in my life before. My chief carer

was

> wonderful- made me feel safe. How I needed to feel safe!

>

> Thursday - went to the X-Ray department for barium swallow. It

wasn't

> the cement they give you in a barium meal, just a bitter-tasting

liquid

> - a lot easier to get down actually. The Radiologist was able to

show

> me immediately on the video that liquid was getting through. He

said

> " I would have thought it would have been quicker than that " but I

think

> he was probably only used to normal oesophagi (getting posh and

latin

> now). I was just relieved that it did not reveal any leaks,

because

> that would have meant more treatment, not sure what - didn't ask !!

>

> A couple of hours later my Surgeon (aka God) came to see me and

say that

> he was pleased. Bear in mind that I have had this disease for 16

years

> now so it was not too much of a shock to be told that the whole of

the

> oesophagus is dilated and is like an S bend. But if it works in

the

> kitchen, I don't see why it shouldn't do alright for me (lol).

>

> Friday - Allowed home, feeling indescribably happy, got the IV

thingy

> taken home and felt like a 'loose woman' - nothing new there then.

>

> Visited just before departure by the Dietician who gave me some

great

> ideas for meals. The by-word for me is " think sloppy " - weetabix

(do you

> have that?), liquidised soups, ice cream (yeah!), yoghurt,

puddings,

> custard, anything that mushes up- back to the mashed potato of the

last

> Friday. When the Surgery was done, there was still food in

there, can

> you believe it? BUT she also said, no fizzy drinks. She said

that

> carbonation made you burp a lot and put pressure on the

oesophagus.

> That comment worried me because I know that many of you use

carbonation

> as a tool. Somebody may want to comment on that.

>

> Saturday - Happy. Could potter around but was very limited and

could

> not lift a pan for example.(oh shucks! )

>

> Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - it just gets better. My strength and

energy

> are ambling back and my incisions are looking clean. Four of them

are

> stuck up with surgical glue and the top one is dressed because it

was

> stitched (but will dissolve). I can shower and go in the bath and

get

> completely clean and fresh, no worries. My appetite is not

> particularly good as yet, but that will improve with time. I have

to

> stay on the sloppy diet for 4 weeks. That is fine by me. I have

no

> desire to ruin my wonderful Surgeon's magnificent handiwork and

also

> think I have a responsibility to myself to do the best I can for

myself.

>

> - Everyone is different, but going by my progress I reckon

you

> have a very good chance in making your vacation (unless you are

planning

> to climb Mount Everest) and also the keyhole surgery really does

not

> make a mess of your belly. The incisions are nothing to get

excited

> about and they are a good excuse to treat yourself to a tankini,

which

> looks great anyway.

>

> By now you are probably looking at the word 'Myotomy' and thinking

it

> should say 'Monotony'. Sorry it's such a long post. It was not

so

> that I could go on at length talking about myself. It was just

to give

> the ones to follow me a few ideas of what to expect. I am sure I

have

> left out lots of things, but I will answer any questions you

need.

> Just don't take too long doing it. At the moment I can remember

how it

> was, but next week? (well I am no spring chicken you know). LOL

>

> Love by the bucketload to everyone, from Ann in beautiful sunny

England

> XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Vicki,

I have, by chance already answered some of your questions by diving straight on to the New topic section before I read the messages and got up to date for today. I must get myself more organised ! - lol.

Reading your question made me realise that I had actually made a mistake. It was the anti-DVT shots that went in the stomach. The nausea injections go in through the IV thingy in your hand. (Please somebody tell me the proper name, I can't go on calling it a thingy). These sting slightly but nothing bad and good grief, are they worth it !!

The DVT shots are only a small needle. Don't look - it really works ! It does for me anyway, makes the difference between passing out during a blood test and hardly noticing a thing - honestly !

I have never had a flu shot, so I can't compare for you. All I can say is that it is no big deal. If you have a supportive nursing staff to look after you, there is nothing at all to fear.

Love to you from Ann xxx> >> > > > Well I have just had my second bath (had showers in between, I'm > not a> > total stink pot) and this time I managed to get out without help. > So I> > must be getting stronger. Also I have managed to peg the washing > on the> > line, which my sister had to do for me yesterday. So I am getting> > stronger day by day. This is how the last eleven days have gone > for me:> > > > Friday 26th May - 6pm, had my last solid food, if you can call it > that -> > mashed potato and grated cheese.> > > > Saturday - Tootled off to meet , Hannah and Meghan. has> > reported how I was of help to Hannah. What hasn't been mentioned > yet is> > that Hannah helped me. I met a perfectly normal, happy and pretty> > young Mum with a big future and a perfect child. She had had the> > myotomy and was already over the hurdle I was about to face. She> > helped me to hold on to my positivity and happiness. There's the > thing> > about friendship, it's hard to know who benefits most, the supposed> > giver or the supposed receiver.> > > > Stuart (husband) picked me up from the Coach Station and we met up > with> > our best (couple) friends and went out for a chin wag and a giggle > on my> > last night of freedom. The bar we went to was celebrating > someone's> > 40th Birthday and I had a happy evening.> > > > Sunday - Off to the Hospital. Put on clear fluids, which is all I > had> > had on Saturday anyway, and got to know the lady in the next bed, > Beth. > > Can you believe this? Beth had just had a lap HM for her > Achalasia.> > Same age as me, lives within one hour's drive - instant > friendship,lots> > to talk about, no time for worrying.> > > > Monday - Put on a saline drip and kept being visited by nurses for > blood> > tests, vitals etc. Also an injection to prevent DVT. That went > in my> > abdomen.> > > > Tuesday - 8.30am, a Doctor came to give me the consent form to > sign and> > the anaesthetist came to introduce himself. Asked if I was > allergic to> > anything and I said not that I knew of, but bear in mind it was my > first> > surgery and on the discharge papers it said that I had been > allergic to> > 'anaesthetic vapours'. Don't know what that means but will check > it> > out with the Consultant at my follow-up appt in 4-6 weeks. I have> > fantasies of me going all doo-lally on the operating table and> > levitating or something, but don't think it will be quite like > that.> > > > The surgery itself for the patient is nothing. You start out in > the> > ante-room, where they put the sedation into your IV thingy, can't> > remember the name. Then seconds later, it seems, you are in the > recovery> > room and a nurse is telling you it is all over. It's great > really. Just> > imagine what it must have been like in the Middle Ages having your > leg> > chopped off !> > > > As far as I can make out the op took about 4 hours. Back to the > ward> > for 1.15pm, I am told. At that point I was not sure which planet > I was> > on. Planet Morphine, I think. I was kept a good eye on for the > next> > 24 hours and my pain relief kept up - one more shot of morphine, > then> > onto paracetamol (tylenol?) which seems like good progress to me. > Of> > course you cannot take it orally, so it goes (whisper) up yer bum !> > > > Wednesday - pain still needed controlling regularly, but I think I > was> > able to talk a bit more sense by then. Went for a (whisper) wee> > unaided. Felt helpless and vulnerable and it was on that day that > good> > nursing really really mattered, and not only efficiency. I cannot> > remember feeling so dependent in my life before. My chief carer > was> > wonderful- made me feel safe. How I needed to feel safe!> > > > Thursday - went to the X-Ray department for barium swallow. It > wasn't> > the cement they give you in a barium meal, just a bitter-tasting > liquid> > - a lot easier to get down actually. The Radiologist was able to > show> > me immediately on the video that liquid was getting through. He > said> > "I would have thought it would have been quicker than that" but I > think> > he was probably only used to normal oesophagi (getting posh and > latin> > now). I was just relieved that it did not reveal any leaks, > because> > that would have meant more treatment, not sure what - didn't ask !!> > > > A couple of hours later my Surgeon (aka God) came to see me and > say that> > he was pleased. Bear in mind that I have had this disease for 16 > years> > now so it was not too much of a shock to be told that the whole of > the> > oesophagus is dilated and is like an S bend. But if it works in > the> > kitchen, I don't see why it shouldn't do alright for me (lol).> > > > Friday - Allowed home, feeling indescribably happy, got the IV > thingy> > taken home and felt like a 'loose woman' - nothing new there then.> > > > Visited just before departure by the Dietician who gave me some > great> > ideas for meals. The by-word for me is "think sloppy"- weetabix > (do you> > have that?), liquidised soups, ice cream (yeah!), yoghurt, > puddings,> > custard, anything that mushes up- back to the mashed potato of the > last> > Friday. When the Surgery was done, there was still food in > there, can> > you believe it? BUT she also said, no fizzy drinks. She said > that> > carbonation made you burp a lot and put pressure on the > oesophagus. > > That comment worried me because I know that many of you use > carbonation> > as a tool. Somebody may want to comment on that.> > > > Saturday - Happy. Could potter around but was very limited and > could> > not lift a pan for example.(oh shucks! )> > > > Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - it just gets better. My strength and > energy> > are ambling back and my incisions are looking clean. Four of them > are> > stuck up with surgical glue and the top one is dressed because it > was> > stitched (but will dissolve). I can shower and go in the bath and > get> > completely clean and fresh, no worries. My appetite is not> > particularly good as yet, but that will improve with time. I have > to> > stay on the sloppy diet for 4 weeks. That is fine by me. I have > no> > desire to ruin my wonderful Surgeon's magnificent handiwork and > also> > think I have a responsibility to myself to do the best I can for > myself.> > > > - Everyone is different, but going by my progress I reckon > you> > have a very good chance in making your vacation (unless you are > planning> > to climb Mount Everest) and also the keyhole surgery really does > not> > make a mess of your belly. The incisions are nothing to get > excited> > about and they are a good excuse to treat yourself to a tankini, > which> > looks great anyway.> > > > By now you are probably looking at the word 'Myotomy' and thinking > it> > should say 'Monotony'. Sorry it's such a long post. It was not > so> > that I could go on at length talking about myself. It was just > to give> > the ones to follow me a few ideas of what to expect. I am sure I > have> > left out lots of things, but I will answer any questions you > need. > > Just don't take too long doing it. At the moment I can remember > how it> > was, but next week? (well I am no spring chicken you know). LOL> > > > Love by the bucketload to everyone, from Ann in beautiful sunny > England> > XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX> >>

[Guest guest]

Ann, you are a delight!

Joy in sunny San

>

>

> Well I have just had my second bath (had showers in between, I'm

not a

> total stink pot) and this time I managed to get out without help.

So I

> must be getting stronger. Also I have managed to peg the washing

on the

> line, which my sister had to do for me yesterday. So I am getting

> stronger day by day. This is how the last eleven days have gone

for me:

>

> Friday 26th May - 6pm, had my last solid food, if you can call it

that -

> mashed potato and grated cheese.

>

> Saturday - Tootled off to meet , Hannah and Meghan. has

> reported how I was of help to Hannah. What hasn't been mentioned

yet is

> that Hannah helped me. I met a perfectly normal, happy and pretty

> young Mum with a big future and a perfect child. She had had the

> myotomy and was already over the hurdle I was about to face. She

> helped me to hold on to my positivity and happiness. There's the

thing

> about friendship, it's hard to know who benefits most, the supposed

> giver or the supposed receiver.

>

> Stuart (husband) picked me up from the Coach Station and we met up

with

> our best (couple) friends and went out for a chin wag and a giggle

on my

> last night of freedom. The bar we went to was celebrating

someone's

> 40th Birthday and I had a happy evening.

>

> Sunday - Off to the Hospital. Put on clear fluids, which is all I

had

> had on Saturday anyway, and got to know the lady in the next bed,

Beth.

> Can you believe this? Beth had just had a lap HM for her

Achalasia.

> Same age as me, lives within one hour's drive - instant

friendship,lots

> to talk about, no time for worrying.

>

> Monday - Put on a saline drip and kept being visited by nurses for

blood

> tests, vitals etc. Also an injection to prevent DVT. That went

in my

> abdomen.

>

> Tuesday - 8.30am, a Doctor came to give me the consent form to

sign and

> the anaesthetist came to introduce himself. Asked if I was

allergic to

> anything and I said not that I knew of, but bear in mind it was my

first

> surgery and on the discharge papers it said that I had been

allergic to

> 'anaesthetic vapours'. Don't know what that means but will check

it

> out with the Consultant at my follow-up appt in 4-6 weeks. I have

> fantasies of me going all doo-lally on the operating table and

> levitating or something, but don't think it will be quite like

that.

>

> The surgery itself for the patient is nothing. You start out in

the

> ante-room, where they put the sedation into your IV thingy, can't

> remember the name. Then seconds later, it seems, you are in the

recovery

> room and a nurse is telling you it is all over. It's great

really. Just

> imagine what it must have been like in the Middle Ages having your

leg

> chopped off !

>

> As far as I can make out the op took about 4 hours. Back to the

ward

> for 1.15pm, I am told. At that point I was not sure which planet

I was

> on. Planet Morphine, I think. I was kept a good eye on for the

next

> 24 hours and my pain relief kept up - one more shot of morphine,

then

> onto paracetamol (tylenol?) which seems like good progress to me.

Of

> course you cannot take it orally, so it goes (whisper) up yer bum !

>

> Wednesday - pain still needed controlling regularly, but I think I

was

> able to talk a bit more sense by then. Went for a (whisper) wee

> unaided. Felt helpless and vulnerable and it was on that day that

good

> nursing really really mattered, and not only efficiency. I cannot

> remember feeling so dependent in my life before. My chief carer

was

> wonderful- made me feel safe. How I needed to feel safe!

>

> Thursday - went to the X-Ray department for barium swallow. It

wasn't

> the cement they give you in a barium meal, just a bitter-tasting

liquid

> - a lot easier to get down actually. The Radiologist was able to

show

> me immediately on the video that liquid was getting through. He

said

> " I would have thought it would have been quicker than that " but I

think

> he was probably only used to normal oesophagi (getting posh and

latin

> now). I was just relieved that it did not reveal any leaks,

because

> that would have meant more treatment, not sure what - didn't ask !!

>

> A couple of hours later my Surgeon (aka God) came to see me and

say that

> he was pleased. Bear in mind that I have had this disease for 16

years

> now so it was not too much of a shock to be told that the whole of

the

> oesophagus is dilated and is like an S bend. But if it works in

the

> kitchen, I don't see why it shouldn't do alright for me (lol).

>

> Friday - Allowed home, feeling indescribably happy, got the IV

thingy

> taken home and felt like a 'loose woman' - nothing new there then.

>

> Visited just before departure by the Dietician who gave me some

great

> ideas for meals. The by-word for me is " think sloppy " - weetabix

(do you

> have that?), liquidised soups, ice cream (yeah!), yoghurt,

puddings,

> custard, anything that mushes up- back to the mashed potato of the

last

> Friday. When the Surgery was done, there was still food in

there, can

> you believe it? BUT she also said, no fizzy drinks. She said

that

> carbonation made you burp a lot and put pressure on the

oesophagus.

> That comment worried me because I know that many of you use

carbonation

> as a tool. Somebody may want to comment on that.

>

> Saturday - Happy. Could potter around but was very limited and

could

> not lift a pan for example.(oh shucks! )

>

> Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - it just gets better. My strength and

energy

> are ambling back and my incisions are looking clean. Four of them

are

> stuck up with surgical glue and the top one is dressed because it

was

> stitched (but will dissolve). I can shower and go in the bath and

get

> completely clean and fresh, no worries. My appetite is not

> particularly good as yet, but that will improve with time. I have

to

> stay on the sloppy diet for 4 weeks. That is fine by me. I have

no

> desire to ruin my wonderful Surgeon's magnificent handiwork and

also

> think I have a responsibility to myself to do the best I can for

myself.

>

> - Everyone is different, but going by my progress I reckon

you

> have a very good chance in making your vacation (unless you are

planning

> to climb Mount Everest) and also the keyhole surgery really does

not

> make a mess of your belly. The incisions are nothing to get

excited

> about and they are a good excuse to treat yourself to a tankini,

which

> looks great anyway.

>

> By now you are probably looking at the word 'Myotomy' and thinking

it

> should say 'Monotony'. Sorry it's such a long post. It was not

so

> that I could go on at length talking about myself. It was just

to give

> the ones to follow me a few ideas of what to expect. I am sure I

have

> left out lots of things, but I will answer any questions you

need.

> Just don't take too long doing it. At the moment I can remember

how it

> was, but next week? (well I am no spring chicken you know). LOL

>

> Love by the bucketload to everyone, from Ann in beautiful sunny

England

> XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

>