Re: My Esophagectomy Post-op update...

[Guest guest]

,

It was good to hear from you. Continue taking your time with your recovery; your health comes before all else. Get your strength back, then go about the business of living. Thanks for checking in and keeping us updated.

In a message dated 9/8/2006 1:46:46 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, ksun37@... writes:

hey everyone,I just wanted to put my 2 cents on my current state of health from myesophagectomy 2 1/2 months ago....So far so good...to a degree....my swallowing is alot better, but ihave to sip a little water to push down difficult solid food, unless ieat the smallest morsal of food and chew it very very well...then itwill go down w/out water. Soups, mushy stuff grits or pudding, andcereals go down very well. I guess my esophagus is truly dead inregards to no parastaltic and dysphagia. Before it used to takegargantuan amounts of water just to push cereal down or evenpudding..sheesh..Most importantly my chronic GERD and heartburns are almostnon-existent...after 2 hellar myotomies and 1 dor fundoplication...myheartburns and acid-reflux is no more...well, i get a small heartburn,but Dr. Patti from UCSF cut the nerves that tell the brain to secreteacid from the lining of my stomach...so my acid isn't as acidic as itwas before. Also my esophagitis was also making my LES area swollenand red and made it difficult to swallow even water.Has anyone in this group have your fonduplication fail as bad as minedid that you'd have chronic, painful acid-reflux and heartburn almostevery day or have one that is almost several hours in a day?I wish i could've gotten a smaller, evasive surgery, but gettinganother hellar myotomy and/or fonduplication would be pointless,according to all my doctors, because i was in a catch-22 where if theydo another hellar myotomy then i would get more chronic acid refluxand if i get a fonduplication and make the stomach wrap tighter...thenmy swallowing would be more difficult. So my esophagectomy is theonly option i had left according to my doctors. Also i just found out that my esophagus was twisting a littleaccording to my barium swallow, so its good that i got this surgery.Now i got some post-op/recovery symptoms...mostly shortness of breath,hypoglycemia, and i get dizzy spells...To those who got a transthoracic esophagectomy: did you getdizzy/vertigo spells during the next 2-3 months after surgery?But other than that i'm just keeping busy, but not over exertingmyself...i'm taking classes part-time to finish my post bachelorsdegree and i'm trying to exercise a little, but not trying to exhaustmyself to the point of fainting....I get a little down cuz i'm not doing the things that i wanna do likestart working again or going out with my friends, but i'm realizingthe fact that my health comes first above anything else...both mindand body. I mean i'm only 26 years old, and everyone says i got mywhole life ahead of me.I'll end here...i'm alright for the most part and slowly trying to getmy life back in order without the symptoms of this debilitating andrare esophageal disorder we all call achalasia...So if any of you facing this surgery...let me know i can give you anyinfo and life experience to offer any of you. from San Francisco

[Guest guest]

, Hang in there and try and do things that you enjoy. Living with this is difficult, but with thesupport of others who are going through the same things at least you know you are not alone. Taking care of your health has to come first, this is something that we all had to learn the hard way. big hugs, lecynmark24@... wrote: , It was good to hear from you. Continue taking your time with your recovery; your health comes before all else. Get your strength back, then go about the business of living. Thanks for checking in and keeping us updated. In a message dated 9/8/2006 1:46:46 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, ksun37sbcglobal (DOT) net writes: hey everyone,I just wanted to put my 2 cents on my current state of health from myesophagectomy 2 1/2 months ago....So far so good...to a

degree....my swallowing is alot better, but ihave to sip a little water to push down difficult solid food, unless ieat the smallest morsal of food and chew it very very well...then itwill go down w/out water. Soups, mushy stuff grits or pudding, andcereals go down very well. I guess my esophagus is truly dead inregards to no parastaltic and dysphagia. Before it used to takegargantuan amounts of water just to push cereal down or evenpudding..sheesh..Most importantly my chronic GERD and heartburns are almostnon-existent...after 2 hellar myotomies and 1 dor fundoplication...myheartburns and acid-reflux is no more...well, i get a small heartburn,but Dr. Patti from UCSF cut the nerves that tell the brain to secreteacid from the lining of my stomach...so my acid isn't as acidic as itwas before. Also my esophagitis was also making my LES area swollenand red and made it difficult to swallow even

water.Has anyone in this group have your fonduplication fail as bad as minedid that you'd have chronic, painful acid-reflux and heartburn almostevery day or have one that is almost several hours in a day?I wish i could've gotten a smaller, evasive surgery, but gettinganother hellar myotomy and/or fonduplication would be pointless,according to all my doctors, because i was in a catch-22 where if theydo another hellar myotomy then i would get more chronic acid refluxand if i get a fonduplication and make the stomach wrap tighter...thenmy swallowing would be more difficult. So my esophagectomy is theonly option i had left according to my doctors. Also i just found out that my esophagus was twisting a littleaccording to my barium swallow, so its good that i got this surgery.Now i got some post-op/recovery symptoms...mostly shortness of breath,hypoglycemia, and i get dizzy spells...To those who got

a transthoracic esophagectomy: did you getdizzy/vertigo spells during the next 2-3 months after surgery?But other than that i'm just keeping busy, but not over exertingmyself...i'm taking classes part-time to finish my post bachelorsdegree and i'm trying to exercise a little, but not trying to exhaustmyself to the point of fainting....I get a little down cuz i'm not doing the things that i wanna do likestart working again or going out with my friends, but i'm realizingthe fact that my health comes first above anything else...both mindand body. I mean i'm only 26 years old, and everyone says i got mywhole life ahead of me.I'll end here...i'm alright for the most part and slowly trying to getmy life back in order without the symptoms of this debilitating andrare esophageal disorder we all call achalasia...So if any of you facing this surgery...let me know i can give you anyinfo and life experience to

offer any of you. from San Francisco

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks so much for your progress note.

Having to face esophegectomy myself, I appreciate you sharing. It sounds like

you are moving in more healthy, positive direction. Best of luck to you.

Z.

From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006

10:43 AM

achalasia

Subject: My

Esophagectomy Post-op update...

hey everyone,

I just wanted to put my 2 cents on my current state of health from my

esophagectomy 2 1/2 months ago....

So far so good...to a degree....my swallowing is alot better, but i

have to sip a little water to push down difficult solid food, unless i

eat the smallest morsal of food and chew it very very well...then it

will go down w/out water. Soups, mushy stuff grits or pudding, and

cereals go down very well. I guess my esophagus is truly dead in

regards to no parastaltic and dysphagia. Before it used to take

gargantuan amounts of water just to push cereal down or even

pudding..sheesh..

Most importantly my chronic GERD and heartburns are almost

non-existent...after 2 hellar myotomies and 1 dor fundoplication...my

heartburns and acid-reflux is no more...well, i get a small heartburn,

but Dr. Patti from UCSF cut the nerves that tell the brain to secrete

acid from the lining of my stomach...so my acid isn't as acidic as it

was before. Also my esophagitis was also making my LES area swollen

and red and made it difficult to swallow even water.

Has anyone in this group have your fonduplication fail as bad as mine

did that you'd have chronic, painful acid-reflux and heartburn almost

every day or have one that is almost several hours in a day?

I wish i could've gotten a smaller, evasive surgery, but getting

another hellar myotomy and/or fonduplication would be pointless,

according to all my doctors, because i was in a catch-22 where if they

do another hellar myotomy then i would get more chronic acid reflux

and if i get a fonduplication and make the stomach wrap tighter...then

my swallowing would be more difficult. So my esophagectomy is the

only option i had left according to my doctors.

Also i just found out that my esophagus was twisting a little

according to my barium swallow, so its good that i got this surgery.

Now i got some post-op/recovery symptoms...mostly shortness of breath,

hypoglycemia, and i get dizzy spells...

To those who got a transthoracic esophagectomy: did you get

dizzy/vertigo spells during the next 2-3 months after surgery?

But other than that i'm just keeping busy, but not over exerting

myself...i'm taking classes part-time to finish my post bachelors

degree and i'm trying to exercise a little, but not trying to exhaust

myself to the point of fainting....

I get a little down cuz i'm not doing the things that i wanna do like

start working again or going out with my friends, but i'm realizing

the fact that my health comes first above anything else...both mind

and body. I mean i'm only 26 years old, and everyone says i got my

whole life ahead of me.

I'll end here...i'm alright for the most part and slowly trying to get

my life back in order without the symptoms of this debilitating and

rare esophageal disorder we all call achalasia...

So if any of you facing this surgery...let me know i can give you any

info and life experience to offer any of you.

from San Francisco

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

It's nice to hear that you are healing so well! That's a big

surgery to recover from and it sounds like you are healing

perfectly. It's great to know that even in a case that the E has to

be removed, that there are people like you who have had a happy

outcome with the surgery. Now, in the esophgectomy is the LES

removed or streched upwards with the stomach? I think it's that

stupid constricted LES that causes 90% of the problems more so than

the lack of peristalsis. And if it's too weak you get the refulx

like you had. Is the shortness of breath with activity or at rest?

Did the Dr say whats causing the hypoglycemia? Perhaps the body

learing to digest food again.

Anyways, great to hear from you again!

in Michigan

>

> hey everyone,

>

> I just wanted to put my 2 cents on my current state of health from

my

> esophagectomy 2 1/2 months ago....

>

> So far so good...to a degree....my swallowing is alot better, but i

> have to sip a little water to push down difficult solid food,

unless i

> eat the smallest morsal of food and chew it very very well...then

it

> will go down w/out water. Soups, mushy stuff grits or pudding, and

> cereals go down very well. I guess my esophagus is truly dead in

> regards to no parastaltic and dysphagia. Before it used to take

> gargantuan amounts of water just to push cereal down or even

> pudding..sheesh..

>

> Most importantly my chronic GERD and heartburns are almost

> non-existent...after 2 hellar myotomies and 1 dor

fundoplication...my

> heartburns and acid-reflux is no more...well, i get a small

heartburn,

> but Dr. Patti from UCSF cut the nerves that tell the brain to

secrete

> acid from the lining of my stomach...so my acid isn't as acidic as

it

> was before. Also my esophagitis was also making my LES area

swollen

> and red and made it difficult to swallow even water.

>

> Has anyone in this group have your fonduplication fail as bad as

mine

> did that you'd have chronic, painful acid-reflux and heartburn

almost

> every day or have one that is almost several hours in a day?

>

> I wish i could've gotten a smaller, evasive surgery, but getting

> another hellar myotomy and/or fonduplication would be pointless,

> according to all my doctors, because i was in a catch-22 where if

they

> do another hellar myotomy then i would get more chronic acid reflux

> and if i get a fonduplication and make the stomach wrap

tighter...then

> my swallowing would be more difficult. So my esophagectomy is the

> only option i had left according to my doctors.

>

> Also i just found out that my esophagus was twisting a little

> according to my barium swallow, so its good that i got this

surgery.

>

> Now i got some post-op/recovery symptoms...mostly shortness of

breath,

> hypoglycemia, and i get dizzy spells...

>

> To those who got a transthoracic esophagectomy: did you get

> dizzy/vertigo spells during the next 2-3 months after surgery?

>

> But other than that i'm just keeping busy, but not over exerting

> myself...i'm taking classes part-time to finish my post bachelors

> degree and i'm trying to exercise a little, but not trying to

exhaust

> myself to the point of fainting....

>

> I get a little down cuz i'm not doing the things that i wanna do

like

> start working again or going out with my friends, but i'm realizing

> the fact that my health comes first above anything else...both mind

> and body. I mean i'm only 26 years old, and everyone says i got my

> whole life ahead of me.

>

> I'll end here...i'm alright for the most part and slowly trying to

get

> my life back in order without the symptoms of this debilitating and

> rare esophageal disorder we all call achalasia...

>

> So if any of you facing this surgery...let me know i can give you

any

> info and life experience to offer any of you.

>

> from San Francisco

>

[Guest guest]

,

Great to hear from you. I get the impression that you feel you are better post op than pre op so in the long run it well be worth it. Most people say there is a magic 6 month spot where you suddenly feel a lot better and then improvement really accelerates.

I did send you a post a little while ago asking about the breathlessness. Is this just due to fatigue or is it something to do with your new oesophagus? Any ideas?

Thanks and all the best

STEVE

My Esophagectomy Post-op update...

hey everyone,I just wanted to put my 2 cents on my current state of health from myesophagectomy 2 1/2 months ago....So far so good...to a degree....my swallowing is alot better, but ihave to sip a little water to push down difficult solid food, unless ieat the smallest morsal of food and chew it very very well...then itwill go down w/out water. Soups, mushy stuff grits or pudding, andcereals go down very well. I guess my esophagus is truly dead inregards to no parastaltic and dysphagia. Before it used to takegargantuan amounts of water just to push cereal down or evenpudding..sheesh. .Most importantly my chronic GERD and heartburns are almostnon-existent. ..after 2 hellar myotomies and 1 dor fundoplication. ..myheartburns and acid-reflux is no more...well, i get a small heartburn,but Dr. Patti from UCSF cut the nerves that tell the brain to secreteacid from the lining of my stomach...so my acid isn't

as acidic as itwas before. Also my esophagitis was also making my LES area swollenand red and made it difficult to swallow even water.Has anyone in this group have your fonduplication fail as bad as minedid that you'd have chronic, painful acid-reflux and heartburn almostevery day or have one that is almost several hours in a day?I wish i could've gotten a smaller, evasive surgery, but gettinganother hellar myotomy and/or fonduplication would be pointless,according to all my doctors, because i was in a catch-22 where if theydo another hellar myotomy then i would get more chronic acid refluxand if i get a fonduplication and make the stomach wrap tighter...thenmy swallowing would be more difficult. So my esophagectomy is theonly option i had left according to my doctors. Also i just found out that my esophagus was twisting a littleaccording to my barium swallow, so its good that i got this

surgery.Now i got some post-op/recovery symptoms...mostly shortness of breath,hypoglycemia, and i get dizzy spells...To those who got a transthoracic esophagectomy: did you getdizzy/vertigo spells during the next 2-3 months after surgery?But other than that i'm just keeping busy, but not over exertingmyself...i'm taking classes part-time to finish my post bachelorsdegree and i'm trying to exercise a little, but not trying to exhaustmyself to the point of fainting....I get a little down cuz i'm not doing the things that i wanna do likestart working again or going out with my friends, but i'm realizingthe fact that my health comes first above anything else...both mindand body. I mean i'm only 26 years old, and everyone says i got mywhole life ahead of me.I'll end here...i'm alright for the most part and slowly trying to getmy life back in order without the symptoms of this debilitating

andrare esophageal disorder we all call achalasia...So if any of you facing this surgery...let me know i can give you anyinfo and life experience to offer any of you. from San Francisco