Guest guest Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Hi Notan Right lets start with your good news. That's really encouraging news for the members who have had their HM surgery to know that your barium swallow showed a big improvement in your swallowing and the condition of you esophagus. You must have been very happy to hear that news. Unfortunately then you got the bad news which I am so sorry that you had to hear you must wonder what on earth is going to be thrown at you next. I was also diagnosed with the same hernia as you when I had my barium swallow, I went to see my surgeon who said the very same thing as you. There are 2 types of hernia 1 is where the stomach goes up into the esophagus (sliding hernia) which is a shorter and easier operation the other which you and I were both diagnosed with (they call it a rolling hernia also) is where the stomach pushes its why through the hernia wall and it ends up along side the esophagus which is a more difficult and longer operation. My surgeon wanted me to have a CT scan also before my surgery just so he could have more of an idea as to how much of the stomach had gone through the hiatus wall and if it had managed to wrap itself around any other organs he did warn me that that was a possibility. My CT scan then showed that in fact the Dr who had taken the Barium X ray had in fact got the diagnoses wrong and in fact all my problems was in fact Achalasia!!!!!!! The stomach and hiatus wall were in tact and in the right place so unlike you I never had to face the surgery for the hernia I had open surgery for my HM instead. Good luck with your meeting with you GI doctor please let us know how it goes, you may well be looking at further surgery although my surgeon said they only perform surgery on this type of hernia if it is causing major health problems, so you may be lucky and be told that they are going to leave well alone. Pippa x -- Update I had my surgery a little over a year ago. I had a barium swallow three weeks ago. The good news is that as far as swallowing goes I have no reason even remember that I ever had achalasia. I generally don't even need to drink with a meal. I ate too much over the holidays. The radiologist said the wrap looks like it is working and there is no longer any dilation of the esophagus. I am happy about that. Now for the bad. Not a real big deal, but I have been holding this back because I didn't want to get into speculating about it, and at first I did not believe it. This goes back to last summer when, and you may remember, I had a CT (CAT scan) for another problem. The thing about CTs is that they can find a lot more than what you are looking for. In my case there were three things besides what it was looking for. Among those the report noted that I had a large hiatal hernia. When I saw that I thought no way. First it is rare to have achalasia and have a hiatal hernia. It does happen but you have to really be unlucky. Also, with my myotomy I received a wrap. Not just any wrap but a Toupet. Unlike the DOR which many have received the Toupet wraps around the back and almost all the way around the esophagus. One of the benefits of the Toupet is that it is suppose to prevent hiatal hernia. Or, so I thought. It is kind of true. It prevents the typical hiatal hernia because it acts like a knot at the bottom of the esophagus and prevents the LES from moving up through the hiatus. My LES is where it should be, so in that regard it worked. However, the barium swallow confirmed that I have a less common kind of hernia called a paraesophageal hernia. Half of my stomach has been pushed around the wrap and up through the hiatus into my chest. Half is above and half is below. This is not a good thing. I will see my GI tomorrow and I suspect that he will advise me to have another surgery. I will let you know. Don't let this worry any of you that are thinking about treatment for achalasia. This may have had nothing to do with my surgery and I may just be very unlucky. I don't remember this happening to anyone else in our group. Even if it turns out that there was some connection to the surgery it has to be an uncommon one. I just hope this doesn't effect the good results I have had up until now. I am having heartburn now and the radiologist said that is probably from the hernia and not the wrap going bad. In time that can be a problem though, so I am hoping for some good news tomorrow. Oh, I also had another CT two weeks ago and it has nothing to do with all this. With the holidays and all I have not yet gotten around to getting my results. No news is good news, I hope. No more surprises. notan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Notan- I am also very sorry to hear of your problems with the hernia.I hope you can get some incouraging news from your Drs appointment.Please do let us know how things go.I will be thinking of you.Best of luck-Tonia > > Hi Notan > > Right lets start with your good news. > > That's really encouraging news for the members who have had their HM surgery > to know that your barium swallow showed a big improvement in your swallowing > and the condition of you esophagus. You must have been very happy to hear > that news. > > Unfortunately then you got the bad news which I am so sorry that you had to > hear you must wonder what on earth is going to be thrown at you next. > > I was also diagnosed with the same hernia as you when I had my barium > swallow, I went to see my surgeon who said the very same thing as you. > There are 2 types of hernia 1 is where the stomach goes up into the > esophagus (sliding hernia) which is a shorter and easier operation the other > which you and I were both diagnosed with (they call it a rolling hernia > also) is where the stomach pushes its why through the hernia wall and it > ends up along side the esophagus which is a more difficult and longer > operation. > My surgeon wanted me to have a CT scan also before my surgery just so he > could have more of an idea as to how much of the stomach had gone through > the hiatus wall and if it had managed to wrap itself around any other organs > he did warn me that that was a possibility. > My CT scan then showed that in fact the Dr who had taken the Barium X ray > had in fact got the diagnoses wrong and in fact all my problems was in fact > Achalasia!!!!!!! The stomach and hiatus wall were in tact and in the right > place so unlike you I never had to face the surgery for the hernia I had > open surgery for my HM instead. > > Good luck with your meeting with you GI doctor please let us know how it > goes, you may well be looking at further surgery although my surgeon said > they only perform surgery on this type of hernia if it is causing major > health problems, so you may be lucky and be told that they are going to > leave well alone. > > > Pippa x > > > -- Update > > I had my surgery a little over a year ago. I had a barium swallow three > weeks ago. The good news is that as far as swallowing goes I have no reason > even remember that I ever had achalasia. I generally don't even need to > drink with a meal. I ate too much over the holidays. The radiologist said > the wrap looks like it is working and there is no longer any dilation of the > esophagus. I am happy about that. Now for the bad. Not a real big deal, but > I have been holding this back because I didn't want to get into speculating > about it, and at first I did not believe it. This goes back to last summer > when, and you may remember, I had a CT (CAT scan) for another problem. The > thing about CTs is that they can find a lot more than what you are looking > for. In my case there were three things besides what it was looking for. > Among those the report noted that I had a large hiatal hernia. When I saw > that I thought no way. First it is rare to have achalasia and have a hiatal > hernia. It does happen but you have to really be unlucky. Also, with my > myotomy I received a wrap. Not just any wrap but a Toupet. Unlike the DOR > which many have received the Toupet wraps around the back and almost all the > way around the esophagus. One of the benefits of the Toupet is that it is > suppose to prevent hiatal hernia. Or, so I thought. It is kind of true. It > prevents the typical hiatal hernia because it acts like a knot at the bottom > of the esophagus and prevents the LES from moving up through the hiatus. My > LES is where it should be, so in that regard it worked. However, the barium > swallow confirmed that I have a less common kind of hernia called a > paraesophageal hernia. Half of my stomach has been pushed around the wrap > and up through the hiatus into my chest. Half is above and half is below. > This is not a good thing. I will see my GI tomorrow and I suspect that he > will advise me to have another surgery. I will let you know. > > Don't let this worry any of you that are thinking about treatment for > achalasia. This may have had nothing to do with my surgery and I may just be > very unlucky. I don't remember this happening to anyone else in our group. > Even if it turns out that there was some connection to the surgery it has to > be an uncommon one. I just hope this doesn't effect the good results I have > had up until now. I am having heartburn now and the radiologist said that is > probably from the hernia and not the wrap going bad. In time that can be a > problem though, so I am hoping for some good news tomorrow. Oh, I also had > another CT two weeks ago and it has nothing to do with all this. With the > holidays and all I have not yet gotten around to getting my results. No news > is good news, I hope. No more surprises. > > notan > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Hallo Notan! I hope the talk with your GI is productive and that this problem can be solved. I'm thinking of you across the miles! Anita in Germany Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Notan, I was told that I had a hiatus hernia too befor I had my second surgery. When the doctor opened me up and got a good look there was not a hernia but the wrap was to tight and not in the best position. Along with how distorted my "E" is that gave the appearence of the hernia. After taking down the wrap and extending the myotomy and leaving the wrap off I am having very few problems. I hope you can get things worked out soon. in GeorgiaPippa <kevin.brown150@...> wrote: Hi Notan Right lets start with your good news. That's really encouraging news for the members who have had their HM surgery to know that your barium swallow showed a big improvement in your swallowing and the condition of you esophagus. You must have been very happy to hear that news. Unfortunately then you got the bad news which I am so sorry that you had to hear you must wonder what on earth is going to be thrown at you next. I was also diagnosed with the same hernia as you when I had my barium swallow, I went to see my surgeon who said the very same thing as you. There are 2 types of hernia 1 is where the stomach goes up into the esophagus (sliding hernia) which is a shorter and easier operation the other which you and I were both diagnosed with (they call it a rolling hernia also) is where the stomach pushes its why through the hernia wall and it ends up along side the esophagus which is a more difficult and longer operation. My surgeon wanted me to have a CT scan also before my surgery just so he could have more of an idea as to how much of the stomach had gone through the hiatus wall and if it had managed to wrap itself around any other organs he did warn me that that was a possibility. My CT scan then showed that in fact the Dr who had taken the Barium X ray had in fact got the diagnoses wrong and in fact all my problems was in fact Achalasia!!!!!!! The stomach and hiatus wall were in tact and in the right place so unlike you I never had to face the surgery for the hernia I had open surgery for my HM instead. Good luck with your meeting with you GI doctor please let us know how it goes, you may well be looking at further surgery although my surgeon said they only perform surgery on this type of hernia if it is causing major health problems, so you may be lucky and be told that they are going to leave well alone. Pippa x -- Update I had my surgery a little over a year ago. I had a barium swallow three weeks ago. The good news is that as far as swallowing goes I have no reason even remember that I ever had achalasia. I generally don't even need to drink with a meal. I ate too much over the holidays. The radiologist said the wrap looks like it is working and there is no longer any dilation of the esophagus. I am happy about that. Now for the bad. Not a real big deal, but I have been holding this back because I didn't want to get into speculating about it, and at first I did not believe it. This goes back to last summer when, and you may remember, I had a CT (CAT scan) for another problem. The thing about CTs is that they can find a lot more than what you are looking for. In my case there were three things besides what it was looking for. Among those the report noted that I had a large hiatal hernia. When I saw that I thought no way. First it is rare to have achalasia and have a hiatal hernia. It does happen but you have to really be unlucky. Also, with my myotomy I received a wrap. Not just any wrap but a Toupet. Unlike the DOR which many have received the Toupet wraps around the back and almost all the way around the esophagus. One of the benefits of the Toupet is that it is suppose to prevent hiatal hernia. Or, so I thought. It is kind of true. It prevents the typical hiatal hernia because it acts like a knot at the bottom of the esophagus and prevents the LES from moving up through the hiatus. My LES is where it should be, so in that regard it worked. However, the barium swallow confirmed that I have a less common kind of hernia called a paraesophageal hernia. Half of my stomach has been pushed around the wrap and up through the hiatus into my chest. Half is above and half is below. This is not a good thing. I will see my GI tomorrow and I suspect that he will advise me to have another surgery. I will let you know. Don't let this worry any of you that are thinking about treatment for achalasia. This may have had nothing to do with my surgery and I may just be very unlucky. I don't remember this happening to anyone else in our group. Even if it turns out that there was some connection to the surgery it has to be an uncommon one. I just hope this doesn't effect the good results I have had up until now. I am having heartburn now and the radiologist said that is probably from the hernia and not the wrap going bad. In time that can be a problem though, so I am hoping for some good news tomorrow. Oh, I also had another CT two weeks ago and it has nothing to do with all this. With the holidays and all I have not yet gotten around to getting my results. No news is good news, I hope. No more surprises. notan <FONT face="comic sans ms" color=#ff0000 size=5> in Georgia </FONT><IMG src=" "> __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Pippa wrote: > That's really encouraging news for the members who have had their HM > surgery to know that your barium swallow showed a big improvement > in your swallowing and the condition of you esophagus. You must have > been very happy to hear that news. Yes, my esophagus was clearly dilated in the last barium swallow before surgery. I had some concern that even with the surgery it could get worse and then when I heard the CT report of a large hernia I actually thought of you and that this wall also probably a mistake and so expected a lot of dilation. I was very glad it was not dilation. > ...you must wonder what on earth is going to be thrown at you next. I have had a strange medical history all my life. It is tiresome. > my surgeon said they only perform surgery on this type of hernia if > it is causing major health problems, so you may be lucky and be told > that they are going to leave well alone. Often people do not have any reason to know they have one until it is found when doing x-rays for other reasons. A paraesophageal hernia causes greater risks than the typical hernia. It also has a small chance of becoming an emergency life and death situation. That happens when its blood supply is cut off. Generally people will go for years without that happening. If a person is old enough the odds are you would live out your life without a problem from it, so surgery may not be recommended. Aside from the elderly, it is controversial to have surgery or not. Some doctors say it is best to have it, others say wait and see. One thing that can make a difference is the size of the hernia. In my case it is described as large. Although I have not noticed it, such a hernia can have an impact on other organs, like the lungs and the esophagus. Sometimes they are found because people have problems swallowing. In my case I have heartburn. I don't know if surgery will be recommended but I suspect the GI will at least want to discuss it. notan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 wrote: > Notan, I was told that I had a hiatus hernia too befor I had my second > surgery. When the doctor opened me up and got a good look there was > not a hernia but the wrap was to tight and not in the best position. > Along with how distorted my " E " is that gave the appearence of the > hernia. After taking down the wrap and extending the myotomy and > leaving the wrap off I am having very few problems. I hope you can > get things worked out soon. I really expected the CT report to be wrong, so when I went in for the barium I took my surgery report and the old barium report of dilation along for the radiologist to look at. He could tell I had some understanding and would position the screen so I could see. All this was new to the tech who was also there so he would explain every detail to the tech. It was very convincing. I am sure the CT and barium are both right. He also explained why the wrap would not prevent this type of hernia. On the bright side, if the CT had been wrong I suppose it would have meant that my esophagus was getting worse. As it is, things there seem to be good. notan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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