Re: Advice for Sam's Coughing

[Guest guest]

jwelkerj wrote:

> ... One of the things that is hardest for me right now, is the constant

> coughing all night long. ...

1) No eating two hours before bed. Adjust as needed.

2) He doesn't cough all day because he is vertical most of the day.

Pillows can help but raising the head of the bed on block is better. If

at first you don't succeed raise it higher or get a full body wedge

pillow (or make one). As a last resort sleep sitting up (a recliner is

good).

3) Try to clear the esophagus before bed. Either by drinking some water

or by regurgitating.

Hopefully you won't need to use all these ideas.

For me the night problems were the worst part of achalasia but I have no

problems with after my surgery.

notan

[Guest guest]

Dear Sam's Mum, I am so sorry that this is happening to your little boy. It's bad enough for us adults to cope with, but at 8 years old.... I presume that you understand what is happening to him at night but just in case - while he is upright the food is moving down his oesophagus by gravity, then slowly dripping into his stomach. By the time he goes to bed, even if he does not eat for a few hours beforehand, there will still be food in there and when he lies down it makes its way back up and either out, as you have experienced, or into his bronchial tubes, causing him to cough. Whatever you do, do not give him

a cough suppressant medicine. The cough reflex is a protective device of the body to warn you that there is something in the tubes that should not be. The only solution is to sleep practically sitting up. I know you have said that it does not work. It sounds as if he is slipping down to be more horizontal as the night goes on. You can try raising the head of the bed or using a wedge pillow, anything that will keep him supported and almost upright. I hope he gets some attention soon. The myotomy does have a good success rate you know. Things will not always be this bad for you all. Love and hugs for Sam, from Ann

(England) XXjwelkerj <jwelkerj@...> wrote: Thank you all so much for your posts, they are all so helpful and full of great advice. We found out 5 days ago our 8 year old son has achalasia and have been doing tons of research to try and understand it all and with your advice are now trying to find the best surgeon for him.One of the things that is hardest for me right now, is the constant coughing all night long. Last night I went in to check on him and he had regurgitated all

over his pillow in his sleep and I worry about choking or getting things in his lungs/pneumonia. It has to be so hard on him to cough so much. When I asked the doctor about this he said its just a sympton and shows you, you need to get it fixed soon.Until we can do that, do those of you with it or the moms who have been through it, know what I can do to ease his miserable nights and our restless ones? When he had a cold, I would prop him up on a lot pillows, but this is not working and I am not sure if there is a medicine that can help relieve this. Are there foods that aggravate this more or foods that can calm everything inside that is aggravated? Thanks for anything you can offer.

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Dear Notan, I would say that "Great Minds think alike" if I actually had such a great mind as you. LOL XXXnotan ostrich <notan_ostrich@...> wrote: jwelkerj wrote:> ... One of the things that is hardest for me right now, is the constant > coughing all night long. ...1) No eating two hours before bed. Adjust as needed.2) He doesn't cough all day because he is vertical most of the day.

Pillows can help but raising the head of the bed on block is better. If at first you don't succeed raise it higher or get a full body wedge pillow (or make one). As a last resort sleep sitting up (a recliner is good).3) Try to clear the esophagus before bed. Either by drinking some water or by regurgitating.Hopefully you won't need to use all these ideas.For me the night problems were the worst part of achalasia but I have no problems with after my surgery.notan

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[Guest guest]

I've had achalasia for all my life - When i was a child and up until

my surgery i would cough all the time, produce extra mucus and

regurgate in my sleep, i was always afraid of aspiration. I went to a

homopathic doctor and she laid out some foods that caused extra issues

if consumed 5 hours prior to bed.

- No Milk or Dairy Products

- No Peanut Butter

- No Apples or Lettuce

The removal of those foods and sleeping on a wedge made all the

difference.

[Guest guest]

Notan hit on one point that I was going to tell you: avoid eating

before bedtime. Jessie, my 12 year old daughter, has chest pains and

coughing during the night less frequently after we started trying

that. I hope this will help.

YJ

Jessie's Mom

>

> Thank you all so much for your posts, they are all so helpful and

> full of great advice. We found out 5 days ago our 8 year old son

> has achalasia and have been doing tons of research to try and

> understand it all and with your advice are now trying to find the

> best surgeon for him.

>

> One of the things that is hardest for me right now, is the constant

> coughing all night long. Last night I went in to check on him and

> he had regurgitated all over his pillow in his sleep and I worry

> about choking or getting things in his lungs/pneumonia. It has to

> be so hard on him to cough so much. When I asked the doctor about

> this he said its just a sympton and shows you, you need to get it

> fixed soon.

>

> Until we can do that, do those of you with it or the moms who have

> been through it, know what I can do to ease his miserable nights and

> our restless ones? When he had a cold, I would prop him up on a lot

> pillows, but this is not working and I am not sure if there is a

> medicine that can help relieve this. Are there foods that aggravate

> this more or foods that can calm everything inside that is

> aggravated? Thanks for anything you can offer.

>

[Guest guest]

Sunny,

Would you mind me asking when you started having symptoms (what age)

and when you were diagnosed? How long has it been since? Thanks.

YJ

Jessie's Mom

>

> I've had achalasia for all my life - When i was a child and up until

> my surgery i would cough all the time, produce extra mucus and

> regurgate in my sleep, i was always afraid of aspiration. I went to a

> homopathic doctor and she laid out some foods that caused extra issues

> if consumed 5 hours prior to bed.

>

>

> - No Milk or Dairy Products

> - No Peanut Butter

> - No Apples or Lettuce

>

> The removal of those foods and sleeping on a wedge made all the

> difference.

>

[Guest guest]

I sarted having symptoms when i was a new born, according to my mother, i couldn't keep down her breast milk, so the doctors assumed i was allergic and put me on soy, that didn't help much either. By the time i was 7 i was throwing up at school every day, at which point the school had a social worker come in to talk to me - My parents were diviorced so it must be a mental problem.

When I was 9 I choaked and had to go to the emergency room - They finally started doing tests. My Grandfather was a doctor and we were at his hospital, things finally started happening. the Medical professionals wouldn't let the "mental problem" idea go but did do some barium swallows etc to figure it out. Prepulsid was the drug that got me though my teen years. But apparently that drug is no longer approved, very scary.

The tests continued until i was 21, when a very smart young GI Doc did a scope a diagnosed me. He did 2 dialiations. I had a Mymotomy almost 2 years ago. The surgery was amazing for the first year, but now almost 45% of my sympotms are back.

I also had to have my gallbladder removed as a result of the Achalasia.

I've just turned 29, and i still struggle at ER's and doctors offices - no one knows what Achalasia is, and they don't belive me when i tell them what drugs i needs when the muscles all seize up. Most of the time they think i'm drug seaking. I am now many of the same medications my 85 year old grandfather is.

I use Nitro spray and patched to keep my sphincter opened most days, i take 60 mgs of Nexium daily, and most days I need percocet for the pain.

After reading this I sound sort of pathetic, a life time of struggle so to speak. But i'm happy, healthy otherwise, active, and i've learned to deal with the situation.

My best tip is pemermint oil, its a natural dialator, i take one drop before every meal and it really helps.

Re: Advice for Sam's Coughing

Sunny,Would you mind me asking when you started having symptoms (what age)and when you were diagnosed? How long has it been since? Thanks.YJJessie's Mom>> I've had achalasia for all my life - When i was a child and up until > my surgery i would cough all the time, produce extra mucus and > regurgate in my sleep, i was always afraid of aspiration. I went to a > homopathic doctor and she laid out some foods that caused extra issues > if consumed 5 hours prior to bed. > > > - No Milk or Dairy Products> - No Peanut Butter > - No Apples or Lettuce> > The removal of those foods and sleeping on a wedge made all the > difference.>

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[Guest guest]

Sonya wrote:

....

After

reading this I sound sort of pathetic ...

I sometimes omit parts of my history even when filling out medical

forms. I shouldn't do that but it just seems like to much.

My

best tip is pemermint oil, its a natural dialator, i take one drop

before every meal and it really helps.

Others have said that also. I wonder if it would help anyone if taken

before going to bed.

notan

[Guest guest]

I"ve tried it before bed - Its not a great idea, the peppermint oil opens things up so well that the food that has successfully made it to my stomach comes back up when i lay down.

Re: Re: Advice for Sam's Coughing

Sonya wrote:

....

After reading this I sound sort of pathetic ...I sometimes omit parts of my history even when filling out medical forms. I shouldn't do that but it just seems like to much.

My best tip is peppermint oil, its a natural dilator, i take one drop before every meal and it really helps. Others have said that also. I wonder if it would help anyone if taken before going to bed.notan

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[Guest guest]

Notan--where do you get the peppermint oil that works for you--thanks, from Bostonnotan ostrich <notan_ostrich@...> wrote: Sonya wrote: ... After reading this I sound sort of pathetic ...I sometimes omit parts of my history even

when filling out medical forms. I shouldn't do that but it just seems like to much. My best tip is pemermint oil, its a natural dialator, i take one drop before every meal and it really helps. Others have said that also. I wonder if it would help anyone if taken before going to bed.notan

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[Guest guest]

Notan--where do you get the peppermint oil that works for you--thanks, from Bostonnotan ostrich <notan_ostrich@...> wrote: Sonya wrote: ... After reading this I sound sort of pathetic ...I sometimes omit parts of my history even

when filling out medical forms. I shouldn't do that but it just seems like to much. My best tip is pemermint oil, its a natural dialator, i take one drop before every meal and it really helps. Others have said that also. I wonder if it would help anyone if taken before going to bed.notan

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[Guest guest]

Capone wrote:

> Notan--where do you get the peppermint oil that works for you--thanks,

> from Boston

I don't use it. Sonya was the one with the peppermint oil trick. I just

wondered if it would work at other times than when she was using it.

notan

[Guest guest]

Sonya Lawley wrote:

I"ve

tried it before bed - Its not a great idea, the peppermint oil opens

things up so well that the food that has successfully made it to my

stomach comes back up when i lay down.

That is amazing. Are you sure it was food from the stomach and not food

that had been trapped in the esophagus. Perhaps for others with higher

LES pressures than your's that would be just enough reduction in

pressure to help but not too much. Also some people may just be less

sensitive to it so again, perhaps it would work for them before bed

without being to strong. It also seems like there could be an amount

that is just right if there is one that is too much. Just speculating.

notan