Re: Chrico Achalasia - Diagnosed Tuesday

[Guest guest]

Hey - I was wondering when you were going to post.lol

I do think you will get some information from someone here.Sorry I

couldnt help ya on that one.

Tonia

>

> I'm so glad I found this group.

>

> I was diagnosed with Chrico Achalasia on Tuesday from a visit to

my

> ear,nose, throat specialist. Chrico Achalasia is the tightening

of

> the upper esophogus and is supposed to be caused by chronic acid

> reflux. My doctor says the symptoms will go away in 6 months if I

do

> the following:

>

> -take acephix 30 minutes prior to dinner

> -don't lie down for 4 hours after eating

> -elevate bed at least 4 inches

>

> My symptons are mild, just a lump in my throat when i swallow, and

a

> little bit of pain in my chest, also sometime I get mild

discomfort

> shooting towards my right/left side of the middle of my chest. The

> good thing is I DO NOT have any regurgitation or food getting

stuck

> in my chest.

>

> Do these symptoms sound similar to the regular Achalasia?

>

> any information on the above would be greatly appreciated.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for directing me to this site.

Has anyone ever heard of achalasha is just the upper esophogus?

[Guest guest]

Hello, .

wrote:

> I was diagnosed with Chrico Achalasia

I am thinking that is just sort of short for Cricopharyngeal Achalasia,

also known as UES Achalasia (UES - Upper Esophageal Sphincter) Some say

such terms should be avoided and prefer " cricopharyngeal bar " for most

cases.

> ... Chrico Achalasia is the tightening of

> the upper esophogus and is supposed to be caused by chronic acid

> reflux. ...

Sort of. Cricopharyngeal Achalasia is not as well understood as

achalasia of the LES. There is evidence to support the idea that GERD

can cause changes in the muscle fibers of the UES which cause the

problems. However, it can also result from various neurological and

muscle disorders. If it is just a problem of the UES it is primary. If

it is caused by neurological or more extensive muscle problems it is

secondary. It should noted thought that there is not one strict

definition of Cricopharyngeal Achalasia that is used by everyone.

> My doctor says the symptoms will go away in 6 months if I do

> the following:

>

> -take acephix 30 minutes prior to dinner

> -don't lie down for 4 hours after eating

> -elevate bed at least 4 inches

>

Those things should help to protect the UES from acid reflux. I have no

idea how fast that may work.

> My symptons are mild, just a lump in my throat when i swallow, and a

> little bit of pain in my chest, also sometime I get mild discomfort

> shooting towards my right/left side of the middle of my chest.

Have you had the pains checked out? If not, you should. Chest pains can

be related to esophageal problems but even if you have such a problem

the pains don't have to be from it. You should rule out a second

problem, such as a heart or lung problem.

> The

> good thing is I DO NOT have any regurgitation or food getting stuck

> in my chest.

>

Not having either would not be typical of LES achalasia. Some cases are

not typical.

What tests have you had?

notan

[Guest guest]

Notan,

Thank you very much for the reply.

I have only had a scope through the nose, a visual confirmation. My

specialist wanted to give this a try to see if the symptoms would go

away. He said if this doesn't work in 6 months or when we think it

isn't working he'll administer a byrium swallow and/or endoscopy.

I've had KKG to test for Heart problems, I've also had my lungs cleared

of problems as well.

Any idea if this is progressive like traditional Achalasia or if it is

reversable?

[Guest guest]

I read that " Cricopharyngeal myotomy is a safe and effective operation

with excellent results. "

My question is in regards to myotomy. What does this refer to?

Thank you again for all of your help.

[Guest guest]

Hey - I only know what the heller myotomy is and that is a

treatment used for achalasia.They make 5 small incisions in the belly

and go in and repair the esophagus(lower spinchter etc.)Im not sure

though if that is the same thing as what they are telling you about.

One person who will probaly know and that is Notan.If he doesnt know

he will likely look it up and find out for you.Hes awesome and we all

ove him for helping us so much.

If the heller is the same as what your talking about there is info on

here about that and even photos of people who have had it doen on the

photo link.My son 's is on there too I believe on the last page

of photos if you want to check those out.Lets just hope this regemine

your DR has will help make things better.

Tonia

>

> I read that " Cricopharyngeal myotomy is a safe and effective

operation

> with excellent results. "

>

> My question is in regards to myotomy. What does this refer to?

>

> Thank you again for all of your help.

>

>

[Guest guest]

wrote:

>

> I have only had a scope through the nose, a visual confirmation.

This implies that your doctor probably saw an ulcer or other tissue

damage at the UES. An ulcer should respond to reducing the exposure to

acid reflux and the healed UES should function better. If this is caused

by acid reflux it should not be progressive if the exposure to acid is

controlled.

> My

> specialist wanted to give this a try to see if the symptoms would go

> away. He said if this doesn't work in 6 months or when we think it

> isn't working he'll administer a byrium swallow and/or endoscopy.

>

It sounds reasonable. I have not found much information about it so I

have little idea what to expect.

notan

[Guest guest]

wrote:

> I read that " Cricopharyngeal myotomy is a safe and effective operation

> with excellent results. "

>

> My question is in regards to myotomy. What does this refer to?

>

First, this is not the Heller myotomy for achalasia of the LES. But, as

with any use of the word myotomy it means muscle (my-) cut (-otomy). In

this case it means to cut the UES muscle also known as the

cricopharyngeal muscle. It is sometimes done with an endoscopic laser.

This surgery is done in the neck, much higher than the Heller. This is

done when the UES is in spasm to reduce the pressure of the UES, like

the Heller reduces the pressure of the LES. Like for achalasia of the

LES, sometimes dilatation is used instead of myotomy to weaken the UES.

In this case something is used to stretch the muscle. In your case, it

does not seem like your doctor thinks the UES is in spasm but perhaps is

kind of stiff from inflammation. We can hope that your UES will function

fine without the myotomy when the acid reflux it successfully dealt with.

notan

[Guest guest]

Hi. I've read this dialogue with interest. I have heard of UES. I was tested for it when I was tested for Achalasia and during the tests, I asked as if my upper esophageal sphincter was all right and I was told that it was but that my lower, or LES, was in a sort of rigor, a spasming. I asked the doctor doing the tests about UES and she mentioned that it has been seen less often in her lab but that they were well aware of it. Good luck with all of your tests, meds and treatments. I hope you get that chest pain checked out, however. It just might be that Non-cardiac pain that we Achalasians have but if it's not, it's important to know as if it's lung or heart, as Notan was saying. best wishes, Deborah