Upcoming Gastroscopy/Botox

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone, Just wanted to let you know, that I am going to have a gastroscopy coming Monday and maybe even Botox! I got a Letter from my Dutch hospital today, saying I am going to get dillatation Monday. I phoned to say I don't want a dillatation, yet I do want Botox (I'm afraid for the perforation risk of dilatation, maybe causing problems for my coming surgery in Germany, my perforation risk is somewhat high due to my surgery last January). Dr. Broeders has put on the form for dilatation, that they might inject Botox instead of doing a dilatation. The lady on the phone has now written down, dilatation is not to be done, as I simply refuse to have one. She told me to come in and at least have a gastroscopy and probably even Botox. This is great news for me, as I haven't been able to eat properly since last Saturday. I'll have to wait a couple

of months still before my body and scar tissue is ready for a new surgery, so having Botox now might be the solution for me. I am quite nervous, as I have read so much about spasms etc. directly after having Botox. Yet, I am also so happy, that something is going to be done so quickly now!!!! I am so much looking forward to finally be able to eat something somewhat normal again. Today my lunch consisted of baby food again, yack!!! Love, Isabella

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[Guest guest]

Isabella:

I had a botox injection last August that immediately and completely relieved dysphagia for 4 months, and stopped all spasms completely. I have some recurring difficulty with the relaxation of the lower sphincter when I eat now but, 8 months later I'm still doing much better than before the Botox injection.

I had a follow up appointment with my gastroenterologist...who specializes in motility disorders even though he isn't known to anyone here, this week...and discussed with him the opinion of this board that botox doesn't usually work; may worsen symptoms, especially spasms; and can compromise the effectiveness of future surgery. He said there are many variations of achalasia and that, while this is true for some, he has many patients like me who have benefited from Botox, and he has never had a case where subsequent myotomy didn't work because of previous Botox injections. In my case, given a 20 yr history of slowly progressing dysphagia, I probably will never need surgery and I won't hesitate to use Botox again. Of course, I'm nearly 70...an otherwise very healthy, active 70...and if I were younger I might not be thinking this way.

Given my experience, I think Botox is worth a try for someone who wants to see if it can help before taking more drastic steps, especially if the doctor is very experienced in administering it.

Lee in NJSee what's free at AOL.com.