Re: Two more weeks

[Guest guest]

Hi - I'm new here so didn't realize that this can get so bad

that one would actually have to go get IV fluids! Whoa. Would you mind

telling me your history - like how long you've had achalasia, what

kind of treatments you've had, etc. I could go back through all the

posts but there are so many!

Thanks,

Donna

>

> I thought I would let everyone know that my offical surgery date (NO

> MORE DRAMA) will be the 23rd. Right now my hospital is very busy and

> that was the next date available. If someone does cancel, then I am the

> next one in. I do have to say, taking sometime off has taken some of

> the stress away. I am focusing a lot on my wedding and moving out of my

> house. These last months I have not gotten anything down. So these last

> few days I have been going to my doctors for some IV fluids. It really

> helps out a lot. Now, I can take care of my personal life instead of

> taking care of problems at work. Good luck to everyone that is having

> surgery this week!

>

> , Michigan

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna- I really don't know exactly how long I have had A but I can

tell you some stuff I have gone through. About 2 1/2 years ago I

recieved my first spasm attack. I went to the doctors and they

thought it had something to do with my heart. I recieved a million

tests and they found nothing. They then told me to see my gastro

doctor. 2005 I had a scope, ct scan, barrium swallow, and x-rays and

he found nothing. May 2006 I noticed that I started to have

difficulty with swallowing food. August 2006 I had a scope and then

in October I had a monomitry. My doctor saw a few abnormalities and

suggested I tried botox injections. In November I had the injections

and it worked for about a month. In January I went in and had a

second botox injection and this time it did not work. In March I had

a barrium swallow that finally showed signs of Achalasia. Last Friday

I went to my second opinion Doc. and he did another monomitry and

scope and found that I had Achalasia. Since August I have lost almost

30 pounds. I haven't heard anyone else having to get IV fluids. A few

weeks ago I started feeling faint at work. My doctor put me on

medical leave and since my surgery was not going to be done right

away, he told me to come in and get some fluids. What kind of

treatments have you gone through? Where do you live?

I hoped I didn't confuse you with my timeline. If you have any more

questions just let me know.

[Guest guest]

Hi , Well, only 2 more weeks!!! Keeping my fingers crossed you will be able to focus on all the great positive things going on in your life right now like your wedding. In a few weeks you will be OK again and looking forward to the best wedding (with delicious foods)!!! Love, Isabellacthymunroe <cthymunroe@...> wrote: I thought I would let everyone know that my offical surgery date (NO MORE DRAMA) will be the 23rd. Right now my

hospital is very busy and that was the next date available. If someone does cancel, then I am the next one in. I do have to say, taking sometime off has taken some of the stress away. I am focusing a lot on my wedding and moving out of my house. These last months I have not gotten anything down. So these last few days I have been going to my doctors for some IV fluids. It really helps out a lot. Now, I can take care of my personal life instead of taking care of problems at work. Good luck to everyone that is having surgery this week!, Michigan

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out

new cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

- aargh. What a story. At least you found out what the problem

is. I started with food getting stuck about 6 years ago - went to see

a GI doc who told me I had reflux and prescribed me some pills, which

I never took because instinctively I knew it wasn't that. I did some

research on the net and told him I thought it was A. He told me no, A

is rare and I didn't have it(only tests I'd had at that point was a

barium swallow, endoscope & videoesophagogram). After the last two

years of choking nearly every time I ate, I went to see my GP and

asked for a new GI doc. I had the endoscope (without sedation -

wouldn't recommend it) and he found my E not contracting. Then he sent

me for manometry, which very clearly showed A.

I haven't had any treatments yet - I have an appointment with my GI

doc on Monday. I did get an rx for Adalat but I haven't filled it yet,

as I've been prescribed so many things and spent so much money that

I'm hesitant - however I will get it filled as my situation is worsening.

I'm at the point now where I can't eat any solids at all unless sliced

razor thin - even some pureed things are difficult. I'm living on

protein powders, chai tea and creamy soups. Sometimes I can't drink

liquid. I've lost 20# and am aspirating at night and starting to get

scared. I'm thinking I will probably go ahead and book the surgery asap.

I started last night reading all the messages on this board from the

beginning. I got to #100 - only 41050 to go!

Are you managing to eat or drink now?

>

> Hi Donna- I really don't know exactly how long I have had A but I can

> tell you some stuff I have gone through. About 2 1/2 years ago I

> recieved my first spasm attack. I went to the doctors and they

> thought it had something to do with my heart. I recieved a million

> tests and they found nothing. They then told me to see my gastro

> doctor. 2005 I had a scope, ct scan, barrium swallow, and x-rays and

> he found nothing. May 2006 I noticed that I started to have

> difficulty with swallowing food. August 2006 I had a scope and then

> in October I had a monomitry. My doctor saw a few abnormalities and

> suggested I tried botox injections. In November I had the injections

> and it worked for about a month. In January I went in and had a

> second botox injection and this time it did not work. In March I had

> a barrium swallow that finally showed signs of Achalasia. Last Friday

> I went to my second opinion Doc. and he did another monomitry and

> scope and found that I had Achalasia. Since August I have lost almost

> 30 pounds. I haven't heard anyone else having to get IV fluids. A few

> weeks ago I started feeling faint at work. My doctor put me on

> medical leave and since my surgery was not going to be done right

> away, he told me to come in and get some fluids. What kind of

> treatments have you gone through? Where do you live?

> I hoped I didn't confuse you with my timeline. If you have any more

> questions just let me know.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I'm glad to hear you got your surgery scheduled! I hope it brings

you many years of relief, after you have a smooth recovery, of course!

Where are you having it done? Is it at Beaumont, with Dr. Welsh?

Coincidentally, I just heard a radio ad with him in it the other day.

Best of luck and please keep us posted on how you're doing!

in SCS, MI

[Guest guest]

Donna- I hope your visit on Monday goes well. Have you tried Botox yet?

It did work for me a little bit. Make sure your doctor recommends you

to a wonderful surgeon if thats next step. Go through the files and

links before you visit your surgeon. I took the " What to ask your

doctor " page when I saw mine. I made sure I asked him every single

question. It's also ok to be scared. This site has helped me out with

questions no one else could answer. As for me, I am very very board. It

has been a week since I have last worked and I am starting to go a

little crazy. I am constantly eating or at least trying to. I'm not

really getting anything down but on the brighter side, my cloths are

all clean now and 1/2 of my stuff in my room is packed. I am closing on

my house this month and since my surgery is the 23rd, I figured I

should do it now then wait. keep in touch. I am happy to help you in

anyway I can. Just remember I have two weeks of nothing to do so I will

be here.

[Guest guest]

your so good!!! lol Yes, Dr. Welsh would be the famous doctor

that wanted me to wait and redo my tests. I was frustrated at first but

I feel a lot better now knowing that this is absolutely the next step.

His office staff has been so nice. I love his nurse . She has

been in contact with me everyday keeping me updated. My surgery will be

at the Royal Oak hospital. I am glad to here that D. Welsh was on the

radio. Hopefully that means he's really good.

Macomb, MI

[Guest guest]

,

In the radio ad it said Dr. Welsh was the head of surgery for

Beaumont. I'm glad you asked him the questions from this site. I

think someone did a great job writing them. What was his answer when

you asked him how many Hellers he's done? I've heard he's an

excellent thoracic surgeon, but I wasn't sure how familiar he was with

Hellers and Achalasia. Dr. Wille had given my husband Dr. Welsh's

card to see for a consult (and I had heard good things about him from

someone else who had had something else operated on by him), but we

decided to see Dr. Rice, instead. For my husband, I think it was a

good move because Dr. Rice had only treated 3 cases of DES with

surgery, so I'm thinking Dr. Welsh has never treated one (it's more

rare than Achalasia).

I'm glad to hear you're getting things done while you're off of

work and making plans for when you're swallowing well! Good luck!

in SCS

>

> your so good!!! lol Yes, Dr. Welsh would be the famous doctor

> that wanted me to wait and redo my tests. I was frustrated at first but

> I feel a lot better now knowing that this is absolutely the next step.

> His office staff has been so nice. I love his nurse . She has

> been in contact with me everyday keeping me updated. My surgery will be

> at the Royal Oak hospital. I am glad to here that D. Welsh was on the

> radio. Hopefully that means he's really good.

>

> Macomb, MI

>

[Guest guest]

- When I ask Dr. welsh how many A surgeries he has performed and

he had said almost 200. He actually answered my questions before I

could ask him. I was very impressed. From talking to my family doctor

my gastro Dr. Webber and Nostrant, they all said he was very good. I

feel really good about my surgery. I just hate the wait!!!

[Guest guest]

I haven't had any treatments yet - the dr who diagnosed me prescribed

Adalat but I haven't got it filled yet - I'm about desperate enough,

though, with all the regurgitating lately and also starting to feel

dehydrated. I'll be discussing treatment options with my GI doc on

Monday.

Would you mind sharing what questions you asked your doctor? It sounds

like there is a page to print out somewhere? I need to start compiling

a list.

Thanks! Hope you are feeling better and congrats on your house.

>

> Donna- I hope your visit on Monday goes well. Have you tried Botox yet?

> It did work for me a little bit. Make sure your doctor recommends you

> to a wonderful surgeon if thats next step. Go through the files and

> links before you visit your surgeon. I took the " What to ask your

> doctor " page when I saw mine. I made sure I asked him every single

> question. It's also ok to be scared. This site has helped me out with

> questions no one else could answer. As for me, I am very very board. It

> has been a week since I have last worked and I am starting to go a

> little crazy. I am constantly eating or at least trying to. I'm not

> really getting anything down but on the brighter side, my cloths are

> all clean now and 1/2 of my stuff in my room is packed. I am closing on

> my house this month and since my surgery is the 23rd, I figured I

> should do it now then wait. keep in touch. I am happy to help you in

> anyway I can. Just remember I have two weeks of nothing to do so I will

> be here.

>

>

>