Happy half-birthday to Anita's wrap

[Guest guest]

G'day all!

Today is exactly 6 months since my myotomy with a Dor wrap. I wrote a fairly

long report

at the 3 month mark. I had lost 10 kilos and was fairly scrawny when I came out

of

hospital. Well, I have put on 6 kilos and am back doing lots of swimming. I am

still not as

strong as I was before, but I am on the way, I hope. Oh! To have those muscles

again!!

With my swallowing, things have improved even more in the last couple of months,

which I

did not think would happen, did not even expect. I was so happy with my

swallowing back

then at around three months post-op. And remember, with us Achalasians it is all

relative!

I DO have to pull myself into line sometimes, because I think that what I am

feeling may

not be the way things are. So, always in the back of my mind is a little voice

calling " Anita,

be careful! Eat more slowly! Chew more thoroughly! " And I DO wonder if all is

actually ok

in there and I get a bit paranoid because I don't have any major issues with

swallowing and

I think " Am I stretching my oesophagus without knowing it? " For this reason,

I'll be glad to

go for my check-up in a couple of months.

About two months ago I was still feeling quite tired, and then dizzy when

getting up from

a sitting position. My doctor sent me to have my ferritin (amount of iron

stored, not iron

already present in the blood). This was extremely low. The norm is 120-167. Mine

was

2.6. He warned me off any sport and put me immediately on an iron infusion

programme

for 5 days. After the third day I felt like a new woman. On the report it states

that the iron

reserve levels at such a low level are indicative of a long-standing iron

deficiency. I

imagine that it results from being undernourished for so long, not being to eat

properly.

After the infusions, I was put on iron tablets for three months. In a couple of

weeks I will

go back to have the ferritin level checked again, to rule out any underlying

problem (eg

inability to absorb iron). I really wanted to mention this problem I had. Maybe

someone

will benefit from it. I had no idea about ferritin!

I am so grateful for the discussion that goes on in this group. The support, the

information, exchange of ideas. Reading the posts also keeps me on my toes,

keeps that

little voice of warning active. Because this is a progressive disease, I always

try to

remember that I am not cured.

The other night I was talking with my husband about how it is going at the

moment. And

always when he asks me, I sense that fear in his voice, his fear of seeing me

begin to

suffer again, to literally waste away before his eyes. And I get incredibly sad

when I see

that look, the same as I do when I saw that look of uncertainty and worry on the

kids'

faces. I told him that for now it is wonderful and how great the last few months

have been.

I reflected on this time last year, where I was still undiagnosed, stressed,

unable to eat.

And I said, " Look at me now! " And this is the important bit: I said if things

should start to

worsen, should I have my symptoms back again, there is a final option and that

there are

people who have had -ectomies and doing well, not regretting it. Because if it

got so bad

again, I couldn't go back to suffering the way I did, not for myself, nor for my

family. I

would just hope I could be as strong as some of you.

For all of you, those going in for surgery or contemplating other treatment

options or

considering -ectomies, I wish you all the very best. I am so often touched by

your spirit,

honesty, bravery and humour. For those of you who contribute to the forum, you

have

helped me be where I am now. Thank you.

Greetings across the miles!

Anita in Germany