isabella

[Guest guest]

Hi Isabella, You don't sound too good at the moment - what with things getting stuck and whatever. I think it might be time for you to have another Botox rather than trying to wait it out so to speak. As you yourself said you have to be as well as possible going into this surgery (oesophagectomy) and you won't be if you keep going the way you are. Ring your doctor and make a date to have a Botox sooner rather than later, then see if he can give you or recommend some high protein supplement for you to drink up until your op - that way your body will have the nutrients it needs to repair itself after the op. As for trying to hide it from your kids - don't. They are fairly resilient and at least they are aware of exactly what you are going through and will be a great support ot you following your op. I think too often we try to maintain the brave face and act like everything is OK and sometimes that is to

our disadvantage. Hang in there girl - i assume you have tried all the clearing remedies of Coca Coal and Dry Ginger Ale to try and push things through. I always found it worked one way or the other - it pushed through or it regurgitated back up. Either way you felt better afterwards. Good luck - i'm thinking of you. Deb from Melbourne AustraliaIsabella Arnold <arnoldisabella@...> wrote: Hi , It's a pretty rotten disease, that stupid achalasia of

ours! Normally I can cope with it pretty well, knowing that it will only take me a few more months to finally get rid of it by having my esophagus removed. But yesterday... The hardest part was when I had this very bad stomach ache and food almost came out my nose at the same time and my eldest (9 years) told me the following: mum, don't worry, hang in there. It's like when I run the long track with athletics, I think I cannot do it anymore, but than it's only a few hundreds metres and I always make it. Mum, so will you. You've had this thing for so long now, you can hang in there these extra few months. Having my own littly boy say this to me broke my heart. I thought I was hiding things pretty well for him yesterday, seems I wasn't and that hurts and makes me feel guilty. The Botox has worn off and I just don't want to go in for another one just yet. I wish for it to be abe to wait untill December, but that might not be the

smartest thing for me to do, as I need to stay healthy and strong for the upcoming -ectomy. Furthermore I don't want the kids worrying about me, so I might just go in a bit sooner... My guess is that the lungs are only affected at the moment food is pushing against them, I cannot imagine permanent damage is done to them, but I am not sure... At the moment food is stuck, especiallyl it being a "large" amount, I feel it pushing against the lungs and I have a bit difficulty breathing, but not all that bad. It is bad when I am in bed, as I cannot lay down when food is stuck, I can not breathe. The more I think about it the more I wonder what the long term effect on the lungs is... Just a couple more months, for you too, . We'll make it. Love, Isabellakare4266 <guerralkmlbellsouth (DOT) net> wrote: Hi Isabella,I too have food stuck in my esophagus right now and have been getting dizzy off and on all day. I have tightness in my throat and chest and pain in my back....so I do understand how you feel. I am so tired of feeling this way. Unfortunately, I have to wait until I get an insurance plan activated. By the way, I was wondering how do you know if your lungs are being affected by this?> >> > Hi,> >

> > Yesterday I wrote, that I would know today what they plan to do > about the other problems I have with my digestive system.> > > > Well, great news: I don't need a pyloromyotomy now, nor will I > probably ever need one in future. This is a big relief to me.> > > > I was told that the problems mostly lay in the stomach itself > and with my esophagectomy they will remove half my stomach, the > other half will be pulled up in form of an esophagus. Gravity will > push the food down, according to my surgeon and he expects no > further stomach problems. Of course, he said, digestion in your case > will never be normal, will never again be or feel the way it did > before achalasia. I told him I didn't mind, as I cannot remember > that feeling anyway.> > > > Dr. Broeders unfortunately had to tell me that he couldn't > promise me to be

there at my -ectomy... He's going to work in > another hospital, which I already knew, and he will do his utmost in > trying to be there, but he's not sure whether he can make it. Yet, > he did tell me not to worry. It's my wish for him to be there, but > he told me it's absolutely not necessary, as he's not the expert in -> ectomies, Prof. Gooszen is (he told me that too, the day we decided > to go for it and I know it's true, also from other patients). > Knowing that he might not be there now makes it less of an issue. I > rather know this now, than learn about it right before going in for > surgery.> > > > Then I asked for the tube that is laid from nose to stomach > right after surgery. I hate that tube so much, it hurt me so much in > January. Dr. Broeders promised me that they will now use a smaller > and more flexible tube, which is a

comforting thought as well.> > > > I am glad I had this talk with my surgeon today. It took away > the last questions I had regarding the upcoming surgery. You know, I > feel relieved ever since the day I made my decision to go for it and > everything I've learned extra lately makes me feel even more > relaxed...> > > > Love,> > Isabella> > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________> >

[Guest guest]

hey Isabella - I know that ANYTHING delaying your decisions right now

can be difficult but - you have found a doctor who is investing time to

make sure you get the BEST results!! In the end, it'll be all for the

best.

Stay positive, it will be here and gone before you know it.

Hang in there sister!!

- in NC

soon to be achalasia free!

[Guest guest]

,

Glad to have you back with us and I'm glad you are doing better now.

You sound like your are in good spirits, and that's half the battle

right now for your recovery. Keep your head up and realize that things

may go slow for a little while.

It's been 10 months for me, and things are great now. Yes there were

some rough spots and that was even without surgical complications. It

will take time, so don't expect things to be great overnight. Just

keep the faith that you made the right decision and over time things

will get better and better. I know you were really worried about how

the kids would handle everything - how are they doing?

Love,

in NY

Isabella

achalasia

> Hey Isabella - sorry that it all seems to be piling up on you at

> once. I completely understand! When it got to be about 6 weeks out

> to

> my -ectomy, I started just freaking out about everything. I yelled

> at

> my kids, picked fights with my husband, couldn't sleep, I was

> getting

> distracted at work, everything! I think it's all part of the

> psychological process of accepting and preparing for major

> surgery. I

> have not been up to date on the posts, do you have a date yet?

> Even

> a 'best guess' date? That has to be maddening - I wouldn't deal

> with

> the not knowing part very well at all.

> All I can really offer you is hope. Every day I feel a little

> better,

> I eat a little better and I know I still have a long road ahead of

> me

> but I'm very optimistic that given another 2-3 months, I'll be in

> the

> ranks of , Deb and everyone else who is moving on -

> 'achalasia

> free!!'

> Hang in there, after all, what's another 4-6 months of hell after

> so

> many years of dealing with this? A small price to pay to not have

> A

> anymore.

> I'm going to try to get online more regularly now but if you (or

> anyone) need to vent, ask questions, whatever - you can always get

> with me at mcnairmichelle at aol.com.

>

> Love and best wishes to you all.

> This group has been and will continue to be a Godsend!

>

> - in NC

> achalasia free since 1/11/08

>

>