Alternative therapies

[Guest guest]

The following post was the most recent one on the Achalasia alternative website. The author is very well-intended, and the purpose of my copying it is not to be critical of it, but to discuss a couple of points that have been raised on our site.

"Re: summary of the alternative treatment for A

I havent posted in a while, this is a great idea, here is my list1. Good posture (lower/upper back exercises are important, as well as shoulder posture)2. Corriander seeds helps alot to relaxe my E, and taking flax seed oil before each meal3. Fast walkimg/running helps.Thats all i can think off, i am getting better by time, i just figured out that i have poor muscle coordination in my upper back, when i stretch my shoulder back when sitting for so long i feel some pain, ithink having a good back will help with A greatly"

There is probably nothing wrong, on the surface, as to what is being said. Nobody will argue against the benefits of "good posture" and "fast walking/running," and probably not against corriander seeds (though I don't know what they are) for being good for one's general health. It remains to be seen if this will help the achalasia over the long term, but hopefully it will.

For newer people here on our site, often it is the case with achalasia that in earlier stages, food will get stuck in the E, forcing regurgitation and to often have sleepless nights as incessant coughing and regurgitating will occur thoughout the night. As the disease progresses, the esophagus gets stretched out (from the food that has been sitting there, pressuring the walls of the E outwards), but strangely the person might actually feel better for a while since there is now more room for food to remain there without having to regurgitate. The ironic, if not tragic thing about that is, that at the same time the patient might be doing some of the things mentioned above and think that they are feeling better because of it (or anything else they are doing), but instead are only feeling better from the esophagus getting stretched more.

When I first became symptomatic of the disease (1982), before it was diagnosed, not knowing any better, I started an exercise program and my symptoms lessened. Being ignorant I thought that my problems had mostly gone away. Then I tried some chiropractic, and also felt better. The symptoms always returned. I was never actually getting better; I only thought I was.

My point is, once you know you have achalasia, try whatever you are going to try, but for God sakes, make sure you have a qualified doctor to monitor your condition. While you may be feeling better, you might actually be getting worse than before. Please make an informed decision as to what you will eventually do to try to return your life to how it once was.

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