Re: Looking for a soloution Achalasia and Gastroparesis

[Guest guest]

Welcome Ray,

I don't know much about slow stomach emptying. Some here have had some suspicions and a few have had some trouble I think. It isn't common though, I believe, for it to go with achalasia.

Congrats on surviving the stroke and the bypass. A few others have some other gastric problems, but no data seems to appear if it is just normal % of population or goes w/ achalasia. They will likely answer you. In old postings I have (constantly) told the story about the doctor giving me fizzy water during the barium test and I saw for my self the sphincter open and the barium go into the stomach. Some find it painful though, and it doesn't seem to work on everyone. Glad it helps you.

Welcome, again.

Sandy>> I have been diagnosed with classical Achalasia. It started 2.5 years > ago as indigestion in the night and progressed so I did regurgitate > all the time. Lost a lot of weight from 170 to 135. Have been to four > Gastro doctors, had many tests, MRI, CAT scan and two dilations. I am > 77 and had a stroke in 1997 and a bypass 3 months later. Had a good 8 > years until the indigestion started?> > Now I use Coke or Pepsi the last 2 months with each meal, 3-4 a day, > so during the day I am fine and I eat normal meals and do not > regurgitate at night. The CO2 seems to help greatly; sometimes I have > two with each meal.> > However most mornings I can not drink more than a half cup of decaf > after a walk to Mcs, it comes up and I regurgitate most of last > nights dinner on the walk home.> > My Gastro Dr said that the lack of stomach emptying goes with > Achalasia however I believe I also have Gastroparesis. I had a > nuclear test for it last fall and I was on the high side. Tried > Reglan but had many side effects so started on Domperidone Maleate 10 > mg which I have to get from Canada as not FDA approved, it has NO > side affects, seem to help. I am not diabetic.> > Wondering if any body on this site has a similar problem or could > suggest a solution to stomach empting, I do not want Botox or an > operation at this time as I believe the Coke solves the Achalasia for > now.> > Ray>

[Guest guest]

Ray I had a similar question about getting full so fast following surgery and this is what my dr wrote me in an email, about my stomach empting so slow"delayed gastric emptying and we see that following abdominal surgery and that can take months to allow the stomach to recover normal motility. I doubt that you have a delay; much more likely your stomach is adjusting to the wrap.

'

Im no doctor and EVERY case is different, but I mentioned getting full fast that is what term he used to desribe it ( delayed gastric emptying).

Thanks,

Wes

Looking for a soloution Achalasia and Gastroparesis

I have been diagnosed with classical Achalasia. It started 2.5 years ago as indigestion in the night and progressed so I did regurgitate all the time. Lost a lot of weight from 170 to 135. Have been to four Gastro doctors, had many tests, MRI, CAT scan and two dilations. I am 77 and had a stroke in 1997 and a bypass 3 months later. Had a good 8 years until the indigestion started?Now I use Coke or Pepsi the last 2 months with each meal, 3-4 a day, so during the day I am fine and I eat normal meals and do not regurgitate at night. The CO2 seems to help greatly; sometimes I have two with each meal.However most mornings I can not drink more than a half cup of decaf after a walk to Mcs, it comes up and I regurgitate most of last nights dinner on the walk home.My Gastro Dr said that the lack of stomach emptying goes with Achalasia however I believe I also have Gastroparesis. I had a

nuclear test for it last fall and I was on the high side. Tried Reglan but had many side effects so started on Domperidone Maleate 10 mg which I have to get from Canada as not FDA approved, it has NO side affects, seem to help. I am not diabetic.Wondering if any body on this site has a similar problem or could suggest a solution to stomach empting, I do not want Botox or an operation at this time as I believe the Coke solves the Achalasia for now.Ray

You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ray,

I had the problem of the stomach not emptying after my Heller

Myotomy. I was put on Reglan for a while, but as you probably

experienced it has some side effects. I was a bit nervous while on

it and panic attacks seemed to be worse during that time. I also got

very very tired all the time while taking it. However, it did help

the stomach empty and I eventually stopped taking it because it

seemed that slowly my stomach adjusted to the changes. I'm a lot

younger than you so I'm not sure how well you will adapt over time,

but it might be worth persisting with the drugs if you can stand the

side effects for a few months. Another suggestion I would make is to

cut out drinks with caffeine in them. For some reason the caffeine

makes everything worse for me, from spasms in the esophagus to

stomach problems. Aside from the chocolate addiction I have, I think

I've gotten rid of major sources of caffeine and I have started

exercising regularly at the gym. I feel a lot better and even though

I have a very damaged esophagus am still getting food down and

becoming more healthy.

Hope this helps,

Rob

>

> Ray I had a similar question about getting full so fast following

surgery and this is what my dr wrote me in an email, about my

stomach empting so slow " delayed gastric emptying and we see that

following abdominal surgery and that can take months to allow the

stomach to recover normal motility. I doubt that you have a delay;

much more likely your stomach is adjusting to the wrap.

> '

> Im no doctor and EVERY case is different, but I mentioned getting

full fast that is what term he used to desribe it ( delayed gastric

emptying).

>

> Thanks,

>

> Wes

>

>

>

> Looking for a soloution Achalasia and

Gastroparesis

>

> I have been diagnosed with classical Achalasia. It started 2.5

years

> ago as indigestion in the night and progressed so I did regurgitate

> all the time. Lost a lot of weight from 170 to 135. Have been to

four

> Gastro doctors, had many tests, MRI, CAT scan and two dilations. I

am

> 77 and had a stroke in 1997 and a bypass 3 months later. Had a good

8

> years until the indigestion started?

>

> Now I use Coke or Pepsi the last 2 months with each meal, 3-4 a

day,

> so during the day I am fine and I eat normal meals and do not

> regurgitate at night. The CO2 seems to help greatly; sometimes I

have

> two with each meal.

>

> However most mornings I can not drink more than a half cup of decaf

> after a walk to Mcs, it comes up and I regurgitate most of

last

> nights dinner on the walk home.

>

> My Gastro Dr said that the lack of stomach emptying goes with

> Achalasia however I believe I also have Gastroparesis. I had a

> nuclear test for it last fall and I was on the high side. Tried

> Reglan but had many side effects so started on Domperidone Maleate

10

> mg which I have to get from Canada as not FDA approved, it has NO

> side affects, seem to help. I am not diabetic.

>

> Wondering if any body on this site has a similar problem or could

> suggest a solution to stomach empting, I do not want Botox or an

> operation at this time as I believe the Coke solves the Achalasia

for

> now.

>

> Ray

>

>

>

>

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

______________

> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of

Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

> http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text5.com

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Ray,

Welcome to us. I hope that you find all the support and friendship that you need with this Group. Between us we have lots of medical knowledge and great understanding and compassion, and it feels like a second family to most of us.

I am interested in what you said about "decaf". I am presuming that you are referring to decaffeinated coffee? In my experience it is not so much the caffeine that causes problems, after all there is caffeine in tea and cola drinks also, and these both seem to help many achalasians. I think the problem can lie with drinking coffee. I personally find it really quite irritating to my oesophagus and stomach, unless it is made with milk, as opposed to water. It just seems to fit that you are regurging after the coffee.

I have to empathise with you strongly on that point - I have experienced in the past SO many times when I have had to regurge in a convenient bush or find a drain in the street. This is such a horrible thing to have to do. It is so hurtful to your dignity as well, as you hope that no-one sees you and takes you for an alcoholic or something. I don't think anyone watching sympathises, I think they just think we are pretty disgusting. We know better of course. But what do you do? - wear a sign?

I can understand that at 77 you do not want to consider surgery, but I think it might be valuable for you to discuss having a dilatation which is a treatment that seems to have a good success rate in the more mature patient.

I hope that things get better for you. There are things that can be done to help you, so try to keep your spirits up. And we are all here for you.

Best Wishes from Ann (Age 57 and English)

From: me_rayme <ray_me_99@...>Subject: Looking for a soloution Achalasia and Gastroparesisachalasia Date: Friday, 4 April, 2008, 8:11 PM

I have been diagnosed with classical Achalasia. It started 2.5 years ago as indigestion in the night and progressed so I did regurgitate all the time. Lost a lot of weight from 170 to 135. Have been to four Gastro doctors, had many tests, MRI, CAT scan and two dilations. I am 77 and had a stroke in 1997 and a bypass 3 months later. Had a good 8 years until the indigestion started?Now I use Coke or Pepsi the last 2 months with each meal, 3-4 a day, so during the day I am fine and I eat normal meals and do not regurgitate at night. The CO2 seems to help greatly; sometimes I have two with each meal.However most mornings I can not drink more than a half cup of decaf after a walk to Mcs, it comes up and I regurgitate most of last nights dinner on the walk home.My Gastro Dr said that the lack of stomach emptying goes with Achalasia however I believe I also have Gastroparesis. I had a

nuclear test for it last fall and I was on the high side. Tried Reglan but had many side effects so started on Domperidone Maleate 10 mg which I have to get from Canada as not FDA approved, it has NO side affects, seem to help. I am not diabetic.Wondering if any body on this site has a similar problem or could suggest a solution to stomach empting, I do not want Botox or an operation at this time as I believe the Coke solves the Achalasia for now.Ray

for Good helps you make a difference

[Guest guest]

Wes

Yes I also had a bad time after a bypass in 1997, the drugs stopped

my stomach to emptying for many days, they had to drain the stomach

with a probe down the nose, this took a week. So maybe the empting is

still a problem.I have not had a wrap, just several dialations before

the Manometry test.

Coke really seems to help, the CO2 portion. I tried Club soda but

not as much CO2 as Coke. Maybe the Coke syrup also helps.

Ray

>

> Ray I had a similar question about getting full so fast following

surgery and this is what my dr wrote me in an email, about my

stomach empting so slow " delayed gastric emptying and we see that

following abdominal surgery and that can take months to allow the

stomach to recover normal motility. I doubt that you have a delay;

much more likely your stomach is adjusting to the wrap.

> '

> Im no doctor and EVERY case is different, but I mentioned getting

full fast that is what term he used to desribe it ( delayed gastric

emptying).

>

> Thanks,

>

> Wes

>

>

>

> Looking for a soloution Achalasia and

Gastroparesis

>

> I have been diagnosed with classical Achalasia. It started 2.5

years

> ago as indigestion in the night and progressed so I did regurgitate

> all the time. Lost a lot of weight from 170 to 135. Have been to

four

> Gastro doctors, had many tests, MRI, CAT scan and two dilations. I

am

> 77 and had a stroke in 1997 and a bypass 3 months later. Had a good

8

> years until the indigestion started?

>

> Now I use Coke or Pepsi the last 2 months with each meal, 3-4 a

day,

> so during the day I am fine and I eat normal meals and do not

> regurgitate at night. The CO2 seems to help greatly; sometimes I

have

> two with each meal.

>

> However most mornings I can not drink more than a half cup of decaf

> after a walk to Mcs, it comes up and I regurgitate most of

last

> nights dinner on the walk home.

>

> My Gastro Dr said that the lack of stomach emptying goes with

> Achalasia however I believe I also have Gastroparesis. I had a

> nuclear test for it last fall and I was on the high side. Tried

> Reglan but had many side effects so started on Domperidone Maleate

10

> mg which I have to get from Canada as not FDA approved, it has NO

> side affects, seem to help. I am not diabetic.

>

> Wondering if any body on this site has a similar problem or could

> suggest a solution to stomach empting, I do not want Botox or an

> operation at this time as I believe the Coke solves the Achalasia

for

> now.

>

> Ray

>

>

>

>

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

______________

> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of

Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

> http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text5.com

>

[Guest guest]

Ann

Thanks for the reply. Have been going to Mcs every morning

for 17 years, used to drink real coffee but now decalf the last

year. My throw ups on the way home started about two months ago,

some days. Today I was fine as I had a puried meal last night and

cut down on the amount.

So I believe the stomach sometimess did not empty after 12 or more

hours. My Gastro doctor says the stomach emptying is part of

Achalasia. I will go back to soup at night. Last week I had potatoe

soup several nights and the next morning at Mcs drank

2 cups of decalf and felt fine.

Need to eat something that dissolves readilly. Since my ancestery

was Irish, guess they grew up on potatoes. Was Canadian but now in

Calif last 45 years as a US citizen.

I love dark choclate in the afternoon, seems great with a Coke and

also milk with my cereal is great, after the LES relaxes. May take

a Coke before my morning cereal.

Ray

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy, thanks for the reply. What a club, everybody helping others.

I also tried Club Soda but the brand I bought did not have as much

CO2.

Coke or Pepsi in the can have much more fizz, specially cold seems to

work foe me. I tried a bottle of Coke but less fizz and the cans are

cheaper. Yes the first several drinks from the Coke tend to come up,

but after a half can it starts to work, then you can then finish the

can, Once in awhile I need two cans.

Ray

> >

> > I have been diagnosed with classical Achalasia. It started 2.5

years

> > ago as indigestion in the night and progressed so I did

regurgitate

> > all the time. Lost a lot of weight from 170 to 135. Have been to

four

> > Gastro doctors, had many tests, MRI, CAT scan and two dilations.

I am

> > 77 and had a stroke in 1997 and a bypass 3 months later. Had a

good 8

> > years until the indigestion started?

> >

> > Now I use Coke or Pepsi the last 2 months with each meal, 3-4 a

day,

> > so during the day I am fine and I eat normal meals and do not

> > regurgitate at night. The CO2 seems to help greatly; sometimes I

have

> > two with each meal.

> >

> > However most mornings I can not drink more than a half cup of

decaf

> > after a walk to Mcs, it comes up and I regurgitate most of

last

> > nights dinner on the walk home.

> >

> > My Gastro Dr said that the lack of stomach emptying goes with

> > Achalasia however I believe I also have Gastroparesis. I had a

> > nuclear test for it last fall and I was on the high side. Tried

> > Reglan but had many side effects so started on Domperidone

Maleate 10

> > mg which I have to get from Canada as not FDA approved, it has NO

> > side affects, seem to help. I am not diabetic.

> >

> > Wondering if any body on this site has a similar problem or could

> > suggest a solution to stomach empting, I do not want Botox or an

> > operation at this time as I believe the Coke solves the Achalasia

for

> > now.

> >

> > Ray

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Marilyn loves the flavored carbonated water at Sam's Club.

Whatever works!> > >> > > I have been diagnosed with classical Achalasia. It started 2.5 > years> > > ago as indigestion in the night and progressed so I did > regurgitate> > > all the time. Lost a lot of weight from 170 to 135. Have been to > four> > > Gastro doctors, had many tests, MRI, CAT scan and two dilations. > I am> > > 77 and had a stroke in 1997 and a bypass 3 months later. Had a > good 8> > > years until the indigestion started?> > >> > > Now I use Coke or Pepsi the last 2 months with each meal, 3-4 a > day,> > > so during the day I am fine and I eat normal meals and do not> > > regurgitate at night. The CO2 seems to help greatly; sometimes I > have> > > two with each meal.> > >> > > However most mornings I can not drink more than a half cup of > decaf> > > after a walk to Mcs, it comes up and I regurgitate most of > last> > > nights dinner on the walk home.> > >> > > My Gastro Dr said that the lack of stomach emptying goes with> > > Achalasia however I believe I also have Gastroparesis. I had a> > > nuclear test for it last fall and I was on the high side. Tried> > > Reglan but had many side effects so started on Domperidone > Maleate 10> > > mg which I have to get from Canada as not FDA approved, it has NO> > > side affects, seem to help. I am not diabetic.> > >> > > Wondering if any body on this site has a similar problem or could> > > suggest a solution to stomach empting, I do not want Botox or an> > > operation at this time as I believe the Coke solves the Achalasia > for> > > now.> > >> > > Ray> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Just one person's info-

I had a gastric emptying test with all the rest of my tests and at least for me, my gastric emptying was actually better than "normal" and the rest of my tests were really screwed up.....

Certainly not a scientific study but thought I would chime in. Don't know if anybody else got to have the pleasure of eating nasty radioactive butterscotch pudding and then lying down for hours while they watched the little radioactive particles....

Dawn