Re: Expectations after surgery & how do you keep hydrated

[Guest guest]

Hi, Maureen,

I'm glad to hear that you have an appointment with Dr. Pellegrini

for surgery on June 11.

About getting liquids down, some people find that mint (such as

mint tea) or chocolate relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter

enough to get things down better. Standing up and walking around

while drinking might also help. Yes, it's possible to get

dehydrated enough to need an IV. I think some people have had to

be on IV before surgery.

For the same reason (relaxing the LES), mint and chocolate are

among the foods to be avoided after surgery. Here are some good

foods for the first month during healing:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_diet

Quality of life should be much better. All the nerves in your

esophagus that control peristalsis and LES relaxation probably

checked out a long time ago, but you should be able to swallow

well just with gravity. You might always have to eat slowly,

chew well and drink plenty of water to help wash it down. At

restaurants my son asks for a pitcher of water with hardly any

ice, because all that ice water makes him shiver!

in PA

[Guest guest]

Dear Maureen,

It is probably great you are getting surgery early. I've posted this often before, but some of the regulars must have taken the weekend off so I'll do it again. Carbonation helps many patients a lot.

When I had a barium swallow before surgery, about 1.5 years after a dialation, the doctor asked me at the end if I used carbonation and he said he really didn't understand why more of us didn't. He gave me a fizzy drink, looked like alka-seltzer. I still had the barium in me and was on the machine. So I saw with my very own eyes, as the fizzy went down and opened the sphincter and the barium went into my stomach. I could see the les open with each swallow. I could NOT feel it open, and would have thought I could.

Some members have a little pain, all the way up to a lot of pain with carbonation. Some drink it while trying to eat, some before and during. One member recently says he prefers canned Coke and it is very painful with the first one, but then he can eat and sip another one with the meal. Some just say it is too painful.

If I hadn't seen it I wouldn't have believed it myself. One member here has lived with carbonation (Sam's Club no calorie flavored water) for many years with no treatment, she was undiagnosed for 10's of years. She just sips it with all her meals.

I also had a very difficult time drinking fluids. I would suggest trying it, maybe observing how much liquid goes out, not necessarily how it feels. At my worst, prior to dialation, I would only urinate once a day and that was mostly just habit. I didn't know the carbonation trick until after the dialation and didn't let myself get that bad before surgery.

Maybe try it. Maybe also, if people are having barium swallow, take a carbonation drink with you and ask if they would see if the barium goes down after drinking. We could do our own research.

Good luck.

Oh, after surgery, for most it is a pretty normal life, have to be careful of acid reflux, most take medication for that, and still need to sleep upright usually. Can eat most everything with only a few sips of water.

Right after surgery, maybe the next day and/or the next few weeks, you can have some of the worst spasms you have ever had. The doctors may check you for other problems to be safe, they don't seem to warn you about them, but seems like 80% (my guess) have the really strong spasm(s) right afterward.

Sandy

>> Hi everyone. > I was diagnosed with achalasia two weeks ago. I got in to see the> surgeon in only ten days thinking I was early stage only to find out I> am showing signs of late stage disease. To be honest I'm sick of> getting rare diseases-I have primary pulmonary hypertension too. On> the nonrare disease side I also have fibromyalgia and restless leg> (just to keep things even). Anyway I'm feeling very sorry for myself> because this is getting (insert expletive). We scheduled surgery for> June 11. > At least I'm losing weight. > > I haven't been able to keep anything down today. I know I have to be> getting dehydrated since I couldn't drink much yesterday (solid food> now appears to be out of the question) but how do I drink when I know> it's just sitting in my esophagus and I'm going to cough it up later> in the sink? I can't even keep my saliva down so I'm losing liquid> there too. Is there some position that helps food get into the> stomach? I've read raising you arms helps but who knows. I'm still> burping after a sip of water so I know there is an opening still there> somewhere. Is it possible to get dehydrated enough that you need an IV? > > To keep nourished I need to drink 3 bottles of Boost/day but I can't> even get half of one to stay down. Funny part is I'm a nutritionist.> I'm giving myself all kind of inane advice I can't keep. > > After surgery I know I will be able to get food into my stomach but> what is quality of life like? Am I always going to have a problem with> pain when I eat or have to eat slowly? What happens when all the> nerves in your esophagus die? > > Thanks for any answerers.>

[Guest guest]

Sandy wrote:

....I've posted this often before,

but some of the regulars must have taken the weekend off so I'll do it

again. Carbonation helps many patients a lot. ...

No one else says it as well as you.

notan

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this info Sandy. I firmly believe that you have been sent to be a blessing from God...thanks SO MUCH! I've been hanging around the group for a few months. I had not heard that right after a myotomy that I'd have bads pasms. I really suffered with these for 2 years...mostly at night. I did not sleep for more than 3-4 hours/night for a year. Recently they mostly stopped for no easily identified reason. ..I praise the lord. It is really nice to know what to expect.

I've been trying carbonation. I used to foam so bad it seemed pointless. The last few weeks it seems to work....not confortable but livable. I even tried Bass ale...has very little carbonation.

-- JQ

Re: Expectations after surgery & how do you keep hydrated

Dear Maureen,

It is probably great you are getting surgery early. I've posted this often before, but some of the regulars must have taken the weekend off so I'll do it again. Carbonation helps many patients a lot.

When I had a barium swallow before surgery, about 1.5 years after a dialation, the doctor asked me at the end if I used carbonation and he said he really didn't understand why more of us didn't. He gave me a fizzy drink, looked like alka-seltzer. I still had the barium in me and was on the machine. So I saw with my very own eyes, as the fizzy went down and opened the sphincter and the barium went into my stomach. I could see the les open with each swallow. I could NOT feel it open, and would have thought I could.

Some members have a little pain, all the way up to a lot of pain with carbonation. Some drink it while trying to eat, some before and during. One member recently says he prefers canned Coke and it is very painful with the first one, but then he can eat and sip another one with the meal. Some just say it is too painful.

If I hadn't seen it I wouldn't have believed it myself. One member here has lived with carbonation (Sam's Club no calorie flavored water) for many years with no treatment, she was undiagnosed for 10's of years. She just sips it with all her meals.

I also had a very difficult time drinking fluids. I would suggest trying it, maybe observing how much liquid goes out, not necessarily how it feels. At my worst, prior to dialation, I would only urinate once a day and that was mostly just habit. I didn't know the carbonation trick until after the dialation and didn't let myself get that bad before surgery.

Maybe try it. Maybe also, if people are having barium swallow, take a carbonation drink with you and ask if they would see if the barium goes down after drinking. We could do our own research.

Good luck.

Oh, after surgery, for most it is a pretty normal life, have to be careful of acid reflux, most take medication for that, and still need to sleep upright usually. Can eat most everything with only a few sips of water.

Right after surgery, maybe the next day and/or the next few weeks, you can have some of the worst spasms you have ever had. The doctors may check you for other problems to be safe, they don't seem to warn you about them, but seems like 80% (my guess) have the really strong spasm(s) right afterward.

Sandy

>> Hi everyone. > I was diagnosed with achalasia two weeks ago. I got in to see the> surgeon in only ten days thinking I was early stage only to find out I> am showing signs of late stage disease. To be honest I'm sick of> getting rare diseases-I have primary pulmonary hypertension too. On> the nonrare disease side I also have fibromyalgia and restless leg> (just to keep things even). Anyway I'm feeling very sorry for myself> because this is getting (insert expletive). We scheduled surgery for> June 11. > At least I'm losing weight. > > I haven't been able to keep anything down today. I know I have to be> getting dehydrated since I couldn't drink much yesterday (solid food> now appears to be out of the question) but how do I drink when I know> it's just

sitting in my esophagus and I'm going to cough it up later> in the sink? I can't even keep my saliva down so I'm losing liquid> there too. Is there some position that helps food get into the> stomach? I've read raising you arms helps but who knows. I'm still> burping after a sip of water so I know there is an opening still there> somewhere. Is it possible to get dehydrated enough that you need an IV? > > To keep nourished I need to drink 3 bottles of Boost/day but I can't> even get half of one to stay down. Funny part is I'm a nutritionist.> I'm giving myself all kind of inane advice I can't keep. > > After surgery I know I will be able to get food into my stomach but> what is quality of life like? Am I always going to have a problem with> pain when I eat or have to eat slowly? What happens when all the> nerves in your esophagus die? > >

Thanks for any answerers.>

[Guest guest]

How kind of you Jeff, but there are 3 people in the house w/ me that would dispute your opinion as to where I originated. Some days only my dog really loves me.

As far as spasms, they do seem to lessen with time, maybe the esophagus really gives up trying. You've also probably heard that antidepressants may help with spasms, and I happen to take ibuprofen often for an arthritic thumb often, along w/ Excedrin Migraine for headaches, that may help with spasms.

If you HAD white foam and now don't have it as much, and you haven't done anything lately, have you had a barium swallow lately? Seems like the white foam and really bad problems w/ liquids are indications of an esophagus less stretched. Seems like as the symptoms lessen it could be that the esophagus is stretching. I'm sorry if I don't remember all your history.

Again, no studies, but it seems like if the symptoms are more severe the treatment is more successful. Those that can more easily live with it sometimes have a more stretched esophagus. Problem is that is my opinion, and I may only be seeing those cases where it all matches. This is all assuming the first treatment, not those that have tried other methods. After the first treatment and there are problems, everyone is really different.

The white foam was the most exasperating and isolating part of achalasia for me. No one cares if you eat, but the white foam makes it hard to talk and interact w/o getting gross and spitting it out all the time.

Again, I'm 4 years out from my myotomy and just had a ham sandwich with of Diet Coke and chips. There is hope. Before my myotomy, that would have been 3 days worth of calories and those calories wouldn't have been from ham, cheese, bread or tomatoes and green peppers. But I was much thinner then too.

About the spasms after surgery. Doctors don't warn us... and they don't warn the people in the hospital afterward either. I suppose they have to still have the tests to make sure it isn't a heart attack or something deadly, but it seems fairly common. They must be pretty strong spasms to feel them through the pain killers right after surgery. They do lessen but they can continue and be less responsive to the old bread and water gulps.

If you are having spasms during the night, it could be because you haven't eaten. Seems like if the esophagus is empty it is more likely to spasm. Keep graham crackers or whatever by your bed, even if you have to regurg them, the sooner you feed your esophagus, seems like the easier the spasm stops.

Sandy > >> > Hi everyone. > > I was diagnosed with achalasia two weeks ago. I got in to see the> > surgeon in only ten days thinking I was early stage only to find out I> > am showing signs of late stage disease. To be honest I'm sick of> > getting rare diseases-I have primary pulmonary hypertension too. On> > the nonrare disease side I also have fibromyalgia and restless leg> > (just to keep things even). Anyway I'm feeling very sorry for myself> > because this is getting (insert expletive). We scheduled surgery for> > June 11. > > At least I'm losing weight. > > > > I haven't been able to keep anything down today. I know I have to be> > getting dehydrated since I couldn't drink much yesterday (solid food> > now appears to be out of the question) but how do I drink when I know> > it's just sitting in my esophagus and I'm going to cough it up later> > in the sink? I can't even keep my saliva down so I'm losing liquid> > there too. Is there some position that helps food get into the> > stomach? I've read raising you arms helps but who knows. I'm still> > burping after a sip of water so I know there is an opening still there> > somewhere. Is it possible to get dehydrated enough that you need an IV? > > > > To keep nourished I need to drink 3 bottles of Boost/day but I can't> > even get half of one to stay down. Funny part is I'm a nutritionist.> > I'm giving myself all kind of inane advice I can't keep. > > > > After surgery I know I will be able to get food into my stomach but> > what is quality of life like? Am I always going to have a problem with> > pain when I eat or have to eat slowly? What happens when all the> > nerves in your esophagus die? > > > > Thanks for any answerers.> >>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy,

--- toomuchclutter <sandycarroll@...> wrote:

>

> How kind of you Jeff, but there are 3 people in the

> house w/ me that

> would dispute your opinion as to where I originated.

> Some days only my

> dog really loves me.

They sound like my kind of people! I am certain,

however, that there are many people here who would

dispute the part about only your dog loving you.

There was much in your post that was interesting and

useful to me. I'm still trying to come to grips with

what to expect going forward from my myotomy two

months ago. Things are far better than before but I

frequently feel as if I have a lump in my throat. No

more foam and no more aspirating in the middle of the

night and that's improvement.

Dan

>

> As far as spasms, they do seem to lessen with time,

> maybe the esophagus

> really gives up trying. You've also probably heard

> that antidepressants

> may help with spasms, and I happen to take ibuprofen

> often for an

> arthritic thumb often, along w/ Excedrin Migraine

> for headaches, that

> may help with spasms.

>

> If you HAD white foam and now don't have it as much,

> and you haven't

> done anything lately, have you had a barium swallow

> lately? Seems like

> the white foam and really bad problems w/ liquids

> are indications of an

> esophagus less stretched. Seems like as the

> symptoms lessen it could be

> that the esophagus is stretching. I'm sorry if I

> don't remember all

> your history.

>

> Again, no studies, but it seems like if the symptoms

> are more severe the

> treatment is more successful. Those that can more

> easily live with it

> sometimes have a more stretched esophagus. Problem

> is that is my

> opinion, and I may only be seeing those cases where

> it all matches.

> This is all assuming the first treatment, not those

> that have tried

> other methods. After the first treatment and there

> are problems,

> everyone is really different.

>

> The white foam was the most exasperating and

> isolating part of achalasia

> for me. No one cares if you eat, but the white foam

> makes it hard to

> talk and interact w/o getting gross and spitting it

> out all the time.

>

> Again, I'm 4 years out from my myotomy and just had

> a ham sandwich with

> of Diet Coke and chips. There is hope. Before my

> myotomy, that would

> have been 3 days worth of calories and those

> calories wouldn't have been

> from ham, cheese, bread or tomatoes and green

> peppers. But I was much

> thinner then too.

>

> About the spasms after surgery. Doctors don't warn

> us... and they don't

> warn the people in the hospital afterward either. I

> suppose they have

> to still have the tests to make sure it isn't a

> heart attack or

> something deadly, but it seems fairly common. They

> must be pretty

> strong spasms to feel them through the pain killers

> right after surgery.

> They do lessen but they can continue and be less

> responsive to the old

> bread and water gulps.

>

> If you are having spasms during the night, it could

> be because you

> haven't eaten. Seems like if the esophagus is empty

> it is more likely to

> spasm. Keep graham crackers or whatever by your

> bed, even if you have

> to regurg them, the sooner you feed your esophagus,

> seems like the

> easier the spasm stops.

>

> Sandy

[Guest guest]

They are all at least liking me today. Even the cat. Just wait a day and things get better.

That lump, hmmmm, could be subconscious, could be real. Before my surgery I was sure, positive, and convinced there was something wrong at the top of my esophagus, going on memory now, but think there is even an upper sphincter or something like that. My surgeon said no, and basically poo poo'd me. After surgery it was gone. But still, sometimes if I get ready for a huge drink of water it seems to lock up and there is a brief part of a second when I think it won't go down. Are you talking about something like that? Or does it happen even without food or water?

Wonder how far UP the lack of peristalysis goes? Where is it supposed to start anyway. Maybe something happens to us just because of that lack of peristalysis?

Sandy> > > > > How kind of you Jeff, but there are 3 people in the> > house w/ me that> > would dispute your opinion as to where I originated.> > Some days only my> > dog really loves me.> > They sound like my kind of people! I am certain,> however, that there are many people here who would> dispute the part about only your dog loving you.> > There was much in your post that was interesting and> useful to me. I'm still trying to come to grips with> what to expect going forward from my myotomy two> months ago. Things are far better than before but I> frequently feel as if I have a lump in my throat. No> more foam and no more aspirating in the middle of the> night and that's improvement.> > Dan> > > > > > As far as spasms, they do seem to lessen with time,> > maybe the esophagus> > really gives up trying. You've also probably heard> > that antidepressants> > may help with spasms, and I happen to take ibuprofen> > often for an> > arthritic thumb often, along w/ Excedrin Migraine> > for headaches, that> > may help with spasms.> > > > If you HAD white foam and now don't have it as much,> > and you haven't> > done anything lately, have you had a barium swallow> > lately? Seems like> > the white foam and really bad problems w/ liquids> > are indications of an> > esophagus less stretched. Seems like as the> > symptoms lessen it could be> > that the esophagus is stretching. I'm sorry if I> > don't remember all> > your history.> > > > Again, no studies, but it seems like if the symptoms> > are more severe the> > treatment is more successful. Those that can more> > easily live with it> > sometimes have a more stretched esophagus. Problem> > is that is my> > opinion, and I may only be seeing those cases where> > it all matches. > > This is all assuming the first treatment, not those> > that have tried> > other methods. After the first treatment and there> > are problems,> > everyone is really different.> > > > The white foam was the most exasperating and> > isolating part of achalasia> > for me. No one cares if you eat, but the white foam> > makes it hard to> > talk and interact w/o getting gross and spitting it> > out all the time.> > > > Again, I'm 4 years out from my myotomy and just had> > a ham sandwich with> > of Diet Coke and chips. There is hope. Before my> > myotomy, that would> > have been 3 days worth of calories and those> > calories wouldn't have been> > from ham, cheese, bread or tomatoes and green> > peppers. But I was much> > thinner then too.> > > > About the spasms after surgery. Doctors don't warn> > us... and they don't> > warn the people in the hospital afterward either. I> > suppose they have> > to still have the tests to make sure it isn't a> > heart attack or> > something deadly, but it seems fairly common. They> > must be pretty> > strong spasms to feel them through the pain killers> > right after surgery.> > They do lessen but they can continue and be less> > responsive to the old> > bread and water gulps.> > > > If you are having spasms during the night, it could> > be because you> > haven't eaten. Seems like if the esophagus is empty> > it is more likely to> > spasm. Keep graham crackers or whatever by your> > bed, even if you have> > to regurg them, the sooner you feed your esophagus,> > seems like the> > easier the spasm stops.> > > > Sandy>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy,

I'd be very happy if it turned out to be an all in my

head thing that passes.

I think the surgeon who poo pood you should be forced

to clean up after all of the seasick telephone

answering machine recorders we impress-ganged onto our

pirate ship.

Seriously, the lump in my throat happens after eating

or drinking and sometimes at night when I have

post-nasal drip. I worry that it's my LES not relaxing

enough and that I may need more procedures that may or

not work out.... <bleh!>... I'd prefer to make pirate

plans of treasure and conquest, or, failing that,

having a lot of fun partying on the high seas and

saving the world.

Dan

--- toomuchclutter <sandycarroll@...> wrote:

>

> They are all at least liking me today. Even the

> cat. Just wait a day

> and things get better.

>

> That lump, hmmmm, could be subconscious, could be

> real. Before my

> surgery I was sure, positive, and convinced there

> was something wrong at

> the top of my esophagus, going on memory now, but

> think there is even an

> upper sphincter or something like that. My surgeon

> said no, and

> basically poo poo'd me. After surgery it was gone.

> But still,

> sometimes if I get ready for a huge drink of water

> it seems to lock up

> and there is a brief part of a second when I think

> it won't go down.

> Are you talking about something like that? Or does

> it happen even

> without food or water?

>

> Wonder how far UP the lack of peristalysis goes?

> Where is it supposed

> to start anyway. Maybe something happens to us just

> because of that

> lack of peristalysis?

>

> Sandy

>

> >

> > >

> > > How kind of you Jeff, but there are 3 people in

> the

> > > house w/ me that

> > > would dispute your opinion as to where I

> originated.

> > > Some days only my

> > > dog really loves me.

> >

> > They sound like my kind of people! I am certain,

> > however, that there are many people here who would

> > dispute the part about only your dog loving you.

> >

> > There was much in your post that was interesting

> and

> > useful to me. I'm still trying to come to grips

> with

> > what to expect going forward from my myotomy two

> > months ago. Things are far better than before but

> I

> > frequently feel as if I have a lump in my throat.

> No

> > more foam and no more aspirating in the middle of

> the

> > night and that's improvement.

> >

> > Dan

> >

> >

> > >

> > > As far as spasms, they do seem to lessen with

> time,

> > > maybe the esophagus

> > > really gives up trying. You've also probably

> heard

> > > that antidepressants

> > > may help with spasms, and I happen to take

> ibuprofen

> > > often for an

> > > arthritic thumb often, along w/ Excedrin

> Migraine

> > > for headaches, that

> > > may help with spasms.

> > >

> > > If you HAD white foam and now don't have it as

> much,

> > > and you haven't

> > > done anything lately, have you had a barium

> swallow

> > > lately? Seems like

> > > the white foam and really bad problems w/

> liquids

> > > are indications of an

> > > esophagus less stretched. Seems like as the

> > > symptoms lessen it could be

> > > that the esophagus is stretching. I'm sorry if I

> > > don't remember all

> > > your history.

> > >

> > > Again, no studies, but it seems like if the

> symptoms

> > > are more severe the

> > > treatment is more successful. Those that can

> more

> > > easily live with it

> > > sometimes have a more stretched esophagus.

> Problem

> > > is that is my

> > > opinion, and I may only be seeing those cases

> where

> > > it all matches.

> > > This is all assuming the first treatment, not

> those

> > > that have tried

> > > other methods. After the first treatment and

> there

> > > are problems,

> > > everyone is really different.

> > >

> > > The white foam was the most exasperating and

> > > isolating part of achalasia

> > > for me. No one cares if you eat, but the white

> foam

> > > makes it hard to

> > > talk and interact w/o getting gross and spitting

> it

> > > out all the time.

> > >

> > > Again, I'm 4 years out from my myotomy and just

> had

> > > a ham sandwich with

> > > of Diet Coke and chips. There is hope. Before my

> > > myotomy, that would

> > > have been 3 days worth of calories and those

> > > calories wouldn't have been

> > > from ham, cheese, bread or tomatoes and green

> > > peppers. But I was much

> > > thinner then too.

> > >

> > > About the spasms after surgery. Doctors don't

> warn

> > > us... and they don't

> > > warn the people in the hospital afterward

> either. I

> > > suppose they have

> > > to still have the tests to make sure it isn't a

> > > heart attack or

> > > something deadly, but it seems fairly common.

> They

> > > must be pretty

> > > strong spasms to feel them through the pain

> killers

> > > right after surgery.

> > > They do lessen but they can continue and be less

> > > responsive to the old

> > > bread and water gulps.

> > >

> > > If you are having spasms during the night, it

> could

> > > be because you

> > > haven't eaten. Seems like if the esophagus is

> empty

> > > it is more likely to

> > > spasm. Keep graham crackers or whatever by your

> > > bed, even if you have

> > > to regurg them, the sooner you feed your

> esophagus,

> > > seems like the

> > > easier the spasm stops.

> > >

> > > Sandy

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Dan that sounds like an allergy thing....I have bad allergies my kids and my husband... I don't have "A" but but since my allergies kicked up this week, I too have the "gunckies" in my throat. Try an extra shower and coughing it up, or robitussin DM to thin it out, also grape juice will do this natuarally ( too much can constipate) I used to give grape juice a couple times week in the AM for my kids when we lived in San Diego, Ca the cottonwood trees were killer. you can try drinking water, too, but grape juice works better. some people "flush" thier nose. I tried once, yuck. there are bottles on the market , where you fill up with sterilized water and flush warm water through your nose, it drips down into your throat. it feels like when you get water up your nose from swimming and breathing wrong. I have experinced bad bouts of colds, allergies and bronchitis, and there are perscriptions

expectorants ( loosen phem). I never liked them and they are also horse pills. ( huge) then you are required to drink loads of water while on them. but I seem to be sensitve to medicines. the thing that keyed me off to allergies is the post nasal drip thing. For me it almost certainly leads to the "gunkies", in my throat. So, I hope this helps...your not crazy. you can feel like choking or gagging and food lingers for more than one swallow, I get all these things. hope you feel better, Dana in VA Hoffman <rp518dan@...> wrote: Hi Sandy,I'd be very happy if it turned out to be an all in myhead thing that passes. I think the surgeon who poo pood you should be forcedto clean up after all of the seasick telephoneanswering machine recorders we impress-ganged onto ourpirate ship.Seriously, the lump in my throat happens after eatingor drinking and sometimes at night when I havepost-nasal drip. I worry that it's my LES not relaxingenough and that I may need more procedures that may ornot work out.... <bleh!>... I'd prefer to make pirateplans of treasure and conquest, or, failing that,having a lot of fun partying on the high seas andsaving the world.Dan--- toomuchclutter <sandycarrollcharter (DOT) net> wrote:>

> They are all at least liking me today. Even the> cat. Just wait a day> and things get better.> > That lump, hmmmm, could be subconscious, could be> real. Before my> surgery I was sure, positive, and convinced there> was something wrong at> the top of my esophagus, going on memory now, but> think there is even an> upper sphincter or something like that. My surgeon> said no, and> basically poo poo'd me. After surgery it was gone. > But still,> sometimes if I get ready for a huge drink of water> it seems to lock up> and there is a brief part of a second when I think> it won't go down. > Are you talking about something like that? Or does> it happen even> without food or water?> > Wonder how far UP the lack of peristalysis goes? > Where is it supposed> to start anyway. Maybe something happens to us

just> because of that> lack of peristalysis?> > Sandy> > >> > >> > > How kind of you Jeff, but there are 3 people in> the> > > house w/ me that> > > would dispute your opinion as to where I> originated.> > > Some days only my> > > dog really loves me.> >> > They sound like my kind of people! I am certain,> > however, that there are many people here who would> > dispute the part about only your dog loving you.> >> > There was much in your post that was interesting> and> > useful to me. I'm still trying to come to

grips> with> > what to expect going forward from my myotomy two> > months ago. Things are far better than before but> I> > frequently feel as if I have a lump in my throat.> No> > more foam and no more aspirating in the middle of> the> > night and that's improvement.> >> > Dan> >> >> > >> > > As far as spasms, they do seem to lessen with> time,> > > maybe the esophagus> > > really gives up trying. You've also probably> heard> > > that antidepressants> > > may help with spasms, and I happen to take> ibuprofen> > > often for an> > > arthritic thumb often, along w/ Excedrin> Migraine> > > for headaches, that> > > may help with spasms.> > >> > > If you HAD white foam and now don't

have it as> much,> > > and you haven't> > > done anything lately, have you had a barium> swallow> > > lately? Seems like> > > the white foam and really bad problems w/> liquids> > > are indications of an> > > esophagus less stretched. Seems like as the> > > symptoms lessen it could be> > > that the esophagus is stretching. I'm sorry if I> > > don't remember all> > > your history.> > >> > > Again, no studies, but it seems like if the> symptoms> > > are more severe the> > > treatment is more successful. Those that can> more> > > easily live with it> > > sometimes have a more stretched esophagus.> Problem> > > is that is my> > > opinion, and I may only be seeing those cases> where> > >

it all matches.> > > This is all assuming the first treatment, not> those> > > that have tried> > > other methods. After the first treatment and> there> > > are problems,> > > everyone is really different.> > >> > > The white foam was the most exasperating and> > > isolating part of achalasia> > > for me. No one cares if you eat, but the white> foam> > > makes it hard to> > > talk and interact w/o getting gross and spitting> it> > > out all the time.> > >> > > Again, I'm 4 years out from my myotomy and just> had> > > a ham sandwich with> > > of Diet Coke and chips. There is hope. Before my> > > myotomy, that would> > > have been 3 days worth of calories and those> > > calories wouldn't have

been> > > from ham, cheese, bread or tomatoes and green> > > peppers. But I was much> > > thinner then too.> > >> > > About the spasms after surgery. Doctors don't> warn> > > us... and they don't> > > warn the people in the hospital afterward> either. I> > > suppose they have> > > to still have the tests to make sure it isn't a> > > heart attack or> > > something deadly, but it seems fairly common.> They> > > must be pretty> > > strong spasms to feel them through the pain> killers> > > right after surgery.> > > They do lessen but they can continue and be less> > > responsive to the old> > > bread and water gulps.> > >> > > If you are having spasms during the night, it> could> > > be

because you> > > haven't eaten. Seems like if the esophagus is> empty> > > it is more likely to> > > spasm. Keep graham crackers or whatever by your> > > bed, even if you have> > > to regurg them, the sooner you feed your> esophagus,> > > seems like the> > > easier the spasm stops.> > >> > > Sandy> >> > >