Joanie - was: Hello from Atlanta

[Guest guest]

Joanie --

I've been symptomatic since the early 90s, diagnosed in 1996, dilated in 1996

and 1998.

I got pregnant in 1999 and gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy in 2000.

My pregnancy had no effect on my achalasia, and vice versa (other than I didn't

get any acid reflux... all my girlfriends were jealous of that, b/c they got

horrible preggo-heartburn!).

I go in and have a timed and measured barium swallow every 12-24 months to watch

for changes in the size and shape of my esophagus, and in the past 12 years I've

been very pleased with my decision to not have surgery yet. If something

changes in the future, I'll surely consider a myotomy or an esophagectomy, but

for now my results from dilation-only have equaled or exceeded the results from

several group members here who had surgery.

Debbi in Michigan

>

> I live in Atlanta too & was diagnosed with A in 2007/2008, I think. My GI

(Dekalb Gastro) recommended surgery at Emory. I met with a surgeon (can't

remember his name) there who said I was a good candidate; however I decided to

hold off on surgery for now. I'm not losing weight, I can pretty much eat

anything (some things are easier than others though). I'm not taking any

medicine anymore and am just managing on my own for now. The surgery makes me

nervous.

>

> I hope to get pregnant in the next year or so. I wonder how pregnancy may

affect my symptoms though.

>

> It's nice to hear of people from GA with Achalasia! Hope you all are doing

well.

>

> -Joanie