Re: Calling all post-heller myotomy patients..

[Guest guest]

Hello Ding,

My doctor explained to me that achalasia CAN have some psychological impacts. 

For instance, I have had the problem with my swallowing for several years longer

than you have had it.  I was used to eating tiny amounts of food with great

struggle.  Drinking lots of liquids, and dealing with the pain of trying to

keep

it down and not vomiting it up!  So after surgery, you can suddenly eat and the

food goes right to the stomach, like a drain it emptys quickly.  My stomach

went

nuts, all this food all at once, maybe this is part of your issue as well. 

Stuffing yourself is NOT a good idea, even though your brain is telling you to

do it. 

I think that when our plumbing (the esophagus) is altered, the stomach is much

more sensitive.  I don't know if this is because of the surgery or because of

something that was cut and has changed the ability of the stomach to digest

things???   When did you have surgery?

In my situation, it was 22yrs of dealing with it, so I cannot expect my stomach

to be normal, it may never be normal due to the illness and the time spent

eating a certain way for so long.  In your situation, not sure.  Have you

asked

the doctor?  That is where I would start, maybe have them do a scope??  I

would

also eat smaller portions and see if it helps.  Many foods can also trigger

weird nausea? 

I know many ppl that have had just a simple " lap band surgery " for weight

control and they can no longer eat things like they did before.  Some are more

sensitive, others are not.  But everyone seems to agree that it takes time to

adjust.  I hope you  can find some answers.  I wish you all the best.

Julee So Calif.

________________________________

From: ding <eilat87@...>

achalasia

Sent: Fri, February 25, 2011 5:21:57 PM

Subject: Calling all post-heller myotomy patients..

 

Hello I am a 23 year old male suffering from achalasia. My symptoms started

around 3-4 years ago. Like many typical people who suffer from achalasia, my

dysphagia was minimum at first and only gradually became worse and worse to the

point where I couldn't eat. So long story short, about half a year ago, I went

to get a lap heller myotomy with partial fundoplication.

Right after surgery, it was great, I was able to eat like never before. Had

little bouts of acid reflux and heartburn but only because I was drinking

gatorade at the time (the lime kind) which was a terrible idea.

At the time, I did feel like food tasted differently.. I want to say it tasted

more bland. All this isnt that big of a deal because soon after, I adjusted to

it.

But about a month or two ago.. my stomach started feeling weird.. I didn't have

any kind of dysphagia. Instead I felt like I had this indescribable sense of..

discomfort in the stomach. It's very hard to pinpoint exactly what it is. It

didn't feel like your typical nausea, like when you eat bad food or something..

I also felt like my stomach was never really full. Some of the discomfort would

go away if I stuffed myself. And I'm starting to suspect it might be

psychological because whenever I'm pre-occupied and busy, it wouldnt affect me

but the moment I have some free time, i would feel it in my stomach.

Yesterday it was so bad that I threw up out of nowhere. No bad food, wasnt after

a meal, no nothing. Ive also found that having sweet flavor in my mouth helps,

like soda.

So finally I ask all you people out there who have had the surgery. Does any of

what I just said sound familiar to any of you?

Thank you.

[Guest guest]

This isn't really relevant to what you are asking, but I was wondering how the

heck you were able to throw up. I thought that was impossible. I had a lap myo

fundo almost 10 years ago and I haven't thrown up since.

>

> Hello I am a 23 year old male suffering from achalasia. My symptoms started

around 3-4 years ago. Like many typical people who suffer from achalasia, my

dysphagia was minimum at first and only gradually became worse and worse to the

point where I couldn't eat. So long story short, about half a year ago, I went

to get a lap heller myotomy with partial fundoplication.

>

> Right after surgery, it was great, I was able to eat like never before. Had

little bouts of acid reflux and heartburn but only because I was drinking

gatorade at the time (the lime kind) which was a terrible idea.

>

> At the time, I did feel like food tasted differently.. I want to say it tasted

more bland. All this isnt that big of a deal because soon after, I adjusted to

it.

>

> But about a month or two ago.. my stomach started feeling weird.. I didn't

have any kind of dysphagia. Instead I felt like I had this indescribable sense

of.. discomfort in the stomach. It's very hard to pinpoint exactly what it is.

It didn't feel like your typical nausea, like when you eat bad food or

something.. I also felt like my stomach was never really full. Some of the

discomfort would go away if I stuffed myself. And I'm starting to suspect it

might be psychological because whenever I'm pre-occupied and busy, it wouldnt

affect me but the moment I have some free time, i would feel it in my stomach.

>

> Yesterday it was so bad that I threw up out of nowhere. No bad food, wasnt

after a meal, no nothing. Ive also found that having sweet flavor in my mouth

helps, like soda.

>

> So finally I ask all you people out there who have had the surgery. Does any

of what I just said sound familiar to any of you?

>

> Thank you.

>

[Guest guest]

I can throw up! That was one of the questions I asked my surgeon and he

said I could, so I do. It is usually when I am eating well done meat or

chicken or food that is too dry. There is a difference with that and food that

is

still in my esophagus...or when I have a lot air I have swallowed and

there is a battle between food trying to go down and air coming up....Neither

of these are frequent happenings, but they do happen.

in Santa Barbara

This isn't really relevant to what you are asking, but I was wondering how

the heck you were able to throw up. I thought that was impossible. I had a

lap myo fundo almost 10 years ago and I haven't thrown up since.

--- In _achalasia _ (mailto:achalasia ) ,

" ding " <eilat87@...> wrote:

>

> Hello I am a 23 year old male suffering from achalasia. My symptoms

started around 3-4 years ago. Like many typical people who suffer from

achalasia, my dysphagia was minimum at first and only gradually became worse

and

worse to the point where I couldn't eat. So long story short, about half a

year ago, I went to get a lap heller myotomy with partial fundoplication.

>

> Right after surgery, it was great, I was able to eat like never before.

Had little bouts of acid reflux and heartburn but only because I was

drinking gatorade at the time (the lime kind) which was a terrible idea.

>

> At the time, I did feel like food tasted differently.. I want to say it

tasted more bland. All this isnt that big of a deal because soon after, I

adjusted to it.

>

> But about a month or two ago.. my stomach started feeling weird.. I

didn't have any kind of dysphagia. Instead I felt like I had this indescribable

sense of.. discomfort in the stomach. It's very hard to pinpoint exactly

what it is. It didn't feel like your typical nausea, like when you eat bad

food or something.. I also felt like my stomach was never really full. Some

of the discomfort would go away if I stuffed myself. And I'm starting to

suspect it might be psychological because whenever I'm pre-occupied and busy,

it wouldnt affect me but the moment I have some free time, i would feel it

in my stomach.

>

> Yesterday it was so bad that I threw up out of nowhere. No bad food,

wasnt after a meal, no nothing. Ive also found that having sweet flavor in my

mouth helps, like soda.

>

> So finally I ask all you people out there who have had the surgery. Does

any of what I just said sound familiar to any of you?

>

> Thank you.

>

[Guest guest]

  Becca I was wondering the same thing when I just read that too I had the

heller done with wrap and I have not been able to throw up either..All I get is

dry hiving and alot of nausea which really stinks but I have noticed that some

food do make me feel sick like alot of dairy and I can not eat bread anymore for

some reason when I do I really pay for it later it just makes my stomach hurt so

bad but also some smells make me fell nausea too..

________________________________

From: BeccaB <greeneyedgirl247@...>

achalasia

Sent: Fri, February 25, 2011 10:38:26 PM

Subject: Re: Calling all post-heller myotomy patients..

 

This isn't really relevant to what you are asking, but I was wondering how the

heck you were able to throw up. I thought that was impossible. I had a lap myo

fundo almost 10 years ago and I haven't thrown up since.

>

> Hello I am a 23 year old male suffering from achalasia. My symptoms started

>around 3-4 years ago. Like many typical people who suffer from achalasia, my

>dysphagia was minimum at first and only gradually became worse and worse to the

>point where I couldn't eat. So long story short, about half a year ago, I went

>to get a lap heller myotomy with partial fundoplication.

>

>

> Right after surgery, it was great, I was able to eat like never before. Had

>little bouts of acid reflux and heartburn but only because I was drinking

>gatorade at the time (the lime kind) which was a terrible idea.

>

> At the time, I did feel like food tasted differently.. I want to say it tasted

>more bland. All this isnt that big of a deal because soon after, I adjusted to

>it.

>

> But about a month or two ago.. my stomach started feeling weird.. I didn't

have

>any kind of dysphagia. Instead I felt like I had this indescribable sense of..

>discomfort in the stomach. It's very hard to pinpoint exactly what it is. It

>didn't feel like your typical nausea, like when you eat bad food or something..

>I also felt like my stomach was never really full. Some of the discomfort would

>go away if I stuffed myself. And I'm starting to suspect it might be

>psychological because whenever I'm pre-occupied and busy, it wouldnt affect me

>but the moment I have some free time, i would feel it in my stomach.

>

> Yesterday it was so bad that I threw up out of nowhere. No bad food, wasnt

>after a meal, no nothing. Ive also found that having sweet flavor in my mouth

>helps, like soda.

>

> So finally I ask all you people out there who have had the surgery. Does any

of

>what I just said sound familiar to any of you?

>

>

> Thank you.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

To clarify, It was more like regurgitating the contents stuck in my esophagus

(that havent gone down) than the contents within my stomach.

Either way, I felt nauseous enough to want to throw up at all.

Sorry for the confusion.

> >

> > Hello I am a 23 year old male suffering from achalasia. My symptoms started

> >around 3-4 years ago. Like many typical people who suffer from achalasia, my

> >dysphagia was minimum at first and only gradually became worse and worse to

the

> >point where I couldn't eat. So long story short, about half a year ago, I

went

> >to get a lap heller myotomy with partial fundoplication.

> >

> >

> > Right after surgery, it was great, I was able to eat like never before. Had

> >little bouts of acid reflux and heartburn but only because I was drinking

> >gatorade at the time (the lime kind) which was a terrible idea.

> >

> > At the time, I did feel like food tasted differently.. I want to say it

tasted

> >more bland. All this isnt that big of a deal because soon after, I adjusted

to

> >it.

> >

> > But about a month or two ago.. my stomach started feeling weird.. I didn't

have

> >any kind of dysphagia. Instead I felt like I had this indescribable sense

of..

> >discomfort in the stomach. It's very hard to pinpoint exactly what it is. It

> >didn't feel like your typical nausea, like when you eat bad food or

something..

> >I also felt like my stomach was never really full. Some of the discomfort

would

> >go away if I stuffed myself. And I'm starting to suspect it might be

> >psychological because whenever I'm pre-occupied and busy, it wouldnt affect

me

> >but the moment I have some free time, i would feel it in my stomach.

> >

> > Yesterday it was so bad that I threw up out of nowhere. No bad food, wasnt

> >after a meal, no nothing. Ive also found that having sweet flavor in my mouth

> >helps, like soda.

> >

> > So finally I ask all you people out there who have had the surgery. Does any

of

> >what I just said sound familiar to any of you?

> >

> >

> > Thank you.

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I thought I was told I wouldn't be able to throw up either ,but I can.It isn't

like it used to be, but it is definitely coming up.

> >

> > Hello I am a 23 year old male suffering from achalasia. My symptoms started

around 3-4 years ago. Like many typical people who suffer from achalasia, my

dysphagia was minimum at first and only gradually became worse and worse to the

point where I couldn't eat. So long story short, about half a year ago, I went

to get a lap heller myotomy with partial fundoplication.

> >

> > Right after surgery, it was great, I was able to eat like never before. Had

little bouts of acid reflux and heartburn but only because I was drinking

gatorade at the time (the lime kind) which was a terrible idea.

> >

> > At the time, I did feel like food tasted differently.. I want to say it

tasted more bland. All this isnt that big of a deal because soon after, I

adjusted to it.

> >

> > But about a month or two ago.. my stomach started feeling weird.. I didn't

have any kind of dysphagia. Instead I felt like I had this indescribable sense

of.. discomfort in the stomach. It's very hard to pinpoint exactly what it is.

It didn't feel like your typical nausea, like when you eat bad food or

something.. I also felt like my stomach was never really full. Some of the

discomfort would go away if I stuffed myself. And I'm starting to suspect it

might be psychological because whenever I'm pre-occupied and busy, it wouldnt

affect me but the moment I have some free time, i would feel it in my stomach.

> >

> > Yesterday it was so bad that I threw up out of nowhere. No bad food, wasnt

after a meal, no nothing. Ive also found that having sweet flavor in my mouth

helps, like soda.

> >

> > So finally I ask all you people out there who have had the surgery. Does any

of what I just said sound familiar to any of you?

> >

> > Thank you.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

and I have twin achalasia  I can throw up as well, but to clarify, it

truly comes from my stomach and not from my esophagus and hurts like all get

out.  I had hyperemesis gravidarium (really bad morning sickness, that lasts

all day) for the first 5 months of my current pregnancy, and that was by far the

worst thing I could have experienced, on top of the complications that I'm

currently experiencing with my achalasia.  Throwing up (eventually dry-heaving)

15+ times a morning, then spending the rest of the day dry-heaving, wrecked

havoc on my esophagus and stomach.  But like , most of the time on a

" normal day " , it's simply regurgitation from stuck food in my esophagus.

kim in canada

-- On Sat, 2/26/11, julieok@... <julieok@...> wrote:

From: julieok@... <julieok@...>

Subject: Re: Re: Calling all post-heller myotomy patients..

achalasia

Date: Saturday, February 26, 2011, 5:13 AM

 

I can throw up! That was one of the questions I asked my surgeon and he

said I could, so I do. It is usually when I am eating well done meat or

chicken or food that is too dry. There is a difference with that and food that

is

still in my esophagus...or when I have a lot air I have swallowed and

there is a battle between food trying to go down and air coming up....Neither

of these are frequent happenings, but they do happen.

in Santa Barbara

This isn't really relevant to what you are asking, but I was wondering how

the heck you were able to throw up. I thought that was impossible. I had a

lap myo fundo almost 10 years ago and I haven't thrown up since.

--- In _achalasia _ (mailto:achalasia ) ,

" ding " <eilat87@...> wrote:

>

> Hello I am a 23 year old male suffering from achalasia. My symptoms

started around 3-4 years ago. Like many typical people who suffer from

achalasia, my dysphagia was minimum at first and only gradually became worse

and

worse to the point where I couldn't eat. So long story short, about half a

year ago, I went to get a lap heller myotomy with partial fundoplication.

>

> Right after surgery, it was great, I was able to eat like never before.

Had little bouts of acid reflux and heartburn but only because I was

drinking gatorade at the time (the lime kind) which was a terrible idea.

>

> At the time, I did feel like food tasted differently.. I want to say it

tasted more bland. All this isnt that big of a deal because soon after, I

adjusted to it.

>

> But about a month or two ago.. my stomach started feeling weird.. I

didn't have any kind of dysphagia. Instead I felt like I had this indescribable

sense of.. discomfort in the stomach. It's very hard to pinpoint exactly

what it is. It didn't feel like your typical nausea, like when you eat bad

food or something.. I also felt like my stomach was never really full. Some

of the discomfort would go away if I stuffed myself. And I'm starting to

suspect it might be psychological because whenever I'm pre-occupied and busy,

it wouldnt affect me but the moment I have some free time, i would feel it

in my stomach.

>

> Yesterday it was so bad that I threw up out of nowhere. No bad food,

wasnt after a meal, no nothing. Ive also found that having sweet flavor in my

mouth helps, like soda.

>

> So finally I ask all you people out there who have had the surgery. Does

any of what I just said sound familiar to any of you?

>

> Thank you.

>

[Guest guest]

If anyone has any tricks or solutions for the 'foaming' problem...please

share!!!! Mine didn't start until a few months after Hellers/Dors which was

early 2009 at 72 years of young age.

in Santa Barbara

I had the surgery almost 3 months ago, but I am just now starting to have

problems, I think. I sometimes feel like food isn't going down right

(especially with breads, which is where I had problems to begin with 4 years

ago)

or it's just sitting somewhere, but it eventually goes down.

I haven't had any vomiting/regurgitating issues since the surgery but I

have had some foaming issues. (But I'm a few months behind you) But yes, I

have definitely had stomach discomfort.

>

> Hello I am a 23 year old male suffering from achalasia. My symptoms

started around 3-4 years ago. Like many typical people who suffer from

achalasia, my dysphagia was minimum at first and only gradually became worse

and

worse to the point where I couldn't eat. So long story short, about half a

year ago, I went to get a lap heller myotomy with partial fundoplication.

>

> Right after surgery, it was great, I was able to eat like never before.

Had little bouts of acid reflux and heartburn but only because I was

drinking gatorade at the time (the lime kind) which was a terrible idea.

>

> At the time, I did feel like food tasted differently.. I want to say it

tasted more bland. All this isnt that big of a deal because soon after, I

adjusted to it.

>

> But about a month or two ago.. my stomach started feeling weird.. I

didn't have any kind of dysphagia. Instead I felt like I had this indescribable

sense of.. discomfort in the stomach. It's very hard to pinpoint exactly

what it is. It didn't feel like your typical nausea, like when you eat bad

food or something.. I also felt like my stomach was never really full. Some

of the discomfort would go away if I stuffed myself. And I'm starting to

suspect it might be psychological because whenever I'm pre-occupied and busy,

it wouldnt affect me but the moment I have some free time, i would feel it

in my stomach.

>

> Yesterday it was so bad that I threw up out of nowhere. No bad food,

wasnt after a meal, no nothing. Ive also found that having sweet flavor in my

mouth helps, like soda.

>

> So finally I ask all you people out there who have had the surgery. Does

any of what I just said sound familiar to any of you?

>

> Thank you.

>

[Guest guest]

I had the surgery almost 3 months ago, but I am just now starting to have

problems, I think. I sometimes feel like food isn't going down right (especially

with breads, which is where I had problems to begin with 4 years ago) or it's

just sitting somewhere, but it eventually goes down.

I haven't had any vomiting/regurgitating issues since the surgery but I have had

some foaming issues. (But I'm a few months behind you) But yes, I have

definitely had stomach discomfort.

>

> Hello I am a 23 year old male suffering from achalasia. My symptoms started

around 3-4 years ago. Like many typical people who suffer from achalasia, my

dysphagia was minimum at first and only gradually became worse and worse to the

point where I couldn't eat. So long story short, about half a year ago, I went

to get a lap heller myotomy with partial fundoplication.

>

> Right after surgery, it was great, I was able to eat like never before. Had

little bouts of acid reflux and heartburn but only because I was drinking

gatorade at the time (the lime kind) which was a terrible idea.

>

> At the time, I did feel like food tasted differently.. I want to say it tasted

more bland. All this isnt that big of a deal because soon after, I adjusted to

it.

>

> But about a month or two ago.. my stomach started feeling weird.. I didn't

have any kind of dysphagia. Instead I felt like I had this indescribable sense

of.. discomfort in the stomach. It's very hard to pinpoint exactly what it is.

It didn't feel like your typical nausea, like when you eat bad food or

something.. I also felt like my stomach was never really full. Some of the

discomfort would go away if I stuffed myself. And I'm starting to suspect it

might be psychological because whenever I'm pre-occupied and busy, it wouldnt

affect me but the moment I have some free time, i would feel it in my stomach.

>

> Yesterday it was so bad that I threw up out of nowhere. No bad food, wasnt

after a meal, no nothing. Ive also found that having sweet flavor in my mouth

helps, like soda.

>

> So finally I ask all you people out there who have had the surgery. Does any

of what I just said sound familiar to any of you?

>

> Thank you.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ding

I really feel for you. I have struggled every since my myotomy (aprox 5 years

ago). I still have upper oesophageal spasm so get varying problems getting food

down. I also suffer really badly with Irritable Bowel (something which my GP

said was likely although not sure how true this is) which often makes me feel

sick and bloated, and have struggled with anxiety around eating. The difficulty

is working out what is anxiety and what is physical.

Hang in there, take it one day at a time, take it slowly and try not to beat

yourself up. this condition is really hard but we are all here.

I try to monitor which foods are worse than others and I suspect it will be

different for many of us.

Thinking of you. All the best, Kay

>

> Hello I am a 23 year old male suffering from achalasia. My symptoms started

around 3-4 years ago. Like many typical people who suffer from achalasia, my

dysphagia was minimum at first and only gradually became worse and worse to the

point where I couldn't eat. So long story short, about half a year ago, I went

to get a lap heller myotomy with partial fundoplication.

>

> Right after surgery, it was great, I was able to eat like never before. Had

little bouts of acid reflux and heartburn but only because I was drinking

gatorade at the time (the lime kind) which was a terrible idea.

>

> At the time, I did feel like food tasted differently.. I want to say it tasted

more bland. All this isnt that big of a deal because soon after, I adjusted to

it.

>

> But about a month or two ago.. my stomach started feeling weird.. I didn't

have any kind of dysphagia. Instead I felt like I had this indescribable sense

of.. discomfort in the stomach. It's very hard to pinpoint exactly what it is.

It didn't feel like your typical nausea, like when you eat bad food or

something.. I also felt like my stomach was never really full. Some of the

discomfort would go away if I stuffed myself. And I'm starting to suspect it

might be psychological because whenever I'm pre-occupied and busy, it wouldnt

affect me but the moment I have some free time, i would feel it in my stomach.

>

> Yesterday it was so bad that I threw up out of nowhere. No bad food, wasnt

after a meal, no nothing. Ive also found that having sweet flavor in my mouth

helps, like soda.

>

> So finally I ask all you people out there who have had the surgery. Does any

of what I just said sound familiar to any of you?

>

> Thank you.

>