surgery over

[Guest guest]

I had my HM with Dor on Tues. Jan. 11th. So far so good, shoulder was hurting

more than abdomen, but it is getting better.

The evening after surgery I was to have nothing by mouth, food service came by

with a liquid diet tray and I told him I was not to have anything, he said that

there wasn't a NPO on my door, I argued again and he said that must have

changed, I wanted it badly anyway so stopped arguing. Nurse came in later and

said did you have that? I told her the story and she said that I should have

called her. I thought well that would have been one idea, but ideally she

should have done her job and put the note on the door. No harm done apparently.

Jello never tasted so good.

I was discharged the next day with the soft diet. I was surprised as I thought

I would be on liquids for at least two weeks. However, I am not pushing it and

still eating/drinking very lightly. It is so good to be able to swallow

anything without it coming back up.

I pray that I get many years without problems, but I realize once an Achalasian

always an Achalasian. I am going on 62 years old and I look at Jan. 11th being

the first day of the rest of my life. One day at a time.

Donna Hall

HM Jan. 11th, 2011

Dr. Brent s

-Jewish Hospital

St. Louis, Missouri

[Guest guest]

Lovely news Donna.

 

The advantage of being more mature in years is that you tend to be more patient.

Take it easy with the eating and it will pay you dividends. It certainly did for

me.

 

All the best for your new life,

Love from Ann in England.

From: Donna <donna9513@...>

Subject: surgery over

achalasia

Date: Sunday, 16 January, 2011, 14:06

 

I had my HM with Dor on Tues. Jan. 11th. So far so good, shoulder was hurting

more than abdomen, but it is getting better.

The evening after surgery I was to have nothing by mouth, food service came by

with a liquid diet tray and I told him I was not to have anything, he said that

there wasn't a NPO on my door, I argued again and he said that must have

changed, I wanted it badly anyway so stopped arguing. Nurse came in later and

said did you have that? I told her the story and she said that I should have

called her. I thought well that would have been one idea, but ideally she should

have done her job and put the note on the door. No harm done apparently. Jello

never tasted so good.

I was discharged the next day with the soft diet. I was surprised as I thought I

would be on liquids for at least two weeks. However, I am not pushing it and

still eating/drinking very lightly. It is so good to be able to swallow anything

without it coming back up.

I pray that I get many years without problems, but I realize once an Achalasian

always an Achalasian. I am going on 62 years old and I look at Jan. 11th being

the first day of the rest of my life. One day at a time.

Donna Hall

HM Jan. 11th, 2011

Dr. Brent s

-Jewish Hospital

St. Louis, Missouri

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann,

I just had my Heller Myotomy here in CA @ UCLA on Jan 11, 2011.  I was so

hopeful but the day after surgery an esophagram of esophagus made me so sad and

fearful that this surgery won't last.  The Dr says she seen a lot worst that

mine is okay.  It has only been a year since I first started having symptoms. 

My GI doc kept telling me it was GERD.  I had an endoscopy done and thought all

was well.  As my symptoms progressed I started regurgitating every night. 

Finally I had to see a 3rd GI doc to diagnose me and went to have surgery.  I'm

still on a liquid diet and getting used the burping sounds my esophagus makes. 

I feel scared of what could happen with disease, the end stage and how life will

be.  I'm a young father and can't seem to shake this depression that is

encroaching on me.

I just wanted to talk to someone who has had this condition for a while to gain

some hope.

Thank you.

Minh

From: Donna <donna9513@...>

Subject: surgery over

achalasia

Date: Sunday, 16 January, 2011, 14:06

 

I had my HM with Dor on Tues. Jan. 11th. So far so good, shoulder was hurting

more than abdomen, but it is getting better.

The evening after surgery I was to have nothing by mouth, food service came by

with a liquid diet tray and I told him I was not to have anything, he said that

there wasn't a NPO on my door, I argued again and he said that must have

changed, I wanted it badly anyway so stopped arguing. Nurse came in later and

said did you have that? I told her the story and she said that I should have

called her. I thought well that would have been one idea, but ideally she should

have done her job and put the note on the door. No harm done apparently. Jello

never tasted so good.

I was discharged the next day with the soft diet. I was surprised as I thought I

would be on liquids for at least two weeks. However, I am not pushing it and

still eating/drinking very lightly. It is so good to be able to swallow anything

without it coming back up.

I pray that I get many years without problems, but I realize once an Achalasian

always an Achalasian. I am going on 62 years old and I look at Jan. 11th being

the first day of the rest of my life. One day at a time.

Donna Hall

HM Jan. 11th, 2011

Dr. Brent s

-Jewish Hospital

St. Louis, Missouri

[Guest guest]

Minh wrote:

> ... I was so hopeful but the day after surgery an esophagram of esophagus made

me so sad and fearful that this surgery won't last. ...

Hi, welcome to the group.

Why did it make you fearful? What did you see or were told that did that?

notan

[Guest guest]

Dear Minh,

I had surgery about 6 years ago.... seldom have any issues. There are many many

people that have had great success with surgery and never come back to this

group. If you are having these feelings after surgery, at your next checkup

tell the surgeon, or see your general physician. Many of us suffer some

depression with achalasia, many here take medication for it. Once you have had

the surgery and get better nutrition, you should maybe start having more energy

and feel better. If not, please discuss it with other doctors.

I can't even begin to count the number of people that I know that don't post

here anymore, and haven't had significant issues for years after surgery. There

can still be minor issues... for instance if you talk much at time, the salivia

can build up and send you on a coughing spree. Or you might have issues at

night and need to sleep inclined.

Please let us know. Any emotion you have is real, but please discuss it with

your doctors if you don't see an improvement soon.

>

> > ... I was so hopeful but the day after surgery an esophagram of esophagus

made me so sad and fearful that this surgery won't last. ...

>

> Hi, welcome to the group.

>

> Why did it make you fearful? What did you see or were told that did that?

>

> notan

>

[Guest guest]

Donna!!!

I cannot say how sorry I am! I do not check my email very often, as you

can probably tell. I just sent you an email with my every-day email

address...pstuhlman@....

I am happy to hear you went with Dr. s. It's been 5 years since my

surgery and I am still very pleased with his work. Plus, it doesn't hurt that

he is not too shabby to look at, wink wink

Take it slow, and you will be just fine!! Please, PLEASE contact me, I promise

to respond.

Happy healing to you!!

a in St. Louis

>

> I had my HM with Dor on Tues. Jan. 11th. So far so good, shoulder was hurting

more than abdomen, but it is getting better.

>

> The evening after surgery I was to have nothing by mouth, food service came by

with a liquid diet tray and I told him I was not to have anything, he said that

there wasn't a NPO on my door, I argued again and he said that must have

changed, I wanted it badly anyway so stopped arguing. Nurse came in later and

said did you have that? I told her the story and she said that I should have

called her. I thought well that would have been one idea, but ideally she

should have done her job and put the note on the door. No harm done apparently.

Jello never tasted so good.

>

> I was discharged the next day with the soft diet. I was surprised as I

thought I would be on liquids for at least two weeks. However, I am not pushing

it and still eating/drinking very lightly. It is so good to be able to swallow

anything without it coming back up.

>

> I pray that I get many years without problems, but I realize once an

Achalasian always an Achalasian. I am going on 62 years old and I look at Jan.

11th being the first day of the rest of my life. One day at a time.

>

> Donna Hall

>

> HM Jan. 11th, 2011

> Dr. Brent s

> -Jewish Hospital

> St. Louis, Missouri

>

[Guest guest]

Minh wrote:

> It was just very large.

There are others here that ended up with larger esophagi than ideal by

the time they had surgery yet they are doing well. Give it some time and

see how it goes. You may be fine for a very long time. There are no

guarantees but not much in life is.

notan

[Guest guest]

Dear Minh,

 

I understand your sadness, mainly because you have just had an operation and are

in a vulnerable state emotionally just now. I have gone through many occasions

when I felt in despair, sorry for myself and mystified by not knowing and not

accepting why I should have something so rare.

 

My philosophy in life is " Attitude is everything " . To me, this means that any

situation can be looked at both negatively and positively, even happy occasions

like a wedding for instance - " It's going to be a happy and lovely day when I

see lots of people that I love " or " This is going to cost me a lot of money - I

need to travel there, stay overnight and buy a present " . The situation does not

change but the whole outlook and approach does.

 

What I find keeps me happy about my achalasia is these 3 things- firstly that it

could have been SO much worse. At one point I thought that it may be cancer and

that I would die. Secondly I felt an inner pride that I had taken action to help

myself by getting treatment, many people don't. Thirdly I CHOOSE to believe that

everything will be fine for a very long time. I may be right, in which case that

is a wonderful outcome. I may be wrong, in which case I will deal with any

problems when they come along and not wait for them or expect them.

 

I wish you the best in the future and hope that you are able to use some of what

I have written to help you.

 

Best Wishes from Ann.

From: Donna <donna9513@...>

Subject: surgery over

achalasia

Date: Sunday, 16 January, 2011, 14:06

 

I had my HM with Dor on Tues. Jan. 11th. So far so good, shoulder was hurting

more than abdomen, but it is getting better.

The evening after surgery I was to have nothing by mouth, food service came by

with a liquid diet tray and I told him I was not to have anything, he said that

there wasn't a NPO on my door, I argued again and he said that must have

changed, I wanted it badly anyway so stopped arguing. Nurse came in later and

said did you have that? I told her the story and she said that I should have

called her. I thought well that would have been one idea, but ideally she should

have done her job and put the note on the door. No harm done apparently. Jello

never tasted so good.

I was discharged the next day with the soft diet. I was surprised as I thought I

would be on liquids for at least two weeks. However, I am not pushing it and

still eating/drinking very lightly. It is so good to be able to swallow anything

without it coming back up.

I pray that I get many years without problems, but I realize once an Achalasian

always an Achalasian. I am going on 62 years old and I look at Jan. 11th being

the first day of the rest of my life. One day at a time.

Donna Hall

HM Jan. 11th, 2011

Dr. Brent s

-Jewish Hospital

St. Louis, Missouri