Phyllis, about your son

[Guest guest]

Hi,  I just wanted to say that Achalasia is a weird, life-long thing, as far as

I'm

concerned.  Getting to the people at this group was the first turn in the bend

for me; nobody diagnosed me correctly until I got here, thinking I had something

else but I really wanted to know what the heck was going on.

I had a Hellers in Jan. 2006 and now, five years later, I am just starting to

have

more and more trouble.

I've noticed that we vary.  Some people are doing great with a Hellers or even

without a Hellers, some need an -ectomy, and some get by, one way or another.

But however we cope individually, it's an enormous relief to have a group of

like-afflicted people who completely understand how this stuff affects one's

life.

My current single problem is saliva pooling and mid-sleep aspiration.  Dr. Jeff.

Conklin at Cedars-Sinai is going to try to help me get past this.  My insurance

sent me to a gastro. guy who did not know much abourt Achalasia but he did

find an ulcer and he was very nice, not a boor (and I have met some).  But I

decided that I'd contact Dr. Conklin and see what I could do about this problem.

And so it goes.

If anyone out there is struggling with daily and nightly aspiration, I'd sure

like

to hear how you are dealing with it.  Sometimes I awake at night, not being

able to breathe, and it's that damned old aspiration thing again.

And I always cough and spit up in the mornings (so attractive!).

But, I can swallow food and drink, almost all the time.  And when I am

having trouble, I know how to deal with it: either bend over and let the

mess go into the toilet or a paper bag, or, wait it out.

I needed that Hellers.  I'm glad I joined this group.

I have two more surgeries for other things coming up.  This will be an

interesting

year, all right.  But I feel better knowing this group is here.

thanks y'all!

Deborah