Re: Surgery - Kay in the UK

[Guest guest]

Hi Kay

I am from the UK and not far from you actually I live in Northamptonshire and

under a consultant at Oxford called Mr Nick Maynard is that the same consultant

as you?

Was first diagnosed in 2006 had surgery at Kettering General in Northamptonshire

then was referred to Oxford about 18 months ago.

There is another member here called (now lives in the US but he also had

Mr Maynard as his cunsultant a few years ago)

I met up with Ann (from up North!) a couple of years ago with some other members

here in the group and it was great to be able to met others that have been

dealing with the same issues. This is a great group to be in and I have made

many friends here and been given so much support over the years so glad that you

have found us.

Pippa (UK)

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> > > OK here is my story and I need advice. I am 44 overweight (290) and was

diagnosed with Achalasia about 6 months ago. I have had dilation twice and the

bo-tox once. They seem to give me 2 months of relief. I am obviously going to

need the surgery and have met with two surgeons in the Chicago area. One I

like, one I didn't but that really does not matter. I currently have something

lodged in my esophagus causing me to throw up drinking water. I am assuming

this piece of food will pass or come dislodged at some point. And I should have

the surgery to stop this insanity of not being able to have a meal without

burping having to stand up to let the food go down or throwing up. My concerns

are mainly that I will die during the surgery, I am part of many groups and know

that since the surgery is laproscopic it is less invasive and not considered a

life threatening surgery. I also know of someone that had the surgery and died

6 months later from complications of achalasia. Other then the fear of dying

which really isn't am item for this group. What problems have people had after

the surgery? Advice?

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[Guest guest]

Hi Pippa

Nick Maynard is indeed my consultant - the best I have ever had by a long way!

How lovely to hear from you and it is so comforting to finally make contact with

others.

I find achalasia a daily struggle if I am honest but it does vary according to

how tired I am. I accept I have this condition (everyone has something) but it

dosn't make it easy. We recently started going to a new church where everyone is

very friendly and immidiately the invites to lunch came. the amount of stress

this caused was huge, how to explain, what to explain, do I go and just not eat

etc. I find eating with good friends ok as they know and just accept how I am

and don't put me under pressure. But other times I just end up feeling hungry,

stressed and upset.

I feel I should be able to deal with this better having had it for so long but

the fact that I have been able to read other's experiences here has made me

realise that I shouldn't beat myself up so much!

Really lovely to hear from you.

all the best

Kay

> > > >

> > > > OK here is my story and I need advice. I am 44 overweight (290) and was

diagnosed with Achalasia about 6 months ago. I have had dilation twice and the

bo-tox once. They seem to give me 2 months of relief. I am obviously going to

need the surgery and have met with two surgeons in the Chicago area. One I

like, one I didn't but that really does not matter. I currently have something

lodged in my esophagus causing me to throw up drinking water. I am assuming

this piece of food will pass or come dislodged at some point. And I should have

the surgery to stop this insanity of not being able to have a meal without

burping having to stand up to let the food go down or throwing up. My concerns

are mainly that I will die during the surgery, I am part of many groups and know

that since the surgery is laproscopic it is less invasive and not considered a

life threatening surgery. I also know of someone that had the surgery and died

6 months later from complications of achalasia. Other then the fear of dying

which really isn't am item for this group. What problems have people had after

the surgery? Advice?

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kay

If you are still struggling on a day to day basis has Mr Maynard not offered you

more treatment? I know that I had a bit if a hic cup about 18 months ago and he

sent me for an endoscopy and barium but they showed that things were pretty good

and everything is pretty much ok for me.

I tried Nifedipine just before I had my surgery and all they did was give me a

severe headache although they were not using it for the spasms they were trying

to relax my oesophagus to try and get what I had there into my stomach before my

surgery but it didn't work and the had to suck all the gunk out before they

could start my heller myotomy.

Pippa (UK)

> > > > >

> > > > > OK here is my story and I need advice. I am 44 overweight (290) and

was diagnosed with Achalasia about 6 months ago. I have had dilation twice and

the bo-tox once. They seem to give me 2 months of relief. I am obviously going

to need the surgery and have met with two surgeons in the Chicago area. One I

like, one I didn't but that really does not matter. I currently have something

lodged in my esophagus causing me to throw up drinking water. I am assuming

this piece of food will pass or come dislodged at some point. And I should have

the surgery to stop this insanity of not being able to have a meal without

burping having to stand up to let the food go down or throwing up. My concerns

are mainly that I will die during the surgery, I am part of many groups and know

that since the surgery is laproscopic it is less invasive and not considered a

life threatening surgery. I also know of someone that had the surgery and died

6 months later from complications of achalasia. Other then the fear of dying

which really isn't am item for this group. What problems have people had after

the surgery? Advice?

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

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[Guest guest]

Hi Pippa

I had a barium swallow and endoscopy a few months ago and it showed that the

heller had worked ok but the upper end was going into spasm and the rest of the

gullet had very poor motility. Mr Maynard felt that stretching the upper end

wouldn't make any difference as the rest was functioning so badly. At the time I

was just so relieved to have found something to take away the spasm pain

(fortunately I don't get the headache) that I just got on with it again for a

while. He is very supportive so maybe I should pop back again to see him.

thanks for the support

Kay

> > > > > >

> > > > > > OK here is my story and I need advice. I am 44 overweight (290) and

was diagnosed with Achalasia about 6 months ago. I have had dilation twice and

the bo-tox once. They seem to give me 2 months of relief. I am obviously going

to need the surgery and have met with two surgeons in the Chicago area. One I

like, one I didn't but that really does not matter. I currently have something

lodged in my esophagus causing me to throw up drinking water. I am assuming

this piece of food will pass or come dislodged at some point. And I should have

the surgery to stop this insanity of not being able to have a meal without

burping having to stand up to let the food go down or throwing up. My concerns

are mainly that I will die during the surgery, I am part of many groups and know

that since the surgery is laproscopic it is less invasive and not considered a

life threatening surgery. I also know of someone that had the surgery and died

6 months later from complications of achalasia. Other then the fear of dying

which really isn't am item for this group. What problems have people had after

the surgery? Advice?

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