Heller-Dor scheduled on Tuesday

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I'm pretty new to this group and have been reading everyone's messages for a

month or so. I had never heard of achalasia before I was diagnosed in late

October.

I've had problems keeping food down for 3.5 years (I'm 33/F). I've lost 70 lbs

total since the problems started. I started seeing doctors a few months later

and had a difficult time finding a good doctor. The one that I went to first was

rated " Best in Dallas " by a local magazine and he gave me the major blow-off. We

did a EGD and they found candida in my esophagus. He treated the candida and

continued to treat me for reflux. (I had the " foaming " , I thought it was acid,

so it's not totally his fault) He then told me he hadn't believed me when I told

him previously that Aciphex hadn't helped me, so I decided to find a new doctor.

A bunch of doctors told me that my eating problems were psychosomatic and tried

to give me anti-anxiety meds.

I finally found a good doctor and he had a motility test done and a barium

swallow and he said he was surprised to find that it was achalasia. (After

reading the symptoms of the disorder, I'm surprised that he and every other

doctor didn't know it immediately, but whatever.) He referred me to one surgeon

but we decided to go with another, Dr. Westmoreland right here in Dallas.

Anyway, my surgery is scheduled for Tuesday morning. I am hoping it helps

because I am in a bad way. My weight has maintained for basically a year and a

half, but I am tired all the time, I don't keep almost anything down, I have

tremendous bags under my eyes from the dehydration and lack of sleep (constant

choking all night lately even if I regurgitate before bed). I can't keep any of

my prescriptions down with any consistency so that can't be helping my other

health conditions.

I wanted to ask (after telling my life story I guess) - if you've had the

procedure, is there anything you wished you knew going in?

Also - I have had frequent recurring sinus infections for about 6 years. This

coincides with my move to Texas from Michigan, so even though I don't have any

allergies, I just thought it was environmental. Could the sinus infections be

related somehow? I know there is a lot of drainage that goes on and perhaps it

is impeded by the achalasia.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or advice!!