Hi... I will finally introduce myself

February 3, 2011

Hi everyone. I have actually been a member of this group since 2009 just never

knew what to post. I started having symptoms of achalasia during the summer of

2006, since I was engaged to get married in the next year, I dealt with my

symptoms. At this time, the symptoms was not that bad and I thought they would

just go away. After getting married in 2007, my husband convinced me to get it

checked out. After an EDG, my gastro told me I had acid reflux. Since I was

young, being only 21 years old and stupid, I refuse to go back for a follow up.

The protonix they placed me on didn't do me any good. In Feb of 2009, I ended up

in the heart hospital for severe chest pains. This is when the nurse staff and

my own gastro, who diagnosed me with acid reflux, saw that I couldn't eat

without my heart racing. After another EDG and other tests, they say that my

esophagus was indeed dilated. In the months to follow, I had tons of x-rays,

scans, and swallowing tests. Finally in April I was diagnosed with achalasia and

surgery was scheduled for May. I had the best surgeon at Rush University in

Chicago. He does surgery for achalasia a least once a month.

I am thankful for the Heller Myotomy for the fact that I can eat in public

without getting embarrassed. Before my surgery, it would take me at least an

hour to eat a full meal and I had to burp consistently to get the food down. I

started not eating simply for the fact that I couldn't, although I would force a

meal or two down. The only down fall to my surgery is that I now have chest

pains when I exert a lot of energy, like shoveling snow, or when it is hot

outside. I also have the occasional stomach ache and bloating which can get

embarrassing. I do see my gastro every 3-6 months, he loves to keep a very close

eye on me. I have been tested several times for the chest pains but none of my

doctors can figure it out. Is any else experiencing these same symptoms?

For everyone else out there deciding weather or not to have the surgery, I would

say go for it. I feel so much more healthier because of my surgery and can

actually enjoy food by myself or in public.

Recommended Posts