Re: Achalasia for 34 plus years

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I had thought I was the only one with Achalasia for that long.  I was diagnosed

in the fall of 1978 and had my first balloon dilatation in May 1979.  I was in

college when diagnosed, but had been dealing with for several years trying to

find out what was wrong.  Of course the doctors thought I was crazy that it was

in my mind.  That I was just imaginging the problems and the spasms and the

inability to swallow.  When my mom told the doctors that at night I would sit up

in my sleep and cough because it sounded like it was water backing up in a drain

pipe.  That told my family doctor what to look for, a simple barium swallow gave

me the diagnose.  I had my myotomy in 1999 and almost did not make it, I had

problems breathing in the O R.  I had reacted to the CO2 used in a laproscopic

procedure.  I have had several balloon dilations since then and take medication

and watch what I eat and struggle with my weight.  I consider myself to be

extremely blessed.  What I have could be much worse.  Even though I know this

is the most mis-diagnosed disease

 

Best Regards,

Sharon Cline