I guess this is the way it is, eh?

[Guest guest]

Hi, Fellow Achalasians,

        Well, I am wondering as if this is just the way it is going to be for me

for a while.  Had my VAT Hellers in Jan. 2006, and I'm glad I did.  I've been

symptom free for years.  But now I am having coughing all the time, bits of

food and drink get aspirated and I just cough and cough and that's life.  Also,

more and more, food is just kind of sitting in my esophagus and sometimes

it's easier to just lean over and let it fall out of my mouth and into a paper

sack.

Some nights I just have dinner sitting in my throat.  I don't mind very much.

I just lean over, as I have mentioned, and it comes out rapidly and I let it

fall into a paper sack and I throw it out.

       I guess this is the way it is, eh?  I've tried to figure it out (do I eat

too

fast, do I not chew enough, is it what I eat, etc.) but I don't have any answers

and, I am not complaining.  So far I can handle it.  And since I will no longer

be able to afford health insurance as of January 1st, I'm telling myself that

this is all right aka  'the new normal'.

        Are there any things I can do in this last month of health insurance

which might be smart to get done?  Please let me know if anyone out there

has a good idea for me and I'll try to get it scheduled.  I DO appreciate it.

        Otherwise, my bleeding ulcer just above where my LES was cut (Hellers)

is calming down (loads of omeprazole).  I've spent all my money on health

care and health insurance and now I'm broke.  I'll be selling my home, oh,

with any luck, in about three months.  Then perhaps I'll be able to pay for

a doctor's visit here and there.  Oh, and I'm interested in homeopathic

medications.  My prescription medications are out of the question.

        Thank you, everyone, for any information you might be able to offer.

        Ironically enough, I got the best teaching reviews I've ever had right

before I was laid off; just got a letter from the college telling me I'm getting

 a raise when I come back to teach summer school in June 2011.

         Thank you,  Deborah