Guest guest Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Hi, My son experienced a really bad heartburn last night for the 1st time after his surgery. I was feeling really helpless. I have read many posts on this and trying to learn as much as I can through them. I tried to give him cold water, that did not work... milk was tasting bad as it may have spoiled, I need to check then he eat some french vanilla yogurt and that did not give him relief either. I am in tears and feeling so bad. Finally I gave him the Tylenol codeine pain killer and then some warm water to drink that helped him to sleep. I am not sure why these come? Is it due to the type of food he ate/drank? Does it mean the surgery was not very successful? Is this one of the mystery like achlasia? I am wondering how will he cope with this when school starts..a little worried about that too. Any suggestions/comments welcome Thanks, Priti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 It is possible that was a spasm, not heartburn. Have TUMS or Prevacid on hand for heartburn. The spasms can come after surgery, really strong, but taper off. Some people had success with eating popsicles to stop the spasms. In general, some of us don't like dairy things so well with achalasia, it leaves a weird taste. Spasms are very common after surgery, I post that all the time. Keep him on some kind of pain reliever, like tylenol, that may help. I doubt he is having a heart attack, but that should be eliminated. Once he realizes it is a spasm he won't be so tense. Make sure he knows they lessen over time, that first one is the worst. When he can eat more, eating things like bread that will fill his esophagus and NOT go down, seems to stop the spasms. Then drink water. Imagine it like a garden hose just going crazy when water is turned on and no one is holding the end of the hose. If you shut down the end so water can't get out then the hose quits moving. Give him regular meals, like hourly. Drink lots of water. Lately I've used unsalted pretzels to fill my esophagus to stop the spasms. But I can drink them down. They compact and fill my esophagus so it doesn't move. Then a few minutes later I drink. Not everyone can do that, but later if he keeps having spasms try that. My dear friend Peggy, who doesn't post here often, swears by popsicles or frozen fruit bars. I'd avoid dairy things, they have a gross texture to me and a few others I've talked to, not everyone. It warms a little and just leaves a little weird taste and coating to me. > > Hi, > > My son experienced a really bad heartburn last night for the 1st time after his surgery. I was feeling really helpless. > I have read many posts on this and trying to learn as much as I can through them. > I tried to give him cold water, that did not work... milk was tasting bad as it may have spoiled, I need to check then he eat some french vanilla yogurt and that did not give him relief either. I am in tears and feeling so bad. Finally I gave him the Tylenol codeine pain killer and then some warm water to drink that helped him to sleep. I am not sure why these come? Is it due to the type of food he ate/drank? Does it mean the surgery was not very successful? Is this one of the mystery like achlasia? > > I am wondering how will he cope with this when school starts..a little worried about that too. > > Any suggestions/comments welcome > > Thanks, > Priti > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 I tried the popsicle suggestion this week and it seemed to help. The other thing for me is noticing the spasm right away as it starts, when it is merely annoying, and trying the cold water or popsicle then, before it is a frozen in my tracks level of pain. On Jul 17, 2011, at 8:08 AM, Sandy <sandycarroll@...> wrote: > It is possible that was a spasm, not heartburn. Have TUMS or Prevacid on hand for heartburn. The spasms can come after surgery, really strong, but taper off. Some people had success with eating popsicles to stop the spasms. In general, some of us don't like dairy things so well with achalasia, it leaves a weird taste. > > Spasms are very common after surgery, I post that all the time. Keep him on some kind of pain reliever, like tylenol, that may help. I doubt he is having a heart attack, but that should be eliminated. Once he realizes it is a spasm he won't be so tense. > > Make sure he knows they lessen over time, that first one is the worst. > > When he can eat more, eating things like bread that will fill his esophagus and NOT go down, seems to stop the spasms. Then drink water. Imagine it like a garden hose just going crazy when water is turned on and no one is holding the end of the hose. If you shut down the end so water can't get out then the hose quits moving. > > Give him regular meals, like hourly. Drink lots of water. > > Lately I've used unsalted pretzels to fill my esophagus to stop the spasms. But I can drink them down. They compact and fill my esophagus so it doesn't move. Then a few minutes later I drink. Not everyone can do that, but later if he keeps having spasms try that. > > My dear friend Peggy, who doesn't post here often, swears by popsicles or frozen fruit bars. I'd avoid dairy things, they have a gross texture to me and a few others I've talked to, not everyone. It warms a little and just leaves a little weird taste and coating to me. > > > > > > Hi, > > > > My son experienced a really bad heartburn last night for the 1st time after his surgery. I was feeling really helpless. > > I have read many posts on this and trying to learn as much as I can through them. > > I tried to give him cold water, that did not work... milk was tasting bad as it may have spoiled, I need to check then he eat some french vanilla yogurt and that did not give him relief either. I am in tears and feeling so bad. Finally I gave him the Tylenol codeine pain killer and then some warm water to drink that helped him to sleep. I am not sure why these come? Is it due to the type of food he ate/drank? Does it mean the surgery was not very successful? Is this one of the mystery like achlasia? > > > > I am wondering how will he cope with this when school starts..a little worried about that too. > > > > Any suggestions/comments welcome > > > > Thanks, > > Priti > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Hi Preeti- It must be so hard to watch him in pain. I have had a few of these very painful attacks post surgery. My surgeon thinks they will go away as I recover from surgery. And for sone on this list, that has been true. Others here still have them. I hope for they are soon gone. They are horribly painful. I haven't tried any of the suggestions here yet ( magnesium, hot pad, various drugs). On Jul 17, 2011, at 6:07 AM, Preeti Mahajan <priti19.mahajan@...> wrote: > Hi, > > My son experienced a really bad heartburn last night for the 1st time after his surgery. I was feeling really helpless. > I have read many posts on this and trying to learn as much as I can through them. > I tried to give him cold water, that did not work... milk was tasting bad as it may have spoiled, I need to check then he eat some french vanilla yogurt and that did not give him relief either. I am in tears and feeling so bad. Finally I gave him the Tylenol codeine pain killer and then some warm water to drink that helped him to sleep. I am not sure why these come? Is it due to the type of food he ate/drank? Does it mean the surgery was not very successful? Is this one of the mystery like achlasia? > > I am wondering how will he cope with this when school starts..a little worried about that too. > > Any suggestions/comments welcome > > Thanks, > Priti > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Hi Priti- My son has to take prevacid twice a day every day since his HM. if he doesn't he too suffers from heartburn which has caused him in the past to develop esophagitis. Did his doctor prescribe an antacid? Glad to hear he's doing well under the circumstances! Sent from my iPhone On Jul 17, 2011, at 9:07 AM, Preeti Mahajan <priti19.mahajan@...> wrote: > Hi, > > My son experienced a really bad heartburn last night for the 1st time after his surgery. I was feeling really helpless. > I have read many posts on this and trying to learn as much as I can through them. > I tried to give him cold water, that did not work... milk was tasting bad as it may have spoiled, I need to check then he eat some french vanilla yogurt and that did not give him relief either. I am in tears and feeling so bad. Finally I gave him the Tylenol codeine pain killer and then some warm water to drink that helped him to sleep. I am not sure why these come? Is it due to the type of food he ate/drank? Does it mean the surgery was not very successful? Is this one of the mystery like achlasia? > > I am wondering how will he cope with this when school starts..a little worried about that too. > > Any suggestions/comments welcome > > Thanks, > Priti > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Maybe forgetting one dose of acid capusule is the reason as yesterday he forgot his morning prevacid and only had the evening one. Let me keep an eye and see if he has it again. Today morning he is doing good and happy to have oatmeal in the morning and mashed potatoes for lunch. Just wondering if he has 2 dose of prevacid as prescribed by the doctor and if he still gets acid heartburn, can he still take tums or it will be too much antiacid medicine in his system. Thanks everyone for sharing what works for you all. I will keep you posted Priti > Hi, > > My son experienced a really bad heartburn last night for the 1st time after his surgery. I was feeling really helpless. > I have read many posts on this and trying to learn as much as I can through them. > I tried to give him cold water, that did not work... milk was tasting bad as it may have spoiled, I need to check then he eat some french vanilla yogurt and that did not give him relief either. I am in tears and feeling so bad. Finally I gave him the Tylenol codeine pain killer and then some warm water to drink that helped him to sleep. I am not sure why these come? Is it due to the type of food he ate/drank? Does it mean the surgery was not very successful? Is this one of the mystery like achlasia? > > I am wondering how will he cope with this when school starts..a little worried about that too. > > Any suggestions/comments welcome > > Thanks, > Priti > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Hi Priti I am so sorry, it must be awful seeing you son in so much pain. I totally agree with Sandy that oesophageal spasm is always a problem after surgery. If the ant-acids aren't working then spasm should be considered. I have found that sucking peppermints can often ease it. Good luck with everything. Best wishes, Kay in UK > > > > Hi, > > > > My son experienced a really bad heartburn last night for the 1st time after his surgery. I was feeling really helpless. > > I have read many posts on this and trying to learn as much as I can through them. > > I tried to give him cold water, that did not work... milk was tasting bad as it may have spoiled, I need to check then he eat some french vanilla yogurt and that did not give him relief either. I am in tears and feeling so bad. Finally I gave him the Tylenol codeine pain killer and then some warm water to drink that helped him to sleep. I am not sure why these come? Is it due to the type of food he ate/drank? Does it mean the surgery was not very successful? Is this one of the mystery like achlasia? > > > > I am wondering how will he cope with this when school starts..a little worried about that too. > > > > Any suggestions/comments welcome > > > > Thanks, > > Priti > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 For me priti, I usually can calm down my spasms with room temperature water! Just take a few sips at a time! Sent from my iPhone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Hi Sanjiv, Thanks for sharing your experience. What do you mean by the below statement. Ater more than couple of years after surgery I can say that " For an EX achalasian, lifestyle has to be seriously compromised " .. This is unfortunately the truth. How have you been doing since your surgery? Other than the heart burn, eating slow and small bites, not having citric foods and eating early before bed, what other comprise needs to be addressed post surgery. Thanks, Priti > Hi, > > My son experienced a really bad heartburn last night for the 1st time after his surgery. I was feeling really helpless. > I have read many posts on this and trying to learn as much as I can through them. > I tried to give him cold water, that did not work... milk was tasting bad as it may have spoiled, I need to check then he eat some french vanilla yogurt and that did not give him relief either. I am in tears and feeling so bad. Finally I gave him the Tylenol codeine pain killer and then some warm water to drink that helped him to sleep. I am not sure why these come? Is it due to the type of food he ate/drank? Does it mean the surgery was not very successful? Is this one of the mystery like achlasia? > > I am wondering how will he cope with this when school starts..a little worried about that too. > > Any suggestions/comments welcome > > Thanks, > Priti > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Hi preeti...  Excuse me if my view are exaggerated... Having food at night at least a couple of hours before sleep is itself a big compromise for me..Luckily enough havent faced any problems of acidity after the consumption of citric stuff or alcohol .. But...I have to carry a bottle of water with me everywhere i go because i am not sure when the hearburn will start...Dont get the heartburn very often but the fear and pain associated with it is quite discomforting... What i have zeroed in on is, staying awake late night or having junk food (read pizzas, burgers, etc) or having carbonated drinks like coke, etc tend to cause heartburn in me...  Regards,  Sanjiv...Mumbai....      From: Preeti Mahajan <priti19.mahajan@...> achalasia Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 10:46 PM Subject: Re: Heart burn  Hi Sanjiv, Thanks for sharing your experience. What do you mean by the below statement. Ater more than couple of years after surgery I can say that " For an EX achalasian, lifestyle has to be seriously compromised " .. This is unfortunately the truth. How have you been doing since your surgery? Other than the heart burn, eating slow and small bites, not having citric foods and eating early before bed, what other comprise needs to be addressed post surgery. Thanks, Priti > Hi, > > My son experienced a really bad heartburn last night for the 1st time after his surgery. I was feeling really helpless. > I have read many posts on this and trying to learn as much as I can through them. > I tried to give him cold water, that did not work... milk was tasting bad as it may have spoiled, I need to check then he eat some french vanilla yogurt and that did not give him relief either. I am in tears and feeling so bad. Finally I gave him the Tylenol codeine pain killer and then some warm water to drink that helped him to sleep. I am not sure why these come? Is it due to the type of food he ate/drank? Does it mean the surgery was not very successful? Is this one of the mystery like achlasia? > > I am wondering how will he cope with this when school starts..a little worried about that too. > > Any suggestions/comments welcome > > Thanks, > Priti > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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