Re: Post Heller and spasms

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

 

Its very difficult to compare one's pain level due to esophageal spasms with

that of another person. It almost seems ridiculous when the doctors ask you to

rate the pain on a zero to ten scale. For you to suggest that, given the choice

of a HM with a continuation of the spasms at current intensity, versus no HM but

decreased spasms, indicates that you are really suffering and nothing really

seems to help.

 

The response of your esophagus behaving itself in the days and weeks leading up

to the HM, is probably more an indication that your esophagus is getting even

more stretched out to accommodate food, rather than some kind of " remission " or

spontaneious cure. This sometimes causes people to hesitate on having the

surgery. One could hardly blame them.

 

A barium swallow would probably convince you that you need the surgery.

 

Good luck with both your HM and learning to deal with the spasms, which may very

well decrease a relatively short period of time after your surgery.

 

From: leda444 <leda444@...>

Subject: Post Heller and spasms

achalasia

Date: Friday, October 14, 2011, 11:47 PM

 

Hello All,

I haven't scheduled my HM yet, very concerned about the possibility of increased

spasms afterward. I'm told that the HM will help with food passing, but I have

horrible spasms (thankfully less frequently lately), but none the less

incapacitating.

Has anyone noticed an increase or decrease in spasms after an HM? I think if

given a choice, I would rather live with the eating problem than the horrible

spasms.

Also, it feels like I'm being strangled much of the time, with pressure around

the adams apple area. Would this indicate something other than simply and LES

problem? I'm wondering also if HM would relieve this.

Final question - seems I've had a bit of a " remission " for the past couple of

weeks - food is passing (well, maybe 80% of the time). Can't think of anything

I'm doing differently - any reports of " spontaneous remission " , or is this just

wishful thinking? I hope I don't jinx myself by asking this question!

Thank you all. This site has been a huge comfort.

Kim

[Guest guest]

You may have a problem with the Upper Esophageal Sphincter. Like the LES the

upper UES can be affected by spasms too.

________________________________

From: leda444 & lt;leda444@... & gt;

achalasia

Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2011 4:47 AM

Subject: Post Heller and spasms

 

Hello All,

I haven & #39;t scheduled my HM yet, very concerned about the possibility of

increased spasms afterward. I & #39;m told that the HM will help with food

passing, but I have horrible spasms (thankfully less frequently lately), but

none the less incapacitating.

Has anyone noticed an increase or decrease in spasms after an HM? I think if

given a choice, I would rather live with the eating problem than the horrible

spasms.

Also, it feels like I & #39;m being strangled much of the time, with pressure

around the adams apple area. Would this indicate something other than simply and

LES problem? I & #39;m wondering also if HM would relieve this.

Final question - seems I & #39;ve had a bit of a & quot;remission & quot; for the

past couple of weeks - food is passing (well, maybe 80% of the time). Can & #39;t

think of anything I & #39;m doing differently - any reports of & quot;spontaneous

remission & quot;, or is this just wishful thinking? I hope I don & #39;t jinx

myself by asking this question!

Thank you all. This site has been a huge comfort.

Kim

[Guest guest]

Leda, being new here, I'm no expert in HM, but I think I can say,

having lived with it, unnamed for 5 years, that it's *uneven* ~~ which

may be why it takes so long to get a diagnosis: we get " better " and

delay. LAST YEAR I was coping with the strangulation feeling. When it

went away this year, I was thinking: spontaneous cure. . . . Alas, not.

I thought it was an improvement though almost till I was in ER. . . .

I don't think the HM will make spasms better or worse, since *that*

isn't the function/purpose (which is simply to make an open path). The

spasms themselves have to do with the progression of your own version of

this nasty condition. In MY view, any kind of open path would be a

giant blessing. Starvation is truly ugly and scary and hurts, big time.

.. . . Having potassium pushed in an IV is truly ugly and painful.

Please do NOT delay finding a solution!

xox

>

> Hello All,

>

> I haven't scheduled my HM yet, very concerned about the possibility of

increased spasms afterward. I'm told that the HM will help with food

passing, but I have horrible spasms (thankfully less frequently lately),

but none the less incapacitating.

>

> Has anyone noticed an increase or decrease in spasms after an HM? I

think if given a choice, I would rather live with the eating problem

than the horrible spasms.

>

> Also, it feels like I'm being strangled much of the time, with

pressure around the adams apple area. Would this indicate something

other than simply and LES problem? I'm wondering also if HM would

relieve this.

>

> Final question - seems I've had a bit of a " remission " for the past

couple of weeks - food is passing (well, maybe 80% of the time). Can't

think of anything I'm doing differently - any reports of " spontaneous

remission " , or is this just wishful thinking? I hope I don't jinx myself

by asking this question!

>

> Thank you all. This site has been a huge comfort.

>

> Kim

>

[Guest guest]

After my A got real bad and i couldnt eat, it never did get better.. maybe for a

month it would let me have a cocktail and that fine Kentucky Bourbon would relax

the LES and let down some food, i would try to eat really good healthy food when

i did that, ( i know that sounds weird since i was drinking Bourbon and diet

coke, but it is medicine just like a pill) but soon that didnt work either. and

it wouldnt go down. i would sip , sip,, (spit, spit into spit cup, sneaky in my

purse) hoping that it would a tiny bit... and let me eat... it took that to make

it work for me. it generally took a while,, but then that stopped too.... then

no liquid would go down at all... i have had spasms and some radiate into my

(usually) right ear and jaw also.. very painful . i took bentyl and donatal..

but when i was at my worse, the pills would not go down, that is really tough.

everyone is different though, and after my surgery my spasms have reduced a

LOT... hope it stays that way.. this thing (A) is really a mystery... nver know

what we all will get (sort of like a box of chocolates, huh ?) Kim

> >

> > Hello All,

> >

> > I haven't scheduled my HM yet, very concerned about the possibility of

> increased spasms afterward. I'm told that the HM will help with food

> passing, but I have horrible spasms (thankfully less frequently lately),

> but none the less incapacitating.

> >

> > Has anyone noticed an increase or decrease in spasms after an HM? I

> think if given a choice, I would rather live with the eating problem

> than the horrible spasms.

> >

> > Also, it feels like I'm being strangled much of the time, with

> pressure around the adams apple area. Would this indicate something

> other than simply and LES problem? I'm wondering also if HM would

> relieve this.

> >

> > Final question - seems I've had a bit of a " remission " for the past

> couple of weeks - food is passing (well, maybe 80% of the time). Can't

> think of anything I'm doing differently - any reports of " spontaneous

> remission " , or is this just wishful thinking? I hope I don't jinx myself

> by asking this question!

> >

> > Thank you all. This site has been a huge comfort.

> >

> > Kim

> >

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you everyone for your help.

Kim

> > >

> > > Hello All,

> > >

> > > I haven't scheduled my HM yet, very concerned about the possibility of

> > increased spasms afterward. I'm told that the HM will help with food

> > passing, but I have horrible spasms (thankfully less frequently lately),

> > but none the less incapacitating.

> > >

> > > Has anyone noticed an increase or decrease in spasms after an HM? I

> > think if given a choice, I would rather live with the eating problem

> > than the horrible spasms.

> > >

> > > Also, it feels like I'm being strangled much of the time, with

> > pressure around the adams apple area. Would this indicate something

> > other than simply and LES problem? I'm wondering also if HM would

> > relieve this.

> > >

> > > Final question - seems I've had a bit of a " remission " for the past

> > couple of weeks - food is passing (well, maybe 80% of the time). Can't

> > think of anything I'm doing differently - any reports of " spontaneous

> > remission " , or is this just wishful thinking? I hope I don't jinx myself

> > by asking this question!

> > >

> > > Thank you all. This site has been a huge comfort.

> > >

> > > Kim

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >