Hi...I'm new

[Guest guest]

Hi all. Not sure if I am dealing with Achalasia or not. I started having

swallowing problems in June. Went for Endoscopy at the beginning of October.

Dr. told me everything was fine. All biopsies (celiac, stomach polyp, EE) came

back negative and they put me on prevacid thinking it was acid reflux. After

increasing the does of prevacid at 6 weeks, I still had no improvement so I went

to ENT thinking they could help. They did a scope of larynx and said it looked

consistent with laryngeal reflux. He also ordered a barium swallow. The

radiologist told me he saw food particles in my esophagus even though I hadn't

eaten since the night before. He also said the barium is staying in my

esophagus and that when that happens they suspect a blockage. Since my

endoscopy was normal, he said it looked like achalasia. The muscle was very

tight. I had to walk the halls until the barium pill dissolved. I'm not sure

it ever went into my stomach.

I have health anxiety and was handling this all pretty well. Now, I am starting

to get scared and anxious. The ENT called and wants me to go in to discuss

results on Friday. I am nervous that there was a blockage that they missed

though I realize that is not likely or achalasia which is scary in and of

itself. Sometimes, I have to work to swallow, sometimes food gets totally stuck

til I bring it back up and lately I've been coughing alot (choking?) when

eating. I also burp a lot when eating. It is like my body is working against me

trying to swallow. I'm trying to push it down and it's trying to bring it up.

Other times it is not too bad. I am watching what I eat and rarely eat bread

snack type crackers or fried foods and I try to eat by 6 at night or I end up

miserable and cough and burp all night long. Ginger root tea seems to help as

well.

I can't figure out how I ended up with this. When I was pregnant, both of my

kids were up under my ribs causing lots of pain and I've suffered for years with

a cramping pain under my rib that would wake me up at night. It never lasted

long enough to go to the ER and would be ok after drinking lots of water and

burping. Gall bladder always came back fine. Dr.s couldn't figure it out and I

figured if it hadn't killed me yet then it must be ok. Now I think those were

spasms that could've finally affected my swallowing.

Sorry for the rambling. It feels good to get all this out to people who

understand what is happening. It is crazy to tell people, you can't swallow and

choke on food. I eat so slow too. Doesn't help that I have two school age kids

and we are always on the go with one thing or the other. Eating is so social as

well. The world revolves around food!! It is so frustrating!!! Lynn

[Guest guest]

Hello, Lynn.

Lynn wrote:

>

> ... the barium is staying in my esophagus and that when that happens

> they suspect a blockage. Since my endoscopy was normal, he said it

> looked like achalasia. The muscle was very tight. I had to walk the

> halls until the barium pill dissolved. ...

>

Did they just do the pill not the drink?

> The ENT called and wants me to go in to discuss results on Friday.

>

He may suggest another test or suggest another specialist. It is

possible that he could also suggest a treatment such as dilatation or

Botox to see if the that helps. If the barium showed a birds beak where

the esophagus goes through the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), at the

end of the esophagus, then he may be convinced enough to say it is

achalasia. It is likely though that he will want at least a manometry

test to confirm achalasia.

> I can't figure out how I ended up with this.

>

No one has been able to figure it out. There seems to be no clear reason

why we get achalasia. Some doctors will tell you it is because of a

virus others will say it is because of the immune system. No one knows

though.

notan

[Guest guest]

Hi Notan. They did the Barium drink first both thick and thin and the pill

last.

My GI said that they might do manometry if I was still having problems after

trying the prevacid for a while. It might be my next step. Lynn

> >

> > ... the barium is staying in my esophagus and that when that happens

> > they suspect a blockage. Since my endoscopy was normal, he said it

> > looked like achalasia. The muscle was very tight. I had to walk the

> > halls until the barium pill dissolved. ...

> >

>

> Did they just do the pill not the drink?

>

> > The ENT called and wants me to go in to discuss results on Friday.

> >

>

> He may suggest another test or suggest another specialist. It is

> possible that he could also suggest a treatment such as dilatation or

> Botox to see if the that helps. If the barium showed a birds beak where

> the esophagus goes through the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), at the

> end of the esophagus, then he may be convinced enough to say it is

> achalasia. It is likely though that he will want at least a manometry

> test to confirm achalasia.

>

> > I can't figure out how I ended up with this.

> >

>

> No one has been able to figure it out. There seems to be no clear reason

> why we get achalasia. Some doctors will tell you it is because of a

> virus others will say it is because of the immune system. No one knows

> though.

>

> notan

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynn,

I know what you mean about having school age kids...and the world does revolve

around food. I am finding this the most frustrating thing. My oldest son

turned 18 early this month. I had to prepare all the food for a family party,

then sit there and watch them eat it all!!! As much as I explained why I

couldn't eat it, I don't think they really get it!

The other day I was sitting in a food hall at a shopping center and watched all

the people eating all sorts of food, it was like torture. I had a Mcs

small sundae and struggled to eat it all.

I am 2 weeks post HM surgery and am waiting to see how successful it was. It

seems that all we do with this condition is wait!

Hope you can get some answers soon.

from Australia

>

> Hi all. Not sure if I am dealing with Achalasia or not. I started having

swallowing problems in June. Went for Endoscopy at the beginning of October.

Dr. told me everything was fine. All biopsies (celiac, stomach polyp, EE) came

back negative and they put me on prevacid thinking it was acid reflux. After

increasing the does of prevacid at 6 weeks, I still had no improvement so I went

to ENT thinking they could help. They did a scope of larynx and said it looked

consistent with laryngeal reflux. He also ordered a barium swallow. The

radiologist told me he saw food particles in my esophagus even though I hadn't

eaten since the night before. He also said the barium is staying in my

esophagus and that when that happens they suspect a blockage. Since my

endoscopy was normal, he said it looked like achalasia. The muscle was very

tight. I had to walk the halls until the barium pill dissolved. I'm not sure

it ever went into my stomach.

>

> I have health anxiety and was handling this all pretty well. Now, I am

starting to get scared and anxious. The ENT called and wants me to go in to

discuss results on Friday. I am nervous that there was a blockage that they

missed though I realize that is not likely or achalasia which is scary in and of

itself. Sometimes, I have to work to swallow, sometimes food gets totally stuck

til I bring it back up and lately I've been coughing alot (choking?) when

eating. I also burp a lot when eating. It is like my body is working against me

trying to swallow. I'm trying to push it down and it's trying to bring it up.

Other times it is not too bad. I am watching what I eat and rarely eat bread

snack type crackers or fried foods and I try to eat by 6 at night or I end up

miserable and cough and burp all night long. Ginger root tea seems to help as

well.

>

> I can't figure out how I ended up with this. When I was pregnant, both of my

kids were up under my ribs causing lots of pain and I've suffered for years with

a cramping pain under my rib that would wake me up at night. It never lasted

long enough to go to the ER and would be ok after drinking lots of water and

burping. Gall bladder always came back fine. Dr.s couldn't figure it out and I

figured if it hadn't killed me yet then it must be ok. Now I think those were

spasms that could've finally affected my swallowing.

>

> Sorry for the rambling. It feels good to get all this out to people who

understand what is happening. It is crazy to tell people, you can't swallow and

choke on food. I eat so slow too. Doesn't help that I have two school age kids

and we are always on the go with one thing or the other. Eating is so social as

well. The world revolves around food!! It is so frustrating!!! Lynn

>

[Guest guest]

It is scary but we all find a way to deal with it. The best move was to join

this group because they are the best. I would have been lost dealing with

this by myself. I started out seeing my family doctor because of the

symptoms and ended up having my gallbladder removed because we thought that

was the problem. When that didn't stop my symptoms my doctor said he was

stumped and sent me to a specialist. I too had endoscopies that came back

normal. At least the doctor I am seeing now knows about achalasia and I will

be having surgery sometime after the first of the year. Acid reflux meds

seem to be the first attempt doctors make at diagnosing this. I have had 3

different prescriptions for acid reflux. I also was put on a low dose

antidepressant to see if it was muscle spasms causing the problem. Hang in

there we are here for you.

S

-- Hi...I'm new

Hi all. Not sure if I am dealing with Achalasia or not. I started having

swallowing problems in June. Went for Endoscopy at the beginning of October

Dr. told me everything was fine. All biopsies (celiac, stomach polyp, EE)

came back negative and they put me on prevacid thinking it was acid reflux.

After increasing the does of prevacid at 6 weeks, I still had no improvement

so I went to ENT thinking they could help. They did a scope of larynx and

said it looked consistent with laryngeal reflux. He also ordered a barium

swallow. The radiologist told me he saw food particles in my esophagus even

though I hadn't eaten since the night before. He also said the barium is

staying in my esophagus and that when that happens they suspect a blockage.

Since my endoscopy was normal, he said it looked like achalasia. The muscle

was very tight. I had to walk the halls until the barium pill dissolved. I

m not sure it ever went into my stomach.

I have health anxiety and was handling this all pretty well. Now, I am

starting to get scared and anxious. The ENT called and wants me to go in to

discuss results on Friday. I am nervous that there was a blockage that they

missed though I realize that is not likely or achalasia which is scary in

and of itself. Sometimes, I have to work to swallow, sometimes food gets

totally stuck til I bring it back up and lately I've been coughing alot

(choking?) when eating. I also burp a lot when eating. It is like my body

is working against me trying to swallow. I'm trying to push it down and it

s trying to bring it up. Other times it is not too bad. I am watching what

I eat and rarely eat bread snack type crackers or fried foods and I try to

eat by 6 at night or I end up miserable and cough and burp all night long.

Ginger root tea seems to help as well.

I can't figure out how I ended up with this. When I was pregnant, both of

my kids were up under my ribs causing lots of pain and I've suffered for

years with a cramping pain under my rib that would wake me up at night. It

never lasted long enough to go to the ER and would be ok after drinking lots

of water and burping. Gall bladder always came back fine. Dr.s couldn't

figure it out and I figured if it hadn't killed me yet then it must be ok.

Now I think those were spasms that could've finally affected my swallowing.

Sorry for the rambling. It feels good to get all this out to people who

understand what is happening. It is crazy to tell people, you can't swallow

and choke on food. I eat so slow too. Doesn't help that I have two school

age kids and we are always on the go with one thing or the other. Eating is

so social as well. The world revolves around food!! It is so

frustrating!!! Lynn

------------------------------------

As a member of this group, you are invited to join the HealthShare Groups

community center located at http://healthsharegroups.org. The community

center brings together members from over 1200 disease specific support

groups for sharing of information and support.

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome to the site.

 

I was undiagnosed for over a year and a half and was finally diagnosed this past

July and had my HM surgery in August and I have been pretty good with eating

since then. I do have a few foods which I still have a little trouble eating but

as long as I can eat I am great.. I had alot of tests done also (endoscopy,

barium swallow, etc.) and everything was always normal. Usually the manometry is

the test that can tell if you have achalasia which is how I was finally

diagnosed. Good luck with everything and I hope you figure all of this out soon.

in Philly

________________________________

From: lynnej73 <lynnej73@...>

achalasia

Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 10:54 AM

Subject: Hi...I'm new

 

Hi all. Not sure if I am dealing with Achalasia or not. I started having

swallowing problems in June. Went for Endoscopy at the beginning of October.

Dr. told me everything was fine. All biopsies (celiac, stomach polyp, EE) came

back negative and they put me on prevacid thinking it was acid reflux. After

increasing the does of prevacid at 6 weeks, I still had no improvement so I went

to ENT thinking they could help. They did a scope of larynx and said it looked

consistent with laryngeal reflux. He also ordered a barium swallow. The

radiologist told me he saw food particles in my esophagus even though I hadn't

eaten since the night before. He also said the barium is staying in my

esophagus and that when that happens they suspect a blockage. Since my

endoscopy was normal, he said it looked like achalasia. The muscle was very

tight. I had to walk the halls until the barium pill dissolved. I'm not sure

it ever went into my stomach.

I have health anxiety and was handling this all pretty well. Now, I am starting

to get scared and anxious. The ENT called and wants me to go in to discuss

results on Friday. I am nervous that there was a blockage that they missed

though I realize that is not likely or achalasia which is scary in and of

itself. Sometimes, I have to work to swallow, sometimes food gets totally stuck

til I bring it back up and lately I've been coughing alot (choking?) when

eating. I also burp a lot when eating. It is like my body is working against me

trying to swallow. I'm trying to push it down and it's trying to bring it up.

Other times it is not too bad. I am watching what I eat and rarely eat bread

snack type crackers or fried foods and I try to eat by 6 at night or I end up

miserable and cough and burp all night long. Ginger root tea seems to help as

well.

I can't figure out how I ended up with this. When I was pregnant, both of my

kids were up under my ribs causing lots of pain and I've suffered for years with

a cramping pain under my rib that would wake me up at night. It never lasted

long enough to go to the ER and would be ok after drinking lots of water and

burping. Gall bladder always came back fine. Dr.s couldn't figure it out and I

figured if it hadn't killed me yet then it must be ok. Now I think those were

spasms that could've finally affected my swallowing.

Sorry for the rambling. It feels good to get all this out to people who

understand what is happening. It is crazy to tell people, you can't swallow and

choke on food. I eat so slow too. Doesn't help that I have two school age kids

and we are always on the go with one thing or the other. Eating is so social as

well. The world revolves around food!! It is so frustrating!!! Lynn

[Guest guest]

I went out to Applebee's on Friday with my mom and aunt. I ate some of the

appetizer but couldn't eat my entree. The waitress kept asking me if my meal

was okay. I sat there and watched people eat and felt so jealous of the ease

at which they could eat.

S

-- Re: Hi...I'm new

Hi Lynn,

I know what you mean about having school age kids...and the world does

revolve around food. I am finding this the most frustrating thing. My

oldest son turned 18 early this month. I had to prepare all the food for a

family party, then sit there and watch them eat it all!!! As much as I

explained why I couldn't eat it, I don't think they really get it!

The other day I was sitting in a food hall at a shopping center and watched

all the people eating all sorts of food, it was like torture. I had a

Mcs small sundae and struggled to eat it all.

I am 2 weeks post HM surgery and am waiting to see how successful it was.

It seems that all we do with this condition is wait!

Hope you can get some answers soon.

from Australia

>

> Hi all. Not sure if I am dealing with Achalasia or not. I started having

swallowing problems in June. Went for Endoscopy at the beginning of October

Dr. told me everything was fine. All biopsies (celiac, stomach polyp, EE)

came back negative and they put me on prevacid thinking it was acid reflux.

After increasing the does of prevacid at 6 weeks, I still had no improvement

so I went to ENT thinking they could help. They did a scope of larynx and

said it looked consistent with laryngeal reflux. He also ordered a barium

swallow. The radiologist told me he saw food particles in my esophagus even

though I hadn't eaten since the night before. He also said the barium is

staying in my esophagus and that when that happens they suspect a blockage.

Since my endoscopy was normal, he said it looked like achalasia. The muscle

was very tight. I had to walk the halls until the barium pill dissolved. I

m not sure it ever went into my stomach.

>

> I have health anxiety and was handling this all pretty well. Now, I am

starting to get scared and anxious. The ENT called and wants me to go in to

discuss results on Friday. I am nervous that there was a blockage that they

missed though I realize that is not likely or achalasia which is scary in

and of itself. Sometimes, I have to work to swallow, sometimes food gets

totally stuck til I bring it back up and lately I've been coughing alot

(choking?) when eating. I also burp a lot when eating. It is like my body

is working against me trying to swallow. I'm trying to push it down and it

s trying to bring it up. Other times it is not too bad. I am watching what

I eat and rarely eat bread snack type crackers or fried foods and I try to

eat by 6 at night or I end up miserable and cough and burp all night long.

Ginger root tea seems to help as well.

>

> I can't figure out how I ended up with this. When I was pregnant, both of

my kids were up under my ribs causing lots of pain and I've suffered for

years with a cramping pain under my rib that would wake me up at night. It

never lasted long enough to go to the ER and would be ok after drinking lots

of water and burping. Gall bladder always came back fine. Dr.s couldn't

figure it out and I figured if it hadn't killed me yet then it must be ok.

Now I think those were spasms that could've finally affected my swallowing.

>

> Sorry for the rambling. It feels good to get all this out to people who

understand what is happening. It is crazy to tell people, you can't swallow

and choke on food. I eat so slow too. Doesn't help that I have two school

age kids and we are always on the go with one thing or the other. Eating is

so social as well. The world revolves around food!! It is so

frustrating!!! Lynn

>

------------------------------------

As a member of this group, you are invited to join the HealthShare Groups

community center located at http://healthsharegroups.org. The community

center brings together members from over 1200 disease specific support

groups for sharing of information and support.