my update

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

Its been a while since I've written, but I manage to read a thread once and

awhile.  Your situation hits home for me. After my HM and wrap at the Cleveland

Clinic in 2010, I was swallowing worse.  I went back for a dilation six weeks

later.  When I asked Dr. Rice whats next if this dosen't work, he said quite

bluntly that an ectomy would be the next step. It motivated me to pay closer

attention to what, how and when I eat, and so far I'm functioning at the best

level in many years.  My measure of goodness of swallowing is how often and how

much I spit out.  If its not coming back out, then its going down, and I must

be doing something right.  My plan is to continue to find ways to swallow well

and see an ectomy as a last resort.

 

________________________________

From: RICHARD FRIEDMAN <cynmark24@...>

" achalasia " <achalasia >

Sent: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 6:16 PM

Subject: Re: my update

 

Hi Kim,

 

While it seems like you'll soon be crossing over to join the elite former

achalasians, I can't help but wonder, with all that you said in your post, if

seeking out another couple of opinions, might result in a doctor saying

something different.  I get it that your choices of doctors are limited, but

once your esophagus is gone there is no turning back. If there is any

possibility that another surgeon feels that you do not need an ectomy, but that

an adjustment to the wrap will give improved " functioning " then that might be

the preferred way to go.

 

The people who have had ectomies and so generously shared their experiences with

us, have generally reported that the surgery and subsequent recovery is no " walk

in the park, " but if they had to choose again knowing what they had been

through, they overwhelmingly say that they made the right choice. 

 

I speak from the experience of having several surgeons tell me I must have an

ectomy, but upon soliciting many opinions chose not to. So far I feel fortunate

to have made the right choice.

 

All of us feel for you and your situation.

 

________________________________

From: Kim <kimmydawn42@...>

" achalasia " <achalasia >

Sent: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 7:36 PM

Subject: my update

 

Well, I've had a few weeks to process my newest situation, and now it's time to

share with you all

A brief overview of my progression... I was diagnosed in June 1998 and had a

myotomy in an emergency situation in July 1998.  I've continued over the course

of the last 14 years to have severe spasms with periods of horrible dsyphagia.

 I've had at least 1 dilatation per year since, other than the last 2 years

where I was pregnant and then in between GI's/surgeons.  My surgeon retired

last year, leaving me in a situation where I was in a location where I had no

surgeon nearby.  He referred me to a surgeon about 3 hours from my house, but

that ended up not working out (really long story).  After spending last fall

getting worse and worse, we were lucky enough to get a new GI and a new thoracic

surgeon at the hospital an hour from our house.  I was seen urgently by the new

GI for a scope Dec 30 and given that view, sent urgently to the new surgeon for

an appointment the first week in January.  He scoped me 2 days later and then

scheduled a gastric

emptying study (given the amount of food in my esophagus and stomach, even after

clear fluids, ie nothing for me, for 48 hours) and new upper GI.  Those results

came back 3 weeks ago, and after seeing my upper GI, and my husband seeing it as

it happened (he's an xray tech), we basically expected the news that we

received.  

I'm scheduled for an ectomy on March 30 and I'll admit I'm quite nervous.

 Major surgery never really thrills me, and this certainly qualifies as that

type of situation  The state of my esophagus at this point is so beyond

repair.  It's twisting and I have fiberous bits there that don't look good.

 Thankfully, there is no sign of cancer or Barretts, so for that I am very

grateful.  It's *well* over 10cm, and is a mess from top to bottom.  The

surgeon just doesn't believe that I would get any sort of relief from another

myotomy at this point and after seeing everything I've seen (and feeling like

I've been feeling) I'm tending to believe him.

Here's the kicker though, and the part that is making me post.  I've noticed

people in the last while posting about myotomies with no wraps.  I've found out

that my initial myotomy was incomplete, not going far enough into my stomach,

and that I had no wrap.  My surgeon has suggested that might be the cause of my

horrible spasms and part of the trouble with requiring so many dilatations

without any sort of relief over all these years.  Whether or not that is the

case is unknown, I'm sure.  But seeing some of you all mentioning vigorous

achalasia (which I was also told I have/had) and then the comments about myotomy

with no wrap, I wonder if there might be a connection.

At any rate, I'll be in the hospital for 2 weeks or so, then back for that

lovely long recuperation, but despite my nerves, I'm looking forward to the new

road I'll be on.  I bounce between the thoughts of " the devil you know and the

devil you don't " and " I won't have Achalasia anymore! " , but I try to keep the

" won't have A " thoughts foremost in my mind.

Thank you all so much for always posting comforting words, as even if you're

just reading them towards someone else, they lift the spirits of many

kim in canada

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim, I am also in Canada. I had my esophagectomy almost 5 years ago with Dr.

Gehman in Thunder Bay, Ontario and I am doing terrific other than some minor

dumping syndrome. If you would like to phone me and discuss anything you can

think of I will be happy to answer any questions and concerns. My email is

_40@... and my phone number is 1-807-768-8945. I waited

until I was 40, suffered for 15 years, had 2 open myotomies etc. My esophagus

was described as a " flaccid sac " and needed to be removed. I can at least help

you understand what to expect.

achalasia

From: kimmydawn42@...

Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 16:36:30 -0800

Subject: my update

Well, I've had a few weeks to process my newest situation, and now it's

time to share with you all

A brief overview of my progression... I was diagnosed in June 1998 and had a

myotomy in an emergency situation in July 1998. I've continued over the course

of the last 14 years to have severe spasms with periods of horrible dsyphagia.

I've had at least 1 dilatation per year since, other than the last 2 years where

I was pregnant and then in between GI's/surgeons. My surgeon retired last year,

leaving me in a situation where I was in a location where I had no surgeon

nearby. He referred me to a surgeon about 3 hours from my house, but that ended

up not working out (really long story). After spending last fall getting worse

and worse, we were lucky enough to get a new GI and a new thoracic surgeon at

the hospital an hour from our house. I was seen urgently by the new GI for a

scope Dec 30 and given that view, sent urgently to the new surgeon for an

appointment the first week in January. He scoped me 2 days later and then

scheduled a gastric

emptying study (given the amount of food in my esophagus and stomach, even

after clear fluids, ie nothing for me, for 48 hours) and new upper GI. Those

results came back 3 weeks ago, and after seeing my upper GI, and my husband

seeing it as it happened (he's an xray tech), we basically expected the news

that we received.

I'm scheduled for an ectomy on March 30 and I'll admit I'm quite nervous. Major

surgery never really thrills me, and this certainly qualifies as that type of

situation The state of my esophagus at this point is so beyond repair. It's

twisting and I have fiberous bits there that don't look good. Thankfully, there

is no sign of cancer or Barretts, so for that I am very grateful. It's *well*

over 10cm, and is a mess from top to bottom. The surgeon just doesn't believe

that I would get any sort of relief from another myotomy at this point and after

seeing everything I've seen (and feeling like I've been feeling) I'm tending to

believe him.

Here's the kicker though, and the part that is making me post. I've noticed

people in the last while posting about myotomies with no wraps. I've found out

that my initial myotomy was incomplete, not going far enough into my stomach,

and that I had no wrap. My surgeon has suggested that might be the cause of my

horrible spasms and part of the trouble with requiring so many dilatations

without any sort of relief over all these years. Whether or not that is the

case is unknown, I'm sure. But seeing some of you all mentioning vigorous

achalasia (which I was also told I have/had) and then the comments about myotomy

with no wrap, I wonder if there might be a connection.

At any rate, I'll be in the hospital for 2 weeks or so, then back for that

lovely long recuperation, but despite my nerves, I'm looking forward to the new

road I'll be on. I bounce between the thoughts of " the devil you know and the

devil you don't " and " I won't have Achalasia anymore! " , but I try to keep the

" won't have A " thoughts foremost in my mind.

Thank you all so much for always posting comforting words, as even if you're

just reading them towards someone else, they lift the spirits of many

kim in canada

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your replies everyone

and , I totally agree that if there were any way to keep my

esophagus, I would totally do it.  I've been down this road too long though,

and I sort of knew it.  Like you , I believed for a long time (probably 6

years ago or so) that if it wasn't coming up then I was doing well and it had to

be going down.  For me, going down meant that it was going down into my

esophagus and stretching out.  Because I kept gaining weight (I was always SOOO

hungry), I assumed that I was doing the right thing, and despite my horrible

spasms and pain, I wasn't losing weight and therefore had to be ok.  My

surgeon, every stretch, said that I was " coming to the end of the useful life of

that myotomy " , never in a million years guessing the amount of damage I was

doing to my esophagus by continuing to eat and having it sit there, stretching

everything out.

My new surgeon did in fact tell me that he could possibly try another myotomy

with a proper wrap, but it would have to be open again (and he actually is a

huge proponent of lap surgeries), and thought I might get marginal short term

results at best.  Given the opinion of my previous surgeon over the past 4

years, and how much it's deteriorated even since my upper gi last summer, I just

know that this is the course I should take.  But hey, even saying that, I'm

still terrified, knowing that this is it, in terms of treatment, and I just pray

that everything will turn out as well as it has for some of our members

Oh, , I think I definitely will get in touch with you, in case I come up

with more questions!

kim in canada

________________________________

From: Ottenheimer <hmottenheimer@...>

" achalasia " <achalasia >

Sent: Wednesday, March 7, 2012 2:21 PM

Subject: Re: my update

 

Hi Kim,

Its been a while since I've written, but I manage to read a thread once and

awhile.  Your situation hits home for me. After my HM and wrap at the Cleveland

Clinic in 2010, I was swallowing worse.  I went back for a dilation six weeks

later.  When I asked Dr. Rice whats next if this dosen't work, he said quite

bluntly that an ectomy would be the next step. It motivated me to pay closer

attention to what, how and when I eat, and so far I'm functioning at the best

level in many years.  My measure of goodness of swallowing is how often and how

much I spit out.  If its not coming back out, then its going down, and I must

be doing something right.  My plan is to continue to find ways to swallow well

and see an ectomy as a last resort.

 

________________________________

From: RICHARD FRIEDMAN <cynmark24@...>

" achalasia " <achalasia >

Sent: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 6:16 PM

Subject: Re: my update

 

Hi Kim,

 

While it seems like you'll soon be crossing over to join the elite former

achalasians, I can't help but wonder, with all that you said in your post, if

seeking out another couple of opinions, might result in a doctor saying

something different.  I get it that your choices of doctors are limited, but

once your esophagus is gone there is no turning back. If there is any

possibility that another surgeon feels that you do not need an ectomy, but that

an adjustment to the wrap will give improved " functioning " then that might be

the preferred way to go.

 

The people who have had ectomies and so generously shared their experiences with

us, have generally reported that the surgery and subsequent recovery is no " walk

in the park, " but if they had to choose again knowing what they had been

through, they overwhelmingly say that they made the right choice. 

 

I speak from the experience of having several surgeons tell me I must have an

ectomy, but upon soliciting many opinions chose not to. So far I feel fortunate

to have made the right choice.

 

All of us feel for you and your situation.

 

________________________________

From: Kim <kimmydawn42@...>

" achalasia " <achalasia >

Sent: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 7:36 PM

Subject: my update

 

Well, I've had a few weeks to process my newest situation, and now it's time to

share with you all

A brief overview of my progression... I was diagnosed in June 1998 and had a

myotomy in an emergency situation in July 1998.  I've continued over the course

of the last 14 years to have severe spasms with periods of horrible dsyphagia.

 I've had at least 1 dilatation per year since, other than the last 2 years

where I was pregnant and then in between GI's/surgeons.  My surgeon retired

last year, leaving me in a situation where I was in a location where I had no

surgeon nearby.  He referred me to a surgeon about 3 hours from my house, but

that ended up not working out (really long story).  After spending last fall

getting worse and worse, we were lucky enough to get a new GI and a new thoracic

surgeon at the hospital an hour from our house.  I was seen urgently by the new

GI for a scope Dec 30 and given that view, sent urgently to the new surgeon for

an appointment the first week in January.  He scoped me 2 days later and then

scheduled a gastric

emptying study (given the amount of food in my esophagus and stomach, even after

clear fluids, ie nothing for me, for 48 hours) and new upper GI.  Those results

came back 3 weeks ago, and after seeing my upper GI, and my husband seeing it as

it happened (he's an xray tech), we basically expected the news that we

received.  

I'm scheduled for an ectomy on March 30 and I'll admit I'm quite nervous.

 Major surgery never really thrills me, and this certainly qualifies as that

type of situation  The state of my esophagus at this point is so beyond

repair.  It's twisting and I have fiberous bits there that don't look good.

 Thankfully, there is no sign of cancer or Barretts, so for that I am very

grateful.  It's *well* over 10cm, and is a mess from top to bottom.  The

surgeon just doesn't believe that I would get any sort of relief from another

myotomy at this point and after seeing everything I've seen (and feeling like

I've been feeling) I'm tending to believe him.

Here's the kicker though, and the part that is making me post.  I've noticed

people in the last while posting about myotomies with no wraps.  I've found out

that my initial myotomy was incomplete, not going far enough into my stomach,

and that I had no wrap.  My surgeon has suggested that might be the cause of my

horrible spasms and part of the trouble with requiring so many dilatations

without any sort of relief over all these years.  Whether or not that is the

case is unknown, I'm sure.  But seeing some of you all mentioning vigorous

achalasia (which I was also told I have/had) and then the comments about myotomy

with no wrap, I wonder if there might be a connection.

At any rate, I'll be in the hospital for 2 weeks or so, then back for that

lovely long recuperation, but despite my nerves, I'm looking forward to the new

road I'll be on.  I bounce between the thoughts of " the devil you know and the

devil you don't " and " I won't have Achalasia anymore! " , but I try to keep the

" won't have A " thoughts foremost in my mind.

Thank you all so much for always posting comforting words, as even if you're

just reading them towards someone else, they lift the spirits of many

kim in canada

[Guest guest]

Kim, I had my myotomy sept 2012. My concern is that sometimes even though it

isn't being regurged I know -I can feel it there- food staying in my E. so I am

trying to control myself and eat better. From your prospective and all the

doctors and conversations you have had with everyone. What would you change

about your eating habits. I really need advise about this I am concerned that I

do the right thing I have gained twenty pounds since December and I don't want

to gain anymore and actually loose ten pounds. But that isn't my true focus. I

really want to eat properly and not do anymore damage to my E than I can help.

Kim Ellen

Sent from my iPhone

[Guest guest]

I think worrying about the E stretching too much is stopping me from trying and

eating too much food. I am much more aware of trying to put in healthy food,

and still eat mainly foods which I know will slide down better and not sit

there.

>

> Kim, I had my myotomy sept 2012. My concern is that sometimes even though it

isn't being regurged I know -I can feel it there- food staying in my E. so I am

trying to control myself and eat better. From your prospective and all the

doctors and conversations you have had with everyone. What would you change

about your eating habits. I really need advise about this I am concerned that I

do the right thing I have gained twenty pounds since December and I don't want

to gain anymore and actually loose ten pounds. But that isn't my true focus. I

really want to eat properly and not do anymore damage to my E than I can help.

Kim Ellen

>

> Sent from my iPhone

>

[Guest guest]

Because I'm hardly an expert, I'd hate to say that anything I did was what

caused my current situation, but if I had to do it all over again, the only

thing I'd change was making sure that I hadn't skipped a year of endoscopy

(through no fault of my own, sadly just the situation I found myself in).  I

think had I had my scope and dilatation, I would have continued with a small

amount of stretching, but nothing like what I've got now.  Even my scope last

summer looked nothing as bad as this.  If the surgeon (who I was actually ON

THE TABLE with had done my dilatation... again, I can't dwell on the past

though).  

Should I have eaten smaller meals?  More often?  Less food in general?  I

have no idea honestly... Maybe someone has a better idea.  I just wish that I

would have been able to have my scope two years ago and that the idiot surgeon

hadn't sent me away last summer.

kim in canada

________________________________

From: lindsayaus <lindsay_kite@...>

achalasia

Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 4:53 PM

Subject: Re: my update

 

I think worrying about the E stretching too much is stopping me from trying and

eating too much food. I am much more aware of trying to put in healthy food,

and still eat mainly foods which I know will slide down better and not sit

there.

>

> Kim, I had my myotomy sept 2012. My concern is that sometimes even though it

isn't being regurged I know -I can feel it there- food staying in my E. so I am

trying to control myself and eat better. From your prospective and all the

doctors and conversations you have had with everyone. What would you change

about your eating habits. I really need advise about this I am concerned that I

do the right thing I have gained twenty pounds since December and I don't want

to gain anymore and actually loose ten pounds. But that isn't my true focus. I

really want to eat properly and not do anymore damage to my E than I can help.

Kim Ellen

>

> Sent from my iPhone

>

[Guest guest]

Kim,

 

Good luck on your upcoming surgery. I would be just as apprehensive as that is a

pretty major surgery. It sounds like this surgery would help you tremendously.

 

Kim A

________________________________

From: Kim <kimmydawn42@...>

" achalasia " <achalasia >

Sent: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 6:36 PM

Subject: my update

 

Well, I've had a few weeks to process my newest situation, and now it's time to

share with you all

A brief overview of my progression... I was diagnosed in June 1998 and had a

myotomy in an emergency situation in July 1998.  I've continued over the course

of the last 14 years to have severe spasms with periods of horrible dsyphagia.

 I've had at least 1 dilatation per year since, other than the last 2 years

where I was pregnant and then in between GI's/surgeons.  My surgeon retired

last year, leaving me in a situation where I was in a location where I had no

surgeon nearby.  He referred me to a surgeon about 3 hours from my house, but

that ended up not working out (really long story).  After spending last fall

getting worse and worse, we were lucky enough to get a new GI and a new thoracic

surgeon at the hospital an hour from our house.  I was seen urgently by the new

GI for a scope Dec 30 and given that view, sent urgently to the new surgeon for

an appointment the first week in January.  He scoped me 2 days later and then

scheduled a gastric

emptying study (given the amount of food in my esophagus and stomach, even after

clear fluids, ie nothing for me, for 48 hours) and new upper GI.  Those results

came back 3 weeks ago, and after seeing my upper GI, and my husband seeing it as

it happened (he's an xray tech), we basically expected the news that we

received.  

I'm scheduled for an ectomy on March 30 and I'll admit I'm quite nervous.

 Major surgery never really thrills me, and this certainly qualifies as that

type of situation  The state of my esophagus at this point is so beyond

repair.  It's twisting and I have fiberous bits there that don't look good.

 Thankfully, there is no sign of cancer or Barretts, so for that I am very

grateful.  It's *well* over 10cm, and is a mess from top to bottom.  The

surgeon just doesn't believe that I would get any sort of relief from another

myotomy at this point and after seeing everything I've seen (and feeling like

I've been feeling) I'm tending to believe him.

Here's the kicker though, and the part that is making me post.  I've noticed

people in the last while posting about myotomies with no wraps.  I've found out

that my initial myotomy was incomplete, not going far enough into my stomach,

and that I had no wrap.  My surgeon has suggested that might be the cause of my

horrible spasms and part of the trouble with requiring so many dilatations

without any sort of relief over all these years.  Whether or not that is the

case is unknown, I'm sure.  But seeing some of you all mentioning vigorous

achalasia (which I was also told I have/had) and then the comments about myotomy

with no wrap, I wonder if there might be a connection.

At any rate, I'll be in the hospital for 2 weeks or so, then back for that

lovely long recuperation, but despite my nerves, I'm looking forward to the new

road I'll be on.  I bounce between the thoughts of " the devil you know and the

devil you don't " and " I won't have Achalasia anymore! " , but I try to keep the

" won't have A " thoughts foremost in my mind.

Thank you all so much for always posting comforting words, as even if you're

just reading them towards someone else, they lift the spirits of many

kim in canada

[Guest guest]

Kim,

I am right there with you. I had my last dilation 4 1/2 months ago and when I

got my first of 4 viral infections in the beginning of January I started to

regurgitate and throw up or a daily basis again. Besides animals, food used to

be my passion. That is why I was 5'3 150 pounds I guess. Now I fluctuate between

120 and 125. I eat things that many people would not like but my new fave is

creamy butternut squash soup. It is thin , nutritous and somewhat filling. Then

I butter crackers and put it in my soup. Also mashed potatoes, I make fettucine

alfredo ( with lots of sauce ) and I put chicken in my food processor and put

it in with the fettucine and cut it in real small pieces. I keep my portions

small and really don't eat too much solid food as that seems to always end badly

for me. -(. try to keep a simple, maybe softer diet. I am also able to eat

salad, cut up real small and I add an egg and black beans to fill up and get

protein. I get

terrified when I feel I am forcing my food down and that I might be causing

more damage. 

 

I would do portion control , and find lower fat options. Do you work out? My

doctors only get concerned when I lose weight which isn't too tough to do with

little motility.

 

Kim A

________________________________

From: Kim <kimellenbailey@...>

" achalasia " <achalasia >

Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 9:41 AM

Subject: Re: my update

 

Kim, I had my myotomy sept 2012. My concern is that sometimes even though it

isn't being regurged I know -I can feel it there- food staying in my E. so I am

trying to control myself and eat better. From your prospective and all the

doctors and conversations you have had with everyone. What would you change

about your eating habits. I really need advise about this I am concerned that I

do the right thing I have gained twenty pounds since December and I don't want

to gain anymore and actually loose ten pounds. But that isn't my true focus. I

really want to eat properly and not do anymore damage to my E than I can help.

Kim Ellen

Sent from my iPhone

[Guest guest]

My gi doctor once told me that once your diagnosed with achalasia you will

always be labeled with it..just because your in remission dosent mean

youbdontbstiol have it

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

On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 7:07 PM PST lindsayaus wrote:

>Hi Kim,

>

>I am relatively new here and have had the HM where the cut wasn't long enough

and only just had my first dilation. Fingers are still crossed after only one

week of eating a little normal food.

>I hope your surgery goes well and you recover really quickly.

>

> (Australia)

>

>

>>

>> Well, I've had a few weeks to process my newest situation, and now it's time

to share with you all

>>

>> A brief overview of my progression... I was diagnosed in June 1998 and had a

myotomy in an emergency situation in July 1998.  I've continued over the course

of the last 14 years to have severe spasms with periods of horrible dsyphagia.

 I've had at least 1 dilatation per year since, other than the last 2 years

where I was pregnant and then in between GI's/surgeons.  My surgeon retired last

year, leaving me in a situation where I was in a location where I had no surgeon

nearby.  He referred me to a surgeon about 3 hours from my house, but that ended

up not working out (really long story).  After spending last fall getting worse

and worse, we were lucky enough to get a new GI and a new thoracic surgeon at

the hospital an hour from our house.  I was seen urgently by the new GI for a

scope Dec 30 and given that view, sent urgently to the new surgeon for an

appointment the first week in January.  He scoped me 2 days later and then

scheduled a

gastric

>> emptying study (given the amount of food in my esophagus and stomach, even

after clear fluids, ie nothing for me, for 48 hours) and new upper GI.  Those

results came back 3 weeks ago, and after seeing my upper GI, and my husband

seeing it as it happened (he's an xray tech), we basically expected the news

that we received.  

>>

>> I'm scheduled for an ectomy on March 30 and I'll admit I'm quite nervous.

 Major surgery never really thrills me, and this certainly qualifies as that

type of situation  The state of my esophagus at this point is so beyond

repair.  It's twisting and I have fiberous bits there that don't look good.

 Thankfully, there is no sign of cancer or Barretts, so for that I am very

grateful.  It's *well* over 10cm, and is a mess from top to bottom.  The surgeon

just doesn't believe that I would get any sort of relief from another myotomy at

this point and after seeing everything I've seen (and feeling like I've been

feeling) I'm tending to believe him.

>>

>> Here's the kicker though, and the part that is making me post.  I've noticed

people in the last while posting about myotomies with no wraps.  I've found out

that my initial myotomy was incomplete, not going far enough into my stomach,

and that I had no wrap.  My surgeon has suggested that might be the cause of my

horrible spasms and part of the trouble with requiring so many dilatations

without any sort of relief over all these years.  Whether or not that is the

case is unknown, I'm sure.  But seeing some of you all mentioning vigorous

achalasia (which I was also told I have/had) and then the comments about myotomy

with no wrap, I wonder if there might be a connection.

>>

>> At any rate, I'll be in the hospital for 2 weeks or so, then back for that

lovely long recuperation, but despite my nerves, I'm looking forward to the new

road I'll be on.  I bounce between the thoughts of " the devil you know and the

devil you don't " and " I won't have Achalasia anymore! " , but I try to keep the

" won't have A " thoughts foremost in my mind.

>>

>> Thank you all so much for always posting comforting words, as even if you're

just reading them towards someone else, they lift the spirits of many

>>

>> kim in canada

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

Kim wrote:

>

> Should I have eaten smaller meals? More often? Less food in general?

> I have no idea honestly...

>

Maybe it would have helped but I don't see any guarantees that it would

have helped. We do what we can and hope for the best and I advise we

don't look back and second guess. Some people are going to do everything

right and sill not do well. Others are going to not take care of

themselves and get off easy. It isn't fair.

notan

[Guest guest]

Yeah, Notan, that's kinda where I was coming from... it's not fair, but it's the

hand that I was dealt, and it is what it is.  I could spend my days lamenting

my situation, which at times is very easy to do.  I chose to work towards

getting better (as you mentioned in another post today).  Next week is my big

step forward and although I'm nervous, I'm excited at the prospect of feeling

better after many years of feeling like crap.  

kim in canada

________________________________

From: notan ostrich <notan_ostrich@...>

achalasia

Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2012 2:33 PM

Subject: Re: Re: my update

 

Kim wrote:

>

> Should I have eaten smaller meals? More often? Less food in general?

> I have no idea honestly...

>

Maybe it would have helped but I don't see any guarantees that it would

have helped. We do what we can and hope for the best and I advise we

don't look back and second guess. Some people are going to do everything

right and sill not do well. Others are going to not take care of

themselves and get off easy. It isn't fair.

notan

[Guest guest]

Kim wrote:

>

> ...I'm excited at the prospect of feeling better after many years of

> feeling like crap.

>

What a wonderful feeling that excitement is. Any of us that have had any

kind of achalasia treatment can relate to that. And we look forward to

hearing your results when you recover.

notan