Cymbalta

March 27, 2008

Hi, , Thanks for the trick about the banana and the pill technique. I like the idea of that much better than anything I've tried. You are so right when you say it burns if you don't get it down sooner before bedtime. I have liquid anti-acid and tablets next to my bed on my night-table along with loads of books and magazines. If I take my neurotin and my cymbalta right before I get into bed, I often sit up and read for about 30 minutes. If I don't sit up and read, I'll have that burning problem most of the night. If I get the burning stuff, then I gulp down the liquid anti-acids, but it's usually not enough, hence, I have an up-and-down evening. But, if I drink a glass of milk or soda and take the meds then, and then wait about 30 - 45 minutes before

getting into bed, it's usually better. Right now I've got to say that the cymbalta has been good but with my current family issues (sick 24 yr. old daughter in a med. facility) (dicey-relation- ship step-father in assisted living with beginning dementia) (land issues with the place where I live....landslide potential and land-lease increases in costs) (and now I've been getting migraines, first time in my life) (and my freelance jobs have almost completely vanished, especially with Harcourt going down the tubes and becoming a very tiny imprint of Houghton Mifflin---I'm a writer and I'm now scared "blank-less" that I will not be seeing any of my books over there in print, hence, no royalty checks=no income), I wish I had a much stronger anti-depressant. My health insurance just went up to

almost $20,000. a year. And I ain't got that. The depression I experienced before I had my Heller's I'd chalked up to tough times in my chosen profession, no matter I was barfing up liquids and solids and I couldn't figure out why. I spent loads of out-of-pocket savings on trying to find out what was wrong with me and when I, at last, found this group of educated people, I also found a good diagnostician at Cedars-Sinai, and for $400. a visit, I finally got an answer. Actually, the group HERE told me what I had before anybody else did. (It was a major breakthrough. I am eternally grateful, too.) But the depression continued and since I have no close relatives, when I got home from the hospital, I just sat in a chair, waiting to feel better. I had

stock-piled jello and broth and various soft foods. My one nice relative, a sister from out of state, showed up suddenly, and helped me for one week and I was a lucky person to have her. I looked into the Vagus Stimulation implant as a way of dealing with my depression. My insurance would not have covered it. I wasn't sure it would help me anyway. I do see a connection between Achalasia and the vagus nerve and depression and the vagus nerve. I started seeing a neurologist who specializes in all things surrounding the vagus nerve and he said I might want to consider this implant. It's a sort of last ditch surgery just short of ECT to jolt depression. I chose not to do it. My concerns are: if the vagus nerve can cause

so much havoc with swallowing as well as depression, what could happen if the implant screwed up the vagus nerve and made the Achalasia worse? I am greatly relieved to see that several people here have discussed depression, whether it be pre-surgery, post-surgery, or just an on-going factor. I find that my depression subsided a bit when I found this group and somebody finally understood what I was going through, from the foam in my mouth at night, to the spitting up, to the jump-shot of food flying out my nostrils, to the sticking and then the chest pains. I've been diagnosed with many other things and I did treatments for a lot of them. I found specialists and I've spent my savings on it all. Now, I am starting over, work, working out, eating smarter, and just trying to keep my cool over the world news. We live in hard times. I meditate at night and first thing in the morning and I try to keep my gratitude factor first-most in my mind. If my post this time has gone on too long, it's just that I felt a great need to discuss this jazz with my fellow Achalasians. For a long time my entire family treated me as if I were a hypochondriac and some of them just sort of sneered at me. It was humiliating and made me hurt and very angry, too. And Gawd forbid if I ever said I was "down" about anything. In my family's eyes, that just made me a big baby, and the

subject of more ridicule. Regurgitating food was also very, very funny to my family. The only thing left me was to stop talking with my family, and in some cases, disown them. Nobody needs that kind of abuse. That's plenty of talk from me and I thank you all for reading. Deborah

March 27, 2008

Hi Deborah. Well you said many things that hit home to me. For one....Cymbalta? If it is working that is great, but my father did not do well with it. He has Achalasia, and to bring me to my other point....he was told he had psychiatric problems, and that was why he could not eat. It took 6 months and 4 hospitals to diagnose the problem...Achalasia. He almost died in the mean time. It was a horrible time. He still suffers 2 years later after his Heller Myotomy. And depression seems to be very common. Now to bring me to your business. I am a teacher. Yes...I haven't heard of Harcourt in a while. HM seems to be the new curriculum, but don't hold your breath...it changes all the time. Things are crazy in education. I wish you luck in both your health and business. I am getting my dad to sign up on this website now. He needs the support. Thank you for everyone here.....it

is a great support system. We are all in this together. Love!!! Hi, , Thanks for the trick about the banana and the pill technique. I like the idea of that much better than anything I've tried. You are so right when you say it burns if you don't get it down sooner before bedtime. I have liquid anti-acid and tablets next to my bed on my night-table along with loads of books and magazines.

If I take my neurotin and my cymbalta right before I get into bed, I often sit up and read for about 30 minutes. If I don't sit up and read, I'll have that burning problem most of the night. If I get the burning stuff, then I gulp down the liquid anti-acids, but it's usually not enough, hence, I have an up-and-down evening. But, if I drink a glass of milk or soda and take the meds then, and then wait about 30 - 45 minutes before getting into bed, it's usually better. Right now I've got to say that the cymbalta has been good but with my current family issues (sick 24 yr. old daughter in a med. facility) (dicey-relation- ship step-father in assisted living with beginning dementia) (land issues with the place where I live....landslide potential and land-lease increases in costs)

(and now I've been getting migraines, first time in my life) (and my freelance jobs have almost completely vanished, especially with Harcourt going down the tubes and becoming a very tiny imprint of Houghton Mifflin---I'm a writer and I'm now scared "blank-less" that I will not be seeing any of my books over there in print, hence, no royalty checks=no income), I wish I had a much stronger anti-depressant. My health insurance just went up to almost $20,000. a year. And I ain't got that. The depression I experienced before I had my Heller's I'd chalked up to tough times in my chosen profession, no matter I was barfing up liquids and solids and I couldn't figure out why. I spent loads of out-of-pocket savings on trying to find out what was wrong with me and when I, at

last, found this group of educated people, I also found a good diagnostician at Cedars-Sinai, and for $400. a visit, I finally got an answer. Actually, the group HERE told me what I had before anybody else did. (It was a major breakthrough. I am eternally grateful, too.) But the depression continued and since I have no close relatives, when I got home from the hospital, I just sat in a chair, waiting to feel better. I had stock-piled jello and broth and various soft foods. My one nice relative, a sister from out of state, showed up suddenly, and helped me for one week and I was a lucky person to have her. I looked into the Vagus Stimulation implant as a way of dealing with my depression. My insurance would not have covered it. I

wasn't sure it would help me anyway. I do see a connection between Achalasia and the vagus nerve and depression and the vagus nerve. I started seeing a neurologist who specializes in all things surrounding the vagus nerve and he said I might want to consider this implant. It's a sort of last ditch surgery just short of ECT to jolt depression. I chose not to do it. My concerns are: if the vagus nerve can cause so much havoc with swallowing as well as depression, what could happen if the implant screwed up the vagus nerve and made the Achalasia worse? I am greatly relieved to see that several people here have discussed depression, whether it be pre-surgery, post-surgery, or just an on-going factor. I find that my

depression subsided a bit when I found this group and somebody finally understood what I was going through, from the foam in my mouth at night, to the spitting up, to the jump-shot of food flying out my nostrils, to the sticking and then the chest pains. I've been diagnosed with many other things and I did treatments for a lot of them. I found specialists and I've spent my savings on it all. Now, I am starting over, work, working out, eating smarter, and just trying to keep my cool over the world news. We live in hard times. I meditate at night and first thing in the morning and I try to keep my gratitude factor first-most in my mind. If my

post this time has gone on too long, it's just that I felt a great need to discuss this jazz with my fellow Achalasians. For a long time my entire family treated me as if I were a hypochondriac and some of them just sort of sneered at me. It was humiliating and made me hurt and very angry, too. And Gawd forbid if I ever said I was "down" about anything. In my family's eyes, that just made me a big baby, and the subject of more ridicule. Regurgitating food was also very, very funny to my family. The only thing left me was to stop talking with my family, and in some cases, disown them. Nobody needs that kind of abuse. That's plenty of talk from me and I thank you all for reading. Deborah

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March 27, 2008

Shaffer wrote:...

> Do you find it difficult to take pills before bed time? I've had

them get stuck in my E. and that created quite a burning. Now if I

have to take a late pill, I cut a small slice in a piece of banana,

insert the pill, and swallow it whole. Little trick to pass along.

I haven't yet had a dilatation or surgery. My doctor told me to be very

careful about taking pills. He said not to take any pills in whole form

or even cut in half. Everything should be crushed. If I understood him

correctly, he said that if pills get stuck in one's esophagus, they can

cause ulcers. Pills can be put into food and chewed well--that works

for me. I've learned to ask the pharmacist if the medication can be

chewed / crushed in order to do its job properly, and that chewable

calcium comes in some tasty flavors, e.g. chocolate. Some medications

must not be chewed / crushed to work effectively, and I have to avoid

those.

Love in San Diego

March 28, 2008

Hi Deborah!

I read your post and I just wanted to say, we are all behind you!! So many of us have been through similar symptoms- I can now laugh about some of it because I know I am not alone and that even if my co-workers and friends don't really "get it" you guys do!! Man, I sprayed salad out my nose all over the table with some friends once and that was really something. Of course I haven't touched salad in months but I am looking forward to some roughage after my surgery.

Your post about stock piling soft foods after surgery makes me want to ask the group-

what the heck is good?

Jello, popsicles, yogurt, applesauce, soup?, smoothies?

I have not been able to eat/drink squat in so long that I am at a loss everyday to even think of a food to eat. I have stopped going to the grocery store and I make my husband do it and he does lots of cooking these days too- probably a bit of the depression factor going on for me too.

I had my 40th birthday 2 days ago and ate 1 bite of chocolate cake and then had to gag on mucous/froth for hours as a punishment!!

Hang in there with all of your troubles and I hope life gives you a little relief soon!! Having a safe place to talk about your troubles helps so much. I hope we can all give you some support and maybe even a laugh or two at times.

All my best

Dawn

Re: Re: cymbalta

Hi Deborah. Well you said many things that hit home to me. For one....Cymbalta? If it is working that is great, but my father did not do well with it. He has Achalasia, and to bring me to my other point....he was told he had psychiatric problems, and that was why he could not eat. It took 6 months and 4 hospitals to diagnose the problem...Achalasia. He almost died in the mean time. It was a horrible time. He still suffers 2 years later after his Heller Myotomy. And depression seems to be very common. Now to bring me to your business. I am a teacher. Yes...I haven't heard of Harcourt in a while. HM seems to be the new curriculum, but don't hold your breath...it changes all the time. Things are crazy in education. I wish you luck in both your health and business. I am getting my dad to sign up on this website now. He needs the support. Thank you for everyone here.....it is a great support system. We are all in this together. Love!!!

Hi, ,

Thanks for the trick about the banana and the pill technique. I like the idea

of that much better than anything I've tried. You are so right when you say it burns

if you don't get it down sooner before bedtime. I have liquid anti-acid and tablets

next to my bed on my night-table along with loads of books and magazines. If

I take my neurotin and my cymbalta right before I get into bed, I often sit up and

read for about 30 minutes. If I don't sit up and read, I'll have that burning problem

most of the night. If I get the burning stuff, then I gulp down the liquid anti-acids,

but it's usually not enough, hence, I have an up-and-down evening. But, if I drink

a glass of milk or soda and take the meds then, and then wait about 30 - 45

minutes before getting into bed, it's usually better.

Right now I've got to say that the cymbalta has been good but with my

current family issues (sick 24 yr. old daughter in a med. facility) (dicey-relation-

ship step-father in assisted living with beginning dementia) (land issues with the

place where I live....landslide potential and land-lease increases in costs) (and

now I've been getting migraines, first time in my life) (and my freelance jobs

have almost completely vanished, especially with Harcourt going down the tubes

and becoming a very tiny imprint of Houghton Mifflin---I'm a writer and I'm now

scared "blank-less" that I will not be seeing any of my books over there in print,

hence, no royalty checks=no income), I wish I had a much stronger anti-depressant.

My health insurance just went up to almost $20,000. a year. And I ain't got that.

The depression I experienced before I had my Heller's I'd chalked up to

tough times in my chosen profession, no matter I was barfing up liquids and

solids and I couldn't figure out why. I spent loads of out-of-pocket savings on

trying to find out what was wrong with me and when I, at last, found this group

of educated people, I also found a good diagnostician at Cedars-Sinai, and for

$400. a visit, I finally got an answer. Actually, the group HERE told me what I

had before anybody else did. (It was a major breakthrough. I am eternally

grateful, too.) But the depression continued and since I have no close relatives,

when I got home from the hospital, I just sat in a chair, waiting to feel better.

I had stock-piled jello and broth and various soft foods. My one nice relative,

a sister from out of state, showed up suddenly, and helped me for one week and

I was a lucky person to have her.

I looked into the Vagus Stimulation implant as a way of dealing with

my depression. My insurance would not have covered it. I wasn't sure it would

help me anyway. I do see a connection between Achalasia and the vagus

nerve and depression and the vagus nerve. I started seeing a neurologist

who specializes in all things surrounding the vagus nerve and he said I might

want to consider this implant. It's a sort of last ditch surgery just short of

ECT to jolt depression. I chose not to do it. My concerns are: if the vagus

nerve can cause so much havoc with swallowing as well as depression, what

could happen if the implant screwed up the vagus nerve and made the Achalasia

worse?

I am greatly relieved to see that several people here have discussed

depression, whether it be pre-surgery, post-surgery, or just an on-going factor.

I find that my depression subsided a bit when I found this group and somebody

finally understood what I was going through, from the foam in my mouth at

night, to the spitting up, to the jump-shot of food flying out my nostrils, to the

sticking and then the chest pains. I've been diagnosed with many other things

and I did treatments for a lot of them. I found specialists and I've spent my

savings on it all.

Now, I am starting over, work, working out, eating smarter, and just

trying to keep my cool over the world news. We live in hard times. I meditate

at night and first thing in the morning and I try to keep my gratitude factor

first-most in my mind.

If my post this time has gone on too long, it's just that I felt a great

need to discuss this jazz with my fellow Achalasians. For a long time my

entire family treated me as if I were a hypochondriac and some of them just

sort of sneered at me. It was humiliating and made me hurt and very angry,

too. And Gawd forbid if I ever said I was "down" about anything. In my family's

eyes, that just made me a big baby, and the subject of more ridicule. Regurgitating

food was also very, very funny to my family. The only thing left me was to stop

talking with my family, and in some cases, disown them. Nobody needs that

kind of abuse.

That's plenty of talk from me and I thank you all for reading.

Deborah

Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Search.

March 28, 2008

A couple of things you might think about adding to

your list are:

Cream of Wheat:

Oatmeal-- the one minute kind is less coarse. Boil it

with the water to make it smoother:

Soft boiled eggs worked for me but some posters do not

feel the same.

Tuna fish and mayonnaise, whipped. I waited a few more

days to try it with crackers, which are way better

than bread, which we should avoid.

--- Dawn Batchelder <dawnbatchelder@...> wrote:

> Hi Deborah!

> I read your post and I just wanted to say, we are

> all behind you!! So many of us have been through

> similar symptoms- I can now laugh about some of it

> because I know I am not alone and that even if my

> co-workers and friends don't really " get it " you

> guys do!! Man, I sprayed salad out my nose all over

> the table with some friends once and that was really

> something. Of course I haven't touched salad in

> months but I am looking forward to some roughage

> after my surgery.

> Your post about stock piling soft foods after

> surgery makes me want to ask the group-

> what the heck is good?

> Jello, popsicles, yogurt, applesauce, soup?,

> smoothies?

> I have not been able to eat/drink squat in so long

> that I am at a loss everyday to even think of a food

> to eat. I have stopped going to the grocery store

> and I make my husband do it and he does lots of

> cooking these days too- probably a bit of the

> depression factor going on for me too.

> I had my 40th birthday 2 days ago and ate 1 bite of

> chocolate cake and then had to gag on mucous/froth

> for hours as a punishment!!

> Hang in there with all of your troubles and I hope

> life gives you a little relief soon!! Having a safe

> place to talk about your troubles helps so much. I

> hope we can all give you some support and maybe even

> a laugh or two at times.

> All my best

> Dawn

> Re: Re: cymbalta

>

> Hi Deborah. Well you said many things that hit

> home to me. For one....Cymbalta? If it is working

> that is great, but my father did not do well with

> it. He has Achalasia, and to bring me to my other

> point....he was told he had psychiatric problems,

> and that was why he could not eat. It took 6 months

> and 4 hospitals to diagnose the problem...Achalasia.

> He almost died in the mean time. It was a horrible

> time. He still suffers 2 years later after his

> Heller Myotomy. And depression seems to be very

> common. Now to bring me to your business. I am a

> teacher. Yes...I haven't heard of Harcourt in a

> while. HM seems to be the new curriculum, but don't

> hold your breath...it changes all the time. Things

> are crazy in education. I wish you luck in both

> your health and business. I am getting my dad to

> sign up on this website now. He needs the support.

> Thank you for everyone here.....it is a great

> support system. We are all in this together.

> Love!!!

>

> Hi, ,

>

> Thanks for the trick about the banana and

> the pill technique. I like the idea

> of that much better than anything I've tried.

> You are so right when you say it burns

> if you don't get it down sooner before bedtime.

> I have liquid anti-acid and tablets

> next to my bed on my night-table along with

> loads of books and magazines. If

> I take my neurotin and my cymbalta right before

> I get into bed, I often sit up and

> read for about 30 minutes. If I don't sit up

> and read, I'll have that burning problem

> most of the night. If I get the burning stuff,

> then I gulp down the liquid anti-acids,

> but it's usually not enough, hence, I have an

> up-and-down evening. But, if I drink

> a glass of milk or soda and take the meds then,

> and then wait about 30 - 45

> minutes before getting into bed, it's usually

> better.

>

> Right now I've got to say that the

> cymbalta has been good but with my

> current family issues (sick 24 yr. old daughter

> in a med. facility) (dicey-relation-

> ship step-father in assisted living with

> beginning dementia) (land issues with the

> place where I live....landslide potential and

> land-lease increases in costs) (and

> now I've been getting migraines, first time in

> my life) (and my freelance jobs

> have almost completely vanished, especially with

> Harcourt going down the tubes

> and becoming a very tiny imprint of Houghton

> Mifflin---I'm a writer and I'm now

> scared " blank-less " that I will not be seeing

> any of my books over there in print,

> hence, no royalty checks=no income), I wish I

> had a much stronger anti-depressant.

> My health insurance just went up to almost

> $20,000. a year. And I ain't got that.

>

> The depression I experienced before I

> had my Heller's I'd chalked up to

> tough times in my chosen profession, no matter I

> was barfing up liquids and

> solids and I couldn't figure out why. I spent

> loads of out-of-pocket savings on

> trying to find out what was wrong with me and

> when I, at last, found this group

> of educated people, I also found a good

> diagnostician at Cedars-Sinai, and for

> $400. a visit, I finally got an answer.

> Actually, the group HERE told me what I

> had before anybody else did. (It was a major

> breakthrough. I am eternally

> grateful, too.) But the depression continued

> and since I have no close relatives,

> when I got home from the hospital, I just sat in

> a chair, waiting to feel better.

> I had stock-piled jello and broth and various

> soft foods. My one nice relative,

> a sister from out of state, showed up suddenly,

> and helped me for one week and

> I was a lucky person to have her.

>

> I looked into the Vagus Stimulation

> implant as a way of dealing with

> my depression. My insurance would not have

> covered it. I wasn't sure it would

> help me anyway. I do see a connection between

> Achalasia and the vagus

> nerve and depression and the vagus nerve. I

> started seeing a neurologist

> who specializes in all things surrounding the

> vagus nerve and he said I might

> want to consider this implant. It's a sort of

> last ditch surgery just short of

> ECT to jolt depression. I chose not to do it.

> My concerns are: if the vagus

> nerve can cause so much havoc with swallowing as

> well as depression, what

> could happen if the implant screwed up the vagus

> nerve and made the Achalasia

> worse?

>

> I am greatly relieved to see that

> several people here have discussed

> depression, whether it be pre-surgery,

> post-surgery, or just an on-going factor.

> I find that my depression subsided a bit when I

> found this group and somebody

> finally understood what I was going through,

> from the foam in my mouth at

> night, to the spitting up, to the jump-shot of

> food flying out my nostrils, to the

> sticking and then the chest pains. I've been

> diagnosed with many other things

> and I did treatments for a lot of them. I found

> specialists and I've spent my

> savings on it all.

>

> Now, I am starting over, work,

> working out, eating smarter, and just

> trying to keep my cool over the world news. We

> live in hard times. I meditate

> at night and first thing in the morning and I

> try to keep my gratitude factor

> first-most in my mind.

>

> If my post this time has gone on

> too long, it's just that I felt a great

> need to discuss this jazz with my fellow

> Achalasians. For a long time my

> entire family treated me as if I were a

> hypochondriac and some of them just

> sort of sneered at me. It was humiliating and

> made me hurt and very angry,

> too. And Gawd forbid if I ever said I was " down "

> about anything. In my family's

> eyes, that just made me a big baby, and the

> subject of more ridicule. Regurgitating

> food was also very, very funny to my family.

> The only thing left me was to stop

> talking with my family, and in some cases,

> disown them. Nobody needs that

> kind of abuse.

>

> That's plenty of talk from me and I

> thank you all for reading.

> Deborah

>

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> fast with

>

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March 28, 2008

Thanks, I would not have thought tuna- I'm going to try it!!

Dawn

Re: Re: cymbalta> > > Hi Deborah. Well you said many things that hit> home to me. For one....Cymbalta? If it is working> that is great, but my father did not do well with> it. He has Achalasia, and to bring me to my other> point....he was told he had psychiatric problems,> and that was why he could not eat. It took 6 months> and 4 hospitals to diagnose the problem...Achalasia.> He almost died in the mean time. It was a horrible> time. He still suffers 2 years later after his> Heller Myotomy. And depression seems to be very> common. Now to bring me to your business. I am a> teacher. Yes...I haven't heard of Harcourt in a> while. HM seems to be the new curriculum, but don't> hold your breath...it changes all the time. Things> are crazy in education. I wish you luck in both> your health and business. I am getting my dad to> sign up on this website now. He needs the support. > Thank you for everyone here.....it is a great> support system. We are all in this together. > Love!!!> > > > Hi, ,> > Thanks for the trick about the banana and> the pill technique. I like the idea> of that much better than anything I've tried. > You are so right when you say it burns> if you don't get it down sooner before bedtime. > I have liquid anti-acid and tablets> next to my bed on my night-table along with> loads of books and magazines. If> I take my neurotin and my cymbalta right before> I get into bed, I often sit up and> read for about 30 minutes. If I don't sit up> and read, I'll have that burning problem> most of the night. If I get the burning stuff,> then I gulp down the liquid anti-acids,> but it's usually not enough, hence, I have an> up-and-down evening. But, if I drink> a glass of milk or soda and take the meds then,> and then wait about 30 - 45> minutes before getting into bed, it's usually> better.> > Right now I've got to say that the> cymbalta has been good but with my> current family issues (sick 24 yr. old daughter> in a med. facility) (dicey-relation-> ship step-father in assisted living with> beginning dementia) (land issues with the> place where I live....landslide potential and> land-lease increases in costs) (and> now I've been getting migraines, first time in> my life) (and my freelance jobs > have almost completely vanished, especially with> Harcourt going down the tubes> and becoming a very tiny imprint of Houghton> Mifflin---I'm a writer and I'm now> scared "blank-less" that I will not be seeing> any of my books over there in print,> hence, no royalty checks=no income), I wish I> had a much stronger anti-depressant.> My health insurance just went up to almost> $20,000. a year. And I ain't got that.> > The depression I experienced before I> had my Heller's I'd chalked up to> tough times in my chosen profession, no matter I> was barfing up liquids and> solids and I couldn't figure out why. I spent> loads of out-of-pocket savings on> trying to find out what was wrong with me and> when I, at last, found this group> of educated people, I also found a good> diagnostician at Cedars-Sinai, and for> $400. a visit, I finally got an answer. > Actually, the group HERE told me what I> had before anybody else did. (It was a major> breakthrough. I am eternally> grateful, too.) But the depression continued> and since I have no close relatives,> when I got home from the hospital, I just sat in> a chair, waiting to feel better.> I had stock-piled jello and broth and various> soft foods. My one nice relative,> a sister from out of state, showed up suddenly,> and helped me for one week and> I was a lucky person to have her.> > I looked into the Vagus Stimulation> implant as a way of dealing with> my depression. My insurance would not have> covered it. I wasn't sure it would> help me anyway. I do see a connection between> Achalasia and the vagus > nerve and depression and the vagus nerve. I> started seeing a neurologist> who specializes in all things surrounding the> vagus nerve and he said I might> want to consider this implant. It's a sort of> last ditch surgery just short of> ECT to jolt depression. I chose not to do it. > My concerns are: if the vagus> nerve can cause so much havoc with swallowing as> well as depression, what> could happen if the implant screwed up the vagus> nerve and made the Achalasia> worse?> > I am greatly relieved to see that> several people here have discussed> depression, whether it be pre-surgery,> post-surgery, or just an on-going factor.> I find that my depression subsided a bit when I> found this group and somebody> finally understood what I was going through,> from the foam in my mouth at > night, to the spitting up, to the jump-shot of> food flying out my nostrils, to the> sticking and then the chest pains. I've been> diagnosed with many other things> and I did treatments for a lot of them. I found> specialists and I've spent my> savings on it all.> > Now, I am starting over, work,> working out, eating smarter, and just> trying to keep my cool over the world news. We> live in hard times. I meditate> at night and first thing in the morning and I> try to keep my gratitude factor> first-most in my mind. > > If my post this time has gone on> too long, it's just that I felt a great> need to discuss this jazz with my fellow> Achalasians. For a long time my> entire family treated me as if I were a> hypochondriac and some of them just> sort of sneered at me. It was humiliating and> made me hurt and very angry,> too. And Gawd forbid if I ever said I was "down"> about anything. In my family's> eyes, that just made me a big baby, and the> subject of more ridicule. Regurgitating> food was also very, very funny to my family. > The only thing left me was to stop> talking with my family, and in some cases,> disown them. Nobody needs that> kind of abuse.> > That's plenty of talk from me and I> thank you all for reading.> Deborah> > > > >----------------------------------------------------------> Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them> fast with >Search.<http://us.rd./evt=51734/*http://tools.search./newsearch/category.php?category=shopping>> > > __________________________________________________________Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

March 28, 2008

Tuna and Cream Cheese... to die for. Use as a dip or whatever. Better than w/ mayo.

> > > Hi Deborah!> > I read your post and I just wanted to say, we are> > all behind you!! So many of us have been through> > similar symptoms- I can now laugh about some of it> > because I know I am not alone and that even if my> > co-workers and friends don't really "get it" you> > guys do!! Man, I sprayed salad out my nose all over> > the table with some friends once and that was really> > something. Of course I haven't touched salad in> > months but I am looking forward to some roughage> > after my surgery.> > Your post about stock piling soft foods after> > surgery makes me want to ask the group-> > what the heck is good?> > Jello, popsicles, yogurt, applesauce, soup?,> > smoothies?> > I have not been able to eat/drink squat in so long> > that I am at a loss everyday to even think of a food> > to eat. I have stopped going to the grocery store> > and I make my husband do it and he does lots of> > cooking these days too- probably a bit of the> > depression factor going on for me too.> > I had my 40th birthday 2 days ago and ate 1 bite of> > chocolate cake and then had to gag on mucous/froth> > for hours as a punishment!!> > Hang in there with all of your troubles and I hope> > life gives you a little relief soon!! Having a safe> > place to talk about your troubles helps so much. I> > hope we can all give you some support and maybe even> > a laugh or two at times.> > All my best> > Dawn> > Re: Re: cymbalta> > > > > > Hi Deborah. Well you said many things that hit> > home to me. For one....Cymbalta? If it is working> > that is great, but my father did not do well with> > it. He has Achalasia, and to bring me to my other> > point....he was told he had psychiatric problems,> > and that was why he could not eat. It took 6 months> > and 4 hospitals to diagnose the problem...Achalasia.> > He almost died in the mean time. It was a horrible> > time. He still suffers 2 years later after his> > Heller Myotomy. And depression seems to be very> > common. Now to bring me to your business. I am a> > teacher. Yes...I haven't heard of Harcourt in a> > while. HM seems to be the new curriculum, but don't> > hold your breath...it changes all the time. Things> > are crazy in education. I wish you luck in both> > your health and business. I am getting my dad to> > sign up on this website now. He needs the support. > > Thank you for everyone here.....it is a great> > support system. We are all in this together. > > Love!!!> > > > > > > > Hi, ,> > > > Thanks for the trick about the banana and> > the pill technique. I like the idea> > of that much better than anything I've tried. > > You are so right when you say it burns> > if you don't get it down sooner before bedtime. > > I have liquid anti-acid and tablets> > next to my bed on my night-table along with> > loads of books and magazines. If> > I take my neurotin and my cymbalta right before> > I get into bed, I often sit up and> > read for about 30 minutes. If I don't sit up> > and read, I'll have that burning problem> > most of the night. If I get the burning stuff,> > then I gulp down the liquid anti-acids,> > but it's usually not enough, hence, I have an> > up-and-down evening. But, if I drink> > a glass of milk or soda and take the meds then,> > and then wait about 30 - 45> > minutes before getting into bed, it's usually> > better.> > > > Right now I've got to say that the> > cymbalta has been good but with my> > current family issues (sick 24 yr. old daughter> > in a med. facility) (dicey-relation-> > ship step-father in assisted living with> > beginning dementia) (land issues with the> > place where I live....landslide potential and> > land-lease increases in costs) (and> > now I've been getting migraines, first time in> > my life) (and my freelance jobs > > have almost completely vanished, especially with> > Harcourt going down the tubes> > and becoming a very tiny imprint of Houghton> > Mifflin---I'm a writer and I'm now> > scared "blank-less" that I will not be seeing> > any of my books over there in print,> > hence, no royalty checks=no income), I wish I> > had a much stronger anti-depressant.> > My health insurance just went up to almost> > $20,000. a year. And I ain't got that.> > > > The depression I experienced before I> > had my Heller's I'd chalked up to> > tough times in my chosen profession, no matter I> > was barfing up liquids and> > solids and I couldn't figure out why. I spent> > loads of out-of-pocket savings on> > trying to find out what was wrong with me and> > when I, at last, found this group> > of educated people, I also found a good> > diagnostician at Cedars-Sinai, and for> > $400. a visit, I finally got an answer. > > Actually, the group HERE told me what I> > had before anybody else did. (It was a major> > breakthrough. I am eternally> > grateful, too.) But the depression continued> > and since I have no close relatives,> > when I got home from the hospital, I just sat in> > a chair, waiting to feel better.> > I had stock-piled jello and broth and various> > soft foods. My one nice relative,> > a sister from out of state, showed up suddenly,> > and helped me for one week and> > I was a lucky person to have her.> > > > I looked into the Vagus Stimulation> > implant as a way of dealing with> > my depression. My insurance would not have> > covered it. I wasn't sure it would> > help me anyway. I do see a connection between> > Achalasia and the vagus > > nerve and depression and the vagus nerve. I> > started seeing a neurologist> > who specializes in all things surrounding the> > vagus nerve and he said I might> > want to consider this implant. It's a sort of> > last ditch surgery just short of> > ECT to jolt depression. I chose not to do it. > > My concerns are: if the vagus> > nerve can cause so much havoc with swallowing as> > well as depression, what> > could happen if the implant screwed up the vagus> > nerve and made the Achalasia> > worse?> > > > I am greatly relieved to see that> > several people here have discussed> > depression, whether it be pre-surgery,> > post-surgery, or just an on-going factor.> > I find that my depression subsided a bit when I> > found this group and somebody> > finally understood what I was going through,> > from the foam in my mouth at > > night, to the spitting up, to the jump-shot of> > food flying out my nostrils, to the> > sticking and then the chest pains. I've been> > diagnosed with many other things> > and I did treatments for a lot of them. I found> > specialists and I've spent my> > savings on it all.> > > > Now, I am starting over, work,> > working out, eating smarter, and just> > trying to keep my cool over the world news. We> > live in hard times. I meditate> > at night and first thing in the morning and I> > try to keep my gratitude factor> > first-most in my mind. > > > > If my post this time has gone on> > too long, it's just that I felt a great> > need to discuss this jazz with my fellow> > Achalasians. For a long time my> > entire family treated me as if I were a> > hypochondriac and some of them just> > sort of sneered at me. It was humiliating and> > made me hurt and very angry,> > too. And Gawd forbid if I ever said I was "down"> > about anything. In my family's> > eyes, that just made me a big baby, and the> > subject of more ridicule. Regurgitating> > food was also very, very funny to my family. > > The only thing left me was to stop> > talking with my family, and in some cases,> > disown them. Nobody needs that> > kind of abuse.> > > > That's plenty of talk from me and I> > thank you all for reading.> > Deborah> > > > > > > > > >> ----------------------------------------------------------> > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them> > fast with > >> Search.<http://us.rd./evt=51734/*http://tools.search./newsearch/category.php?category=shopping<http://us.rd./evt=51734/*http://tools.search./newsearch/category.php?category=shopping>>> > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________> Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ<http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ>>

March 28, 2008

Thanks

I just made my decision and made the call to book my surgery- I feel better mentally than I have in a while!!

Dawn

Re: Re: cymbalta> > > > > > Hi Deborah. Well you said many things that hit> > home to me. For one....Cymbalta? If it is working> > that is great, but my father did not do well with> > it. He has Achalasia, and to bring me to my other> > point....he was told he had psychiatric problems,> > and that was why he could not eat. It took 6 months> > and 4 hospitals to diagnose the problem...Achalasia.> > He almost died in the mean time. It was a horrible> > time. He still suffers 2 years later after his> > Heller Myotomy. And depression seems to be very> > common. Now to bring me to your business. I am a> > teacher. Yes...I haven't heard of Harcourt in a> > while. HM seems to be the new curriculum, but don't> > hold your breath...it changes all the time. Things> > are crazy in education. I wish you luck in both> > your health and business. I am getting my dad to> > sign up on this website now. He needs the support. > > Thank you for everyone here.....it is a great> > support system. We are all in this together. > > Love!!!> > > > > > > > Hi, ,> > > > Thanks for the trick about the banana and> > the pill technique. I like the idea> > of that much better than anything I've tried. > > You are so right when you say it burns> > if you don't get it down sooner before bedtime. > > I have liquid anti-acid and tablets> > next to my bed on my night-table along with> > loads of books and magazines. If> > I take my neurotin and my cymbalta right before> > I get into bed, I often sit up and> > read for about 30 minutes. If I don't sit up> > and read, I'll have that burning problem> > most of the night. If I get the burning stuff,> > then I gulp down the liquid anti-acids,> > but it's usually not enough, hence, I have an> > up-and-down evening. But, if I drink> > a glass of milk or soda and take the meds then,> > and then wait about 30 - 45> > minutes before getting into bed, it's usually> > better.> > > > Right now I've got to say that the> > cymbalta has been good but with my> > current family issues (sick 24 yr. old daughter> > in a med. facility) (dicey-relation-> > ship step-father in assisted living with> > beginning dementia) (land issues with the> > place where I live....landslide potential and> > land-lease increases in costs) (and> > now I've been getting migraines, first time in> > my life) (and my freelance jobs > > have almost completely vanished, especially with> > Harcourt going down the tubes> > and becoming a very tiny imprint of Houghton> > Mifflin---I'm a writer and I'm now> > scared "blank-less" that I will not be seeing> > any of my books over there in print,> > hence, no royalty checks=no income), I wish I> > had a much stronger anti-depressant.> > My health insurance just went up to almost> > $20,000. a year. And I ain't got that.> > > > The depression I experienced before I> > had my Heller's I'd chalked up to> > tough times in my chosen profession, no matter I> > was barfing up liquids and> > solids and I couldn't figure out why. I spent> > loads of out-of-pocket savings on> > trying to find out what was wrong with me and> > when I, at last, found this group> > of educated people, I also found a good> > diagnostician at Cedars-Sinai, and for> > $400. a visit, I finally got an answer. > > Actually, the group HERE told me what I> > had before anybody else did. (It was a major> > breakthrough. I am eternally> > grateful, too.) But the depression continued> > and since I have no close relatives,> > when I got home from the hospital, I just sat in> > a chair, waiting to feel better.> > I had stock-piled jello and broth and various> > soft foods. My one nice relative,> > a sister from out of state, showed up suddenly,> > and helped me for one week and> > I was a lucky person to have her.> > > > I looked into the Vagus Stimulation> > implant as a way of dealing with> > my depression. My insurance would not have> > covered it. I wasn't sure it would> > help me anyway. I do see a connection between> > Achalasia and the vagus > > nerve and depression and the vagus nerve. I> > started seeing a neurologist> > who specializes in all things surrounding the> > vagus nerve and he said I might> > want to consider this implant. It's a sort of> > last ditch surgery just short of> > ECT to jolt depression. I chose not to do it. > > My concerns are: if the vagus> > nerve can cause so much havoc with swallowing as> > well as depression, what> > could happen if the implant screwed up the vagus> > nerve and made the Achalasia> > worse?> > > > I am greatly relieved to see that> > several people here have discussed> > depression, whether it be pre-surgery,> > post-surgery, or just an on-going factor.> > I find that my depression subsided a bit when I> > found this group and somebody> > finally understood what I was going through,> > from the foam in my mouth at > > night, to the spitting up, to the jump-shot of> > food flying out my nostrils, to the> > sticking and then the chest pains. I've been> > diagnosed with many other things> > and I did treatments for a lot of them. I found> > specialists and I've spent my> > savings on it all.> > > > Now, I am starting over, work,> > working out, eating smarter, and just> > trying to keep my cool over the world news. We> > live in hard times. I meditate> > at night and first thing in the morning and I> > try to keep my gratitude factor> > first-most in my mind. > > > > If my post this time has gone on> > too long, it's just that I felt a great> > need to discuss this jazz with my fellow> > Achalasians. For a long time my> > entire family treated me as if I were a> > hypochondriac and some of them just> > sort of sneered at me. It was humiliating and> > made me hurt and very angry,> > too. And Gawd forbid if I ever said I was "down"> > about anything. In my family's> > eyes, that just made me a big baby, and the> > subject of more ridicule. Regurgitating> > food was also very, very funny to my family. > > The only thing left me was to stop> > talking with my family, and in some cases,> > disown them. Nobody needs that> > kind of abuse.> > > > That's plenty of talk from me and I> > thank you all for reading.> > Deborah> > > > > > > > > >> ----------------------------------------------------------> > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them> > fast with > >> Search.<http://us.rd./evt=51734/*http://tools.search./newsearch/category.php?category=shopping<http://us.rd./evt=51734/*http://tools.search./newsearch/category.php?category=shopping>>> > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________> Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ<http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ>>

March 28, 2008

Huh! Hadn't thought of whipping tuna and cream cheese.

That's gotta be good.

The Mayo doesn't leave it too " gluggy " especially if I

add a few drops of water. Does the cream cheese go

down well for those of us who are still a bit swollen

inside from the funduplocation?

Dan

--- toomuchclutter <sandycarroll@...> wrote:

>

> Tuna and Cream Cheese... to die for. Use as a dip

> or whatever. Better

> than w/ mayo.

>

> >

> > > Hi Deborah!

> > > I read your post and I just wanted to say, we

> are

> > > all behind you!! So many of us have been through

> > > similar symptoms- I can now laugh about some of

> it

> > > because I know I am not alone and that even if

> my

> > > co-workers and friends don't really " get it " you

> > > guys do!! Man, I sprayed salad out my nose all

> over

> > > the table with some friends once and that was

> really

> > > something. Of course I haven't touched salad in

> > > months but I am looking forward to some roughage

> > > after my surgery.

> > > Your post about stock piling soft foods after

> > > surgery makes me want to ask the group-

> > > what the heck is good?

> > > Jello, popsicles, yogurt, applesauce, soup?,

> > > smoothies?

> > > I have not been able to eat/drink squat in so

> long

> > > that I am at a loss everyday to even think of a

> food

> > > to eat. I have stopped going to the grocery

> store

> > > and I make my husband do it and he does lots of

> > > cooking these days too- probably a bit of the

> > > depression factor going on for me too.

> > > I had my 40th birthday 2 days ago and ate 1 bite

> of

> > > chocolate cake and then had to gag on

> mucous/froth

> > > for hours as a punishment!!

> > > Hang in there with all of your troubles and I

> hope

> > > life gives you a little relief soon!! Having a

> safe

> > > place to talk about your troubles helps so much.

> I

> > > hope we can all give you some support and maybe

> even

> > > a laugh or two at times.

> > > All my best

> > > Dawn

> > > Re: Re: cymbalta

> > >

> > > Hi Deborah. Well you said many things that hit

> > > home to me. For one....Cymbalta? If it is

> working

> > > that is great, but my father did not do well

> with

> > > it. He has Achalasia, and to bring me to my

> other

> > > point....he was told he had psychiatric

> problems,

> > > and that was why he could not eat. It took 6

> months

> > > and 4 hospitals to diagnose the

> problem...Achalasia.

> > > He almost died in the mean time. It was a

> horrible

> > > time. He still suffers 2 years later after his

> > > Heller Myotomy. And depression seems to be very

> > > common. Now to bring me to your business. I am a

> > > teacher. Yes...I haven't heard of Harcourt in a

> > > while. HM seems to be the new curriculum, but

> don't

> > > hold your breath...it changes all the time.

> Things

> > > are crazy in education. I wish you luck in both

> > > your health and business. I am getting my dad to

> > > sign up on this website now. He needs the

> support.

> > > Thank you for everyone here.....it is a great

> > > support system. We are all in this together.

> > > Love!!!

> > >

> > > Hi, ,

> > >

> > > Thanks for the trick about the banana and

> > > the pill technique. I like the idea

> > > of that much better than anything I've tried.

> > > You are so right when you say it burns

> > > if you don't get it down sooner before bedtime.

> > > I have liquid anti-acid and tablets

> > > next to my bed on my night-table along with

> > > loads of books and magazines. If

> > > I take my neurotin and my cymbalta right before

> > > I get into bed, I often sit up and

> > > read for about 30 minutes. If I don't sit up

> > > and read, I'll have that burning problem

> > > most of the night. If I get the burning stuff,

> > > then I gulp down the liquid anti-acids,

> > > but it's usually not enough, hence, I have an

> > > up-and-down evening. But, if I drink

> > > a glass of milk or soda and take the meds then,

> > > and then wait about 30 - 45

> > > minutes before getting into bed, it's usually

> > > better.

> > >

> > > Right now I've got to say that the

> > > cymbalta has been good but with my

> > > current family issues (sick 24 yr. old daughter

> > > in a med. facility) (dicey-relation-

> > > ship step-father in assisted living with

> > > beginning dementia) (land issues with the

> > > place where I live....landslide potential and

> > > land-lease increases in costs) (and

> > > now I've been getting migraines, first time in

> > > my life) (and my freelance jobs

> > > have almost completely vanished, especially with

> > > Harcourt going down the tubes

> > > and becoming a very tiny imprint of Houghton

> > > Mifflin---I'm a writer and I'm now

> > > scared " blank-less " that I will not be seeing

> > > any of my books over there in print,

> > > hence, no royalty checks=no income), I wish I

> > > had a much stronger anti-depressant.

> > > My health insurance just went up to almost

> > > $20,000. a year. And I ain't got that.

> > >

> > > The depression I experienced before I

> > > had my Heller's I'd chalked up to

> > > tough times in my chosen profession, no matter I

> > > was barfing up liquids and

> > > solids and I couldn't figure out why. I spent

> > > loads of out-of-pocket savings on

> > > trying to find out what was wrong with me and

> > > when I, at last, found this group

> > > of educated people, I also found a good

> > > diagnostician at Cedars-Sinai, and for

> > > $400. a visit, I finally got an answer.

> > > Actually, the group HERE told me what I

> > > had before anybody else did. (It was a major

> > > breakthrough. I am eternally

> > > grateful, too.) But the depression continued

> > > and since I have no close relatives,

> > > when I got home from the hospital, I just sat in

> > > a chair, waiting to feel better.

> > > I had stock-piled jello and broth and various

> > > soft foods. My one nice relative,

> > > a sister from out of state, showed up suddenly,

> > > and helped me for one week and

> > > I was a lucky person to have her.

> > >

> > > I looked into the Vagus Stimulation

> > > implant as a way of dealing with

> > > my depression. My insurance would not have

> > > covered it. I wasn't sure it would

> > > help me anyway. I do see a connection between

> > > Achalasia and the vagus

> > > nerve and depression and the vagus nerve. I

> > > started seeing a neurologist

> > > who specializes in all things surrounding the

> > > vagus nerve and he said I might

> > > want to consider this implant. It's a sort of

> > > last ditch surgery just short of

> > > ECT to jolt depression. I chose not to do it.

> > > My concerns are: if the vagus

> > > nerve can cause so much havoc with swallowing as

> > > well as depression, what

> > > could happen if the implant screwed up the vagus

> > > nerve and made the Achalasia

> > > worse?

> > >

> > > I am greatly relieved to see that

> > > several people here have discussed

> > > depression, whether it be pre-surgery,

> > > post-surgery, or just an on-going factor.

> > > I find that my depression subsided a bit when I

> > > found this group and somebody

> > > finally understood what I was going through,

> > > from the foam in my mouth at

> > > night, to the spitting up, to the jump-shot of

> > > food flying out my nostrils, to the

> > > sticking and then the chest pains. I've been

> > > diagnosed with many other things

> > > and I did treatments for a lot of them. I found

> > > specialists and I've spent my

> > > savings on it all.

> > >

> > > Now, I am starting over, work,

> > > working out, eating smarter, and just

> > > trying to keep my cool over the world news. We

> > > live in hard times. I meditate

> > > at night and first thing in the morning and I

> > > try to keep my gratitude factor

> > > first-most in my mind.

> > >

> > > If my post this time has gone on

> > > too long, it's just that I felt a great

> > > need to discuss this jazz with my fellow

> > > Achalasians. For a long time my

> > > entire family treated me as if I were a

> > > hypochondriac and some of them just

> > > sort of sneered at me. It was humiliating and

> > > made me hurt and very angry,

> > > too. And Gawd forbid if I ever said I was " down "

> > > about anything. In my family's

> > > eyes, that just made me a big baby, and the

> > > subject of more ridicule. Regurgitating

> > > food was also very, very funny to my family.

> > > The only thing left me was to stop

> > > talking with my family, and in some cases,

> > > disown them. Nobody needs that

> > > kind of abuse.

> > >

> > > That's plenty of talk from me and I

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March 28, 2008

,

I’d have to agree with regarding the pills. I

was told the same thing and I now request that all my medications come in a

chewable, dissolvable, or liquid form.

in SF

From:

achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of

Love

Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 9:32 PM

achalasia

Subject: Re: cymbalta