Guest guest Posted June 22, 2001 Report Share Posted June 22, 2001 Carol - I've never had BoTox injections myself, but have done some research on the subject. From what I've read, it seems that botox injections are very effective immediately, but the effects wear off over time - sometimes as soon as 6 months, usually within a year. Repeat injections are effective, but there isn't that much empirical evidence on repeat patients, so this is hard to quantify. Still, MDs are usually apt to try BoTox for patients who, for one reason or another, can't tolerate balloon dilatation or surgery. It's especially effective for those patients who suffer from vigorous achalasia. If, ultimately, surgery is elected, there is some research to suggest that Botox injections can cause changes within the esophagus that make the operation more difficult and perhaps have a higher incidence of perforation of the esophagus during surgery. The main side effect from BoTox is chest pain from the injection, but that usually goes away within a day or two. Hope this info helps. Good luck next week! Carol Botox injections I am having the botox injections on the 28th of this month. I was wondering if anyone can give me insight to this procedure. I will be having it done at IU Medical Center in Indianapolis. I would like to know what to expect. thanks for any input. Carol Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2001 Report Share Posted June 22, 2001 In a message dated 6/22/01 2:08:58 AM Pacific Daylight Time, ckeith@... writes: ckeith@... Hi Carol, If done correctly, you'll first be given IV Versed (midazelam), which is similar to Valium. This drug will sedate you and most likely you will wake up and not remember anything that happened during the procedure. After being sedated, a long scope with a syringe on the end will be inserted down your esophagus until it reaches your lower esophageal sphincter, where about 4 or 5 injections of Botox will be given directly into the sphincter muscle. This will relax the sphincter, thereby allowing food to pass thru. In most cases the Botox works beautifully for about 4-6 months but will eventually stop working. In my case, I received a series of 4 injections over a period of about 2 years. The last injection did not help at all, after which I opted for surgery last August. Now I'm doing wonderfully. Good luck! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 2001 Report Share Posted November 10, 2001 Thanks for the advice Barb. No one I know has ever heard of achalasia and thinks its just a stricture, easily fixed, what's the big deal? I'll look into the pureed meals. I have heard of them but did not think of them thanks again Liz > Hi Liz: > > I had Botox Injections from l994 until the time of my myotomy surgery in 2000. > If you are looking for temporary relief or not ready or not a candidate for > surgery at this time, I think Botox injections are a short term answer. I > had good results with them. Some injections lasted for l8 mths and others > for only a few months. > My 2000 surgery has helped a lot but I had to return to Dr. Boyce in Tampa > this Oct. 22,23rd for endo and dialation. My myotomy was quite extensive > and several other procedures were done at the same time. The surgeon was > doing a redo of a previous operation performed in l974 by another surgeon. > I am on Nexium now for reflux. > > As for diet I keep and eat pureed dinners when I have difficulty eating. > These dinners were given to me in hospital last year when I was paralyzed > with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Their label says they are made in Canada and > I buy them from my local hospital here in Florida. There is no Company > name on them just ingredients and made in Canada. I think they are quite > good and they come in Turkey, chicken, ham, pork and roast beef. Each > dinner had 2 veggies, Mashed potatoes, peas, green beans, corn, etc., all > pureed. Sometimes I bake them in oven and other times I just microwave > them You might check with your hospital to see if you can obtain one to try. > > Good luck, > > Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 2001 Report Share Posted November 10, 2001 > Hi Liz: > > I had Botox Injections from l994 until the time of my myotomy surgery in 2000. > If you are looking for temporary relief or not ready or not a candidate for > surgery at this time, I think Botox injections are a short term answer. I > had good results with them. Some injections lasted for l8 mths and others > for only a few months. > My 2000 surgery has helped a lot but I had to return to Dr. Boyce in Tampa > this Oct. 22,23rd for endo and dialation. My myotomy was quite extensive > and several other procedures were done at the same time. The surgeon was > doing a redo of a previous operation performed in l974 by another surgeon. > I am on Nexium now for reflux. > > As for diet I keep and eat pureed dinners when I have difficulty eating. > These dinners were given to me in hospital last year when I was paralyzed > with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Their label says they are made in Canada and > I buy them from my local hospital here in Florida. There is no Company > name on them just ingredients and made in Canada. I think they are quite > good and they come in Turkey, chicken, ham, pork and roast beef. Each > dinner had 2 veggies, Mashed potatoes, peas, green beans, corn, etc., all > pureed. Sometimes I bake them in oven and other times I just microwave > them You might check with your hospital to see if you can obtain one to try. > > Good luck, > > Barbara Dear Barbara, If you have read any of the past posts, you'll see that there is some discussion at to whether achalasia is autoimmune-- there are very mixed opinions. However, I see that you have/had Guillian Barr Syndrome--it that not considered to be autoimmune in origin? I wonder how many other people on this site have autoimmune diseases to " go with " the achalasia, whatever it's origins. I know I do. I have autoimmune hepatitis, I have known this for three years-- however, I have had the (admittedly mild compared to some)achalasia since I was in my twenties--it started with " difuse spasms of the esophagus " and has worsened only slightly(thank God)since then. I did not know that the spasms might, usually, turn into achalasia until they DID turn into achalasia or that there MIGHT be an autoimmune connection. Had I known, I think I would have suspected the autoimmune liver disease sooner, before it severely damaged my liver. I know there is no proven connection, but just the suspicion of a connection might have helped me head off the AIH before it got so bad. Perhaps this can help some one else in the future. Jean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2010 Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 Hi Does anyone perhaps know if botox injected into muscles will have an adverse reaction? My daughter definitely has mercury toxicity as determined by hair analysis from Doctor's Data. She did not " develop " autism, but got cerebral palsy symptoms. All her muscles are stiff (she has spasticity). I firmly believe that if I can get rid of mercury completely in the brain, her muscles will relax. But the problem is that whilst she is growing, her bones are growing but her muscles are being left behind. We are currently on round 34 and it can take up to 300 rounds to fully " remove " the mercury from the tissues. Which means quite a few years of growing. Do you see my dilemma? Obviously the neurologist has never mentioned mercury toxicity and obviously as most " scientific " doctors, he doesn't believe in mercury toxicity. He says that she has a lot of potential, but only by using certain methods to relax the muscles and then doing intensive stretching and so trying to overcome some of the spasticity and the shortening of the muscles. So what he recommends is botox injected into the affected muscles. Apparently the botox is localized in the muscles and does not affect the rest of the body. It is not a long term " fix " and wears off after a few months. It relaxes the muscles and in the short time that it is active we can stretch those muscles that are affected and she will be able to use/exercise other muscles that are not used because they are " overshadowed " by the muscles that are very spastic. Does anyone have any opinions in this regard? I want to do the botox as it will help her immensely, but I am also scared of adverse reactions. Also, I will have to do my homework as to whether the injections are preserved by thiomeresol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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