surgery

[Guest guest]

Good luck Mark! Sending you healing thoughts. Sincerely, Elena

[Guest guest]

Hi, Mark! What an important step for you! You will definitely be in my

thoughts and have my sincerest best wishes for a successful surgery, speedy

recovery and return to good health. Use the time between now and then to

rest, relax and get yourself strong for the surgery!

Best wishes,

Carol

Surgery

> Hello,

> Just to let everybody know I am going to have my surgery on March 21. Wish

me

> luck.

> Thanks,

> Mark~

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Earn extra money at calypso.com by creating your own web store. For a

> limited time, join calypso.com and receive a FREE calypso whistle.

> Also learn how you can win up to $25! Click to

> 1/1591/5/_/24373/_/950741652/

>

> -- Talk to your group with your own voice!

> -- VoiceChatPage?listName=achalasia & m=1

>

>

>

__________________________________________

NetZero - Defenders of the Free World

Get your FREE Internet Access and Email at

http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html

[Guest guest]

Mark,

Good luck. I've had surgury twice and many balloon procedures. I't

something only those of us with this can appreciate.

Kerry

[Guest guest]

Thanks,

I really appreciate the support. We are leaving for Cleveland about 10:00

this morning and my surgery is at 6 on Tuesday morning. The worst part is the

waiting. They said I would be there approx 2 weeks so when I get back I will

let you know how everything goes. It is hard to believe that they are

actually going to remove my esophagus and pull my stomach up.

Thanks again for the support,

Mark~

[Guest guest]

Dear Mark -

I hope the first full day of spring finds you safely and successfully out of

surgery. I know today is going to be an anxious one for you, but hope you

take heart in the fact that your extended " family " of fellow achalasiacs are

thinking of you. Best wishes for the speediest of recoveries and a return

to a better way of life as soon as possible.

Fondly,

Carol

Surgery

> Hello,

> Just to let everybody know I am going to have my surgery on March 21. Wish

me

> luck.

> Thanks,

> Mark~

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Earn extra money at calypso.com by creating your own web store. For a

> limited time, join calypso.com and receive a FREE calypso whistle.

> Also learn how you can win up to $25! Click to

> 1/1591/5/_/24373/_/950741652/

>

> -- Talk to your group with your own voice!

> -- VoiceChatPage?listName=achalasia & m=1

>

>

>

__________________________________________

NetZero - Defenders of the Free World

Get your FREE Internet Access and Email at

http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html

[Guest guest]

Mark,

Wishing you continued success and a speedy recovery. The pictures were

fascinating.

-

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Mark - Thanks for sharing your photos and your experience - I'm glad

you're recovering. Good luck!

-

> Hello Group,

> I don't know if anybody remembers but I had my surgery on March

21st. and

> everything went well. It is hard to believe that they actually

removed most

> of my esophagus and replaced it with part of my stomach. I have

been

on a

> feeder tube for over a month now . I started drinking liquids last

week and

> have moved up to Jell-o and pudding. I have one more month of the

feeder tube

> and I can't wait to get rid of it.

> Anybody who is not watching their diet should take a look at the

pics. at

> photopoint.com and see what the next step might be if you don't

take

care of

> yourself.

> Thanks for the time,

> Mark~ <A

HREF= " http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=59370 & a=3489947 " >Ph

> otoPoint (Guest Mode) - Free, easy photo sharing and photo

gallery</A>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Belinda. He's scheduled for 7:00 a.m. on Friday. In fact, was just

packing a little ditty bag for us, since I think I'll stay all night at least

the first night. You all would crack up if you saw what I am

taking--handi-wipes, Clorox swipes, Clorox disinfectant spray, peanuts and

bottled water. Need something chocolate (and something borrowed and blue)

and I'm all set! Tree

[Guest guest]

Tree,

Glad to see that you are keeping your sense of humor.

That really helps during the difficult times.

Jeanie

--- TreeSkinnr@... wrote:

> Thanks, Belinda. He's scheduled for 7:00 a.m. on

> Friday. In fact, was just

> packing a little ditty bag for us, since I think

> I'll stay all night at least

> the first night. You all would crack up if you saw

> what I am

> taking--handi-wipes, Clorox swipes, Clorox

> disinfectant spray, peanuts and

> bottled water. Need something chocolate (and

> something borrowed and blue)

> and I'm all set! Tree

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

ApendectomyJoke of the day January 14, 1997 The doctor was washing up after surgery, and an intern comes over and asks, " So, how did the apendectomy on Mrs. Shoenfeld go? " " Apendectomy? " shouted the surgeon, " I thought it was an autopsy! "

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 08/26/2000 5:10:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

deja@... writes:

<< from the short time I have been

researching this issue, it appears that surgery to alleviate pain is a

non-issue, because either it will not alleviate the pain at all, or the new

pain it will cause will offset any benefits that may have been realized

from the surgery. So, no gain in the long run. >>

Not true. We are all different so a bleanket statement like this does not

really apply.

It depends to a great deal on what it is that is causing the pain.

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

For the sake of clarity I think that surgeons operate to correct

physical defects rather than to correct pain problems. Since the pain

can be caused by non physical conditions it is rather difficult to

identify the source of the problem. I guess that is the point I tried

to make earlier. Most surgeons will only operate to correct a real

physical problem. Those of us with chronic pain can not in a lot of

cases be cured that way.

I am not sure I agree with the earlier statement about when to

correct scoliosis. There are too many facets to it to issue a blanket

rule of thumb about whether it has progressed enough or whether the

organs are in danger of problems stemming from compression. I think

the only person able to make an assessment like that is the

orthopaedic surgeon. Like it or not they are the experts in the

fields. Personally they told my parents that I needed the surgery or

I would be in serious trouble by the time I was twenty.

[Guest guest]

I am new to the list so please forgive me if I ask a question that has been

answered several times already. I would like to hear from people who have had

surgery for flatback syndrome. I am pretty sure that I have it and I dread the

thought of having more surgery in my future. For those who have had surgery to

" fix " the flatback, what were you limitations after surgery? What is the

prognosis - are you more limited physically or can you do more now than you did

before? I would love to hear anything anyone can share with me, especially if

there's a way to avoid surgery! Thanks,

Peggy Greene

JPG Unlimited

Antiques & Collectibles

jpgreene@...

[Guest guest]

What surgery is she having? (Is it a myotomy?) Please let everyone know more

details. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Sincerely, Elena

[Guest guest]

Dolores,

In response to your question " cardia " or " cardiac " in

this context does not mean to do with the heart.

Cardiac in achalasia terms means the cardiac

sphincter.

The sphincter is the muscle that opens and closes to

allow food to enter the esophagus.

Also, what surgery will your mother be having?

Hope this helps. Prayers to you and your mother.

Cheryl Cini

--- dolores_00@... wrote:

> Hi all,

> I am new to this group. I'm writing coz my grandma

> (81 years old)has

> been, a month ago, diagnosized with Achalasia

> although she had had it

> since last December. The doctor wrote 'achalasia

> cardiac'. Does

> anyone know why 'cardiac'? She has no heart problem.

> Her surgery is

> scheduled for this coming Saturday and I am so

> worried that she might

> not make it due to the fact that she has lost weight

> drastically and

> is very weak. The doctor tried dilatation one week

> ago -- she started

> to eat but this lasted only 2 days. Has anyone had

> the same

> experience? If the dilatation is done properly, can

> it really in some

> cases last only 2 days? After surgery she will also

> be put in ICU,

> that's the part where I'm scared that something

> might go wrong with

> her heart. Has anybody had such a surgery?

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi delores

I am new to this group. I had a diliatation and a balloon diliatation and

both were unsuccessful and I did not get any relief at all! But I had a

third and it was really good and I had complete relief for one year with the

symptoms only gradually returning over the following year. I then had

another and again it worked for 6 to 8 months. The relief was wonderful, I

felt like a normal person once again. I now have quite a few problems again

and I am booked in for another balloon diliatation in November. I think

the doctors take it easy with the first one or two because they do not want

to overstretch the muscles.

Although I have deteriorated in the last six months it is nothing like I was

a few years ago before that successful dilation and I really would recommend

it. Do not be downhearted if the first one did not work, I was but I had

such a wonderful surprise when I awoke from the third procedure and found

that I could swallow a drink with no problem and later eat without pain and

the food stayed down! I am looking forward to having the same refief again

in a few weeks. It would be great if we could all return to normal -

whatever normal is.

I am very pleased to have found this group but it is sad to know that there

are so many people out there who are much worse than me, it also brings back

bad memories of how I was. Please God a cure will be found soon - I have

been given medication for angina to relieve my achalasia and it does seem to

have improved slightly - has anyone else been prescribed angina medication?

Good Luck to you all

from England

[Guest guest]

Dilatation only helped for a week or two for me. But, it was not done as

forcefully as it could have been. There are different sizes of the things

used to do it. My doctor did not use the largest size because of the risk

of a rupture, which would need emergency surgery to fix. You may want to

ask what size was used and if a bigger one can be considered.

Jerry

At 06:37 PM 10/25/2000 +0000, dolores_00@... wrote:

>The doctor tried dilatation one week ago -- she started

>to eat but this lasted only 2 days. Has anyone had the same

>experience?

[Guest guest]

Hi, Dolores

Sorry I didn't get to write to you before now. Did your grandmother have

her surgery yesterday? If so, how is she?

The " cardiac " referred to with achalasia does not refer to the heart but to

the musculature that is part of the esophagus. Dilation probably was not

successful in your grandmother's case due to the fact that her esophageal

muscle has thinned and weakened with age and is not as elastic as it would

be in a younger person. Even in a younger person, the dilation often does

not last very long - only weeks or months in many cases. A lot of times

this is due to the increased stress that has been put upon the esophagus the

longer someone has suffered with achalasia.

Placing her in ICU is a wise thing, given her age and overall condition and

the best place for her to be to get the most responsive care. Please let us

know how she - and you - are doing!

Take care -

Carol

Surgery

> Hi all,

> I am new to this group. I'm writing coz my grandma (81 years old)has

> been, a month ago, diagnosized with Achalasia although she had had it

> since last December. The doctor wrote 'achalasia cardiac'. Does

> anyone know why 'cardiac'? She has no heart problem. Her surgery is

> scheduled for this coming Saturday and I am so worried that she might

> not make it due to the fact that she has lost weight drastically and

> is very weak. The doctor tried dilatation one week ago -- she started

> to eat but this lasted only 2 days. Has anyone had the same

> experience? If the dilatation is done properly, can it really in some

> cases last only 2 days? After surgery she will also be put in ICU,

> that's the part where I'm scared that something might go wrong with

> her heart. Has anybody had such a surgery?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

____________NetZero Free Internet Access and Email_________

Download Now http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html

Request a CDROM 1-800-333-3633

___________________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

What is Isosorb and what is it used for? Doesn't the Nitrostat give you a

headache? I take it for cardiac angina and it gives me a really bad

headache. I'd rather put up with the achalasia symptoms.

>From: Wickman <kwickman@...>

>Reply-achalasiaegroups

>achalasiaegroups

>Subject: Re: Surgery

>Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 07:22:29 -0600

>

>Hi :

>To answer your question about meds, I am on Isosorb twice a day, although I

>find

>taking before bed usually takes care of me for the night, and also

>Nitrostat,

>taken under the tongue, when an attack of angina comes on. I find that

>these

>meds are very helpful.

>

>

>monfranks@... wrote:

>

> > Hi delores

> >

> > I am new to this group. I had a diliatation and a balloon diliatation

>and

> > both were unsuccessful and I did not get any relief at all! But I had a

> > third and it was really good and I had complete relief for one year with

>the

> > symptoms only gradually returning over the following year. I then had

> > another and again it worked for 6 to 8 months. The relief was

>wonderful, I

> > felt like a normal person once again. I now have quite a few problems

>again

> > and I am booked in for another balloon diliatation in November. I

>think

> > the doctors take it easy with the first one or two because they do not

>want

> > to overstretch the muscles.

> >

> > Although I have deteriorated in the last six months it is nothing like I

>was

> > a few years ago before that successful dilation and I really would

>recommend

> > it. Do not be downhearted if the first one did not work, I was but I

>had

> > such a wonderful surprise when I awoke from the third procedure and

>found

> > that I could swallow a drink with no problem and later eat without pain

>and

> > the food stayed down! I am looking forward to having the same refief

>again

> > in a few weeks. It would be great if we could all return to normal -

> > whatever normal is.

> >

> > I am very pleased to have found this group but it is sad to know that

>there

> > are so many people out there who are much worse than me, it also brings

>back

> > bad memories of how I was. Please God a cure will be found soon - I

>have

> > been given medication for angina to relieve my achalasia and it does

>seem to

> > have improved slightly - has anyone else been prescribed angina

>medication?

> >

> >

> > Good Luck to you all

> >

> > from England

> >

>

>

_________________________________________________________________________

Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

http://profiles.msn.com.

[Guest guest]

Dear Dolores: I'm happy to hear that your grandma is OK!! Nobody knows where

achalasia comes from: Is it genetic? Is it a virus? Is it from stress? Maybe

it's a combo of all three. Wishing your grandma a speedy recovery.

Sincerely, Elena

[Guest guest]

Hi :

To answer your question about meds, I am on Isosorb twice a day, although I find

taking before bed usually takes care of me for the night, and also Nitrostat,

taken under the tongue, when an attack of angina comes on. I find that these

meds are very helpful.

monfranks@... wrote:

> Hi delores

>

> I am new to this group. I had a diliatation and a balloon diliatation and

> both were unsuccessful and I did not get any relief at all! But I had a

> third and it was really good and I had complete relief for one year with the

> symptoms only gradually returning over the following year. I then had

> another and again it worked for 6 to 8 months. The relief was wonderful, I

> felt like a normal person once again. I now have quite a few problems again

> and I am booked in for another balloon diliatation in November. I think

> the doctors take it easy with the first one or two because they do not want

> to overstretch the muscles.

>

> Although I have deteriorated in the last six months it is nothing like I was

> a few years ago before that successful dilation and I really would recommend

> it. Do not be downhearted if the first one did not work, I was but I had

> such a wonderful surprise when I awoke from the third procedure and found

> that I could swallow a drink with no problem and later eat without pain and

> the food stayed down! I am looking forward to having the same refief again

> in a few weeks. It would be great if we could all return to normal -

> whatever normal is.

>

> I am very pleased to have found this group but it is sad to know that there

> are so many people out there who are much worse than me, it also brings back

> bad memories of how I was. Please God a cure will be found soon - I have

> been given medication for angina to relieve my achalasia and it does seem to

> have improved slightly - has anyone else been prescribed angina medication?

>

>

> Good Luck to you all

>

> from England

>

[Guest guest]

-

Welcome to the group! Your experience with dilatations is very similar to

that of many folks here in the group. In fact, my first dilatation did

nothing to relieve my symptoms, for the very same reason you put forth:

like Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, the balloon was too small. One more

attempt found the size that was " just right " ! It gave me some relief for

about 6 months, but I eventually had the myotomy last year. Much, much,

much better now. I still get the painful chest spasms you mentioned and for

those I was prescribed a medication called Levsin. It works very quickly to

ease the constriction in my chest, which is an esophageal muscle spasm, much

like a foot or leg cramp which we've probably all experienced.

Take care -

Carol

Re: Surgery

> Hi delores

>

> I am new to this group. I had a diliatation and a balloon diliatation and

> both were unsuccessful and I did not get any relief at all! But I had a

> third and it was really good and I had complete relief for one year with

the

> symptoms only gradually returning over the following year. I then had

> another and again it worked for 6 to 8 months. The relief was wonderful,

I

> felt like a normal person once again. I now have quite a few problems

again

> and I am booked in for another balloon diliatation in November. I think

> the doctors take it easy with the first one or two because they do not

want

> to overstretch the muscles.

>

> Although I have deteriorated in the last six months it is nothing like I

was

> a few years ago before that successful dilation and I really would

recommend

> it. Do not be downhearted if the first one did not work, I was but I had

> such a wonderful surprise when I awoke from the third procedure and found

> that I could swallow a drink with no problem and later eat without pain

and

> the food stayed down! I am looking forward to having the same refief

again

> in a few weeks. It would be great if we could all return to normal -

> whatever normal is.

>

> I am very pleased to have found this group but it is sad to know that

there

> are so many people out there who are much worse than me, it also brings

back

> bad memories of how I was. Please God a cure will be found soon - I have

> been given medication for angina to relieve my achalasia and it does seem

to

> have improved slightly - has anyone else been prescribed angina

medication?

>

>

> Good Luck to you all

>

>

> from England

>

>

>

>

>

>

____________NetZero Free Internet Access and Email_________

Download Now http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html

Request a CDROM 1-800-333-3633

___________________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thank you all for your reply. The doctor said the operation was

difficult but successful, it lasted approx. 2hrs. He did something

different of what he intended to do before. I don't know what is the

name of the operation since I don't live in the same country as my

grandma. All that I know is that she had a cut of approx. 10cm in the

upper middle part and the doctor said he put a tube in. Has anyone had

a tube put in? She didn't even need to be put in ICU, which was a

relief. However, the sad thing is that during the operation the doctor

said that he noticed that she might have cancer but he will only have

the results of the analysis in a few weeks.I guess it must be what

they call 'pseudoachalasia'.

Is achalasia genetic?

Good luck to all the others who are struggling with this rare

disorder.

Dolores

[Guest guest]

Hi :

Isosorb is another name for the drug Isosorbide Dinitrate. Here is a definition

I found on the web: " Isosorbide dinitrate reduces the blood pressure as well

as the capillary pressure (vascular resistance), improving the heart's

efficiency. Isosorbide

dinitrate is used for the treatment and prevention of angina. Isosorbide

dinitrate can be used to decrease the frequency and severity of anginal (chest

pain) episodes and to reduce the need for sublingual (taken under the tongue)

nitroglycerine "

Yes, the Nitrostat gives me severe headaches, but only for a minute or two, they

come on strong after about 2 minutes and are then gone again in about 2 more.

It's like I can feel my heart beating in my head. I thought at first the

symptoms were better than the headache, but since the headache doesn't last, and

the chest pain can last a long time, I guess the headache kind of outweighs the

chest pain.

Carlo wrote:

> Hi ,

> What is Isosorb and what is it used for? Doesn't the Nitrostat give you a

> headache? I take it for cardiac angina and it gives me a really bad

> headache. I'd rather put up with the achalasia symptoms.

>

> >From: Wickman <kwickman@...>

> >Reply-achalasiaegroups

> >achalasiaegroups

> >Subject: Re: Surgery

> >Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 07:22:29 -0600

> >

> >Hi :

> >To answer your question about meds, I am on Isosorb twice a day, although I

> >find

> >taking before bed usually takes care of me for the night, and also

> >Nitrostat,

> >taken under the tongue, when an attack of angina comes on. I find that

> >these

> >meds are very helpful.

> >

> >

> >monfranks@... wrote:

> >

> > > Hi delores

> > >

> > > I am new to this group. I had a diliatation and a balloon diliatation

> >and

> > > both were unsuccessful and I did not get any relief at all! But I had a

> > > third and it was really good and I had complete relief for one year with

> >the

> > > symptoms only gradually returning over the following year. I then had

> > > another and again it worked for 6 to 8 months. The relief was

> >wonderful, I

> > > felt like a normal person once again. I now have quite a few problems

> >again

> > > and I am booked in for another balloon diliatation in November. I

> >think

> > > the doctors take it easy with the first one or two because they do not

> >want

> > > to overstretch the muscles.

> > >

> > > Although I have deteriorated in the last six months it is nothing like I

> >was

> > > a few years ago before that successful dilation and I really would

> >recommend

> > > it. Do not be downhearted if the first one did not work, I was but I

> >had

> > > such a wonderful surprise when I awoke from the third procedure and

> >found

> > > that I could swallow a drink with no problem and later eat without pain

> >and

> > > the food stayed down! I am looking forward to having the same refief

> >again

> > > in a few weeks. It would be great if we could all return to normal -

> > > whatever normal is.

> > >

> > > I am very pleased to have found this group but it is sad to know that

> >there

> > > are so many people out there who are much worse than me, it also brings

> >back

> > > bad memories of how I was. Please God a cure will be found soon - I

> >have

> > > been given medication for angina to relieve my achalasia and it does

> >seem to

> > > have improved slightly - has anyone else been prescribed angina

> >medication?

> > >

> > >

> > > Good Luck to you all

> > >

> > > from England

> > >

> >

> >

>

> _________________________________________________________________________

> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

>

> Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at

> http://profiles.msn.com.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lexi,

Sounds like you've had a rough time of it. I hope the surgery helps. My

sister is taking neurotin and having a hard time with it. She's only been

taking it a few days. But that's not unusual for her. She has a metabolic

disorder and has bad reactions to many meds. Hope you find something that

works soon.

Sissi

Kids

http://home.isoa.net/~nitetrax/dillon.htm

Work

www.thealbanyjournal.com

Play

www.thealbanyjournal.com/nitetrax.htm

Life is just one damned thing after another. ~ Elbert Hubbard

surgery

> I have suffered pain since I was 11 years of. I was reading my 1976 year

> diary and an orthopoedic Dr I went to at that time said I would suffer

> siatica all my life and I have. I laid in traction in the 50s for 3 weeks

> and then wore a brace and do to this day. But finally my pain got so bad

my

> daughters took me to a spine Dr(100 miles for me and they each live 125

> miles from the Dr. One comes from the east and one from the west and I

live

> south. He said I needed surgery. So it is set for April 5th. Well I had

> never had a mamogram and my daughters talked me into that. I was

cancelled

> three times because of the weather. So I had it and today it comes back

> that I have a lunp and need a sonogram.So that got set on the day I do my

> taxes,next Thurs) and will have to change the tax date. All this takes so

> much driving. I will turn 80 and it is really hard for me to ask for

help.

> I always looked at myself as so efficient as I have been a widow since I

was

> 52. The thing is the Dr gave me Neurotin for neuropathy and I got a severe

> pain in my breast after three weeks. . I went to our PA here and told him

I

> thought it was the neurotin and I went off it. He looked it up in a book

> and said " That figures since it swells mens testicals " . I thought the

> neurotin helped. I went off vitamins,gingko and everything else I was

> taking. I sell germanium and I am taking that as it has known cancer

cures.

> It may be nothing serious but everything comes at once. I need to evict a

> renter. I love to get out in the garden and flowers and work. But I am

in

> real pain as I have all my discs degenerated from arthritis. So will have

to

> have some fusion. Haven't even told all my kids yet.(have 7) Just learned

> most of this today.Had to tell someone altho I told one friend. Lexi

>

>

>

>