thanks for your replies

[Guest guest]

Well--another New Hampshirite? Or are you just over the border into Maine? Not precisely sure just where 25 miles north of Boston is. Are you still going to Boston to the Doctor? I go up to Lebanon--the gastro department up there treats both the autoimmune hep and the spasms(not quite fullblown achalasia yet as I understand--hopefully never). If one has to have two diseases, I think it's nice that they can be treated by the same Dr. in the same department--what convenience.LOL From what I gather they have quite a few of both kinds of patients up there--so these things are not new to them. Just as an aside, and perhaps of interest to others as well on this site---until the autoimmune hepatitis was gotten under control I took prednisone in dosage amounts that started at 20mg and gradually shrunk to none stretched over a two and one half year period. During the time I took the pred--I HAD NO SPASMS AT ALL no matter what I ate and when!!!!! After I tapered off, it took about a month for the spasms to come back and follow the same pattern as before. Do not know if it's co-incidence or not, but it sure is interesting I think. Dr. thought so too.

Thanks for your replies

Hi Everyone,Thanks to all of you who replied. While I am sorry you all share thisstrange affliction, somehow it is comforting to me to know there arepeople out there who truly understand. I live 25 miles north of Boston.My Gastroenterologist told me I am the first achalasia patient he hastreated and the first he has known to have a Heller-Dor Myotomy. Mysurgery was done at Beth Israel Medical Center in Boston. The surgerywas too specialized to be performed at my local hospital. I amrecovering very well (except for the reflux) and I go back to workMonday.I don't think my current Gastroenterologist really understands thedisease, but at least he sent me for all the right tests that confirmedI had achalasia, and he also believes what I tell him. Previous doctorsI went to just told me to take tums! So frustrating! Anyway, onceachalasia was confirmed, I was sent to Boston.I have been on Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix at one time or another forfour years, in addition to tums and water to push down acid. Apparently,from what the group has told me, spasms and acid reflux are indeed twodifferent things, although the symptoms are similar. I know I do sufferfrom reflux, which can burn right into the back of the throat. I alsoget crushing, heavy chest pain. Now I wonder if I have been gettingspasms all along too and just thought they were reflux. Like some ofyou, certain foods will trigger an attack, so I must be careful of whatI eat. However, there are times when I am being very good, just mindingmy own business and bam! I get an attack. Sometimes it's when I'mstanding in line at the grocery store or driving in the car. I alwayscarry tums and a bottle of spring water - my emergency kit. At work Ikeep a stash of the same, plus lots of crackers. Sometimes I feel likescreaming, "Someone call 911!" but, of course, I don't. It would be tooembarrassing. Mostly I suffer silently to avoid attention, like I betyou all do too. It's awful when you have an attack in public because youthink, "Maybe this is a heart attack! Oh, yes, this is it! I'm going todrop dead here and now in front of all these people!" But the attackpasses, and it wasn't a heart attack at all, but instead acid reflux ora spasm. Crazy!Well, I have a follow up visit with my surgeon tomorrow. I am going toask him about spasms. I'll let you all know what he tells me.Thanks so much for listening. I feel worlds better!Pam

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam,

I know how you feel, I carry an emergency kit as well wherever I go.

Although I've had most of my spasms at night, I've had them at restaurants, at

church, and even at a Portland Trail Blazer game. It seems if they have a mind

of their own, cuz' I haven't narrowed anything down as far as the type of food

that I eat that day or the day before. I have noticed more frequent attacks

when I'm sick or during times of high stress.

--.

>>> kpdthresher@... 11/14/01 11:32AM >>>

Hi Everyone,

Thanks to all of you who replied. While I am sorry you all share this

strange affliction, somehow it is comforting to me to know there are

people out there who truly understand. I live 25 miles north of Boston.

My Gastroenterologist told me I am the first achalasia patient he has

treated and the first he has known to have a Heller-Dor Myotomy. My

surgery was done at Beth Israel Medical Center in Boston. The surgery

was too specialized to be performed at my local hospital. I am

recovering very well (except for the reflux) and I go back to work

Monday.

I don't think my current Gastroenterologist really understands the

disease, but at least he sent me for all the right tests that confirmed

I had achalasia, and he also believes what I tell him. Previous doctors

I went to just told me to take tums! So frustrating! Anyway, once

achalasia was confirmed, I was sent to Boston.

I have been on Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix at one time or another for

four years, in addition to tums and water to push down acid. Apparently,

from what the group has told me, spasms and acid reflux are indeed two

different things, although the symptoms are similar. I know I do suffer

from reflux, which can burn right into the back of the throat. I also

get crushing, heavy chest pain. Now I wonder if I have been getting

spasms all along too and just thought they were reflux. Like some of

you, certain foods will trigger an attack, so I must be careful of what

I eat. However, there are times when I am being very good, just minding

my own business and bam! I get an attack. Sometimes it's when I'm

standing in line at the grocery store or driving in the car. I always

carry tums and a bottle of spring water - my emergency kit. At work I

keep a stash of the same, plus lots of crackers. Sometimes I feel like

screaming, " Someone call 911! " but, of course, I don't. It would be too

embarrassing. Mostly I suffer silently to avoid attention, like I bet

you all do too. It's awful when you have an attack in public because you

think, " Maybe this is a heart attack! Oh, yes, this is it! I'm going to

drop dead here and now in front of all these people! " But the attack

passes, and it wasn't a heart attack at all, but instead acid reflux or

a spasm. Crazy!

Well, I have a follow up visit with my surgeon tomorrow. I am going to

ask him about spasms. I'll let you all know what he tells me.

Thanks so much for listening. I feel worlds better!

Pam

[Guest guest]

thanks for responding to my email. I really appreciate it. im going

crazy with my hair loss, although right now i cant afford to take my

implants out, i know i will do it as soon as i can afford it. Again,

im so glad i found this site, i feel so relieved that i can actually

talk to people that are going through the same thing as me.