Hi

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/4/2004 5:55:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time, pennylevesque@... writes:

Just wanted to let yous know my father passed away this morning at 415 . In a way i am glad he is no longer suffering which is pretty much all he has done for the past 5 weeks . My stomach is going crazy which i guess is to be exspected. I am trying to eat but it just does not want to stay and the spasms are unbeleivable (stress) . Well at least with my surgery being next month maybe it won't stay this way for long . Thanks for listening Penny

Penny,

I want to offer my sympathy to you and your family on the passing of your father.

You are under considerable stress and it's understandable how you are suffering lots of spasms now. Please take care of yourself and take some vitamins if your able, this will help you to maintain your energy to get through the next weeks.

In sympathy,

Jan from Northern Kentucky

[Guest guest]

>

> Just wanted to let yous know my father passed away this morning at

> 415 . In a way i am glad he is no longer suffering which is pretty

> much all he has done for the past 5 weeks . My stomach is going

> crazy which i guess is to be exspected. I am trying to eat but it

> just does not want to stay and the spasms are unbeleivable

> (stress) . Well at least with my surgery being next month maybe it

> won't stay this way for long . Thanks for listening Penny

Hi Penny - I am so, so sorry to hear that. I've lost my own father

recently and can feel your pain. As hard as it is, do what you can to

take care of yourself. Do you have any 'happy pills'? I have Ativan

that I take PRN and let me tell you I was PRN-ing alot the week my

dad died. At the very least, it allowed me to get some spasm free

sleep during the initial funeral and family craziness.

If you don't have a prescription - call your doctor. You have enough

emotional pain, you don't need the physical also.

Lots of hugs and loves to you!!

-michelle

[Guest guest]

Penny - I do feel for you. Even though you expected it your fathers death will be a jolt and hurt for a while. There is always the feeling that perhaps you could have done more or said something another way. I am sure you will slowly feel the relief and release and the understandable stress will diminish in the next little while. Bless you for caring for your dad and doing what you dad for him.

Hugs,

Joan

Hi

Just wanted to let yous know my father passed away this morning at 415 . In a way i am glad he is no longer suffering which is pretty much all he has done for the past 5 weeks . My stomach is going crazy which i guess is to be exspected. I am trying to eat but it just does not want to stay and the spasms are unbeleivable (stress) . Well at least with my surgery being next month maybe it won't stay this way for long . Thanks for listening Penny

[Guest guest]

)

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group. I have trouble with drinking liquids. I really only cough at night atfer I asperate. Then I have to go sleep on my recliner. That stinks when that happens. If you have any other questions just let us know.

.

[Guest guest]

Lori wrote:

.... I'm wondering if anyone

else's sypmtoms started with a difficulty in

swallowing saliva. ...

Depends on what you mean. Many of us have dealt

with what we here call the dreaded white foam. Maybe it isn't really so

dreaded, but it can be annoying and disturbing. When you eat or drink and

you can't get it down and something has to come up, often it is the white

foam that comes up first, and when laying down and choking begins it is

often the white foam that comes up. It is mostly saliva that looks like

it has been whipped up while in the esophagus. Sometime we choke while

swallowing saliva and sometimes it goes down the wrong pipe. If it often

seem to feel too thick and sticky to go down easy and saliva and other

things have a tendency to go down the wrong pipe, this may indicate dry

mouth and may be a sign of other things.

.... I'm wondering if

anyone with achalasia has been a " life long

cougher " .

Is this coughing because thing go down the wrong

pipe, because you are choking or having other swallowing problems? Or, is

this just a dry cough unrelated to swallowing? Some people here have

problems coughing, even frequent and persistent coughing, because of all

the food that ends up in their lungs. Some may not have had much food get

into their lungs but still had the coughing problems. Often the coughing

goes away after successful treatment to improve the swallowing.

Persistent dry cough could be due to something else and could be related

to dry mouth.

By any chance do your eyes often get irritated and burn, like they have

grit or soap in them? Do they water a lot? If you do it could be dry

eyes, even though it seem like they water too much.

If you have dry mouth, dry cough, and dry eyes, your swallowing and

coughing problems may be related to something other than just achalasia

and you need to get whatever that could be ruled out or treated.

notan

[Guest guest]

Thanks notan_ostrich; I really appreciate your reply.

My primary problem for a year has been that my throat muscles

seem " consticted " (or just " out of whack " ) when I swallow. In the

past few months I've noticed that food seems to get a little bit

stuck, too - depending on what I've been eating - but before that, I

noticed the problem mostly when swallowing " reflexively " .

I've been a " cougher " since I was an infant, and I was wondering if

that might somehow have been due to my esophagus spasming all my

life. (No physician has ever identified a reason for it.) But after

what you've written, it doesn't seem likely. That " white foam " that

you mentioned, however? Yup, I've been noticing that once in a

while, and it's been getting worse (and has led to some minor

vomiting on occaision).

My doctor told me that my " barrium swallow showed grave

abnormalities in the functioning of (my) esophagus " . I'm guessing

(hoping) that my upcoming manometry will tell the final tale as to

whether I have achalasia or not.

I'll continue reading all of this group's members' comments in the

meantime. I find them informative...and somewhat comforting, too.

Thanks again,

Lori

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori - Welcome to our group. I live in Vancouver. There are a few

B.C. Achalasians so you are not alone. I was diagnosed five years ago with

Achalasia - and like you it just started with the " swallowing " problem and

then gradually progressed. I was diagnosed in June and in the next few

months lost 35 lbs living on Ensure basically. I realized surgery was my

only hope so I had the Heller Myotomy and Dor Funduplication in November

1999, and never regretted it. I am wondering if you have been referred to a

surgeon yet. When and if you are Dr. R. Finley at VGH is tops. If surgery

is in the cards for you, he is the best. Having a " qualified " surgeon is

key to a successful surgery. He calls my surgery a success, and although

there are always small problems from time to time, I think it was the only

answer for me. I hope all goes well for you Lori, and if you have any

questions, please dont hesitate to ask.

All the best..............., Vancouver B.C.

Hi

>

>

> Hi,

>

> My name is Lori, and I'm 43 years old. I live in northern British

> Columbia, Canada.

>

> I haven't been officially diagnosed with achalasia yet, but after

> having an endoscopy done, and a barrium swallow before that, my

> physician is fairly certain of what my problem is. Next month I'll

> be having a manometry done, and then I guess I'll know for sure.

>

> I'm very happy to have found this group!

>

> I'm wondering if anyone else's sypmtoms started with a difficulty in

> swallowing saliva. I'm only recently noticing that food sometimes

> doesn't go down as well as it should, but for the past year I've had

> problems swallowing when I'm NOT eating. Hmmm...it's not even

> really that my saliva gets caught in my throat, but that it

> feels " funny " when I swallow, and sometimes I can even hear a

> clicking noise. It's darned uncomfortable, and frustrating to boot -

> as I'm sure you're all aware of too well.

>

> Also (I'm sorry to be deluging you with questions right off the

> bat!) I'm wondering if anyone with achalasia has been a " life long

> cougher " .

>

> Thank you so much in advance for any help you can offer me. I'll be

> back!

>

> Lori

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Lori wrote:

I've been a " cougher "

since I was an infant, and I was wondering if

that might somehow have been due to my esophagus spasming all my

life.

Lungs, esophagus, heart and other organs get

signals from the same nerve, the vagus nerve. The LES is near the

diaphragm. The esophagus is next to the trachea. It is not hard to see

that lung and esophageal problems can be linked.

That " white

foam " that

you mentioned, however? Yup, I've been noticing that once in

a

while, and it's been getting worse (and has led to some minor

vomiting on occaision).

This could easily be from the LES not relaxing

as it should. The saliva can't get through the LES and just collects

until it backs up and causes you to choke or vomit.

" barrium swallow showed

grave

abnormalities in the functioning of (my) esophagus " .

Not a very useful description, but it could be

consistent with achalasia.

I'm guessing

(hoping) that my upcoming manometry will tell the final tale as to

whether I have achalasia or not.

Ask the person that does it if they can show you

how your result differ from normal. You may find that if you can

understand what the muscles are doing that it may help you cope and make

it less scarry.

I'll continue reading

all of this group's members' comments in the

meantime. I find them informative...and somewhat comforting,

too.

Thanks again,

You are welcome.

notan

[Guest guest]

Hello

My symptoms started with pain in my back and then over time I had

gurgling in my throat at night. Slowly over time I started to notice

that food would get stuck in my E, it is not the act of swallowing

that is effected for me. If I havent eaten for awhile saliva will

come up and I have to push it back down using my throat.

Biljana

>

> Hi,

>

> My name is Lori, and I'm 43 years old. I live in northern British

> Columbia, Canada.

>

> I haven't been officially diagnosed with achalasia yet, but after

> having an endoscopy done, and a barrium swallow before that, my

> physician is fairly certain of what my problem is. Next month

I'll

> be having a manometry done, and then I guess I'll know for sure.

>

> I'm very happy to have found this group!

>

> I'm wondering if anyone else's sypmtoms started with a difficulty

in

> swallowing saliva. I'm only recently noticing that food sometimes

> doesn't go down as well as it should, but for the past year I've

had

> problems swallowing when I'm NOT eating. Hmmm...it's not even

> really that my saliva gets caught in my throat, but that it

> feels " funny " when I swallow, and sometimes I can even hear a

> clicking noise. It's darned uncomfortable, and frustrating to

boot -

> as I'm sure you're all aware of too well.

>

> Also (I'm sorry to be deluging you with questions right off the

> bat!) I'm wondering if anyone with achalasia has been a " life long

> cougher " .

>

> Thank you so much in advance for any help you can offer me. I'll

be

> back!

>

> Lori

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori!

Welcome to the group! The people

here are amazing, and you will learn so much about achalasia. Where in Northern BC are you from? I’m

from Chilliwack, and am just wondering if you have any idea as to wear you will be

travelling to for any treatment that may be needed in the future…

I have had achalasia for about a year, but

was diagnosed in January. I had the lap heller myotomy on Sept 29/04, by

total fluke. Thanks to our great health care system, I was “supposed”

to wait 3+ years for the surgeon I was referred to. It was unreal.

I am doing great now, and look forward to the future. I didn’t

before. I hated living with A.

I never had difficulty swallowing saliva,

nor was I a lifetime cougher.

Keep posting, this group is here to

help. You might be able to help others, too. Good luck with your

diagnosis. I hope you have docs that are experienced in A. If they

are not, please push for docs who are. It is crucial. My GI sees it

2 X a year, max. He is the one who referred me to my surgeon, but will

not do anthing in regards to treatment on me in the future. He can just

keep referring! J

Take care!

21

[Guest guest]

hi

>

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I haven't posted in awhile, but have a few questions for you

> all. I am wondering if any of you have had your hip start to hurt

> you, the hip that is on the side of your bad knee??

Your hip could be hurting because you are not walking normally with a

painful knee, but there is also another possible explanation. You could

have a problem in your hip that is causing pain in your knee. This is

something that would need to be checked out by your OS.

Mike

MT

[Guest guest]

Mike,

This is the first time that my hip has started to hurt me, it isn't

like I had the hip pain and then my knee started having trouble. My

knee problems started first, but am planning to talk to my Physio this

weekend (she is my mother in law).

>

> hi

>

>

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I haven't posted in awhile, but have a few questions for you

> > all. I am wondering if any of you have had your hip start to hurt

> > you, the hip that is on the side of your bad knee??

>

> Your hip could be hurting because you are not walking normally with a

> painful knee, but there is also another possible explanation. You

could

> have a problem in your hip that is causing pain in your knee. This is

> something that would need to be checked out by your OS.

>

> Mike

> MT

[Guest guest]

It probably is your knee, but I just thought it would be something to look

into. That was something my first OS told me. He said you can have hip or

back problems that will refer the pain to your knees. Your knee can hurt,

but it is your hip or back that has a problem. This was also something my

current OS was concerned about, but he was convinced it was my knees when I

told him I had cortisone shots in my knees that totally relieved the pain

for 3 days.

Mike

MT

hi

>>

>>

>> >

>> >

>> > Hi everyone,

>> >

>> > I haven't posted in awhile, but have a few questions for you

>> > all. I am wondering if any of you have had your hip start to hurt

>> > you, the hip that is on the side of your bad knee??

>>

>> Your hip could be hurting because you are not walking normally with a

>> painful knee, but there is also another possible explanation. You

> could

>> have a problem in your hip that is causing pain in your knee. This is

>> something that would need to be checked out by your OS.

>>

>> Mike

>> MT

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> This is the first time that my hip has started to hurt me, it

isn't

> like I had the hip pain and then my knee started having trouble. My

> knee problems started first, but am planning to talk to my Physio

this

> weekend (she is my mother in law).

>

>

>

Doesn't matter. Do not confuse the pain with the cause of the

problem. Chondromalacia is usually just a symptom of another problem

(s) above or below the knee. Think of your knee as a canary in a coal

mine--if something is wrong in the lower half of your body, it's

often the first to notice.

I'd especially check the for the following: (1) tight glutes, lateral

quads, IT band, (2) tight calves (yeah, a tight calf muscle can cause

hip and knee pain, especially if the calf on one leg is tighter then

on the other leg), (3) sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

Of course the hip pain could be completely unrelated to the knee

pain, but this is very unlikely in my opinion.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I would check my stride... Watch yourself walk toward a full length mirror

to see if your gate is off. It may be a case of bursitis brought on by a

limp. If it is this.. correct your stride and it will take about 4 to 6

weeks to be without pain. Make sure you take some kind of motrin to take

care of the inflamation.

Hope this helps,

Donna / NC

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I haven't posted in awhile, but have a few questions for you

>all. I am wondering if any of you have had your hip start to have

>you, the hip that is on the side of your bad knee?? If you have had

>this problem, what did your doctor's say to do about it?? My knee has

>been hurting me more and more with each passing day, I take demerol

>only when my knee hurts me and only at night before I goto bed. I grin

>and bare the pain through out the day, it is so hard to function when

>your knee is killing you and you have 2 kids. I am on a new waiting

>list now, I won't get seen until July or August!! Just recently I

>noticed that my hip (on the side that my bad knee is on) has started

>to hurt me, and am worried my knee is doing damage to my hip.

> I am also wondering how many of you cross your legs, sit on

>your leg, sit on the floor with your feet under you? Just curious,

>because I recently notice that when I sit down sometimes that I sit

>with one foot under me. This I know can't be good for my knee, but

>just was curious to see how many others with our condition do that.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/24/2005 6:09:00 AM Central Standard Time,

no_reply writes:

> I am also wondering how many of you cross your legs, sit on

> your leg, sit on the floor with your feet under you?

I couldn't do that with my bad knee. The pain would be excruciating.

Betty

[Guest guest]

I developed hip pain a short time back. I think it

had to do with tight hip flexors as well as a modified

walk. I had a couple of trigger point injections in

my hip and that actually helped a lot. I also used a

tennis ball against a wall to massage my hips and

gluts (extremely painful). Have someone check how

you're walking, and it may be useful to get your back

and hip checked out as well.

--- just_paddle_it <no_reply > wrote:

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I haven't posted in awhile, but have a few

> questions for you

> all. I am wondering if any of you have had your hip

> start to hurt

> you, the hip that is on the side of your bad knee??

> If you have had

> this problem, what did your doctor's say to do about

> it?? My knee has

> been hurting me more and more with each passing day,

> I take demerol

> only when my knee hurts me and only at night before

> I goto bed. I grin

> and bare the pain through out the day, it is so hard

> to function when

> your knee is killing you and you have 2 kids. I am

> on a new waiting

> list now, I won't get seen until July or August!!

> Just recently I

> noticed that my hip (on the side that my bad knee is

> on) has started

> to hurt me, and am worried my knee is doing damage

> to my hip.

> I am also wondering how many of you cross

> your legs, sit on

> your leg, sit on the floor with your feet under you?

> Just curious,

> because I recently notice that when I sit down

> sometimes that I sit

> with one foot under me. This I know can't be good

> for my knee, but

> just was curious to see how many others with our

> condition do that.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi There,

I used to sit on my leg when relaxing and used to cross my legs, the dodgy one

over the top, It hurts if I do it now. I allso noticed a few weeks back that

after working while Kneeling down for a few hours, my dodgy Knee began to

audibly clack every time I took a step or raised it, it wasent painfull but a

little disconcerting. The Physio said it was because it was snapping back in to

its groove, it stoped doing it after a couple of weeks. but I try to avoid

kneeling now.

Regards chris.

Lizzyneminok@... wrote:

In a message dated 2/24/2005 6:09:00 AM Central Standard Time,

no_reply writes:

> I am also wondering how many of you cross your legs, sit on

> your leg, sit on the floor with your feet under you?

I couldn't do that with my bad knee. The pain would be excruciating.

Betty

[Guest guest]

Hi Diane,

Nope, no date for my hip surgery yet. My hip doc wants to talk to my

spine doc before he'll give me a date. I gave him the contact

info. and the spine doc's written recommendation (to have hip surgery

before spine surgery) over a week ago, so hopefully he'll get back

to me soon.

I've lost track, don't you see the new spine OS soon for his

opinion? Will that be before you have to do the pre-op stuff for Dr.

Boachie?

A couple more unrelated things. Did everyone notice we've gone over

10,000 posts on this site?? Amazing. I feel like I've written 1,000

myself. Can't even begin to tell you how helpful I find it to be able

to express whatever I'm feeling or worried about here, instead of

always bothering my husband with it.

Also, some of the recent posts got me curious as to what a bunion

is. I looked up pictures on the internet, and wouldn't you know, I

think the thing that's been looking odd on my foot is one. And I'm

now noticing that it is starting to hurt just a little bit. A few

months ago when I went to my hip OS, I mentioned it to him, and he

told me to go to a foot surgeon. I was thinking I'd rather go to a

podiatrist in hopes that he'd recommend more conservative treatment

(yeah, I hate the thought of any surgery.....) For those of you with

experience in this, which do you think is better? Thanks!

loriann

> I just got through trying to catch up the Digests. Cam I am very

happy

> you can finally say " you are on the other side

> now " I kept informed of your progress by reading the posts your

hubby

> sent to one of the people in our group & she shared them with us (

I am

> sorry I forgot your name..........but thank you )

> Your Posts are being very helpful to me regarding what to bring to

the

> hospital & on what you feel are the most helpful things you have

used at

> home.

> Suzy, was surprised to see how soon your surgery date is, boy I

wish

> Dr Boachie could have done me the same courtesy. I am a bit ticked

off

> at him as when I first saw him in August, he told me to get myself

into

> better shape & to come back in Jan, then he would give me my surgery

> dates, and they would be in early Spring. When I went on Jan 13th

& he

> said there was no way it could be early Spring & told me to go back

&

> see Lindy & she would give me my dates. When Lindy did not give me

any

> specific dates but said she would have to call me with them, well I

was

> devestated & I had to leave his office holding back the tears. I

had

> been counting the days until my Jan appointment, to have to leave

> without having my dates was just awful.

> She has called me since & has told me it will be the last week in

April,

> and the first week in May & I do have my pre op orders, they

finally

> came Friday. So now I am waiting for the definite dates

> I wish you the absolute bestest of luck during your upcoming

surgery &

> will be sending tons of positive vibes your way on that day

especially.

> Hope everyone else who is recovering or getting ready for surgery is

> doing all right. I sure hope that they have gotten your

pain

> under much better control.

> Lorriann do you have a date yet for your hip surgery? You are in my

> thoughts alot.

> Well I will say good night for now.

> Love To All,

> Diane

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/2005 3:58:35 P.M. Central Standard Time,

loriflys@... writes:

Thanks for listening to my story.

Lori

Welcome Lori- you are lucky toh ave family support like that! I have a 6

month old girl named Skylar )

Amy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/2005 4:37:06 P.M. Central Standard Time,

claudiaayaz@... writes:

you'll probably find that husbands

take a while longer to come around in general...

my hubby still has his moments and wonders wether we are doing the right

thing....he just worries about our little girl....and at first he thought I had

lost my mind...but the more he read and the more he learned it angered him

that doctors mislead people like that and are hurting babies- he is irrate with

pharmaceutical companies- and it is delightful for me to hear him educate

others on why we are not vaccinating ) He has come so far !!!!

Amy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/2005 5:09:26 P.M. Central Standard Time,

claudiaayaz@... writes:

and vit c talks

what do you mean by Vit C talks??? I hope I am not missing something else!

Amy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/2005 5:08:48 P.M. Central Standard Time,

loriflys@... writes:

That is great! When people see his name they always think he's a girl. I

guess in England Skylar (instead of Skyler) is a girls name. I liked it

spelled with an 'a' better!

Well- the other day when I said Skylar someone thought that I had a boy,

lol! I think it is a beautiful name for either ) We call her Sky a lot

too...which I love. Skylar Grace is her name.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/2005 5:47:22 P.M. Central Standard Time,

loriflys@... writes:

I am sooo jealous that you are trying for the next one already! I would

love to but due to bfeeding I haven't gotten my cycles back yet. I am hoping

to be able to try by the time Skylar is 1.

We are in Wisconsin, where are you?

Well- I JUST started my cycle back this month and was so happy b/c we want

our babies to be close in age. I am still fully breastfeeding (and plan on

nursing for at the very least one year) and was not sure I would start anytime

soon-! But just b/c my cycle is back doesn't mean I will get pregnant but I

feel confident I will! Now Ijust worry that being pregnant will cause my

milk to dry up...I hope not!!!

And Skylar has no teeth yet either! We are in N. Alabama

Amy