Re: Allrighty then, Achalasia or no Achalasia....

[Guest guest]

Deborah wrote:

So, if my barium swallow looked o.k. and I

have no evidence of a bird's beak esophagus, does that mean that I

really don't need the VAT?

A bird's beak is classic but not a necessary requirement for

achalasia. Have you seen your X-rays? If not, perhaps the radiologist

just didn't report it or used the term "tapered" instead. When reading

about what a barium swallow will show, often it is stated that "it may

show" or "often shows" a bird's beak appearance. That indicates that it

does not always show a bird's beak with achalasia.

notan

Five

year prospective study of the incidence, clinical features, and

diagnosis of achalasia in Edinburgh

PJ , L Maher, A Pryde, EW Cameron and RC Heading

Department of Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/33/8/1011

"...achalasia was suggested in only 21 of 33 barium examinations."

[Guest guest]

In addition to what Notan wrote the LES sometimes appears open, and or in a semi-closed state. You could have times where you could eat and things do indeed go down. Then at later times NOTHING will go down. This is a very strong muscle ring with a very 'important' nerve (Vagus) attached to it. Again why the manometry reading is so important. Carolyn... mom of Cameron. in NO.CAnotan ostrich <notan_ostrich@...> wrote: Deborah wrote: So, if my barium swallow looked o.k. and I have no evidence of a bird's beak esophagus, does that mean that I really don't need the VAT? A bird's beak

is classic but not a necessary requirement for achalasia. Have you seen your X-rays? If not, perhaps the radiologist just didn't report it or used the term "tapered" instead. When reading about what a barium swallow will show, often it is stated that "it may show" or "often shows" a bird's beak appearance. That indicates that it does not always show a bird's beak with achalasia.notanFive year prospective study of the incidence, clinical features, and diagnosis of achalasia in EdinburghPJ , L Maher, A Pryde, EW Cameron and RC HeadingDepartment of Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/33/8/1011"...achalasia was suggested in only 21 of 33 barium examinations."

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[Guest guest]

Carolyn wrote:

In addition to what Notan wrote the LES sometimes appears open,

and or in a semi-closed state. You could have times where you could eat

and things do indeed go down. Then at later times NOTHING will go down.

Here are some links to support what you said.

notan

Prolonged

manometric recordings of oesophagus and lower oesophageal sphincter in

achalasia patients M A van Herwaarden, M Samsom, A J P M Smout

Gastrointestinal Research Unit, Departments of Gastroenterology and

Surgery, University Medical Centre Utrecht, the Netherlands

http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/49/6/813

"CONCLUSION---In contrast with short term stationary manometry,

prolonged manometry in achalasia patients revealed the occurrence of

complete LOS relaxations, ..."

Apparent

complete lower esophageal sphincter relaxation in achalasia.

Katz PO, Richter JE, Cowan R, Castell DO.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=3949123 & dopt=Abstract

"Apparent complete LES relaxation may be seen during manometry in

achalasia and should not exclude its diagnosis."

[Guest guest]

Boy DEborah,

That whole description sounded just like what I was goint through up

until my surgery. I am not doctor, but you did describe it well. What

did the manomety show?

>

> So, All-righty Then,

>

> After reading the posts about which diagnostic

test truly reveals " A " or not, I am now feeling, well, confused. I

should think that if the manometry shows that my LES is closed tight

just about all of the time, and that I've had " the foams " , have

regurgitated from time to time with some frequency, can't eat certain

things because I know they'll just come right back up (having never

reached my stomach), get liquids and/or solids sucked into my lungs

and then go through some terrific and terrifyingly painful chest pain

and coughing, cough at night for the same reason, that I just might

have Achalasia. My barium swallow looked " O.K. " to the exray tech.

but he thought he saw a tumor of some sort attached to the outside of

my esophagus, so, I had more tests done (and no tumors seemed to show

up). Oddly enough, when I did the barium swallow, I brought up the

barium in barfings here and there (and I have never done that before,

years before, when I had an upper G.I. for

> other problems), the tech. didn't think that was a problem. (I

did.) And I don't have the bird's beak esophagus.

>

> So, if my barium swallow looked o.k. and I have

no evidence of a bird's beak esophagus, does that mean that I really

don't need the VAT? Dr. Fuller seemed to think I did. I tend to

agree with him, by the way. The sticking-in-the-throat stuff is just

getting worse. Even water does not like going down at times.

>

> Charming. not.

>

> Wishing all of you the best swallows possible,

>

> Deborah, at the beach

>