GARY: Re: I had my dilation ... new discovery & Giselle

[Guest guest]

,

My best regards to you for your imminent dilitation or botox. I

have read your post below several times to make sure I understand it

all. Were you saying that your E had assumed the shape of a mega-

esophagus, or something approaching that? Has that shape improved

(if that's possible), or gotten worse over the 17 years since? Also,

regarding Barretts, which we know is a pre-cancerous condition most

often experienced by people with GERD, how did it go away? I'm

really interested in hearing that for I feel that this is a condition

that happens that we are not aware of until an elective endoscopy is

done, and hopefully its not too late at that point. The fact that

you are saying that it is no longer there is absolutely marvelous and

hopefully you can share with us what took place for that to happen.

Thanks!

Giselle: I know that your Valentine's Day was not what you are

accustomed to doing. How did your appointment work out?

>

> Hi Kathie,

>

> My symptoms are very similar to yours. I had my myotomy in 1988

and didn't need any additional procedures until dec 2002 when I had a

shot of botox. So I will get the dilitation or botox tomorrow. My

e has been deformed since 1988. It was sooo bad when I had my

myotomy that it was like a second stomach with barretts at its worst

stage, pre-cancerous. By 1993 my barretts had went away. I most

likely have secondary achalasia caused by dermatitis herpetiformis

and celica sprue so my body reactions would not be considered

typical.

>

> I am ready for the valium and demerol. I have had this done so

many times I can feel it first take effect at the base of my neck and

then proceed down my spine and then out my arms and legs. At that

point the whole body then relaxes. I actually look forward to it but

it just doesn't last long enough! LOL.

>

> I will let you know how I make out.

>

>

>

> I had my dilation ... new discovery

>

>

> Hello All ... I am home!

> 1. Arrived at Presby hospital at 5:00 AM as required, checked in

and

> was taken back to the surgery wing. (For those of you who do not

know,

> I was scheduled for a dilation for scar tissue. I had my lap

Hellers

> Myotomy last March 16,2005 and was doing pretty well. Last 3

months

> noticed some stickage ... not alot, but noticible) Medical History

> Confirmed, IV put in place, Anethesiologist arrived to discuss

> Anethesia and ask more questions and finally, taken into the

surgical

> unit. After a few minutes of looking around ... I remember nothing

> else!!!

> 2. Back in the room, my Husband said the doctor said there was NO

scar

> tissue, he dilated anyway, and my esophagus was un-responsive. He

said

> he said something else, but could not remember what it was. He

asks NO

> questions and I did not see the doctor! I thought this was great

news

> of no scar tissue, but wondered why I was still having stickage.

> 3. Finally got my gag reflex back, they took chest x rays, had me

> drink 2 cups of apple juice slowly and told me I could go home,

around

> NOON. I really felt well and ... because I had NOTHING to eat from

> Sunday at 8PM ... decided to stop for some scrambled eggs on the

way

> home. All of the time, I am trying to get my hubby to remember

what

> was said, I know he was embarrassed!

> 4. We got home, and I had to call the office to make a followup

appt.

> I mentioned to the gal that the Doctor spoke with my hubby, but he

> could not remember exactly what was said. I told her, I really

would

> go nuts if I have to wait a month to know how the surgery went. I

> asked her for a copy of the surgery report, which she said she

would

> send out in about a week. Then she told me to hold on and she

would

> get the doctor to talk directly to me!!!

>

> 5. The " Fellow " Doctor who assisted talked with me. He said they

were

> very surprised to find there was NO SCARRING. ... HOWEVER ... I

must

> have had Achalasia for much longer than I knew as they were

surprised

> at how far it has progressed. It seems I have a TORTUOUS

ESOPHAGUS! I

> had no idea what that meant, so he explained that it is supposed to

be

> like a pipe straight up and down. Mine, now has some curves in it

and

> it is quite weakened. Although I went 35 hours without food, there

was

> still some in the E. He said Dr. L placed a guide wire thru the E

and

> dilated the entire E as far as he dared. The 15 minute procedure

> turned into an hour! He said I most likely will require additional

> surgery down the road. THIS WAS ALL A BIG SURPRISE, it seems like

the

> doctors were surprised at this turn of events too.

>

> 6. I have a follow up in a month. Then he will want to do another

EGD

> in 6 months, and followup every year after that unless problems

warrent

> an earlier visit.

>

> 7. I asked him what " stage " I was in. He did not seem to

understand

> the question. I said that I keep hearing " end stage Achalasia " or

> the " beginning stages " , are there other stages within? He said no,

but

> if he had to pinpoint, I am somewhere in the middle. My E is Not

Mega

> or Sigmoid (sp?), but it has changed rapidly. He said we are at

the

> watch and see stage. We will have to monitor this closely and

watch

> that it does not change too rapidly. He mentioned the concern of

food

> creating pockets and fermenting. Since my esophagus is weakened,

that

> food fermenting could create ulcer type sores and perhaps cause

more

> problems. He told me that Dr. L would prefer to talk all of this

over

> with me directly in a month.

>

> 8. A good turn of events ... NO CHEST PAIN right now. If you

> remember, for the last 6 days, I have had constant chest pain

> throughout my entire rib cage, especially center chest! Worse when

I

> lie down. I took a nap when we got home, and no chest pain! I

guess

> the dilation helped that, and I am VERY grateful. Perhaps it will

also

> help the dreaded spasms too!!!

>

> 9. Not sure how I feel about all this. SURPRISED .. certainly.

> However, I am EXACTLY the way I was when I left the house this

morning,

> except that now I know for sure why food is having some difficulty

> getting to its destination. In reading the posts, I have always

felt

> that I complained alot, but overall I was not nearly as sick as

some.

> I still feel that way ... BUT ... realize this is further along

than I

> ever suspected. It is funny, but I am really not upset. When I

talked

> it over with my hubby, the possible additional surgery is what he

> forgot. The doctor did not go in to the tortuous esophagus or any

of

> that with him. I was kidding my hubby that he might want to go in

to

> rewriting condensed books ... make them more lean! He certainly

> condenced my information.

>

> 9. ... I am SOOOOOOOOOO glad for you. My prayers were

> answered! Now you must continue to improve.

>

> 10. , good luck tomorrow at West Penn. And behave yourself!

>

> 11. Thank you all for your support, prayers, good wishes and

> suggestions. I was even talking with the anstheiologist today and

> telling him about this group. Who knows, he seemed interested

enough,

> perhaps he will check us out. He certainly asked me lots of

questions.

> No one could imagine how much this group means. I came home,

called my

> family, friends and co-workers ... but now I feel I am completed, I

> have checked in with those who understand.

>

> You are the greatest. Kathie in Pittsburgh

>

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