RE: Specific Questions about recovery after lap heller myotomy

[Guest guest]

Hi Song and welcome -

Ok first off as you have read here make sure your DR is a

specialist! Read some of todays post to get some more info on why : )

The lapro myotomy- 5 small incisions in belly- 1-3 days in Hospital-

about 2 weeks till soreness and strength come back(just depends on

person really)and about 4- 6 weeks of soft mushy foods.

Afterwards you start eating other foods gradually and before you

know it your eating like a normal person should : )

Non related chest pains? You mean spasms? Ummm well they may

decrease some but they never go away Im sorry to say.There are lots

of ways to help naturally to ease them here on the info data base on

the left of the screen.

I hope this info has helped you.Please ask any questions you may

have.Please do make sure of your DR.Post his name here so we can see

if any one has used him.

Tonia in Va

>

>

> Hello everybody!

>

> I have been looking at this forum for quite some time (since I was

> diagnosed with achalasia) and I found it so helpful in terms of

both

> information and support. I am writing for the first time to ask

> specifics after the lap heller myotomy. I would like to know how

fellow

> achalasians' expereince was with the procedure and how you think I

will

> do afterwards.

>

> Lucky enough, I have been suffering from this condition only for 4

> months or so and my brilliant doctor did good job at diagnosing it

> quickly. I am bad days and good days, chest pains, and

regurgitation

> episodes, but still it seems I am doing better compared to the

some of

> stories written here. I have been always healthy, and in mid-20's,

and a

> graduate student (always stressed out )

>

> I am going to Mayo rochester in 2 weeks for the second opinion and

> probably heller myotomy... I couldn't find much story about mayo

> rochester clinic, if anyone can share the experiece, I would really

> appreciate it as well.

>

> Now here are my questions...

>

> For those who had the lap heller myotomy

>

> 1. what is eating afterwards? liquid? soft food? how long? When

were you

> able to start eating normal food again?

>

> 2. What is the recovery time? I am seeing that at least 2 weeks in

> several places, but does it mean " bed rest " for 2 weeks? what is

your

> activity level after surgery?

>

> 3. does having the heller myotomy also get rid of non-cardiac chest

> pain?

>

> Thank you all in advance, and I am really counting my days until

the day

> I can eat all I want without worrying!

>

> Song from Chicago

>

[Guest guest]

Song wrote:

I am going to Mayo rochester

in 2 weeks for the second opinion and probably heller myotomy... I

couldn't find much story about mayo rochester clinic, if anyone can

share the experiece, I would really appreciate it as well.

Mayo is one of the high volume centers for achalasia so it is

interesting that we don't hear more. I am thinking it is a good thing,

perhaps indicating that there aren't a lot of people that have used

them that are still looking for more help on sites like this. I had my

myotomy done at Mayo Phoenix. I am very happy with the result for

swallowing.

Different doctors require different things while you recover. Your diet

will be limited probably for at least 2 weeks. I was on soft food for

two weeks. You can be up and getting around as soon as you feel up to

it, but lifting will be limited. You probably should not lift even a

gallon of milk for some time, again probably two weeks, but it can

vary. I was told twenty pounds was probably nothing for my body to

lift. Some people go back to work in one week, some need two weeks, I

was told not to work for six weeks because I tend to do heavy lifting,

often over a hundred pounds and it would have been hard to resist doing

that when I felt fine. I was happy to go home the next day after my

surgery and quickly felt better, a little sore and tired but not bad.

NCCP can be worse after surgery but most often it become less over time

and finally is less than before surgery. Different people have

different results with NCCPs so there are no guarantees, but for many

after a while they are no longer a problem.

notan

[Guest guest]

Wow... it's like Achalasian troopers here... Thank you for the fast

responses!

I have an appointment with Dr. G. Locke at mayo rochester (GI

specialist for the second opinion) and he seems to be quite famous as I

saw his name all over the internet including Webmd article. If they are

going to have me go through heller, I was thinking to ask Dr. Nichols

that one member here recommended to be the one.

Well... but I am all for the best doctors in the world... it's very

first surgery and frankly it freaks me out

thanks,

song

[Guest guest]

HI

Just like to add my experience so far as I had the myotomy last

Thursday evening – less than 4 days ago and I feel absolutely loads

better, in fact its hard keeping to the soft diet.

1. what is

eating afterwards? liquid? No

soft food? softish how long? A few weeks although my

surgeon didn’t give me any specific timescales When were you

able to start eating normal food again? Could probably start again tomorrow but that may be a bad idea as

you don’t know the state of your insides so best give it a rest to

completely recover.

2. What is

the recovery time? Not sure at this stage, I have been told not to drive for a week and

given 2 weeks off work but I am a lorry driver which can be tough at times. I am seeing that at

least 2 weeks in several places, but does it mean " bed rest " for 2

weeks? I was

ready to be discharged from hospital the day after surgery (just one night) so

it wasn’t bed rest for me at all – just take it steady and no

lifting. what

is your activity level after surgery? Normal but you may get tired easy so just take your time, don’t

rush and be kind to your stomach or it will be a waste of time. For me I could

drive tomorrow but if I was involved in an accident my insurance wouldn’t

cover me and I would risk pulling muscles should I need to avoid a collision so

the car is on the drive for at least a week.

3. does

having the heller myotomy also get rid of non-cardiac chest pain? Sorry can’t help on

this one as I have never had any pain either before, during or after the operation

– all went remarkably well. I suppose it’s down to many things not

forgetting the patients condition and the surgeons skill.

Andy

Yorkshire, England

From: woojinsong [mailto:woojinsong@...]

Sent: 21 January 2008 19:30

achalasia

Subject: Specific Questions about recovery after lap heller

myotomy

Hello

everybody!

I have been

looking at this forum for quite some time (since I was diagnosed with

achalasia) and I found it so helpful in terms of both information and support.

I am writing for the first time to ask specifics after the lap heller myotomy.

I would like to know how fellow achalasians' expereince was with the procedure

and how you think I will do afterwards.

Lucky enough,

I have been suffering from this condition only for 4 months or so and my

brilliant doctor did good job at diagnosing it quickly. I am bad days and

good days, chest pains, and regurgitation episodes, but still it seems I

am doing better compared to the some of stories written here. I have been

always healthy, and in mid-20's, and a graduate student (always stressed out

)

I am going to

Mayo rochester i 2 weeks for the second opinion and probably heller myotomy...

I couldn't find much story about mayo rochester clinic, if anyone can share the

experiece, I would really appreciate it as well.

Now here are

my questions...

For those who

had the lap heller myotomy

1. what is

eating afterwards? liquid? soft food? how long? When were you able to start

eating normal food again?

2. What is

the recovery time? I am seeing that at least 2 weeks in several places, but

does it mean " bed rest " for 2 weeks? what is your activity level

after surgery?

3. does

having the heller myotomy also get rid of non-cardiac chest pain?

Thank you all

in advance, and I am really counting my days until the day I can eat all I want

withut worrying!

Song from

Chicago

[Guest guest]

Hi Song - Welcome aboard I had my Heller Myotomy on December 5, 2007 and expect to go for my 8 weeks check-up on February 5 & 6, 2008. I had mine done at the Cleveland Clinic with Dr. Rice, who was recommended through this site. The surgery lasted approximately 1-1/2 hours and I have had no pain since coming out of recovery. I was in my hospital room by 4 pm and up and walking by 7 pm the day of surgery. Stayed 1 night in the hospital, went back the next day for check-up and was cleared to come home, which was 2 days after surgery. Then the 3rd day traveled 468 miles home with no pain and no problems. Have five places that was closed by dissolving stiches still have some soreness around the top most incision at the base of my breast bone which I think is the muscles at the base of the esophagus. All incisions are healed and looking good - worst problem is sitting for long periods of

time and it can get uncomfortable so must lay down. 1. what is eating afterwards? liquid? soft food? how long? When were you able to start eating normal food again? Was instructed to eat a soft diet for 2 weeks then gradually start reintroducing food into my diet. But I think each doctor has his own instructions as to diet. The esophagus is swollen from surgery so don't want to hurt it again. So be gentle with it. Most any liquids except soda, citrus juices like orange juice, etc. Foods were mashed potatoes, meatloaf with gravy, broths, milk, eggs, noodles cooked until soft, applesauce, gatoraide. These types of foods. I was not given a time frame as to when I should be eating everything food wise. 2. What is the recovery time? I am seeing that at

least 2 weeks in several places, but does it mean "bed rest" for 2 weeks? what is your activity level after surgery? I was told to take it easy and not lift anything over 5 lbs., no time limit was given on this instructions so I am not lifting anything over 5 lbs. until I have my 8 weeks visit with the Doctor. I walk and have been shopping after 4 weeks but was left to do as much as I felt like doing. 3. does having the heller myotomy also get rid of non-cardiac chest pain? Can't answer this question as I have never had chest pains. Millie - VA woojinsong <woojinsong@...>

wrote: Hello everybody! I have been looking at this forum for quite some time (since I was diagnosed with achalasia) and I found it so helpful in terms of both information and support. I am writing for the first time to ask specifics after the lap heller myotomy. I would like to know how fellow achalasians' expereince was with the procedure and how you think I will do afterwards. Lucky enough, I have been suffering from this

condition only for 4 months or so and my brilliant doctor did good job at diagnosing it quickly. I am bad days and good days, chest pains, and regurgitation episodes, but still it seems I am doing better compared to the some of stories written here. I have been always healthy, and in mid-20's, and a graduate student (always stressed out ) I am going to Mayo rochester in 2 weeks for the second opinion and probably heller myotomy... I couldn't find much story about mayo rochester clinic, if anyone can share the experiece, I would really appreciate it as well. Now here are my questions... For those who had the lap heller myotomy 1. what is eating afterwards? liquid? soft food? how long? When were you able to start eating normal food

again? 2. What is the recovery time? I am seeing that at least 2 weeks in several places, but does it mean "bed rest" for 2 weeks? what is your activity level after surgery? 3. does having the heller myotomy also get rid of non-cardiac chest pain? Thank you all in advance, and I am really counting my days until the day I can eat all I want without worrying! Song from Chicago

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