Achalasia and Heart Problems

[Guest guest]

Hi all:

I have been following with interests the posts on a possible

relationship between heart and swallowing problems.

Although I have been diagnosed with achalasia, I still have

peristalsis, and the high pressure in my lower esophageal sphincter

was greatly eased by a botox injection nearly 2 years ago. But I

also have atrial fibrillation, which began at about the same time I

began to have esophageal spasms (almost 20 years ago). I am

fortunate that the achalasia has progressed very slowly, while the

atrial fibrillation has progressed to the point where it became

permanent about 3 years ago.

Since both diseases involve the vagus nerve, I have tried to get my

cardiologists and gastro-enterologists interested in a possible

connection, without success. Also, because I'm a psychotherapist

with my own history of childhood trauma (which tends to mess with the

fight/flight, sympathetic/parasympathetic mechanisms when one can

neither fight nor flee), I've also wondered about a possible

connection there.

Though I would rather not have either diagnosis, these two conditions

have helped me learn much about how to live actively and calmly (most

of the time) with the vulnerabilities of imperfect health.

Though I don't post often, my thoughts are with all who face

achalasia and its treatments with such courage.

Lee in NJ

[Guest guest]

Lee wrote:

> Since both diseases involve the vagus nerve, I have tried to get my

> cardiologists and gastro-enterologists interested in a possible

> connection, without success.

I could be wrong, but I suspect that even if they suspected a connection

the treatments would still be independent of each other. In both

problems it is mainly just the symptoms and not a cause that is deal

with. Academically, it would be interesting to prove a connection but I

don't think it would make much practical difference in treatments at

this time. Most doctors are interested in what they can do to treat your

problems and not in chasing after theories that won't help them be able

to treat and may be hard to justify the expense of chasing after them to

those paying for it.

Take Chaga's as an example. People with Chaga's can have both achalasia

and heart problems. The damage is caused by the body's reaction to a

parasite infection. (Not a virus as keeps being repeated here in this

group as there is no known viral cause of achalasia any where in the

world). The treatment for achalasia in Chaga's is the same as it is for

idiopathic achalasia, dilatation, myotomy and so on.

For those that are new here Chaga's is mainly found in Central and South

America and results from an infected kissing bug bite. The problems show

up years even decades latter. If you haven't been there or received

blood from someone that has, it is very unlikely, but not impossible,

that you would have it.

notan