Update on my VATS heller from August 2005

[Guest guest]

Hi all:

It has been some time since I have posted to this site regularly, as I

became discouraged with some of the conversations that seemed to favor

lap procedure heller over a thoracic approach as some expressed

concern about whether results of the VATS procedure were as good or as

safe as lap. Some of you may remember me as a fairly regular poster up

until fall of 2006.

I had a VATS Heller Myotomy without a wrap in August 2005 with

fabulous success -- no need for dilation and a sustained result.

Fuller, MD, Cedars Sinai, in Los Angeles performed the surgery.

Just a report in that I had an endocscopy done last week to evaluate

the condition of my esophagus at year 3. Glad to report that my GI

found a clean and more or less healthy esophagus, no damage from lack

of wrap, no ulcers or erosion. My esophagus, which still slightly

dilated, has not progressed in damage from the disease.

Just wanted those who are considering surgery to investigate the

thoracic approach -- it has changed my life. Maybe not for everyone,

it is an option people should consider as part of being fully informed.

Kind regards to all of my fellow achalasians.

Peggy from Lompoc, CA

[Guest guest]

Peggy wrote:

> Hi all:

>

> It has been some time since I have posted to this site regularly, as I

> became discouraged with some of the conversations that seemed to favor

> lap procedure heller over a thoracic approach as some expressed

> concern about whether results of the VATS procedure were as good or as

> safe as lap. Some of you may remember me as a fairly regular poster up

> until fall of 2006.

>

Did it bother you that for over a year before that discussion came up

that VATS was being described as better than lap.? The implication was

that lap. was not as good or as safe as VATS. Did that cause the lap.

patients to leave? To this day I think we can count on Sandy to give

reasons why VATS is better than lap.. To this day I can give reasons why

I think that lap. is better, but sometimes when the topic comes up I

don't bother. I don't think it is that big of deal but if people want to

ask about why more surgeons do lap. or some other question that leads

into it, I may get interested in answering the question. But, the topic

doesn't effect me like it did you. I am sorry but I just don't

understand the problem.

> I had a VATS Heller Myotomy without a wrap in August 2005 with

> fabulous success -- no need for dilation and a sustained result.

> Fuller, MD, Cedars Sinai, in Los Angeles performed the surgery.

>

Is that where Deborah had her surgery? Wasn't that also VATS and doesn't

she now have an acid reflux problem and a return of swallowing problems?

Neither of your surgeries prove much. VATS can do very well it can also

end up not so spectacular. Same goes for lap.. The question is how does

VATS on a thousand patient compare to lap. on a thousand patients, when

done by equally skilled and experienced surgeons. But you also have to

consider that there are different kinds of lap. surgeries, longer and

shorter myotomies, with or with wrap, and which wrap. So you need about

thousand of each of at least six different lap. surgeries to compare to

the VATS thousand.

In your case, who cares if VATS or lap. is better or safer, you are

doing great. Lets just be happy about that, and for all the VATS and

lap. patients that are doing well. Lets also be supportive of those who

have had VATS or lap. and don't do well. No looking back, no second

guessing past choices. Sandy and I have had our surgeries. We don't

present the information for our own sakes. We do it for those that want

to learn about the different surgeries and want to know the

controversies about them, so they can make the best decisions they can

based on all the facts and opinions, and won't have to feel a need to

second guess their decisions.

> ... Maybe not for everyone,

> it is an option people should consider as part of being fully informed. ...

>

Exactly right!

I am certain from what you have said that my support of lap. was

probably part of your loss of interest in the group. That was certainly

not my intention. I wish it hadn't had that effect on you. I am sure you

have been missed. I just don't know how I could have done it

differently. Wish I were that wise.

notan

[Guest guest]

Dear Peggy,

It's good to hear from you. I wish that everyone would drop in occasionally and give an update. It is encouraging to hear the success stories. It gives us hope and a better balance to the Group. New members need to see that there are plenty of us who are doing well.

Like Dawn for instance. Welcome to the Group Dawn. Isn't it fantastic to know that you need never be alone again?

And yes, having treatment for this rare thing means that there are many of us out there eating salads, fruit, vegetables and practically anything that is not nailed down.

Love to everyone, from Ann xx

From: Peggy <pegster@...>Subject: Update on my VATS heller from August 2005achalasia Date: Wednesday, 19 March, 2008, 4:55 AM

Hi all:It has been some time since I have posted to this site regularly, as Ibecame discouraged with some of the conversations that seemed to favorlap procedure heller over a thoracic approach as some expressedconcern about whether results of the VATS procedure were as good or assafe as lap. Some of you may remember me as a fairly regular poster upuntil fall of 2006.I had a VATS Heller Myotomy without a wrap in August 2005 withfabulous success -- no need for dilation and a sustained result. Fuller, MD, Cedars Sinai, in Los Angeles performed the surgery.Just a report in that I had an endocscopy done last week to evaluatethe condition of my esophagus at year 3. Glad to report that my GIfound a clean and more or less healthy esophagus, no damage from lackof wrap, no ulcers or erosion. My esophagus, which still slightlydilated, has not progressed in damage from the disease.

Just wanted those who are considering surgery to investigate thethoracic approach -- it has changed my life. Maybe not for everyone,it is an option people should consider as part of being fully informed.Kind regards to all of my fellow achalasians.Peggy from Lompoc, CA

Rise to the challenge for Sport Relief with for Good

[Guest guest]

Gee, Peggy, that's great news! I remember you going in for your surgery and it's so great to hear that Dr. Fuller's procedure is still good for you. I had my Heller (no wrap) in January 2006 and although I've got some nccp's happening and varying amounts of reflux (both of which I think are the direct result of recent stressors in my life), I think this surgery did the job. My single worry at this point is that I've got a sore esophagus at the LES and so I've got to take prescription Prilosec daily or I get very nasty reflux, really hurts. And I had a temporary diagnosis of Barrett's but that seems to have been cured (?) by the Prilosec. I'm glad you are doing well and I hope you are having a great life up in Lompoc, one of my very favorite communities! all

best, Deborah, who is getting ready to leave the beach

[Guest guest]

Hi Notan:

Many thanks for your response. A couple of responses to specific

comments:

I always have and continue to value you as an informative and valuable

member of the group who always analyzes information in perspective and

provides an important service to this group. I have never felt

discouraged by your support of Lap procedures as I have always felt

your support for this group to serve as an educational medium for

those seeking answers. Indeed, you and I appear to share the same

view about bringing complete and accurate information to this board

as well as the perspective of individual experiences and interpersonal

support.

My intention for posting was not to take up the LAP versus VATS

argument, but to let those on the board hear of any successful avenue.

No intention to argue one procedure over the other. Both can be

effective and achalasia is a spectrum of disease, different

practitioners have different skill levels and preferences and

different board members have varying geographic considerations in

making their choice.

When I posted last night, it was in the enthusiastic aftermath of

getting good news about test results that I wanted to share with

others and I had not yet reviewed what appears to be a bit of tensions

among members and my timing of the post may have appeared to have

another agenda. Which it did not.

My best to you Notan, and all the others who work so hard to provide

information to those seeking diagnosis and treatment. I had hoped my

experience of success could provide encouragement and information.

Peggy from Lompoc

> > Hi all:

> >

> > It has been some time since I have posted to this site regularly, as I

> > became discouraged with some of the conversations that seemed to favor

> > lap procedure heller over a thoracic approach as some expressed

> > concern about whether results of the VATS procedure were as good or as

> > safe as lap. Some of you may remember me as a fairly regular poster up

> > until fall of 2006.

> >

>

> Did it bother you that for over a year before that discussion came up

> that VATS was being described as better than lap.? The implication was

> that lap. was not as good or as safe as VATS. Did that cause the lap.

> patients to leave? To this day I think we can count on Sandy to give

> reasons why VATS is better than lap.. To this day I can give reasons

why

> I think that lap. is better, but sometimes when the topic comes up I

> don't bother. I don't think it is that big of deal but if people

want to

> ask about why more surgeons do lap. or some other question that leads

> into it, I may get interested in answering the question. But, the topic

> doesn't effect me like it did you. I am sorry but I just don't

> understand the problem.

>

>

> > I had a VATS Heller Myotomy without a wrap in August 2005 with

> > fabulous success -- no need for dilation and a sustained result.

> > Fuller, MD, Cedars Sinai, in Los Angeles performed the surgery.

> >

>

> Is that where Deborah had her surgery? Wasn't that also VATS and

doesn't

> she now have an acid reflux problem and a return of swallowing

problems?

> Neither of your surgeries prove much. VATS can do very well it can also

> end up not so spectacular. Same goes for lap.. The question is how does

> VATS on a thousand patient compare to lap. on a thousand patients, when

> done by equally skilled and experienced surgeons. But you also have to

> consider that there are different kinds of lap. surgeries, longer and

> shorter myotomies, with or with wrap, and which wrap. So you need about

> thousand of each of at least six different lap. surgeries to compare to

> the VATS thousand.

>

> In your case, who cares if VATS or lap. is better or safer, you are

> doing great. Lets just be happy about that, and for all the VATS and

> lap. patients that are doing well. Lets also be supportive of those who

> have had VATS or lap. and don't do well. No looking back, no second

> guessing past choices. Sandy and I have had our surgeries. We don't

> present the information for our own sakes. We do it for those that want

> to learn about the different surgeries and want to know the

> controversies about them, so they can make the best decisions they can

> based on all the facts and opinions, and won't have to feel a need to

> second guess their decisions.

>

> > ... Maybe not for everyone,

> > it is an option people should consider as part of being fully

informed. ...

> >

>

> Exactly right!

>

> I am certain from what you have said that my support of lap. was

> probably part of your loss of interest in the group. That was certainly

> not my intention. I wish it hadn't had that effect on you. I am sure

you

> have been missed. I just don't know how I could have done it

> differently. Wish I were that wise.

>

> notan

>

[Guest guest]

Peggy wrote:

> When I posted last night, it was in the enthusiastic aftermath of

> getting good news about test results that I wanted to share with

> others

Thanks for sharing that. It is nice to hear from those that are doing

well. Also very nice that you specifically are doing well.

> and I had not yet reviewed what appears to be a bit of tensions

> among members and my timing of the post may have appeared to have

> another agenda. Which it did not.

>

Sorry, I feel badly about reading something other than you intended in

such a positive time for you. Thanks for the kind words they were very

much appreciated under the circumstances.

notan

[Guest guest]

No worries, Notan -- we are all after the same goal -- to feel well

and healthy. My best to all on the board in their pursuit of wellbeing!

Peggy

> > When I posted last night, it was in the enthusiastic aftermath of

> > getting good news about test results that I wanted to share with

> > others

>

> Thanks for sharing that. It is nice to hear from those that are doing

> well. Also very nice that you specifically are doing well.

>

> > and I had not yet reviewed what appears to be a bit of tensions

> > among members and my timing of the post may have appeared to have

> > another agenda. Which it did not.

> >

>

> Sorry, I feel badly about reading something other than you intended in

> such a positive time for you. Thanks for the kind words they were very

> much appreciated under the circumstances.

>

> notan

>