To Lee in Atlanta

[Guest guest]

Hi Lee,

I'm 57 too, so you can be in my club! LOL

I have also found that coffee is not a good drink for me, though it makes a difference how it is made. Made with boiling water and with cold milk added to it is not the best thing for me. Made with hot milk, or mostly hot milk and some hot water and it goes down fine.

Tea is even better. In fact I regard tea as my most important aide to swallowing and drink it every time I eat.

I do not know the reason for the "water" coffee. I don't really care. All that matters to me is that I should avoid it.

If you live in Atlanta, you are near to a very important member of this Group (very important to me anyway). He is called and, along with , is the co-founder of achalasia.us, which is another site you could look at if you wish.

But then come back here - because this is the CHATTY site.

Best Wishes from Ann in sunny England.

From: geminiguy50 <lee.oppert@...>Subject: Re: New poll for achalasiaachalasia Date: Tuesday, 22 April, 2008, 5:55 PM

Hi folks - "new kid" (57 yrs old) here, just recently diagnosed withA, and have found this board to be incredibly valuable, so thought I'dchime in - I've been lurking for a while. I spent most of my career in IT, and coffee has been a staple since1971, until now. The last time I attempted to drink a cup a couple ofmonths ago, it was rejected resoundingly. Although my symptoms havesteadily improved since then, I don't think I'll venture a cup forsome time to come. I have found a caffeinated drink from a health andnutrition company that works pretty well as a substitute. I drink a lot of frozen cappuccinos from QT (gas/convenience storechain in a few regional areas around the country) - more sugar than Ineed, but they go down, and pretty much stay down. As I've seen fromthe discussions that go on here, you do what works. A couple of monthsback that was the only way I could get liquids into my

body, which wasa real concern at the time. I also drink a fair amount of tea, and I drink a concoction of naturalanti-oxidants, vitamins and aloe every day. That seems to be helping -or is it that I'm just managing my situation better? ;-)I'll do a more proper introduction in a later post, but coffee wasnear and dear to me for many years, and just wanted to let theuniverse know that I miss it (as if it didn't already know).Lee in Atlanta :-)

For Good. Give and get cool things for free, reduce waste and help our planet. Plus find hidden treasure

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the insights Ann. I read your profile entry in

achalasia.us, and your story is all too familiar. I'm going through a

period in which I'm seeking natural cures, etc. Things are getting

better, and I'm willing to live with this as long as they do. I've yet

to hear of anyone who's " recovered " from A, though, so the reality of

submitting to the knife is starting to set in. I've been referred to a

Dr. Hart here in Atlanta, but plan to look around a bit before

committing. From the studies that I've read and talk on this group, it

appears that the most significant factor to a successful myotemy is

the track record of the surgeon performing it.

One of the things I've experienced is some numbness in my left

leg/foot. It got bad enough that I was unable to flex it, and began

walking with kind of a " draggy foot " . Since I've been on anti-oxidants

and vitamin B, that condition has abated. I now walk normally, i.e., I

can flex my foot, although not strongly yet, which tells me that

whatever nerve damage was done to cause the numbness is gradually

being corrected. My hope (it never dies) is that similar things are

happening within my innards, but I'm going to get set up for surgery,

just take my time about it.

This group has already been an incredible source of information and

support to me. I relate to many of the experiences, and am empowered

by the strength shown by so many of the folks who have endured much

more than I have. This is especially true for me today, which is one

of those that nothing wants to go down. Tomorrow will be better!

[Guest guest]

Lee, one of the most experienced achalasia surgeons in Atlanta is L. at Emory. He did my husband's Heller myotomy and Dor wrap about ten months ago. Although Jack's digestive system isn't totally normal anymore, he can swallow almost anything. He isn't losing any more weight, and has even gained a few pounds. He has experience problems with the dreaded dumping syndrome, which I understand 1/3 of those undergoing any surgery involving the stomach do. But he is learning to eat smaller meals, more often, and to stay away from high sugar foods.

Dawn (also in Atlanta)

[Guest guest]

Dear Lee,

I see you have got a good attitude, one that is positive and full of hope. That will help you a great deal.

I can't hazard a guess as to what is/was going on with your foot, but it is very probable that that problem will be solved and forgotten. It is not like that with achalasia however. I, like you, went through a long period believing that I was coping with it, which to outward appearances I was. But inside the damage was slowly but surely being done. We go through good periods and bad ones and during the good times think we can carry on like this for ever and avoid any "real" treatment.

I found out to my cost how wrong this thinking is when the Surgeon who did my myotomy described my oesophagus as "a mess".

Your future is in your hands and you have the right to make your own decisions, but I can't not warn you of what you might be risking. I wish that someone had warned me!

Good Luck anyway, and keep in touch with us and let us know how things are for you and which way you decide to proceed.

Best Wishes from Ann (England).

From: Lee Oppert <lee.oppert@...>Subject: Re: To Lee in Atlantaachalasia Date: Wednesday, 23 April, 2008, 4:21 PM

Thanks for the insights Ann. I read your profile entry inachalasia.us, and your story is all too familiar. I'm going through aperiod in which I'm seeking natural cures, etc. Things are gettingbetter, and I'm willing to live with this as long as they do. I've yetto hear of anyone who's "recovered" from A, though, so the reality ofsubmitting to the knife is starting to set in. I've been referred to aDr. Hart here in Atlanta, but plan to look around a bit beforecommitting. From the studies that I've read and talk on this group, itappears that the most significant factor to a successful myotemy isthe track record of the surgeon performing it. One of the things I've experienced is some numbness in my leftleg/foot. It got bad enough that I was unable to flex it, and beganwalking with kind of a "draggy foot". Since I've been on anti-oxidantsand vitamin B, that condition has abated. I now walk

normally, i.e., Ican flex my foot, although not strongly yet, which tells me thatwhatever nerve damage was done to cause the numbness is graduallybeing corrected. My hope (it never dies) is that similar things arehappening within my innards, but I'm going to get set up for surgery,just take my time about it. This group has already been an incredible source of information andsupport to me. I relate to many of the experiences, and am empoweredby the strength shown by so many of the folks who have endured muchmore than I have. This is especially true for me today, which is oneof those that nothing wants to go down. Tomorrow will be better!

Sent from .

A Smarter Email.

[Guest guest]

Ann,

I have awakened and smelled the coffee <g> and am in the process of

selecting a surgeon. I'm seeing Dr. Hart and Dr.

('s surgeon) on Monday, and will probably chose between the two

of them. Were it not for this board I would've probably waited much

longer, and put myself through much more needless suffering. I'm in

the debt of everyone here for their willingness to share their

experiences. You do make a difference - hopefully I will also be able

to help others who come into the group later.

Thanks for the information and support,

Lee

[Guest guest]

Lee I also had surgery done my Dr. about 6 months ago and I am doing well. If you would like to talk to me I have no problems in answering any questions. I live in Warner Robins and I traveled to Emery to have the surgery done. My home number is 478-971-7474 and my cell number is 478-919-8813

<FONT face="comic sans ms" color=#ff0000 size=5> in Georgia </FONT><IMG src=" ">

Re: To Lee in Atlanta

Lee, one of the most experienced achalasia surgeons in Atlanta is L. at Emory. He did my husband's Heller myotomy and Dor wrap about ten months ago. Although Jack's digestive system isn't totally normal anymore, he can swallow almost anything. He isn't losing any more weight, and has even gained a few pounds. He has experience problems with the dreaded dumping syndrome, which I understand 1/3 of those undergoing any surgery involving the stomach do. But he is learning to eat smaller meals, more often, and to stay away from high sugar foods.

Dawn (also in Atlanta)

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Dear Lee,

I hope that you do stay on the Board after your surgery to help others. We need the experienced ones to be here. Meanwhile though, you will need lots of support and may have a lot of questions to ask. However basic they are, don't worry - we have all been through it ( including asking the daft questions). People here genuinely want to help and share and will be here every step of the way.

As a matter of interest I have just been clearing some old stuff out of the cupboard and I came across some information pages that I had about achalasia from, goodness knows, about 15 years ago. At the bottom I had written "I feel that my achalasia is being kept under control by taking Losec daily." How little I knew then!

Keep us informed,

Love from Ann.

From: Lee Oppert <lee.oppert@...>Subject: Re: To Lee in Atlantaachalasia Date: Thursday, 24 April, 2008, 4:58 PM

Ann,I have awakened and smelled the coffee <g> and am in the process ofselecting a surgeon. I'm seeing Dr. Hart and Dr. ('s surgeon) on Monday, and will probably chose between the twoof them. Were it not for this board I would've probably waited muchlonger, and put myself through much more needless suffering. I'm inthe debt of everyone here for their willingness to share theirexperiences. You do make a difference - hopefully I will also be ableto help others who come into the group later. Thanks for the information and support,Lee

Sent from .

A Smarter Email.

[Guest guest]

BEST WISHES LEE!!!

Dawn (Boston)

[Guest guest]

Good Luck for tomorrow Lee.

I hope that you feel you are armed with knowledge, so that you can play an informed part in the discussion about where you should go in this.

My thoughts will be with you. It is an important day for you.

Best Wishes from Ann X

From: Lee Oppert <lee.oppert@...>Subject: Re: To Lee in Atlantaachalasia Date: Thursday, 24 April, 2008, 4:58 PM

Ann,I have awakened and smelled the coffee <g> and am in the process ofselecting a surgeon. I'm seeing Dr. Hart and Dr. ('s surgeon) on Monday, and will probably chose between the twoof them. Were it not for this board I would've probably waited muchlonger, and put myself through much more needless suffering. I'm inthe debt of everyone here for their willingness to share theirexperiences. You do make a difference - hopefully I will also be ableto help others who come into the group later. Thanks for the information and support,Lee

Sent from .

A Smarter Email.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the encouragement Ann! I definitely will stick around after

the surgery. I'm finding this to be a an invaluable resource, and just

a nice bunch of folks to be around. I'm just glad that I'm not

spending the next few years kidding myself and creating further

potential complications. My normal tendency would be to believe that I

could be the one person to defy the odds, but I just haven't seen a

shred of evidence to support anyone having been cured of A. If that's

not true, maybe someone could post it, but I've been burned by my

tendency to take on such risks enough, at least for now. I have too

many other things I want to accomplish to have achalasia continue to

be the absolute center of my universe.

For example, I'm currently riding on a bus from Tampa to Atlanta with

37 other folks - my first weekend trip away from home with a group

since A hit. The logistics of maintaining food intake - finding

suitable restaurant food (there's not much), eating with a group of

" new " friends, and the inevitable discussions that ensue, etc. are a

pain. I'm glad I could do it - i.e., I'm apparently in much better

condition than many other folks here - but I realize that much of this

will go away after I've recovered from the myotomy, which I'm

beginning to look forward to. A new set of problems will take its

place, but hopefully eating itself won't be the ordeal that it

currently is.

At any rate, hopefully I'll be able to help others as y'all (I'm just

an 'ol southern boy!) have helped me. Thanks!! The beat goes on ...

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the encouragement Dawn. I'll definitely have more questions

as the story unfolds. :-)

Lee