Re: back home after Heller myotomy on Monday

[Guest guest]

Dawn, I'm glad to here you are doing good. I have found that if you put your head back and cough toward the ceiling it relieves the pressure and hurts less. When I had my myotomy It was a long incision and a long recovery time, but that was in 1971 so there have been many advances since then. I also couldn't eat anything but liquids for a month. I've been great since then[35 years] I hope you have that much time with yours. I'm having some problems now but all in all I can't complain. I'm happy for you and you're in my prayers. Jeanie in montana[ the western part, I have no problem with n. dakotans] Hi Everybody!I had my Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication on Monday and I am home and doing okay. I am on a clear liquid diet and am anxious to test out the new "arrangement". I have been told to stay on liquids for another week and then I am to call the surgeon to discuss advancing my diet. My scars are very small and my pain is manageable. I have had trouble at night with chest pains and I am really hoping this is just carbon dioxide in my chest still and not esophageal spasms... I guess time will tell. When I get the pain I just cannot get comfortable and I pace the floor until finally I can sit down in a recliner and try to get comfortable. I haven't been this hydrated in months and can't get over what a big difference even that makes.I

started coughing today and that hurts my incisions and makes me wonder if it is atelectasis or GERD..... PLEASE Don't let it be GERD!!Well, thanks everybody for your support and I will check in again soon.Dawn

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[Guest guest]

Dawn

Just take it easy let yourself heal and you’ll be eating

steak and tatters in no time. Good luck on your recovery.

From:

achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of sickoffat

Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 6:58 PM

achalasia

Subject: back home after Heller myotomy on Monday

Hi Everybody!

I had my Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication on Monday and I am

home and doing okay. I am on a clear liquid diet and am anxious to

test out the new " arrangement " . I have been told to stay on

liquids for another week and then I am to call the surgeon to discuss

advancing my diet. My scars are very small and my pain is manageable.

I have had trouble at night with chest pains and I am really hoping

this is just carbon dioxide in my chest still and not esophageal

spasms... I guess time will tell. When I get the pain I just cannot

get comfortable and I pace the floor until finally I can sit down in a

recliner and try to get comfortable. I haven't been this hydrated in

months and can't get over what a big difference even that makes.

I started coughing today and that hurts my incisions and makes me

wonder if it is atelectasis or GERD..... PLEASE Don't let it be GERD!!

Well, thanks everybody for your support and I will check in again soon.

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Hi Dawn,

I remember how nice it was to get home after having

the same procedure as you on March 17th. My chest

pains got better as my first week went on.

There were some good ideas here about what foods

worked after leaving the liquid diet. Toast is better

than bread and crackers are even better than toast.

Wouldn't have guessed that. I whipped up some tuna

fish with mayo and put it on toast and loved it, but

was given a better idea on this group: use cream

cheese instead of mayo. You have to blend up the tuna

and then fold in the cream cheese with a fork or it

will turn into mush. It's really good. A slice of

black olive made it look and taste luxurious.

I'm still having spasms, but not nearly as frequently

as pre-myotomy. Nor have they been as severe. I can

function with the ones I get now. Some foods really

cause me trouble still. I had chicken-parmasean

yesterday and felt it in my throat all night. I think

I'll wait a while before trying that again.

There is a relationship between stress and spasms. You

will never be wrong if you spend more time and effort

doing simple things with your friends and those whom

you love. Nor will you ever regret taking the time to

exercise, especially if it is around other people. You

have time on your hands right now. Treating yourself

to the simple things, that don't really cost much and

don't tax our body will go a long way toward improving

your mental and physical health.

About the pain in the LES area, remember, they took a

part of your stomach and stretched it around your

esophagus and attached it there. That takes a while

for your body to adjust to. I felt full after eating

pretty fast because of what happened to my stomach.

Good luck and best wishes.

Dan

--- sickoffat <dawnbatchelder@...> wrote:

> Hi Everybody!

> I had my Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication

> on Monday and I am

> home and doing okay. I am on a clear liquid diet

> and am anxious to

> test out the new " arrangement " . I have been

> told to stay on

> liquids for another week and then I am to call the

> surgeon to discuss

> advancing my diet. My scars are very small and my

> pain is manageable.

> I have had trouble at night with chest pains and I

> am really hoping

> this is just carbon dioxide in my chest still and

> not esophageal

> spasms... I guess time will tell. When I get the

> pain I just cannot

> get comfortable and I pace the floor until finally I

> can sit down in a

> recliner and try to get comfortable. I haven't been

> this hydrated in

> months and can't get over what a big difference even

> that makes.

> I started coughing today and that hurts my incisions

> and makes me

> wonder if it is atelectasis or GERD..... PLEASE

> Don't let it be GERD!!

> Well, thanks everybody for your support and I will

> check in again soon.

> Dawn

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi Dan!

Thanks for your encouraging reply!! God this board is great. Today the chest pains do seem a little better and I did get a few hours of sleep last night in my recliner.

I appreciate your suggestions of food- I have been so pathetic I really do laugh out loud at myself. I have been watching the food channel (which I never do) and literally salivating at the thought of eating some real food. I keep telling myself that I am going to appreciate food in a way I have never done in the past and I want to try all these new recipes.... haha- I'm really not a very good cook

I have lost 70 pounds at this point and figure I will probably lose some more in the next month but I am hoping to keep the weight off as I was overweight before.

I am DEFINITELY going back to the gym as soon as I can. I am a faithful exerciser and this next 6 weeks with no exercise is going to feel long.

My job causes me a ton of stress and pre-surgery I definitely noticed how much worse my achalasia was when I was at work. I NEVER ate or drank at work as the outcome was always predictable and even then I would have to throw up frequently (foam and mucous). I really hope that is behind me but I do worry about my return to work- I have been told vomiting would be bad for the surgery and could lead to damage to the fundoplication- I live in fear of vomiting and cut myself off all pain meds on day 2 to avoid the nausea and potential problem of throwing up.

I am glad you are doing so well now- geez you are really only a month out of surgery.

Hope to keep chatting here with you and everyone!!

Take Care

Dawn (Boston)

[Guest guest]

HI

WHOO HOO- can't wait !!

Dawn (Boston)

RE: back home after Heller myotomy on Monday

Dawn

Just take it easy let yourself heal and you'll be eating steak and tatters in no time. Good luck on your recovery.

From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of sickoffatSent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 6:58 PMachalasia Subject: back home after Heller myotomy on Monday

Hi Everybody!I had my Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication on Monday and I am home and doing okay. I am on a clear liquid diet and am anxious to test out the new "arrangement". I have been told to stay on liquids for another week and then I am to call the surgeon to discuss advancing my diet. My scars are very small and my pain is manageable. I have had trouble at night with chest pains and I am really hoping this is just carbon dioxide in my chest still and not esophageal spasms... I guess time will tell. When I get the pain I just cannot get comfortable and I pace the floor until finally I can sit down in a recliner and try to get comfortable. I haven't been this hydrated in months and can't get over what a big difference even that makes.I started coughing today and that hurts my incisions and makes me wonder if it is atelectasis or GERD..... PLEASE Don't let it be GERD!!Well, thanks everybody for your support and I will check in again soon.Dawn

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanie!!

Thanks so much for your well wishes! Gosh, 35 years of doing well after your myotomy sounds like a record to me!! That is wonderful!! I hope that the symptoms you have now can be overcome with just as good a success story. Thanks again for the advice and the prayers. Everyone here is so fantastic!!

Dawn (Boston)

Re: back home after Heller myotomy on Monday

Dawn,

I'm glad to here you are doing good. I have found that if you put your head back and cough toward the ceiling it relieves the pressure and hurts less. When I had my myotomy It was a long incision and a long recovery time, but that was in 1971 so there have been many advances since then. I also couldn't eat anything but liquids for a month. I've been great since then[35 years] I hope you have that much time with yours. I'm having some problems now but all in all I can't complain.

I'm happy for you and you're in my prayers.

Jeanie in montana[ the western part, I have no problem with n. dakotans]

Hi Everybody!I had my Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication on Monday and I am home and doing okay. I am on a clear liquid diet and am anxious to test out the new "arrangement". I have been told to stay on liquids for another week and then I am to call the surgeon to discuss advancing my diet. My scars are very small and my pain is manageable. I have had trouble at night with chest pains and I am really hoping this is just carbon dioxide in my chest still and not esophageal spasms... I guess time will tell. When I get the pain I just cannot get comfortable and I pace the floor until finally I can sit down in a recliner and try to get comfortable. I haven't been this hydrated in months and can't get over what a big difference even that makes.I started coughing today and that hurts my incisions and makes me wonder if it is atelectasis or GERD..... PLEASE Don't let it be GERD!!Well, thanks everybody for your support and I will check in again soon.Dawn

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

[Guest guest]

> HI DAWN,

Glad to hear that you are doing fine.I have my heller myotomy on

April 30. I hope the rest of the recovery goes well for you.

How long were you in the hospital for? (just curious)

> Hi Everybody!

> I had my Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication on Monday and I

am

> home and doing okay. I am on a clear liquid diet and am anxious to

> test out the new " arrangement " . I have been told to stay on

> liquids for another week and then I am to call the surgeon to

discuss

> advancing my diet. My scars are very small and my pain is

manageable.

> I have had trouble at night with chest pains and I am really hoping

> this is just carbon dioxide in my chest still and not esophageal

> spasms... I guess time will tell. When I get the pain I just

cannot

> get comfortable and I pace the floor until finally I can sit down

in a

> recliner and try to get comfortable. I haven't been this hydrated

in

> months and can't get over what a big difference even that makes.

> I started coughing today and that hurts my incisions and makes me

> wonder if it is atelectasis or GERD..... PLEASE Don't let it be

GERD!!

> Well, thanks everybody for your support and I will check in again

soon.

> Dawn

>

[Guest guest]

Hi !!

I will be thinking of you and sending you lots of good thoughts on April 30th!! Where are you having your surgery?

I had my surgery on Monday night (due to OR backup did not get into the OR until 5pm). I stayed overnight and left the hospital at about 3pm the next day. The only thing I missed was the hospital bed because I can't get comfortable lying flat so I have to sleep in a recliner for now.

I really am doing well and I think the recovery has been much easier than I was expecting.

I would be happy to talk to you on the phone or private email if you want- just let me know!!

All my best!!

Dawn (Boston)

Re: back home after Heller myotomy on Monday

> HI DAWN,Glad to hear that you are doing fine.I have my heller myotomy on April 30. I hope the rest of the recovery goes well for you.How long were you in the hospital for? (just curious) > Hi Everybody!> I had my Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication on Monday and I am > home and doing okay. I am on a clear liquid diet and am anxious to > test out the new "arrangement". I have been told to stay on > liquids for another week and then I am to call the surgeon to discuss > advancing my diet. My scars are very small and my pain is manageable. > I have had trouble at night with chest pains and I am really hoping > this is just carbon dioxide in my chest still and not esophageal > spasms... I guess time will tell. When I get the pain I just cannot > get comfortable and I pace the floor until finally I can sit down in a > recliner and try to get comfortable. I haven't been this hydrated in > months and can't get over what a big difference even that makes.> I started coughing today and that hurts my incisions and makes me > wonder if it is atelectasis or GERD..... PLEASE Don't let it be GERD!!> Well, thanks everybody for your support and I will check in again soon.> Dawn>