Re: Introduction - diagnosis official

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

(Apologies in advance for the length)

I first posted at the beginning of March when I was tentatively

diagnosed with Achalasia pending manometry results. I have since

gotten those results and the diagnosis has been confirmed. I am now

yet another addition to the Achalasia fold.

The manometry results indicated complete aperistalsis in my esophagus.

Presently my LES is functional - or partially functional - about 75%

of the time. Some swallows showed near complete relaxation of the

LES, and others showed very little. Also, pressure in my esophagus

was higher than the gastic pressure. Size and shape-wise, my esophagus

is still normal.

I was not able to look at the actual graphs of my results, but my

doctor did show me a " textbook " case of Achalasia and said that the

nondescript wavy lines where swallows should be on my graph were more

flat than the textbook image. I should be picking up a hard copy of

the results this week and I will try to get them scanned and uploaded.

For the most part I can still eat whatever I want, but very very

slowly. Certain things take more effort and take longer to get down

(oh how I crave cheeseburgers), but that may be more of how much

effort my LES feels like making at the time. I don't have trouble

with drinking, and have only occasionally woke up in the middle of the

night choking on saliva. I would consider my symptoms just slightly

above " nuisance " level at this time.

I've seen mention of a possible link between Achalasia and allergies.

For what it's worth, I have asthma and am allergic to a whole lot of

stuff - animals, tree pollen, grass pollen, some weeds, some molds,

and dust, but no known food allergies. I have been getting allergy

shots since January of 2004, and coincidentally or not, don't recall

having problems swallowing until sometime after the shots began.

Allergies seemed the likely blame when I was thought to have

Eosinophilic Esophagitis, but do I intend to check with my allergist

at my next appointment to see if she thinks there might be a link.

My current plan of attack regarding treatment (surgery is my

preference) is to take it slowly and get a referral to consult with

Dr. Randy Haluck at Hershey Medical Center (PA). If anyone has had

their myotomy performed by Dr. Haluck I would appreciate your input (I

believe I've already emailed with someone near me who had met with

him). I'll probably also check out some of the other major hospitals

in the state but for now I'm going to concentrate locally and see how

much experience is here. I think I have plenty of time to research

which is something I am very grateful for. I can't imagine making a

decision as important as surgery with limited time.

I have absorbed a ton of information in the month I've been here and

am so happy to have found this group.

Stacey in Lancaster, PA

[Guest guest]

Hi Stacey, " in PA" also lives in Lancaster and has mentioned Dr. Haluk. I will likely meet him at some time in the future and consider him but I have a complicated case because of prior surgery in the bronchial tube/lung area and bronchial carcinoid with metastatic disease. Because of these things, I will be consider traveling out of the area or out of state to find someone who has a lot of experience. Please keep me posted on your progress. I was recently diagnosed (at Hershey Med where my local oncologist is) and am probably at the same stage of the process as you.burg, PA -- stacey <sconrad@...> wrote:

Hello everyone,(Apologies in advance for the length)I first posted at the beginning of March when I was tentativelydiagnosed with Achalasia pending manometry results. I have sincegotten those results and the diagnosis has been confirmed. I am nowyet another addition to the Achalasia fold.

..

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[Guest guest]

Hi Stacey

I know that you posted a long time ago, however I just wanted to find out how

you have got on since then. I have also being diagnosed with complete

aperistalsis and the specialists are telling me that this is not textbook for

achalasia and they don't know what else to do with me. I would be very keen to

hear what you have been up to.

Regards

Ana

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> (Apologies in advance for the length)

>

> I first posted at the beginning of March when I was tentatively

> diagnosed with Achalasia pending manometry results. I have since

> gotten those results and the diagnosis has been confirmed. I am now

> yet another addition to the Achalasia fold.

>

> The manometry results indicated complete aperistalsis in my esophagus.

> Presently my LES is functional - or partially functional - about 75%

> of the time. Some swallows showed near complete relaxation of the

> LES, and others showed very little. Also, pressure in my esophagus

> was higher than the gastic pressure. Size and shape-wise, my esophagus

> is still normal.

>

> I was not able to look at the actual graphs of my results, but my

> doctor did show me a " textbook " case of Achalasia and said that the

> nondescript wavy lines where swallows should be on my graph were more

> flat than the textbook image. I should be picking up a hard copy of

> the results this week and I will try to get them scanned and uploaded.

>

> For the most part I can still eat whatever I want, but very very

> slowly. Certain things take more effort and take longer to get down

> (oh how I crave cheeseburgers), but that may be more of how much

> effort my LES feels like making at the time. I don't have trouble

> with drinking, and have only occasionally woke up in the middle of the

> night choking on saliva. I would consider my symptoms just slightly

> above " nuisance " level at this time.

>

> I've seen mention of a possible link between Achalasia and allergies.

> For what it's worth, I have asthma and am allergic to a whole lot of

> stuff - animals, tree pollen, grass pollen, some weeds, some molds,

> and dust, but no known food allergies. I have been getting allergy

> shots since January of 2004, and coincidentally or not, don't recall

> having problems swallowing until sometime after the shots began.

> Allergies seemed the likely blame when I was thought to have

> Eosinophilic Esophagitis, but do I intend to check with my allergist

> at my next appointment to see if she thinks there might be a link.

>

> My current plan of attack regarding treatment (surgery is my

> preference) is to take it slowly and get a referral to consult with

> Dr. Randy Haluck at Hershey Medical Center (PA). If anyone has had

> their myotomy performed by Dr. Haluck I would appreciate your input (I

> believe I've already emailed with someone near me who had met with

> him). I'll probably also check out some of the other major hospitals

> in the state but for now I'm going to concentrate locally and see how

> much experience is here. I think I have plenty of time to research

> which is something I am very grateful for. I can't imagine making a

> decision as important as surgery with limited time.

>

> I have absorbed a ton of information in the month I've been here and

> am so happy to have found this group.

>

> Stacey in Lancaster, PA

>