hello- I've just joined this group

[Guest guest]

just got out of 10 days in the hospital for my 5th pneumonia this

year. Doctors finally figuring out problem is with my esophagus and

aspiration. I have to wait until Dec 2nd to get manometry test at

Cedars Sinai. (I live in the Los Angeles area.) As a young woman I had

bulimia and I'm wondering whether there's a connection. Anyone else

have that combo? Also, as I sit at home with an oxygen leash, getting

short of breath just walking from one room to another, I would like to

know whether anyone can report totally healing their lung issues after

fixing their esophagus. This is a huge cosmic funny for me because one

of the triggers for coughing is laughter - and as a member of an

improv comedy group, laughter not only tickles my funny bone but it

nourishes my spirit. Plenty of material here - and can't even use it!!

Ouch!!

[Guest guest]

So sorry to hear of your bouts of pneumonia!! I know after my surgery I quit

getting bronchitis as much!! I get at least once a year now, but not 3-4

which is how much I use to get it. I think in time it may help the

situation, but there may be some scar tissue that will always be there from

the pneumonia! Hope this helps some!

From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf

Of raynij

Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 4:22 PM

achalasia

Subject: hello- I've just joined this group

just got out of 10 days in the hospital for my 5th pneumonia this

year. Doctors finally figuring out problem is with my esophagus and

aspiration. I have to wait until Dec 2nd to get manometry test at

Cedars Sinai. (I live in the Los Angeles area.) As a young woman I had

bulimia and I'm wondering whether there's a connection. Anyone else

have that combo? Also, as I sit at home with an oxygen leash, getting

short of breath just walking from one room to another, I would like to

know whether anyone can report totally healing their lung issues after

fixing their esophagus. This is a huge cosmic funny for me because one

of the triggers for coughing is laughter - and as a member of an

improv comedy group, laughter not only tickles my funny bone but it

nourishes my spirit. Plenty of material here - and can't even use it!!

Ouch!!

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group. These people will teach you much about your problems.

I had aspiration pneumonia twice. After that I used a nebulizer with

albuterol for over a year. I later had an infection that took a much stronger

antibiotic than I had taken before. After taking that for 10 days, I suddenly

realized I could breath without using the nebulizer. I stopped, that was

about 7 years ago and have not been bothered since. This happened in spite of

the

fact I'd been x-rayed and the doctor had said the pneumonia had cleared.

You might want to talk to your doctor about this.

You may already know, but just in case, the pneumonia shot is good to have

but it will only stop certain types of pneumonia. It will do nothing for

aspiration pneumonia.

Maggie

Alabama

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[Guest guest]

Hi Raynij - welcome to our group. We are sorry that you have A but are

very happy you have found us. You're really lucky to live in such a

metro area, I'm on the other coast but we have MANY members from the

southern Cali. area who I'm sure will chime in and give you some

recommendations for a good doctor and good surgeon (if that's the route

you choose). Can you give us some basic vital stats? Name, age, etc.

there are so many people here now that I find it easier to keep

everyone straight if I have some basic info on them. Also, is your name

Raynij?

I've never had pneumonia but I'd guess that once you fix the aspiration

problem, it should go away for you and then you can work on some good

exercises to get your lungs good and healthy again.

Please let us know how you are doing and ask lots of questions - this

group is the single largest source of achalasia that you will find -

plus, we know what you are going through.

Take Care,

- in NC

-- In achalasia , " raynij " <raynij@...> wrote:

>

> just got out of 10 days in the hospital for my 5th pneumonia this

> year. Doctors finally figuring out problem is with my esophagus and

> aspiration. I have to wait until Dec 2nd to get manometry test at

> Cedars Sinai. (I live in the Los Angeles area.) As a young woman I had

> bulimia and I'm wondering whether there's a connection. Anyone else

> have that combo? Also, as I sit at home with an oxygen leash, getting

> short of breath just walking from one room to another, I would like to

> know whether anyone can report totally healing their lung issues after

> fixing their esophagus. This is a huge cosmic funny for me because one

> of the triggers for coughing is laughter - and as a member of an

> improv comedy group, laughter not only tickles my funny bone but it

> nourishes my spirit. Plenty of material here - and can't even use it!!

> Ouch!!

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Raynij,

Welcome to our group, I had treatment at Cedars Sinai with a myotomy

in 2004. The pneumonia is a somewhat common problem associated w/

achalasia. My surgeon recommended the pneumonia shot as directed.

Since my myotomy and the pneumonia shot I haven't had any bronchial

problems at all, but I'd have a problem about 2x a year before that.

Call me... 562 494 6760, I can give you the rundown on Cedars and some

of the other hospitals.

At Cedars, I'd recommend Dr. Ippopliti as a GI and Dr. Fuller as

surgeon. There is another surgeon there, whose name I forget that does

a lap myotomy. There is a Cedars website for the esophagus center.

http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/5865.html

I have their office phone numbers also. You can also consider UCLA and

USC, although I am thrilled with my results from Cedars. Wherever you

go, you want the heads of the departments, usually, at any hospital.

They are the ones with the most experience.

I had a manometry w/ Dr. Pimental at Cedars, I did prefer the one I had

at UCLA, but he had a bad day that day, was behind schedule and his

wife had a car wreck, so it wasn't necessarily a great day for him. I

had a barium swallow also several times there and really like that

doctor...Dr. Bray. He showed me on the barium test screen how

carbonation helps things go through the les, even if it hurts some.

Works for some of us, but can be very painful for others.

Call if you have any questions.

Sandy

>

> just got out of 10 days in the hospital for my 5th pneumonia this

> year. Doctors finally figuring out problem is with my esophagus and

> aspiration. I have to wait until Dec 2nd to get manometry test at

> Cedars Sinai. (I live in the Los Angeles area.) As a young woman I had

> bulimia and I'm wondering whether there's a connection. Anyone else

> have that combo? Also, as I sit at home with an oxygen leash, getting

> short of breath just walking from one room to another, I would like to

> know whether anyone can report totally healing their lung issues after

> fixing their esophagus. This is a huge cosmic funny for me because one

> of the triggers for coughing is laughter - and as a member of an

> improv comedy group, laughter not only tickles my funny bone but it

> nourishes my spirit. Plenty of material here - and can't even use it!!

> Ouch!!

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry to have taken so long to come back. Just home from hospital one

week after Heller myotomy at Cedars with Dr. Soukiasian. Totally

disappointed because i just threw up foamy stuff an hour after eating

apple sauce and drinking water. That's exactly what I got this

procedure to end! To me it means the food stayed in my esophagus. I

realize it's still only a week and 2 days after the surgery, but I was

very psyched and expected the regurgitation to be left behind. BTW,

I'm not even sure where to go to include more info about myself.

Thanks to everyone who responded to me and please forgive my absence.

I'm a pretty busy person. For those who asked, my actual name is Rayni

- without the J, which goes with my last name.

> >

> > just got out of 10 days in the hospital for my 5th pneumonia this

> > year. Doctors finally figuring out problem is with my esophagus and

> > aspiration. I have to wait until Dec 2nd to get manometry test at

> > Cedars Sinai. (I live in the Los Angeles area.) As a young woman I had

> > bulimia and I'm wondering whether there's a connection. Anyone else

> > have that combo? Also, as I sit at home with an oxygen leash, getting

> > short of breath just walking from one room to another, I would like to

> > know whether anyone can report totally healing their lung issues after

> > fixing their esophagus. This is a huge cosmic funny for me because one

> > of the triggers for coughing is laughter - and as a member of an

> > improv comedy group, laughter not only tickles my funny bone but it

> > nourishes my spirit. Plenty of material here - and can't even use it!!

> > Ouch!!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Raynij wrote:

> ...Totally

> disappointed because i just threw up foamy stuff an hour after eating

> apple sauce and drinking water. ...

That would be disappointing, but don't give up yet. We don't all respond

to the trauma of surgery the same. Some people have more swelling than

others and for some it can take weeks to go down. That can keep you from

enjoying the benefits for a time. Hopefully that is all it is and you

will be better in a few weeks. Other times it can take a dilatation to

finish the job.

notan