Re: Heller Myo with fundoscopy

[Guest guest]

It is very common for the spasms to be worst right after surgery,

then taper off. Probably for the first 3 months I had regular spasms

after surgery. I'm 4 or 5 years post surgery, seldom have spasms,

but can get them for a few weeks, almost every hour, then none for a

month or so.

My biggest triggers: not eating regularly, talking a lot, perhaps in

a loud room, where you strain to be louder, can trigger them.

Bending over after not eating for a while. I snack a lot all day and

don't usually eat large meals. Even a few hours between meals can

trigger one. If I totally skip a meal, the risk is higher for a

spasm. Keep hydrated, seems like if you get thirsty that is another

trigger. In my mind, I try to keep my esophagus busy with food or

water. That may be why spasms can come on at night. After the first

year or so, you can have semi-constant spasms that might feel like

when you (only women) have that mild ovulation pain. Not so strong

you notice when you are busy, but noticeable when you are still and

relaxed.

Push a pillow against the center of your pain, try heat. I also

noticed different vibrating things at stores like Sharper Image that

looked like they would feel good and fit in well at your sternum if

you had a spasm. I don't have any of those though, my spasms let up

before I could decide which ones to buy. Many of us take

antidepressants, which seem to help. Stress does trigger them

sometimes.

I haven't had a significant spasm for a few months. This trend seems

to be common for many. They lessen over time but can come back

unexpectedly.

I hadn't really had many spasms before a dialation, my first

treatment. Then a few bad ones until they became regular and more

painful but easily controlled with water and bread. After surgery

then the trend above started, less easily controlled with bread

water, and better if bread and water or something tried early in the

spasm instead of later, then it was harder to get rid of.

Even if you can't swallow bread, for me, it seemed like filling the

esophagus with something maybe stopped the spasms or calmed the

esophagus. Then you might have to regurg. I used peanut butter

sometimes because it was easier coming back up, but bread worked

best, like sourdough, then regurg, or after surgery, I could swallow

it, but stuffed a bunch in there fast to fill the esophagus, let it

sit, then swallow it with water, if you can or regurg if you can't.

I know regurging can be painful w/ bread, but if it stops the spasm

it was worth it. Softer things or things that dissolved didn't seem

to stop the spasm as well. Even a difference between a nothing

bread, like Wonder, and a sourdough sandwich bread. The sourdough or

tough bread was better.

Oh, for , around the smoke.... my husband smokes, outside. If I

get a whiff, it turns on my allergies and does irritate my spasms.

Maybe it is the stress that my husband is still smoking or maybe it

is really the smoke. Between you and me, needs a new

girlfriend or she needs a new family. (I'll probably irritate some,

but smoking, yuck!)

Sandy

> >

> > I had a lot of spasms after the surgery. But, as time went by it

> got better and my anxiety attacks also almost completely have gone

> away. The air/burps happen to me also. My only theory on that is

as

> food digests some of the airgas comes up so I tend to burp a

> lot...since there is no LES holding the air in the stomach. The

only

> medicine I'm on is prilosec..max dose...80 mg per day...it seems to

> help some. I also try to each foods high in potassium and/or take

> supplements because that seems to help calm nerve problems. Hope

> this helps.

> >

> > achalasia@: ruthleerlo@: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:41:55

> +0000Subject: Heller Myo with fundoscopy

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Hi - just new to your group. Had the myo. 4 weeks ago & still

> having spasms and " burps internally " constantly. The Dr. says it

> is " air " but the burping is almost constant. Am still on pureed

foods

> and he also prescribed Xanax, but this does not help. When the

esoph.

> goes into spasm I take nefeditine.Is anyone having similar symptoms

> after this surgery?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > _________________________________________________________________

> > Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with

> Windows Live.

> > http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093185mrt/direct/01/

> >

> >