Re: Complications Years After Heller's Myotomy?

[Guest guest]

wrote:

> ... About five months ago, I started getting

> what I thought was reflux. The pain has progressively gotten worse, and I am

now 15

> weeks pregnant, so I thought it was pregnancy-related reflux. ...

Can we consider that " about five months " may be the same as 15 weeks? If

so, is it possible that hormonal changes due to being pregnant and the

stretching of adhesions from the surgery may be causing the pains?

Adhesions would be like scars inside you. They can cause organs to stick

together and not be able to move and flex as much as they would

otherwise. They can be painful, even for stretching and bending. It

doesn't seem to me that you shouldn't have notice it so fast but perhaps

you also had " spasms " or something of that nature do to the hormones.

Just a thought.

notan

[Guest guest]

Hi - I would suggest that perhaps Notan is right, I do remember

from both of my pregnancies the sharp tightening kind of pain from my

various organs stretching and pulling but for me it was mostly lower

abdominal/pelvic area.

Another very real possibility is gall bladder disease as it is very

common during pregnancy - do you have any family history of GB

attacks?

the other common 'factors' for GB disease

fair

female

fertile

family

40's (age) although I started having attacks in my late 20's early

30's.

I hope you find an answer soon. Good luck and keep us posted.

in NC

>

> Hi,

> I had my Heller's Myotomy with Nissen Fundoplication in August

2003. I have had

> relatively few problems since then, except for the occasional

esophageal spasm and

> occasional nausea (the bouts of nausea and dry heaving have greatly

reduced over time).

> Of course, I still drink plenty of fluids when I eat. About five

months ago, I started getting

> what I thought was reflux. The pain has progressively gotten

worse, and I am now 15

> weeks pregnant, so I thought it was pregnancy-related reflux. The

pain is at the base of

> my sternum---very strong----kind of resembles spasms, but not

really. It is a sharp

> ache.

>

> Last week I was in so much pain! I was working, and in less than

12 hours time I took 30

> Tums, a Prilosec, and a Zantac (the Prilosec and Zantac were taken

within two hours of

> each other). I finally got some relief, but I didn't feel well all

day. I talked to my midwife

> and explained to her what was going on, and I talked to a few of my

friends who are MDs

> to get their thoughts. Some are at a loss (since they are not GI

specialists, rather critical

> care specialists), and others have suggested it could be a

complication from my surgery--

> --possibly my stomach is turning on itself? I don't know, they

don't know. They don't

> think it is reflux, and I have been referred to a GI specialist. I

was just wondering if

> anyone else has had problems years after their surgery.

>

> I am kind of nervous when I think about the possibility of having

an upper endoscopy

> while being pregnant---I don't want to hurt the babe.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry you are having the spasms/pain. You can start to forget

what it was like, then a spasm comes and all the memories come back

of what it was like before surgery. For me, the spasm can come in

greatly varying spurts. May have them for a week, very often, 10 x a

day, then may not have any or only a few for a few months.

I've never been one to have heartburn before or after achalasia, but

when pregnant, heartburn did happen, the les and perhaps other smooth

muscles soften. Maybe that is contributing to the problem. I'd also

tend to agree w/ Notan that adhesions are contributing. Maybe look

up pictures of adhesions and diagrams, and that may put your mind at

rest, if you see what they look like inside, then maybe you can

figure out if they are causing the pain. Although I don't know if

stretching adhesions can cause damage.

Pregnancy comes with all sorts of new pains and sore spots you didn't

know could be possible. Maybe check that you aren't having

contractions, which happens often early. Sounds like you already did

that, maybe? I took some kind of medication for a while as I

casually mentioned to my doctor it felt kind of like contractions,

and he checked and it was.

Then don't forget all the fascinating hormonal mood swings when you

are pregnant.

Sandy

>

> Hi,

> I had my Heller's Myotomy with Nissen Fundoplication in August

2003. I have had

> relatively few problems since then, except for the occasional

esophageal spasm and

> occasional nausea (the bouts of nausea and dry heaving have greatly

reduced over time).

> Of course, I still drink plenty of fluids when I eat. About five

months ago, I started getting

> what I thought was reflux. The pain has progressively gotten

worse, and I am now 15

> weeks pregnant, so I thought it was pregnancy-related reflux. The

pain is at the base of

> my sternum---very strong----kind of resembles spasms, but not

really. It is a sharp

> ache.

>

> Last week I was in so much pain! I was working, and in less than

12 hours time I took 30

> Tums, a Prilosec, and a Zantac (the Prilosec and Zantac were taken

within two hours of

> each other). I finally got some relief, but I didn't feel well all

day. I talked to my midwife

> and explained to her what was going on, and I talked to a few of my

friends who are MDs

> to get their thoughts. Some are at a loss (since they are not GI

specialists, rather critical

> care specialists), and others have suggested it could be a

complication from my surgery--

> --possibly my stomach is turning on itself? I don't know, they

don't know. They don't

> think it is reflux, and I have been referred to a GI specialist. I

was just wondering if

> anyone else has had problems years after their surgery.

>

> I am kind of nervous when I think about the possibility of having

an upper endoscopy

> while being pregnant---I don't want to hurt the babe.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Your story sounds similar to a situation that I went through. And I had to

have dilation during my pregnancy. It can be done with an experienced

doctor that is monitoring you and the baby. And I must say that I am

surprised that you are not seeing an OB/GYN for this pregnancy. But that

could just be me reflecting on what happened in my situation.

I wish you the best.

in SF

From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf

Of

Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 3:52 PM

achalasia

Subject: Complications Years After Heller's Myotomy?

Hi,

I had my Heller's Myotomy with Nissen Fundoplication in August 2003. I have

had

relatively few problems since then, except for the occasional esophageal

spasm and

occasional nausea (the bouts of nausea and dry heaving have greatly reduced

over time).

Of course, I still drink plenty of fluids when I eat. About five months ago,

I started getting

what I thought was reflux. The pain has progressively gotten worse, and I am

now 15

weeks pregnant, so I thought it was pregnancy-related reflux. The pain is at

the base of

my sternum---very strong----kind of resembles spasms, but not really. It is

a sharp

ache.

Last week I was in so much pain! I was working, and in less than 12 hours

time I took 30

Tums, a Prilosec, and a Zantac (the Prilosec and Zantac were taken within

two hours of

each other). I finally got some relief, but I didn't feel well all day. I

talked to my midwife

and explained to her what was going on, and I talked to a few of my friends

who are MDs

to get their thoughts. Some are at a loss (since they are not GI

specialists, rather critical

care specialists), and others have suggested it could be a complication from

my surgery--

--possibly my stomach is turning on itself? I don't know, they don't know.

They don't

think it is reflux, and I have been referred to a GI specialist. I was just

wondering if

anyone else has had problems years after their surgery.

I am kind of nervous when I think about the possibility of having an upper

endoscopy

while being pregnant---I don't want to hurt the babe.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Complications?

you betcha!

First there is always the possibility of perforations, and permanent

post-surgical conditions (i.e., PAIN), which you may discover that not

too many doctors will treat effectively.

Certainly, the fundoplication can reduce acid flare-ups; but its

function to 'strengthen' the slitted LES can be counter-productive. In

my case, it tightened the LES juncture up even more than it was

previously.

You will be left with a scarred, ______-ed up sphincter, which cannot

be undone.

Your options will be minimal.

Your GI will then probably refer you for more radical surgeries, which

are great ways for your GI to get rid of you and convenient methods to

supply bonus bucks for the surgeon.

Basically the GI approach is always for more surgery.

And since achalasia is a little understood condition, you may find

doctors know less about post-surgical conditions than you will. (ex:

once i was given a drug for 'neuropathic' PAIN. That was BS).

*Not ONE procedure I have had has helped my achalasia in any

significant way. In fact the fundoplication made the swallowing and

pain ( " spasms " ) worse. It isn't just the spasms, but persistent,

long-lasting pain.

The acid-reflux isn't nearly as bad is was when the first achalasia

symptoms hit me 30 years ago. Big deal. The trade-off for acid reflux

relief is chronic pain

And sorry---multiple Botox injections and calcium channel blockers

were absolutely USELESS. And acupuncture, and...

In a pool of people who have these operations, 80-90% receive some

form of relief. Not me.

Do you know how it is, after having some surgery or a procedure, when

you are asked to swallow something, and you feel the SAME? You are

told you feel so much better with time, but don't. You realize your

body has been raped for no perceived benefit.

Or when PAIN is just some unfortunate side-effect that these doctors

would choose to avoid acknowledging or even treating???

Bringing up possible 'complications' of a heller myotomy/fundo is

something I wished I had investigated further.

If you're like the majority, you should be fine. However there is a

small group of us resistant to all the standard treatments.

In those latter cases, with the heightened complication levels, and

'therapeutic surgical failures,' additional surgery is a risky

proposition.

Probably the worst complication you may experience is a lack of

understanding of what bothers you the most.

A better question you might ask is, " what if i end up in 5-10% group

that doesn't benefit from all of the traditional methods mentioned on

this forum? "

We don't hear much about that. Usually, the typical comments are: " Oh,

I fear going to the hospital [like that's some big worry...], " and

" After surgery, I feel so much better. Life is great. I can eat things

I haven't had for a long time. "

These things will not occur in all cases. Be prepared for that.

Sorry to rain on your day, but it's time for some pragmatic realism

>

> Hi,

> I had my Heller's Myotomy with Nissen Fundoplication in August 2003.

I have had

> relatively few problems since then, except for the occasional

esophageal spasm and

> occasional nausea (the bouts of nausea and dry heaving have greatly

reduced over time).

> Of course, I still drink plenty of fluids when I eat. About five

months ago, I started getting

> what I thought was reflux. The pain has progressively gotten worse,

and I am now 15

> weeks pregnant, so I thought it was pregnancy-related reflux. The

pain is at the base of

> my sternum---very strong----kind of resembles spasms, but not

really. It is a sharp

> ache.

>

> Last week I was in so much pain! I was working, and in less than 12

hours time I took 30

> Tums, a Prilosec, and a Zantac (the Prilosec and Zantac were taken

within two hours of

> each other). I finally got some relief, but I didn't feel well all

day. I talked to my midwife

> and explained to her what was going on, and I talked to a few of my

friends who are MDs

> to get their thoughts. Some are at a loss (since they are not GI

specialists, rather critical

> care specialists), and others have suggested it could be a

complication from my surgery--

> --possibly my stomach is turning on itself? I don't know, they

don't know. They don't

> think it is reflux, and I have been referred to a GI specialist. I

was just wondering if

> anyone else has had problems years after their surgery.

>

> I am kind of nervous when I think about the possibility of having an

upper endoscopy

> while being pregnant---I don't want to hurt the babe.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank You everyone for the feedback. I have always had spasms off and

on, but this is different. I also don't think it has anything to do with

increased pressure because of pregnancy because it started before I was

pregnant and I am not that far along. I had a friend who suggested I may

have an ulcer, but it has been over a week and I haven't had any pain.

But I know I shouldn't get too comfortable---I know it will come back.

Oh, and about the midwife vs. an MD. I am planning a homebirth. Also, I

don't know any MD who spends 2 hours with you during your first prenatal

appointment, but I love that Midwives spend at least an hour with you

each time you go. And since I work in the medical field, I know how

hospitals can bring a false sense of security.