6 years post Heller Myotomy

[Guest guest]

Hi all. I had a Heller Myotomy 6 years ago and it helped in a lot of

ways. However. I have had to continue taking Nifedipine about 2-3

time per week, 2-3 of which times per month I end up either working

very hard to keep it down or end up " throwing up " (which is usually

large amounts of spit and the latest thing I had to drink.) I have

had various dilations (about 4-5 in the last 5 years).

Is anyone in a similar situation? My latest 30mm dilation helped a

little but I still have trouble getting food to go completely down.

In addition to no peristalsis in my esophagus I also have a " pocket "

that has formed off the side of my esophagus in which food is getting

deposited.

My options as I see it are live with it, Have a 35mm dilation, have a

re-do on the Heller Myotomy to include suturing up the " pocket " -

which may have to be thorasic as opposed to thorascopic due to the

previous thorasic procedure (my stomach was nicked during the original

Heller Myotomy - done elsewhere). I am currently scheduled on

Thursday for a 35-40 mm dilation at UCSD Medical Center here in San

Diego/La Jolla with the director of the GI department.

Advice and/or simply support would be appreciated.

Thanks for listening and just for being here.

Beverly