Guest guest Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 I came across this article. Stem-Cell Trial Failed to Treat Heart Failure But small improvement detected in one measure of heart function, study found http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/hd/27733 In case any one still thinks this kind of research is not done in the US this one was. I was diagnosed with achalasia in 1999 but probably had it for decades before. I didn't rush into surgery right away because I had lived with achalasia for years and figured I could wait a while and see if something better turned up. Others don't seem to have years and I don't know why that is. Waiting for many could be a very bad idea. In my case I waited another six years before having the surgery. In those years the topic of stem cells would come up and there were people that made it seem like a stem cell answer for just about anything, including achalasia, was just around the corner. In 2005 I went to a surgeon to discuss surgery, the risks from having surgery and the risks of not having surgery. She said it was important to understand the risks but then the important question that needs to be asked is not about risks but do you want to live this way or have surgery and be better. I decided I wanted to be better and I didn't want to wait any longer for new treatments that may never come. If I had waited for stem-cell treatments for achalasia I would still be waiting. The study above is about treating the heart not the esophagus, but if I had to guess I would guess that they will find a treatment for heart failure before finding a treatment for achalasia. We often hear the news about advances in stem-cell research but not often the negative results. I suspect that anyone waiting for a new effective non-surgical treatment for achalasia is going to be waiting a very long time. I am still waiting for fusion power plants (I will believe E-cat is it when I see it and even if it is it has been a long long wait) and my flying car. notan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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