Guest guest Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 So , what was the blood you expelled several times?  Regards to your new bride and welcome her to the " Achalasia Wives Club. "  Having a supportive spouse cannot be downplayed at all. With this disease, the support of your spouse is essentail, not just for someone you can talk to about this, but someone who truly understands what this disease is all about, who can wait alone at a table when you go off regurgitating for half an hour, who can help get you more drinks when you need it, who helps you through socially difficult situations.  My suggestion to you with the doctors is to ask a lot of questions (we have posts on that), but I would specifically ask what the downside, if any, would be, for you to have another balloon dilatation, before having another surgery. Good luck!  ________________________________ From: heroldkelly <heroldkelly@...> achalasia Sent: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 10:58 AM Subject: Facing Second Myotomy  In 1992, I was diagnosed with achalasia, and had two balloon dilitations before having my first myotomy in June of 1993. I was 18 years old at the time, and this was before they did laparoscopic myotomies, so I had a nice big incision across the left side of my back. This was done by Dr. Trastek, of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. After the first myotomy, we found that I lost peristalsis in the bottom 2/3 of my esophagus and since then I have had to do what many probably have done, drink a lot of water to push my food through. Last week I started feeling dizzy and felt like I had food caught again, and it wouldn't go down, so I ended up expelling it, only it wasn't food, it was bright, red blood. This happened twice and I headed to the hospital with my new wife. After three days in the hospital and three upper GI endoscopies, they determined tat I need to have another myotomy. I am meeting with the surgeon (Dr. Kothari, from Gundersen Lutheran, La Crosse, WI) on the 12th. I am really curious what other people have seen with having a 2nd myotomy done. Especially after having had one done so long ago. I would guess that laparoscopic isn't an option and that this is going to be a tricky surgery, but I am trying to calm my lovely new bride's fears. Any help would be appreciated, and feel free to email me directly if you like! Thanks, Herold Buffalo City, WI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 29, 2012 Report Share Posted February 29, 2012 wrote: > > ... Especially after having had one done so long ago. I would guess > that laparoscopic isn't an option and that this is going to be a > tricky surgery, but I am trying to calm my lovely new bride's fears. > It depends. Some surgeons will start with lap and change to open if they need to. It probably depends too on the surgeon. I hope he has done a lot of these. notan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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