Guest guest Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 6 sleeps will go before you know it Jenn. Gosh 400km each way, that's a long way to travel for medical treatment. > > Drove 400 km this am to have 4 vials of blood drawn and have a chat with the nurse. LOL! Now on the 400 km trip back. > > Thankfully my parents drove me so I can be spasm free with my meds. I discussed having a PCA pump post op and they said they can't see why that would be an issue. I also popped up to the thoracic unit to have a peek to see where I will be staying. > > I feel more confident about things now. 6 sleeps! My weight today puts me down almost 50 lb since before Christmas. My trips to the gym helped I am sure. > > Feeling more positive than I have in a long while! > > > Jenn in Canada > > Sent from my iPhone > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 I completely feel your pain! I have to drive about 250miles, to Boston, (I think that's close to 400km) for all of my teatments. I'm going down this Friday for Preop work and again on Tuesday. It costs me about $90.00 each trip. I just keep telling myself I can put this all behind me soon (I hope!) Best of luck! I get audiobooks for the trips and it helps make them go so much faster. Just curious Jenn, what part of Canada? My mom and her whole family are from there. I have some relatives in Ottawa and Quebec. in Maine > > Drove 400 km this am to have 4 vials of blood drawn and have a chat with the nurse. LOL! Now on the 400 km trip back. > > Thankfully my parents drove me so I can be spasm free with my meds. I discussed having a PCA pump post op and they said they can't see why that would be an issue. I also popped up to the thoracic unit to have a peek to see where I will be staying. > > I feel more confident about things now. 6 sleeps! My weight today puts me down almost 50 lb since before Christmas. My trips to the gym helped I am sure. > > Feeling more positive than I have in a long while! > > > Jenn in Canada > > Sent from my iPhone > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 >I have to drive about 250miles, to Boston When my SO was diagnosed, I tried hard to find the best and most experienced docs for achalasia in Boston. Based on this, we saw four big shot specialists, all at different major teaching hospitals. If you are not completely confident in your current doc's expertise, advice, or attitude, please allow me to make two suggestions, based on our recent experiences. For a surgeon—we had an excellent experience with Dr. Rattner, chief of surgery at MGH. He's the most experienced achalasia surgeon in New England, as far I can tell (with the possible exception of an obscure surgeon in Maine we didn't go to see). He was excellent to deal with and my SO is doing very well one month out from her HM with him. For a gastroenterologist, we liked Dr. Stanley Rosenberg of Beth Israel. He is extremely knowledgeable about and experienced with achalasia and has written a textbook about esophageal disease. He is not touchy feely, but is extremely straightforward. We liked him. If you are inclined to seek more advice, I think these two docs would provide very worthwhile consultations. We sought multiple specialist opinions before even considering any intervention beyond medications. If you are having such troubles, perhaps that would be helpful for you, too, if you haven't already done this. It's not for everyone, but for us it was very helpful. Best of luck for getting better soon! Bill > > > > Drove 400 km this am to have 4 vials of blood drawn and have a chat with the nurse. LOL! Now on the 400 km trip back. > > > > Thankfully my parents drove me so I can be spasm free with my meds. I discussed having a PCA pump post op and they said they can't see why that would be an issue. I also popped up to the thoracic unit to have a peek to see where I will be staying. > > > > I feel more confident about things now. 6 sleeps! My weight today puts me down almost 50 lb since before Christmas. My trips to the gym helped I am sure. > > > > Feeling more positive than I have in a long while! > > > > > > Jenn in Canada > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 in Maine: Sorry, I think I got you a bit confused with another poster when writing my previous comments (see below). I was under the impression you were having an awful time with your achalasia treatment in Boston. My Boston doc recommendations stand, but you may not need them! Good luck in any case. Bill > > > > > > Drove 400 km this am to have 4 vials of blood drawn and have a chat with the nurse. LOL! Now on the 400 km trip back. > > > > > > Thankfully my parents drove me so I can be spasm free with my meds. I discussed having a PCA pump post op and they said they can't see why that would be an issue. I also popped up to the thoracic unit to have a peek to see where I will be staying. > > > > > > I feel more confident about things now. 6 sleeps! My weight today puts me down almost 50 lb since before Christmas. My trips to the gym helped I am sure. > > > > > > Feeling more positive than I have in a long while! > > > > > > > > > Jenn in Canada > > > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 Bill, Dr. Rattner will be one of my Docs along with another surgeon who is new, from San Diego, his name is Dr. Ozanan Meireles. Dr. Meireles is actually the doc I have been dealing with the most and I really like him. He is so friendly and personable. They will be doing an endoscopic myotomy for my procedure(POEM procedure) so there will be a " team " of surgeons. I am really excited about it. I have already had such a great experience down there, but it's reassuring to hear that other people were successful with Dr. Rattner. Thank you for the suggestions1 Glad to hear your SO is doing well. -Maine > > > > > > Drove 400 km this am to have 4 vials of blood drawn and have a chat with the nurse. LOL! Now on the 400 km trip back. > > > > > > Thankfully my parents drove me so I can be spasm free with my meds. I discussed having a PCA pump post op and they said they can't see why that would be an issue. I also popped up to the thoracic unit to have a peek to see where I will be staying. > > > > > > I feel more confident about things now. 6 sleeps! My weight today puts me down almost 50 lb since before Christmas. My trips to the gym helped I am sure. > > > > > > Feeling more positive than I have in a long while! > > > > > > > > > Jenn in Canada > > > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2012 Report Share Posted April 5, 2012 You are lucky you have a doctor who is friendly and personable.....I think that's what is frustrating me! > > > > > > > > Drove 400 km this am to have 4 vials of blood drawn and have a chat with the nurse. LOL! Now on the 400 km trip back. > > > > > > > > Thankfully my parents drove me so I can be spasm free with my meds. I discussed having a PCA pump post op and they said they can't see why that would be an issue. I also popped up to the thoracic unit to have a peek to see where I will be staying. > > > > > > > > I feel more confident about things now. 6 sleeps! My weight today puts me down almost 50 lb since before Christmas. My trips to the gym helped I am sure. > > > > > > > > Feeling more positive than I have in a long while! > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenn in Canada > > > > > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 >They will be doing an endoscopic myotomy for my procedure(POEM procedure) Very interesting. Dr. Rattner did not talk about POEM, only the laparoscopic Heller myotomy. He said it was clearly the optimal procedure, at least for my SO. I wonder why you got different advice, apparently. Maybe the new surgeon is trained in POEM and wants to do it and Dr. Rattner is deferring to him. Maybe something else has changed in the last six weeks. Maybe your case is different. We have a lot of respect for Dr. Rattner, so if he is recommending POEM there must be a reason. My SO had some pain the weekend after her HM, so we called MGH. The doc covering for Dr. R. called back and reassured us. He said he does HM's, too, but unlike Dr. R. he does *not* do a wrap. He was emphatic about it, as if it was a point of pride. Different docs do things different ways. This was another very senior MGH surgeon. I will be very interested to hear how this goes for you--best of luck! They will be doing an endoscopic myotomy for my procedure(POEM procedure) > > > > > > > > Drove 400 km this am to have 4 vials of blood drawn and have a chat with the nurse. LOL! Now on the 400 km trip back. > > > > > > > > Thankfully my parents drove me so I can be spasm free with my meds. I discussed having a PCA pump post op and they said they can't see why that would be an issue. I also popped up to the thoracic unit to have a peek to see where I will be staying. > > > > > > > > I feel more confident about things now. 6 sleeps! My weight today puts me down almost 50 lb since before Christmas. My trips to the gym helped I am sure. > > > > > > > > Feeling more positive than I have in a long while! > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenn in Canada > > > > > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 Bill I am a very different case. I am morbidly obese. I originally went to see Rattner over 3 yrs ago now and he told me due my weight he wwight he could not do the HM. He did however mention that he could do it if i had a gastric bypass done at the same time. I was not very keen on the idea of having a by pass so i held off. I also felt like it didnt make a lot of sense that it was okat to do the two together but not th HM alone. Fast forward 2 yrs later i found out about a gastric sleeve a much less invasive surgery. So i called Rattner and asked if i could do that and the heller myotomy at the same time. He refered me to a new surgeon dr. Meireles. He was hired at mgh to do sleeves but luckily for me his clinical interest was achalasia in obesity and this new poem procedure. I believe i will be the first one done there. And i think because of my situation Dr.Meireles belives it will be the safeat route for me to go to avoid leaking. I was just there on friday and all the staff who heard who were my surgeons were went on and on about how amazing they are. Needless to say im very excited to not throw up so much. I feel like in my situation this has been a long time coming as i have been dealing with my achalaaia since i was in 3rd or 4th grade without any treatment but a botox injection. Thank u i will most likely keep this grp updated on my proyress for future reference of this type of surgery and of course for all the nay sayers! Haha Pls excuse the horrible typing. Im on my tablet trying to type on a touch screen. Happy easter in maine > > > > > > > > > > Drove 400 km this am to have 4 vials of blood drawn and have a chat with the nurse. LOL! Now on the 400 km trip back. > > > > > > > > > > Thankfully my parents drove me so I can be spasm free with my meds. I discussed having a PCA pump post op and they said they can't see why that would be an issue. I also popped up to the thoracic unit to have a peek to see where I will be staying. > > > > > > > > > > I feel more confident about things now. 6 sleeps! My weight today puts me down almost 50 lb since before Christmas. My trips to the gym helped I am sure. > > > > > > > > > > Feeling more positive than I have in a long while! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenn in Canada > > > > > > > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 Jenn we are practically neighbors haha. I live south of Bangor but work at the hospital there. My husband and I are always saying we are going to north for a road trip or weekend away in maine > > > > > > Drove 400 km this am to have 4 vials of blood drawn and have a chat with > > the nurse. LOL! Now on the 400 km trip back. > > > > > > Thankfully my parents drove me so I can be spasm free with my meds. I > > discussed having a PCA pump post op and they said they can't see why that > > would be an issue. I also popped up to the thoracic unit to have a peek to > > see where I will be staying. > > > > > > I feel more confident about things now. 6 sleeps! My weight today puts me > > down almost 50 lb since before Christmas. My trips to the gym helped I am > > sure. > > > > > > Feeling more positive than I have in a long while! > > > > > > > > > Jenn in Canada > > > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > HealthShare International Support Network and CheckOrphan have teamed up to > > offer a private, nonprofit, global community serving patients, family > > members, friends, educators and medical professionals. We are dedicated to > > providing the latest news and disease information and support. > > > > The CheckOrphan-HealthShare community center is the meeting place for all of > > our individual support group members. The community center offers members a > > safe and private environment to come together, make friends, share > > information and support with others beyond their own private communities. > > > > Join us at http://myhealthshare.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2012 Report Share Posted April 8, 2012 Thank you for explaining. Your case is indeed different. Please do let us know how the POEM goes for you. You are in good hands with Dr. Rattner and, I'm sure, his colleague. Good luck! > > > > > > > > > > > > Drove 400 km this am to have 4 vials of blood drawn and have a chat with the nurse. LOL! Now on the 400 km trip back. > > > > > > > > > > > > Thankfully my parents drove me so I can be spasm free with my meds. I discussed having a PCA pump post op and they said they can't see why that would be an issue. I also popped up to the thoracic unit to have a peek to see where I will be staying. > > > > > > > > > > > > I feel more confident about things now. 6 sleeps! My weight today puts me down almost 50 lb since before Christmas. My trips to the gym helped I am sure. > > > > > > > > > > > > Feeling more positive than I have in a long while! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenn in Canada > > > > > > > > > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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