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Hello everyone!

My name is , and I am 52 and live in New Jersey.

I fist want to say how terrific it is to find this group - and I am very moved

by the support and care all of you have for each other.

I cannot say 100% that I have Achalasia. I have had " trouble " swallowing

probably since I was about 30 years old. I can't recall the onset. Over the past

20+ years, I'd have to say that it has not gotten any better, nor worse. It

seems to happen more with meats that I do not chew enough. Also tends to happen

more with apples. I suspect it has to do more with the size of what I am

swallowing rather than the texture.

Around 8 years ago I had a test done where I drank some fluid and they put me in

some kind of machine to watch my swallowing etc.

They did NOT tell me I had Achalasia. Rather, I was told I had a Hiatal Hernia.

(spelling?)

I had not heard of Achalasia until last week when I was with a cousin of mine

who told me he had this 'swallowing problem' and that he had surgery to correct

it. That is the first time I heard the word Achalasia.

When I read up on it, it seems more of what I have than a Hiatal Hernia. But I

am unsure.

It does seem to me that some people on this list (and in the general public)

have it much more severe than I do. I don't have spasms. I am able to eat most

of the time. Yes, there have been many times in the past 22 years that I have to

'wait' for the food to 'go down'. And on occasion, I have to vomit up my food to

clear my esophagus. (Well, that is what I think I am doing).

As I said above, it has not gotten any better or worse over the years.

I just try to chew really well to avoid the whole problem.

You all may be wondering why I am sharing my story...

I guess I am interested in getting feedback as to whether I need to investigate

further if I indeed have Achalasia, or, since I am not getting any worse and

able to eat, if getting a true diagnosis would be helpful in some way?

Perhaps I should seek out a specialist in New York City to at least have someone

that can verify and also watch how I change (or not change) from year to year?

I would love to get any feedback - and if anyone knows of a good specialist in

New York City - that would be good information to have, whether I need the

specialist now, or in X amount of time.

Thanks again to everyone on this supportive group!