Hello, I'm new to the group.

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group! Just a quick note, I had the

myotomy and am not on medication for reflux at

all...that statement about being on it forever is

false!

--- brgrusin@... wrote:

> I am 28 and had been treated for GERD and dsyphagia

> for 6 years. I

> was diagnosed with achalasia in June. My severe

> symptoms (weight

> loss, regurgitation of food) didn't start until

> after the birth of my

> first child. I am trying to decide on the best

> treatment option.

> While I'm deciding, I have started taking a channel

> blocker. In only

> one week this has really improved my ability to eat

> but I'm not sure

> how long you are supposed to take these/how long the

> relief will

> last.

>

> I am concerned about the timing of the treatment I

> ultimately pick

> too. I want to have another child in a couple of

> years and would

> like to plan the treatments to coincide

> appropriately. Some people

> suggest going straight to the laparoscopic myotomy

> now because of my

> age; however, others suggest management with Botox

> and/or dilations.

> My first choice would be to try the Botox but I

> don't want to " burn

> any bridges " so to speak. I have heard that

> repeated dilations or

> injections make the myotomy more technically

> difficult for the

> surgeon and possibly less efficacious. Another

> concern would be

> taking medication for reflux during pregnancy?I

> understand that

> you have to be on medication for reflux for life

> after a myotomy.

>

> Any recommendations or advice would be greatly

> appreciated. Thanks.

> -Betsy

>

> P.S. I would love to hear from any women that have

> been pregnant

> with achalasia.

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi,

I had a myotomy when I was 19, and had my two children after that. I

never took medication for GERD regularly -- just Tums, Mylanta and

things like that for the heartburn, which was not that frequent for

me. It is not true that you have to treat GERD forever after a

myotomy. In fact, they can even do a " wrap " , also called

fundoplication, during the myotomy to treat GERD. This is a

procedure in which they use part of your stomach tissue to create a

new opening which bars reflux, at least to some degree.

Having had previous treatments does not always cause huge problems

with subsequent surgery. I have begun having more swallowing

difficulties in the last 3 years, and have had 4 botox injections. I

don't recommend these as any long-lasting solution. EAch one seems

less and less effective. I just had a balloon dilatation last week,

and am doing very well so far -- no heartburn, and can eat much

better.

Find a surgeon who is very experienced with achalasia and myotomy.

Such a surgeon should be able to overcome any complications from

prior treatments such as botox or dilatations. If my dilatation does

not last long, this will be my next step. Look at a teaching

hospital. I live in the Chicago area, so let me know if I can be of

help with referrals.

I hope this helps.

a

> I am 28 and had been treated for GERD and dsyphagia for 6 years. I

> was diagnosed with achalasia in June. My severe symptoms (weight

> loss, regurgitation of food) didn't start until after the birth of

my

> first child. I am trying to decide on the best treatment option.

> While I'm deciding, I have started taking a channel blocker. In

only

> one week this has really improved my ability to eat but I'm not

sure

> how long you are supposed to take these/how long the relief will

> last.

>

> I am concerned about the timing of the treatment I ultimately pick

> too. I want to have another child in a couple of years and would

> like to plan the treatments to coincide appropriately. Some people

> suggest going straight to the laparoscopic myotomy now because of

my

> age; however, others suggest management with Botox and/or

dilations.

> My first choice would be to try the Botox but I don't want to " burn

> any bridges " so to speak. I have heard that repeated dilations or

> injections make the myotomy more technically difficult for the

> surgeon and possibly less efficacious. Another concern would be

> taking medication for reflux during pregnancy…I understand that

> you have to be on medication for reflux for life after a myotomy.

>

> Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

> -Betsy

>

> P.S. I would love to hear from any women that have been pregnant

> with achalasia.

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this group and have never been in a chat group before. I

am a 39 year old mom. I joined hoping to get some information about

RA. I've been having symptoms since October. It stared in my feet and

I was sure it must be new shoes. Then by Novemver my arms hurt and I

thought it was our new puppy pulling on the leash. By the end of

November my hands were affected. I saw a Rhumatologist who thinks I

have RA even though my blood work, MRI and Xrays all showed nothing.

The Doctor says it may show up after six months. I seem to have good

and bad days. I was on Prenizone for four months but am currently on

nothing but IB phrophrin. Any information is great I know no one with

RA.

Thank You,

[Guest guest]

I've noted the comments from you and other newly diagnosed RA

sufferers. When I was diagnosed 27 years ago my blood work didn't

initially show positive either. RA is sneaky that way. It

unfortunately gives us false hope. Hang in there and take really good

care of yourself! Eat right(The Maker's Diet); exercise regularly

(yoga is great if you can, swimming is good) get lots of rest. I

didn't do those things and I'm paying for it now.

warm hugs,

Suz

>

> Hello everyone,

> I am new to this group and have never been in a chat group before. I

> am a 39 year old mom. I joined hoping to get some information about

> RA. I've been having symptoms since October. It stared in my feet and

> I was sure it must be new shoes. Then by Novemver my arms hurt and I

> thought it was our new puppy pulling on the leash. By the end of

> November my hands were affected. I saw a Rhumatologist who thinks I

> have RA even though my blood work, MRI and Xrays all showed nothing.

> The Doctor says it may show up after six months. I seem to have good

> and bad days. I was on Prenizone for four months but am currently on

> nothing but IB phrophrin. Any information is great I know no one with

> RA.

> Thank You,

>

>