botox

[Guest guest]

Carol - thanks for the info on your MD moving to Chicago area, which is where I live...not that I'm looking for a new MD, since I love my team, but ya never know. Also appreciate your input on botox and wish I could help answer your questions, but this is the aspect of achalasia treatment I know the least about. I'm always doing research, however, so I'll see what I can find out for you.

Take care -

Carol

botox

Last Thursday I had the Botox injections. I was wondering if anyone who has had these could tell me how they felt following the injections. While they seem to have worked nicely, I also seem to be having a great deal of discomfort that I didn't have before. I had spasms and pain of food/liquid sticking, but this is more of an achy/pressure feeling. I have also had headaches since the injections??

Also, for anyone looking for a good Doctor in the Chicago area, Dr. Gene Chiao moved his practice there from the Indiana University Medical Center. He is nationally known for his work with Achalasia, so I have heard the "best of the best". I was told by my nurse at IU that he moved to private practice on the North (? she thought north anyway) side of Chicago. I saw him when he was at IU. Only twice before he moved, but he made some great choices in my care on the first visit. As a matter of fact, my doctors are still following his notes.

Carol

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.

[Guest guest]

Connie (Granny),

I live in Charlotte, NC and the pain clinic that I go to does Botox

injections for AS, RS, FMS, etc. to reduce muscle spasms. It was suggested

over a year ago that I have a series of these injections to see if they

would help in the neck and back regions. My insurance company has

repeatedly denied coverage, so I have not had them to date. If you are

interested in checking into them, e-mail me privately and I can give you the

name of the clinic.

Regards!

[Guest guest]

I have a friend with terrible terrible cluster headaches.. he has had one

for about three weeks straight now and he is so miserable.. is on morphine

but that doesn't help anymore and he is getting addicted to it to the

point he may have go to the hospital to detox.....he gets imitrix shots

but those are bad for his heart.. he has heart problems already but this

is the ONLY thing that even begins to deaden the pain.

He's been to the top headache clinics in cluding one in Chicago. I have

mentioned botox to him but he's skeptical of it.. of course by now he has

tried everything else and hearing anything new just doesn't phase him

anymore.. he's almost given up hope....

Liz

~~~

" No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. " Eleanor Roosevelt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EMAIL: juliette@... **ICQ 49746198** MSN & AIM LizKP1952**

PERSONAL HOMEPAGE PAGE http://members.tripod.com/~LizK

ADDult HOME PAGE: http://members.tripod.com/~LizK/addult.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Guest guest]

I have had migraines for nearly 40 years, and have had every kind of meds for

them, then one day I tried fever few, the herb in pill form, and what do you

know, it works. I was so excited I make sure to tell everyone I here has

headaches just to try it to see if it will help them too. I rarely get

headaches now except for reaction to new meds, but then the fever few doesn't

work. The meds had to get out of my system, but tell you friend to try it.

I was on morphine too, but didn't stop the headaches. Good Luck EFD

[Guest guest]

He tried that but it seemed to make them worse.. you aren't spposed to

take it when you are in an active headache mode i guess and his are so

back to back he never could even get anywhere...

On Wed, 19 Jun 2002

Efdavidson@... wrote:

> I have had migraines for nearly 40 years, and have had every kind of meds for

> them, then one day I tried fever few, the herb in pill form, and what do you

> know, it works. I was so excited I make sure to tell everyone I here has

Liz

~~~

" No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. " Eleanor Roosevelt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EMAIL: juliette@... **ICQ 49746198** MSN & AIM LizKP1952**

PERSONAL HOMEPAGE PAGE http://members.tripod.com/~LizK

ADDult HOME PAGE: http://members.tripod.com/~LizK/addult.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Guest guest]

,

The following is an article from Dr. Jay Rowen's SECOND OPINION July

2002 issue:

BOTULISM TOXIN AS A WRINKLE TREATMENT?

If you ever receive an invitation to a Botox party, I strongly suggest you

decline.

If you attend, you're greeted by a doctor ready to inject a highly toxic

poison into your face just to erase your wrinkles for a few months. How

anyone could do this is beyond me, but it's an expensive craze now sweeping

across America.

What really gets me is that while alternative physicians can be de-licensed

for using non-orthodox nutritional therapies, doctors for years have used

pharmacological agents for unapproved indications. Generally, off-label drug

use is tolerated by the extablishment, while nonstandard,

non-pharmacological therapies are stamped out.

Take this Botox, for example. Botox is short for botulism toxin, one of the

most potent poisons known, with no antidote(perhaps except photooxidation).

Made by a bacteria, and known for its presence in closed, spoiled food

containers, botox works by disconnecting a muscle from its controlling

nerve. The signals from the nerve get blocked, resulting in paralysis.

The FDA had approved botox for use in certain muscle spasms(such as eye and

neck muscles). Some doctors got the bright idea that it also could be used

to paralyze facial muscles to flatten out wrinkles.

Sure enough, it worked!

The FDA says it improved or flattened out wrinkles in the great majority of

the 405 patients it was following.

BUT IT IS NOT RISK FREE!

First, there are " side effects. " These can include headache, flu symptoms,

droopy eyelids, weak muscles at the site of treatment, and nausea. However,

the problem for wrinkles is much greater. Botox poisons the nerve-muscle

junction for only four months at the most, so the positive effects on the

facial muscles, will wear out. The more Botox you use, the longer the

treatment will last.

Since it is not permanent, the body learns to adjust. Our immune system may

make antibodies to the toxin, requiring larger amounts to be injected the

next time, as effectiveness fades. Or the body may grow new nerve endings to

work its way around the toxin blockade. Again, more will have to be used the

next time. And to make matters worse, with additional nerve endings, the

wrinkles may get deeper when the Botox is stopped!

The cost is another factor. It usually starts at $300. There may be one

advantage clinically for this treatment. For those with severe tension

headaches that cause contraction of facial muscles, the treatment has been

reported to provide relief. However, relaxation techniques may do the

same(or better) at less cost and without paralyzing the muscles.

This is just a fad, and we have no idea what the long-term implications are.

It reminds me of Propecia for hair growth in men. Very expensive, temporary,

and if discontinued, the hair falls out again. This treatment must be

continued and the body mounts natural resistance to it. The same is true

with Botox.

ACTION TO TAKE:

(1) Avoid Botox! It's not worth it. The best alternative to Botox is

low-dose Retin-A gel, a vitamin A derivative used for acne that actually

helps correct some of the oxidative stressors that cause the wrinkles.

(2) Another product, made from alpha lipoic acid, also holds hope. Alpha

Lipoic Acid is one of my favorite nutritional antioxidants and detoxifiers.

There are creams on the market from compounding pharmacists which might

reverse oxidative damage to the skin and give it a more youthful appearance.

Have your doctor contact the Women's International Pharmacy (800-279-5708;

www.womeninternational.com) or other compoinding pharmacies for more

information.

(3) And, as always, a word about prevention. The sun is your friend, but

sunburn is not. In my experience, a diet rich in the antioxidants found in

fresh vegetables makes the skin more youthful looking and retards facial

aging.

As you can see, I am not a fan of Botox. But I'm even less of a fan of a

system that allows practitioners to experiment with unproven off-label

pharmaceuticals until approved, while de-licensing doctors who use

" unproven " natural therapy. You'd think we (natural doctors) were a deadlier

poison than botulism.

REF: InteliHealth News Service, April 15, 2002

HTH

Carol/Piney

rheumatic Botox

> Has anyone had the Botox injections for wrinkles? I am wondering if there

> will be a complication with the RA. The plastic surgeon did not think

so,

> but I read on one website that it might not be good for people with RA and

> Lupus. I know we can't have collagen injections but wonder about the

botox.

> Let me know if you know anything or have had it.

> Thanks!

>

>

>

>

>

> To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

please delete my email address from your mailing list

Regards.joyseric@...

rheumatic Botox

> Has anyone had the Botox injections for wrinkles? I am wondering if there

> will be a complication with the RA. The plastic surgeon did not think

so,

> but I read on one website that it might not be good for people with RA and

> Lupus. I know we can't have collagen injections but wonder about the

botox.

> Let me know if you know anything or have had it.

> Thanks!

>

>

>

>

>

> To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Please delete my email address from your mailing list. regards joyseric@...

rheumatic botox

Hello everybody! From what I understand, the Botox injection is actually a form of bacteria from chicken. It works by paralyzing the muscle or wherever it is injected. This freezes up the muscle and therefor you look like you've had a face lift. That is why they say you get a frozen smile or frozen face. I saw a show on it the other night and when I saw that it was a bacteria that was injected, I know that I would never get it done. Too risky for me =0)

~Roseanne~To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups

[Guest guest]

Chiming in here on the Botox controversy...I agree with all of you! (Well, most

of you).

One of the reasons I left my last ENT was his Botox ads, complete with

before/after photos. He so aggressively promoted wrinkle reduction through Botox

(ah, the beauty of an expressionless face - NOT!) that it made me doubt him as a

serious doctor.

On the other hand, a young (24 y/o) brain-injured man that I work with had 3

Botox injections in his right arm on 1/8. On Tuesday I watched him hold & spray

a bottle of Windex (window cleaner) using his previously useless right arm - it

was a beautiful thing. This fellow was shot in the head randomly in a nightclub

parking lot a couple of years back & the Botox seems to really be helping.

As to tinnitus applications...hmmm. I think I can live with the ringing at this

point! Wouldn't you be paralyzing the whole mechanism? With implications for

hearing?

[Guest guest]

hi,

i'd be wary of any practitioner, other than a plastic surgeon who offered cosmetic surgery. this has become a huge practice, especially here in new york. its extremely profitable for doctors to offer these treatmetns. often they go to one day seminars in how to administer the botox or even just watch how to video!

didi

Re: Botox

Chiming in here on the Botox controversy...I agree with all of you! (Well, most of you). ;)One of the reasons I left my last ENT was his Botox ads, complete with before/after photos. He so aggressively promoted wrinkle reduction through Botox (ah, the beauty of an expressionless face - NOT!) that it made me doubt him as a serious doctor.On the other hand, a young (24 y/o) brain-injured man that I work with had 3 Botox injections in his right arm on 1/8. On Tuesday I watched him hold & spray a bottle of Windex (window cleaner) using his previously useless right arm - it was a beautiful thing. This fellow was shot in the head randomly in a nightclub parking lot a couple of years back & the Botox seems to really be helping.As to tinnitus applications...hmmm. I think I can live with the ringing at this point! Wouldn't you be paralyzing the whole mechanism? With implications for hearing?

[Guest guest]

I went to a surgeon and GI. Both said that botox was temporary.

Both said that " A " would not resolve itself and both said that

Myotomy was the most eficous of all proceedures.

> I am curious if the doctor that told you botox would not complicate

> the surgery a GI doctor or a surgeon?

>

> Paige

[Guest guest]

Thanks for that info...I am considering the botox as well, and

wanted an extra opinion.

Paige

> > I am curious if the doctor that told you botox would not

complicate

> > the surgery a GI doctor or a surgeon?

> >

> > Paige

[Guest guest]

Dear group,

Botox is only a temporary fix(If it works at all for some).I have had " A "

for 13 years and will ALWAYS have it.My doctor told me that people with " A "

Are born with it and anything can trigger it off.

I had 3 dilations before having a hellers done and then after going through

the surgery it did not work (This was due to an inexperienced doctor),I then

had a second hellers done on the 15 of last month and I feel much better,I

can drink fluids with out any problems and food does now go down(Something

are still a little hard to get down)But all in all I would have the

operation again in a heart beat,The one thing my doctor did say was that I

did have scar tissue after the dilations and where I had left it so long to

have surgery my " E " had stretched and this has hindered the amount of relief

I will get(The earlier you have the surgery the better the results).

So my advice is stop worrying and get the surgery done ASAP You will thank

yourself afterwards believe me.

All the best

UK.

Re: Botox

> Thanks for that info...I am considering the botox as well, and

> wanted an extra opinion.

>

> Paige

>

>

> > > I am curious if the doctor that told you botox would not

> complicate

> > > the surgery a GI doctor or a surgeon?

> > >

> > > Paige

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi All;

I sure have to agree with 100%. I have never heard positive comments or long lasting results from Botox. Unfortunately, both of my myotomies were unsuccessful, but I have learned to manage and maintain my weight. I also agree that I will always have Achalasia, even if I do have a third surgery. If I am suddenly unable to maintain 125 lbs, and went back to 110 lbs, I would consider another surgery. I also believe my Achalasia was triggered by a stressful event when I was 25. I am 37 now.

Have a great day, .

-- Re: Re: Botox

Dear group,Botox is only a temporary fix(If it works at all for some).I have had "A"for 13 years and will ALWAYS have it.My doctor told me that people with "A"Are born with it and anything can trigger it off.I had 3 dilations before having a hellers done and then after going throughthe surgery it did not work (This was due to an inexperienced doctor),I thenhad a second hellers done on the 15 of last month and I feel much better,Ican drink fluids with out any problems and food does now go down(Somethingare still a little hard to get down)But all in all I would have theoperation again in a heart beat,The one thing my doctor did say was that Idid have scar tissue after the dilations and where I had left it so long tohave surgery my "E" had stretched and this has hindered the amount of reliefI will get(The earlier you have the surgery the better the results).So my advice is stop worrying and get the surgery done ASAP You will thankyourself afterwards believe me.All the best UK. Re: Botox> Thanks for that info...I am considering the botox as well, and> wanted an extra opinion.>> Paige>> > > > I am curious if the doctor that told you botox would not> complicate> > > the surgery a GI doctor or a surgeon?> > >> > > Paige>>>>>>

[Guest guest]

>

> Sandy:

>

> To answer your question, I live in the Washington, D.C.

metropolitan

> area, Northern Virginia. My doctor, Axelrad, is in Reston.

>

> Yes, you need sedation for the the botox, it's done during an

> endoscopy. I have an appointment in December with another doctor,

> Stanley , at town University Hospital. He is head of

> their gastro dept. My manometry was done at town and

> actually did the initial diagnosis, but I have never met him or

> spoken with him as yet. Axelrad says he studied under .

>

> I'm not sure I understand the scarring issue with botox alone. I've

> read threads here where people talk about it. If I remember

> correctly, it seems that most have had both botox and dialation. Is

> that right?

>

> I have read literature where there is a recommendation to go

> directly to surgery. The thought in that article was that repeated

> dialations/botox could possibly make the surgery harder due to

> scarring and rigidity. There were no statistics.

>

> At the moment I have hit a brick wall. I just want the pain to stop.

>

> Shirley

Shirley,

I had a dilation about 3 weeks ago. Before the dilation, I had six

months of nightly regurgitations and sleeping 3-4 hours per night. I

had also developed a nightly cough. After the dilation, I have slept

through the night every night since and can eat and drink. The only

difference is that you still need to watch what you eat and consider

proton pump inhibitors to avoid GERD. I have had only one night with

heartburn since the dilation. The doctor said this relief could

last for days, weeks or years. She has had diliations that lasted no

more than 3 weeks and has had one last as long as seven years. Botox

she said was best reserved for those who were poor surgical risks or

did not want to try dilation due to the problems caused by scarring.

I had the dilation done at 12:30 pm on a Tuesday and was back at work

on Wednesday. There was some soreness for 24 hours but two regular

strength tylenol.

.

[Guest guest]

Hi Dottie,

Has he gone over the risks and benefits?

Has he spoken to you of why or why not surgery?

In short he's addressing your pain (Dilaudid is excellent it is one

of the (3) medications I'm on) but does he state pain will continue

if so is he talking LA meds.

Hugs,

In a message dated 2/8/2005 2:01:04 PM Central Standard Time,

merhadj@... writes:

Hi all-just got back from Neurosurgeon.....He wants to put me on

Dilaudid(sp?) and go for 3 shots of Botox.........Any thoughts on the

Botox? Dottie

Hallenbeck~Sikorsky~ BS,RN,UM,QC

Owner-Moderator

" AnGeLsInPain "

I have watched heart(s)

shatter, fall to the ground only to break...

" OneVoiceInPain "

Interqual Certified

Published Psychiatric Researcher

Advocate for those in CIP, HIV, Psychologic Pain

" The Lord Will NEVER push us beyond what we can endure. "

[Guest guest]

Hi Dottie,

Has he gone over the risks and benefits?

Has he spoken to you of why or why not surgery?

In short he's addressing your pain (Dilaudid is excellent it is one

of the (3) medications I'm on) but does he state pain will continue

if so is he talking LA meds.

Hugs,

In a message dated 2/8/2005 2:01:04 PM Central Standard Time,

merhadj@... writes:

Hi all-just got back from Neurosurgeon.....He wants to put me on

Dilaudid(sp?) and go for 3 shots of Botox.........Any thoughts on the

Botox? Dottie

Hallenbeck~Sikorsky~ BS,RN,UM,QC

Owner-Moderator

" AnGeLsInPain "

I have watched heart(s)

shatter, fall to the ground only to break...

" OneVoiceInPain "

Interqual Certified

Published Psychiatric Researcher

Advocate for those in CIP, HIV, Psychologic Pain

" The Lord Will NEVER push us beyond what we can endure. "

[Guest guest]

Well you can just iron it later so I think that would be OK....lol Juat ad starch when doing it, that make it last longer....lol

in Suffolk

[Guest guest]

Does that mean that people need to make sure to keep their mouth

closed when they're sunbathing so that they don't get a wrinkled

esophagus?

Jeff

> Leaves the rest of us wondering what Dr. Gluck's diagnosis is. What is

> botox used to treat besides 'A'?

>

>

> Wrinkles!!!

[Guest guest]

Boy are you guys right. The only botox I'll worry about is for the

eyes & wrinkles. HEHE! Actually considering the sleepless nights,

that may not be quite the joke I thought it would be! LOL. Crystal

> Run, run, run...that is my view.

>

> But I think Crystal has already figured that out! LOL. Cindi

[Guest guest]

Manny

I can’t speak for getting botox, but I know a lot of

people on there that have gotten it. Most have said that they really didn’t

get much relief from it.

C Warren

Co-Founder

www.achalasia.us

From:

achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of M1Silva

Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 10:12 PM

achalasia

Subject: BOTOX

Dear Group,

Things aren't better, each day I feel like it's getting worse.

Breakfast and lunch aren't bad but when dinner time comes around it has

been Hell. Some food doesn't go down, and when that happens the felling

is driving me crazy, I don't feel better until I get it up and out.

My GI has recommended Botox first; he did say that it would be only

temporary.

What do you guys think about getting the Botox injection?

Thanks_Manny_on_Long Island

[Guest guest]

Dear Manny,

I think unless you have other health issues that make surgery difficult I'd skip the botox. It seems to be almost a total consensus that botox can cause trouble later with surgery. I'm not remembering a gi that had our group regards that recommended botox first. Find another gi.

To the wife of the carrot eater... tell your husband not to eat carrots, they are almost the worst. Maybe a tiny bite. I estimate myself to be 95% normal and I have trouble w/ carrots. I CAN eat them but most can't.

Also to the wife, (I'm sorry I don't remember your name.) find another achalasian past surgery and buddy up on the phone or meet them in person. It is amazing even to those of us who have met others, that we look normal, there isn't an "A" on our chest.

To many of us it is impossible to explain and seeing the worry and lack of understanding on our spouse's face is (may I say) irritating and annoying and every other feeling that comes along in a close relationship. We are frustrated we can't explain it, but suggesting blended food is soooooooooooooo irritating. We take it out on spouses and those closest. We hate to be asked if we are having trouble as our faces turn blue. I know you can't tell just by watching, but it is frustrating. Neighbors trying to sell you diet drinks or power drinks are also irritating, suggesting Ensure, which I couldn't eat either was disgusting and then that look comes on their face about how in the world can you not eat that stuff or drink water, there must be something psychological wrong with you. Well there probably is that too. Then they see you eat a hamburger, (which was possible sometimes) but not drink water makes them really suspicious.

He may have some issues after surgery and almost all need water while and after eating. If you are using the water pressure to get the food down, then you should go back to your doctors. If you are just using water to rinse things through you are fine.

Being a classic passive aggressive person, if you husband keeps eating carrots and you worry, then he is eating carrots to make you worry. (It takes one to know one.) Light on the carrots, shredded in a salad, or one baby one. Some things we have to give up or use in moderation, just common sense.

Peggy.... yes, after a difficult phone call or evening or event I often get a spasm. They go in streaks so there is some emotional element to them. Sometimes the spasms just linger, much like I've said before, like you are ovulating (ladies), for days. Or they grap you and feel like a horse has their hoof on your sternum for a few minutes or an hour. Some of you have them longer.

Oh, Manny, in case I didn't come through clearly.... RUN RUN from that gi, he doesn't know enough. Someone here had an esophagus that fell apart went the surgeon went to operate. Seems like she had had quite a few procedures, make the first time the best one. It will be interesting to hear why her esophagus fell apart, if they know.

Remember we are getting together in the LA area this Sunday at a house in Studio City, that is north and a little west of downtown LA. Sandi from Northern CA is coming and Kathie from the East. Haven't heard from the others. Email or call me for details.

Sandy from So Cal.... toooo tooooo hot here. Please send some cold air.

>> Dear Group,> > Things aren't better, each day I feel like it's getting worse.> Breakfast and lunch aren't bad but when dinner time comes around it has > been Hell. Some food doesn't go down, and when that happens the felling > is driving me crazy, I don't feel better until I get it up and out.> > My GI has recommended Botox first; he did say that it would be only > temporary. > > What do you guys think about getting the Botox injection?> > > Thanks_Manny_on_Long Island>

[Guest guest]

Dear Manny,

When I was diagnosed with A last Oct/Nov after so many months of going

through the symptoms, I had lost quiet a lot of weight and was loosing

still. So my GI thought it was a good idea to have BOTOX as an instant

relief and once I've re-gained enough weight & strength, I can go for

myotomy. We agreed to his suggestion & went for the BOTOX.

Immediately after the BOTOX, I found this group and with wonderful

suggestions from the people here, I also changed my eating style. I

started to drink lots of hot water with every meal and restricted

myself to only semi-solids and liquids. Not sure whether it was BOTOX

or my yoga or changing the eating habits, luckily I managed to re-gain

the lost weight, since I could eat much better. And now I had my

myotomy last week, laproscopically, and I feel perfectly fine. I

didn't have any complications because of the BOTOX.

I am not as experienced and knowledgeable as many people on this

group, but just thought I'll share my experience with you. This might

help you in making a decision. I'd say if you have lost considerable

amount of weight & are not able to keep anything downat all, you

should give it a go.

Lots of luck!!!

Preeti in Hampshire

[Guest guest]

Manny wrote: My GI has recommended Botox first; he did say that it would be only temporary. What do you guys think about getting the Botox injection?Do you really want to know what I think?I think your GI is a moron. (Hey, I did ask if you really wanted to know!)

Think of it this way. You fall down a flight of stairs and break your leg. You go to the doctor, and he says that he can put a splint on your leg right now, but it's only temporary -- a few months from now you'll have to have surgery to have your leg set properly. And then he says that if you just splint it now and wait for the surgery later on, you'll run the risk of having the bones start to heal together improperly in the meantime. Then when you do go in for surgery down the road, he'll have to re-break your bones and try to put the pieces together properly, which will result in a longer surgery, more risk of nerve damage, possible permanent weakening of the bone, and a much longer and more painful recovery and rehabilitation period.

In that scenario, would you go ahead and do a temporary splint now and a more complicated and painful surgery later, or would you just go ahead and get your leg fixed properly the first time around?

If you get Botox, there's no guarantee that you'll have ANY improvement at all. The only guarantee with Botox is that if it does work, it won't last even a year -- you'll be lucky to get six months out of it, in fact. And many surgeons and GI's think that the scar tissue from Botox can complicate future surgeries and dilations. If you have surgery later, you may end up having to have an open surgery (bigger scars, longer hospital stay, longer and more painful recovery, etc.). If you have a dilation later, you may end up having a perforation (see "open surgery" in previous sentence).

Now ask your doctor this: why on earth is he offering you a TEMPORARY fix? Is it so that six months down the road you're in this exact same condition again and he's got guaranteed income from your next office visit?

Sorry to sound so cynical, but I got Botoxed back in 2002 by a doctor who didn't explain ANYTHING to me at the time (I had actually scheduled a dilation and he told me 10 minutes before the procedure that he was going to do Botox instead). Now that I've read all the research that shows that Botox is rarely helpful (and never in the long term), I have to be suspicious of any GI who recommends it in anyone that is not a surgical risk.

The only true "good case" scenario I've ever heard of was a patient at TCC who was in his late 80s. He had cancer in another part of his body and other health issues, and so wasn't a good candidate for dilation or surgery because of his compromised health (plus he wasn't expected to live beyond a year or two because of all his health problems). (In order to be eligible for dilation, you also have to be in good enough health for surgery, because there's always a chance of perforation during dilation, requiring surgical reconstruction.) In this particular situation, the gentleman was able to have botox every six months for the 1-2 years that he had remaining, and it didn't matter if he had scar tissue building up b/c he wasn't going to ever need surgery or dilation down the road.

It's your body and you can do what you want with it, but at the very least your GI should be able to tell you WHY this is a good idea and what type of success he's had with it in the past.

Debbi in Michigan

[Guest guest]

no but please tell me about! I need all the help I can get.

-- [low dose naltrexone] Botox

I'm having laser hair removal done at a GP's office. The technician was telling me that they have done Botox shots in the legs of their MS patients to help them walk...with great results. Has anyone heard of this before?