BACK FROM SURGERY

[Guest guest]

Dear Alan - I'm so happy to hear that everything went well for you during

surgery. I had to wear those inflatable cuffs also when I had my Hellers. My

one word of advice to you is to take it easy for the next two weeks!! Good

luck. Sincerely, Elena

[Guest guest]

Alan -

Yay! You're back! Congratulations! Hope the rest of your recovery - and

the rest of your life! - goes so well! Your hospital stay was same length

as mine - hope that's a good omen, too! Here's a tip: don't overdo, even

though you might feel strong enough, and don't overeat, even though you

think you can. It's still major surgery -

otherwise - YAYY!

Carol

Back from surgery

> Well, I had the heller's myotomy at Harper hospital in Detroit. I

> went in Monday morning and returned home Wednesday morning. The stay

> was longer than expected because I could not stand up and walk around

> without becoming light-headed and dizzy. The Tylenol 3 was probably

> the cause. I do not take many drugs and it hit me hard. I notice

> improvements already when swallowing liquids (I am on a liquid diet

> until I feel ready to move up to soft foods). There is not much pain,

> just when getting into or out of bed or coughing. I feel somewhat

> weak but not too bad overall. I will give more details when I feel

> stronger. HELLO TO CAROL! I MADE IT!

>

> Alan

>

> P.S. Some weird things in the hospital: First, they put a wraparound

> stocking on my legs that automatically inflated and deflated.

> Supposedly to prevent blood clots. They also had me breath into a

> hand held device that moved a small piston upwards when inhaling.

> This was to exercise the lungs after the surgery. Ah the wonders of

> modern science!

>

>

>

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Alan,

Congratulations on your surgery! I had my Heller Myotomy in February and it

made a tremendous difference in my life. The first thing that I noticed

after was that I was able to swallow cold liquids without any trouble. With

my achalasia I have a strong aversion to anything cold, it just made my

whole throat seize and I couldn't swallow at all. At the hospital the day

after surgery I drank three cold apple juices with no trouble and was

totally thrilled. Besides, I was getting pretty tired of having to drink

warm beer and wine! Since then I have found that my eating is considerably

better but I still have trouble with things like bread and chunks of meat

and raw vegetables, so take it easy!

I also had those stocking things on my legs for the surgery and funny enough

they forgot to take them off after and I ended up having them on for most of

the first day!

Take care,

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/8/00 6:30:37 PM PST, cacini@... writes:

<<

> just when getting into or out of bed or coughing. I feel somewhat

> weak but not too bad overall. I will give more details when I feel

> stronger >>

Alan,

I am happy for you, and I am sure your recovery will be speedy. Take Care,

Diane

[Guest guest]

Alan,

Glad to here everything went well. Take it easy and don't rush into

things, especially eating! Prayers to your speedy recovery.

Cheryl Cini

-- In achalasiaegroups, " Alan Laviolette " <alanlav@f...> wrote:

> Well, I had the heller's myotomy at Harper hospital in Detroit. I

> went in Monday morning and returned home Wednesday morning. The

stay

> was longer than expected because I could not stand up and walk

around

> without becoming light-headed and dizzy. The Tylenol 3 was probably

> the cause. I do not take many drugs and it hit me hard. I notice

> improvements already when swallowing liquids (I am on a liquid diet

> until I feel ready to move up to soft foods). There is not much

pain,

> just when getting into or out of bed or coughing. I feel somewhat

> weak but not too bad overall. I will give more details when I feel

> stronger. HELLO TO CAROL! I MADE IT!

>

> Alan

>

> P.S. Some weird things in the hospital: First, they put a

wraparound

> stocking on my legs that automatically inflated and deflated.

> Supposedly to prevent blood clots. They also had me breath into a

> hand held device that moved a small piston upwards when inhaling.

> This was to exercise the lungs after the surgery. Ah the wonders of

> modern science!

[Guest guest]

Hi Kat<br><br>Good luck with your rehab... I

mentioned before that I was experimenting with magnetic

wraps. I've tried two over the past 7 days (i) Homedics

(ii) Magnetic Therapy Ltd (both UK companies I'm

afraid) cos I'm in the UK.<br><br>I do seem to have seen

improvement in knee pain over the week and maybe it's due to

the wraps. I'm also dosing up on glucosamine so maybe

it's that but I really don't know. I hope it's the

glucosamine but suspect it's the wrap, because in the

meantime my ankle has started to hurt! <br><br>But you

might like to try a knee wrap and see if it helps with

the pain. If you believe all the blurb they're

supposed to help with healing too.<br><br>The one I prefer

is the Magnetic Therapy one because it's made of

cloth rather than neoprene, has more magnets and the

magnets are unipolar (-ve north facing the skin). Here's

the web site

<a href=http://www.magnetictherapy.co.uk/system/index.html.

target=new>http://www.magnetictherapy.co.uk/system/index.html.</a> Look under

" Pain Relief " and look at the " Pain

Relief knee Wrap " This is the one I use (well I have one

for each knee).<br><br>You don't need to buy from the

UK because I've seen sites in the US which sell the

identical wrap.<br><br>All I can say is I'm walking around

better now. Just that blumming ankle now!!!<br><br>Good

luck<br>Joe

[Guest guest]

Good luck to you, Sounds like your whole insides have been shuffled.

I had a dilation about a month ago, my first, and it seems to be

working well. I hope you get relief from your last surgery.

Sandy

> I went to New England Medical Center on March 19 for a revision

of

> my cervical esophogogastric anastomosis. I had an esophagectomy

with

> a gastric pull-up for severe achalasia two years ago. The

anastomosis

> became deformed for some reason. I had been suffering from

difficult

> swallowing in my throat instead of lower as had been with the

> achalasia. I was in real danger of aspirating.

> I was only in the hospital for 4 days instead of 17 for the

> esophagectomy. I have been on clear liquids since last Thursday.

I

> started today on puree food. I have a rubber drain stitched into

my

> throat, this will be removed on April 4th. This drain allows

> accumulated fluid to escape. I was sent home only on Tylenol and

> Ampicillin.

> Now I hope what I eat stays down. There is a straight line from

> the back of my throat right into my intestine. I actually do not

> have a functioning stomach anymore. I swallow by gravity. There

are

> no muscles to prevent reflux of food back up.

> Only time will tell I guess

[Guest guest]

Joe, So glad to hear from you again and that your coming along as well as

you are. I hope this will take care of all your " problems " from now on.

>From: " robjoe94 " <robjoe94@...>

>Reply-achalasia

>achalasia

>Subject: back from surgery

>Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 00:38:05 -0000

>

> I went to New England Medical Center on March 19 for a revision of

>my cervical esophogogastric anastomosis. I had an esophagectomy with

>a gastric pull-up for severe achalasia two years ago. The anastomosis

>became deformed for some reason. I had been suffering from difficult

>swallowing in my throat instead of lower as had been with the

>achalasia. I was in real danger of aspirating.

> I was only in the hospital for 4 days instead of 17 for the

>esophagectomy. I have been on clear liquids since last Thursday. I

>started today on puree food. I have a rubber drain stitched into my

>throat, this will be removed on April 4th. This drain allows

>accumulated fluid to escape. I was sent home only on Tylenol and

>Ampicillin.

> Now I hope what I eat stays down. There is a straight line from

>the back of my throat right into my intestine. I actually do not

>have a functioning stomach anymore. I swallow by gravity. There are

>no muscles to prevent reflux of food back up.

>Only time will tell I guess

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi

Glad to hear you made it through in one piece (minus the c-toma naturally). Feeling a bit fragile and roughed up? The perfect opportunity for taking things slow and easy for a while, I hope. You can always try getting around by keeping your eyes firmly focussed on the object you want to walk (slowly) towards (i.e. the door), it stops you developing the habit of floor gazing and wall clinging. Though I guess it doesn't really matter because I'm sure the unsteadiness will soon pass.So, best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Phil

[Guest guest]

Welcome back!!! I hope your pain eases soon, and you have a full recovery...

Keep us posted...

~*~Renonda~*~

[Guest guest]

well i hope he can fix the problem with your hearing. i have lost most of my

hearing in my right ear and have none in the left. i had hearing aids but

they dont seem to work now. just wondering how you manage the loss all the

time. i have a very hard time with this and still have not been able to

return back to work and i had surgery back in Aug. so good luck to you

tammy

[Guest guest]

Hi Renonda,

Thanks for your quick reply. Another line on the aftermath of the surgery for the group is that I have interference with my taste buds. Also does anyone one have any clue as to the what kind of hearing I should be looking forward to (the doctors thought it would improve but I cant say I agree but then again I have packing in my ears still).

Am glad to be back.

Piyali.

nonnykay1@... wrote:

Welcome back!!! I hope your pain eases soon, and you have a full recovery...Keep us posted...~*~Renonda~*~

[Guest guest]

Hi Pyali,

I had no improvement in my hearing, although I thought I could hear better... But I had my surgery in May, and they retested my hearing in July and there was no improvement. Dr Nedzelski said that was as expected, because he did not do anything to restore the hearing. I will be seeing him in March to discuss reconstruction. Can't wait!

Lynn

Re: Back from surgery

Hi Renonda, Thanks for your quick reply. Another line on the aftermath of the surgery for the group is that I have interference with my taste buds. Also does anyone one have any clue as to the what kind of hearing I should be looking forward to (the doctors thought it would improve but I cant say I agree but then again I have packing in my ears still). Am glad to be back. Piyali. nonnykay1@... wrote: Welcome back!!! I hope your pain eases soon, and you have a full recovery...Keep us posted...~*~Renonda~*~

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynn,

Dr. Ned reconstructed my ear drum by taking a skin graft from the same area. I think that is the thinking behind better hearing though I have lost 2 bones.

Piyali.

Lynn Witkowski <lynnwit@...> wrote:

Hi Pyali,

I had no improvement in my hearing, although I thought I could hear better... But I had my surgery in May, and they retested my hearing in July and there was no improvement. Dr Nedzelski said that was as expected, because he did not do anything to restore the hearing. I will be seeing him in March to discuss reconstruction. Can't wait!

Lynn

Re: Back from surgery

Hi Renonda, Thanks for your quick reply. Another line on the aftermath of the surgery for the group is that I have interference with my taste buds. Also does anyone one have any clue as to the what kind of hearing I should be looking forward to (the doctors thought it would improve but I cant say I agree but then again I have packing in my ears still). Am glad to be back. Piyali. nonnykay1@... wrote: Welcome back!!! I hope your pain eases soon, and you have a full recovery...Keep us posted...~*~Renonda~*~

[Guest guest]

Hi

That might be why you will have improvement in your hearing. My eardrum was intact all along... in fact, it was so good (although scarred), that Dr Ned thought my CToma was congenital. I will never know if it was, (but I don't think it was) but he did give me a new eardrum during my last surgery. I think he used my "used" ear drum to patch the areas that the c-toma had eroded. So it makes sense that my hearing would not have changed... still I could have sworn that I could hear more... wishful thinking I guess. By the way, the taste buds should go back to normal soon.

Lynn

Re: Back from surgery

Hi Renonda, Thanks for your quick reply. Another line on the aftermath of the surgery for the group is that I have interference with my taste buds. Also does anyone one have any clue as to the what kind of hearing I should be looking forward to (the doctors thought it would improve but I cant say I agree but then again I have packing in my ears still). Am glad to be back. Piyali. nonnykay1@... wrote: Welcome back!!! I hope your pain eases soon, and you have a full recovery...Keep us posted...~*~Renonda~*~

[Guest guest]

Hi again,

Hopefully the spring reconstructive surgery will have you hearing more. Thanks for all the input.

Piyali.

Lynn Witkowski <lynnwit@...> wrote:

Hi

That might be why you will have improvement in your hearing. My eardrum was intact all along... in fact, it was so good (although scarred), that Dr Ned thought my CToma was congenital. I will never know if it was, (but I don't think it was) but he did give me a new eardrum during my last surgery. I think he used my "used" ear drum to patch the areas that the c-toma had eroded. So it makes sense that my hearing would not have changed... still I could have sworn that I could hear more... wishful thinking I guess. By the way, the taste buds should go back to normal soon.

Lynn

Re: Back from surgery

Hi Renonda, Thanks for your quick reply. Another line on the aftermath of the surgery for the group is that I have interference with my taste buds. Also does anyone one have any clue as to the what kind of hearing I should be looking forward to (the doctors thought it would improve but I cant say I agree but then again I have packing in my ears still). Am glad to be back. Piyali. nonnykay1@... wrote: Welcome back!!! I hope your pain eases soon, and you have a full recovery...Keep us posted...~*~Renonda~*~

[Guest guest]

Glad to hear how things turned out!! My surgery is coming fast 12-12 .. nervous but cant wait to get the load out of my ear...

Hope all goes well and a speedy recovery

Re: Back from surgery

Hi Renonda, Thanks for your quick reply. Another line on the aftermath of the surgery for the group is that I have interference with my taste buds. Also does anyone one have any clue as to the what kind of hearing I should be looking forward to (the doctors thought it would improve but I cant say I agree but then again I have packing in my ears still). Am glad to be back. Piyali. nonnykay1@... wrote: Welcome back!!! I hope your pain eases soon, and you have a full recovery...Keep us posted...~*~Renonda~*~

[Guest guest]

Piyali,

I'm glad to hear your surgery went well, I also had my

eardrum reconstructed by a skin graft. Unfortunately

the C-Toma destroyed ALL my hearing bones and they

were all removed so I am deaf in my left ear. I am use

to it now though its been 13 years.

Anyway, glad to see you are doing well.

God Bless!

Alyssa

--- piyali malik <piyalim@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Lynn,

> Dr. Ned reconstructed my ear drum by taking a skin

> graft from the same area. I think that is the

> thinking behind better hearing though I have lost 2

> bones.

> Piyali.

> Lynn Witkowski <lynnwit@...> wrote:Hi

> Pyali,I had no improvement in my hearing, although I

> thought I could hear better... But I had my surgery

> in May, and they retested my hearing in July and

> there was no improvement. Dr Nedzelski said that

> was as expected, because he did not do anything to

> restore the hearing. I will be seeing him in March

> to discuss reconstruction. Can't wait! Lynn -----

> Original Message ----- From: piyali malik To:

> cholesteatoma Sent: Monday, November

> 25, 2002 11:37 AMSubject: Re: Back

> from surgery

>

> Hi Renonda,

> Thanks for your quick reply. Another line on the

> aftermath of the surgery for the group is that I

> have interference with my taste buds. Also does

> anyone one have any clue as to the what kind of

> hearing I should be looking forward to (the doctors

> thought it would improve but I cant say I agree but

> then again I have packing in my ears still).

> Am glad to be back.

> Piyali.

> nonnykay1@... wrote: Welcome back!!! I hope your

> pain eases soon, and you have a full recovery...

> Keep us posted...

> ~*~Renonda~*~

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Alyssa,

I know how important it is that to be able to hear and I take heart from the fact that though with all the packing I cant tell any improvement, it seems to be the same as before. Why did they do a skin graft if they couldn't impact your hearing? Did you ever consider following up on reconstruction later?

Thank you so much for your good wishes.

Piyali.

Alyssa Profenna <sxyitaliana24@...> wrote:

Piyali,I'm glad to hear your surgery went well, I also had myeardrum reconstructed by a skin graft. Unfortunatelythe C-Toma destroyed ALL my hearing bones and theywere all removed so I am deaf in my left ear. I am useto it now though its been 13 years. Anyway, glad to see you are doing well.God Bless!Alyssa--- piyali malik <piyalim@...> wrote:> > Hi Lynn,> Dr. Ned reconstructed my ear drum by taking a skin> graft from the same area. I think that is the> thinking behind better hearing though I have lost 2> bones.> Piyali.> Lynn Witkowski <lynnwit@...> wrote:Hi> Pyali,I had no improvement in my hearing, although I> thought I could hear better... But I had my surgery> in May, and they retested my hearing in July and> there was no improvement. Dr Nedzelski said that> was as expected, because he did not do anything to> restore the hearing. I will be seeing him in March> to discuss reconstruction. Can't wait! Lynn -----> Original Message ----- From: piyali malik To:> cholesteatoma Sent: Monday, November> 25, 2002 11:37 AMSubject: Re: Back> from surgery> > Hi Renonda, > Thanks for your quick reply. Another line on the> aftermath of the surgery for the group is that I> have interference with my taste buds. Also does> anyone one have any clue as to the what kind of> hearing I should be looking forward to (the doctors> thought it would improve but I cant say I agree but> then again I have packing in my ears still). > Am glad to be back. > Piyali. > nonnykay1@... wrote: Welcome back!!! I hope your> pain eases soon, and you have a full recovery...> Keep us posted...> ~*~Renonda~*~ >

[Guest guest]

They did a graft because my eardrum was destroyed as

well and he just made a " new " one so there would be

something in there I guess. It's funny cuz after 13

years I still see him once a year and he is a

Pediatric ENT specialist. He didn't pass me off to any

other Dr after I turned 18, he said he wanted to keep

me as his patient because he was there through it all

and he knows what happened. His name is Dr. Eavey and

he truly was a godsend. I get scared to this day when

I go for my checkups, its the smell of the hospital

that freaks me out. It brings back the memories of

being there as much as I was. All I can say is I am

greatful for the care I received, and I am just happy

that after 13 years I have been healthy.

As for reconstruction, I dont know if it is possible.

I am use to not hearing and although sometimes it

bothers me I barely notice it. And I REFUSE to ever

have surgery again unless it is life or death.

Take care

Alyssa

--- piyali malik <piyalim@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Alyssa,

> I know how important it is that to be able to hear

> and I take heart from the fact that though with all

> the packing I cant tell any improvement, it seems to

> be the same as before. Why did they do a skin graft

> if they couldn't impact your hearing? Did you ever

> consider following up on reconstruction later?

> Thank you so much for your good wishes.

> Piyali.

> Alyssa Profenna <sxyitaliana24@...>

> wrote:Piyali,

>

> I'm glad to hear your surgery went well, I also had

> my

> eardrum reconstructed by a skin graft. Unfortunately

> the C-Toma destroyed ALL my hearing bones and they

> were all removed so I am deaf in my left ear. I am

> use

> to it now though its been 13 years.

> Anyway, glad to see you are doing well.

> God Bless!

>

> Alyssa

> --- piyali malik <piyalim@...> wrote:

> >

> > Hi Lynn,

> > Dr. Ned reconstructed my ear drum by taking a skin

> > graft from the same area. I think that is the

> > thinking behind better hearing though I have lost

> 2

> > bones.

> > Piyali.

> > Lynn Witkowski <lynnwit@...> wrote:Hi

> > Pyali,I had no improvement in my hearing, although

> I

> > thought I could hear better... But I had my

> surgery

> > in May, and they retested my hearing in July and

> > there was no improvement. Dr Nedzelski said that

> > was as expected, because he did not do anything to

> > restore the hearing. I will be seeing him in

> March

> > to discuss reconstruction. Can't wait! Lynn -----

> > Original Message ----- From: piyali malik To:

> > cholesteatoma Sent: Monday,

> November

> > 25, 2002 11:37 AMSubject: Re: Back

> > from surgery

> >

> > Hi Renonda,

> > Thanks for your quick reply. Another line on the

> > aftermath of the surgery for the group is that I

> > have interference with my taste buds. Also does

> > anyone one have any clue as to the what kind of

> > hearing I should be looking forward to (the

> doctors

> > thought it would improve but I cant say I agree

> but

> > then again I have packing in my ears still).

> > Am glad to be back.

> > Piyali.

> > nonnykay1@... wrote: Welcome back!!! I hope

> your

> > pain eases soon, and you have a full recovery...

> > Keep us posted...

> > ~*~Renonda~*~

> >

[Guest guest]

So gald everything went so well. I'm hoping on my next surgery my

Dr. can go in through the canal as well. I'm sorry to hear about the

c-toma showing up in your other ear bummer.

Good Luck and Good Wishes

Kandy

> Hi everyone, well I had my surgery and everything went well. The

dr.

> did not find anymore c-toma in the left ear!!1 Yippee!!!! And he

was

> able to operate by going in through the ear canal!! I was so

happy.

> Ok now the bad news,,, it looks like I have c-toma in my right

(good

> ear) !! He told me not to worry that we are going to wait until my

> left ear heals up and then we will start fixing the right ear. I

am

> also happy to post that I have not had any post surgery dizziness

> that I usually have. For now, the ear feels squishey and throbs a

> little bit, but I can handle that with codeine. To everyone who is

> facing an upcoming surgery, I wish you all the best. Charla

[Guest guest]

---Thanks Kandy, when is your next surgery? It sure is a whole lot

better when they can operate through the canal verses the other way.

Best of luck to you, Charla

In cholesteatoma , " timkandy " <timkandy@y...> wrote:

> So gald everything went so well. I'm hoping on my next surgery my

> Dr. can go in through the canal as well. I'm sorry to hear about

the

> c-toma showing up in your other ear bummer.

> Good Luck and Good Wishes

> Kandy

>

>

> > Hi everyone, well I had my surgery and everything went well. The

> dr.

> > did not find anymore c-toma in the left ear!!1 Yippee!!!! And he

> was

> > able to operate by going in through the ear canal!! I was so

> happy.

> > Ok now the bad news,,, it looks like I have c-toma in my right

> (good

> > ear) !! He told me not to worry that we are going to wait until

my

> > left ear heals up and then we will start fixing the right ear. I

> am

> > also happy to post that I have not had any post surgery dizziness

> > that I usually have. For now, the ear feels squishey and throbs a

> > little bit, but I can handle that with codeine. To everyone who

is

> > facing an upcoming surgery, I wish you all the best. Charla

[Guest guest]

Hi group can anyone tell me how dangerous a c-toma is and what if any bad things can happen during or after surgery. I went to my ear doc and he told me that I should go to another doc beacause he thinks I have a c-toma. Also how long does it take a c-toma to developPost your free ad now! Canada Personals

[Guest guest]

Hi Jay,

Check out the links on this site, browse the previous messages- they

are an excellent source of information. But as Tom said, it is

something that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Surgery is

the only known treatment and second-look surgery is also necessary.

It is a shock initially. Best of luck.

Maureen

[Guest guest]

Hi Dee,

that is such great news for you and Brody! Sometimes the worrying is the hardest part

Take care,

Melody lil_dee_101 <scrapidee@...> wrote:

Just letting everyone know that Brody (5 year old son) had his surgery on Feb. 4 and is doing better than I ever imagined! All this worrying before hand was a waste of time . His surgery lasted just over 3 hours. The surgeon went through the ear canal and behind the ear as well. He removed the C'toma, did a tympanoplasty, removed one of the hearing bones (the middle one) because it was eroded, fixed the bone up and repositioned it. We are to go back in 6 to 8 weeks for a hearing test to see if this worked. I am keeping my fingers crossed! What is most amazing, is that Brody didn't need any pain killers at all. Kids really do have a higher pain tolerance than adults do. He did need some Tylonol last night and again this morning though. The inside of his ear is very itchy,

probably due to the packing, and his ear is sticking out quite a bit but will go back to normal when the swelling goes down. Now the hard part - keeping him from running and jumping. Had to remind him a couple of times already today. Thanks for the prayers. - Dee