problems

[Guest guest]

Jayne

I thought i had problems Jayne, i do hope your son manages to stay out

of jail, no matter how old our children are, or what they have done we

as mothers still love and support them. Good luck.

Get your doctor to run all the tests possible. I was sent to a

Rheumatologist, thankfully the only thing he discovered was that i have

osteoparosis, that means yet another pill.

Have a good day

God Bless

AIH

_________________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hello Alley,

I too have had the exact same symptoms and am taking Synthroid and

Cytomel. I have not gone through barium or scan testing -- I just started

seeing an Endo and am to visit him again mid April to check my t4, t3 and

tsh again. I am considering asking him to run an ultrasound to see if my

thyroid is pushing against my esophagus because I also feel a lump in my

throat to the point where it gets uncomfortable to swallow. My neck

problems and tiredness have improved since adding the T3 to my treatment,

it took about 4 weeks before I felt relief. My neck still gets stiff

occasionally but not as bad as before.

I wish there was a miracle drug we could take that would alleviate all our

symptoms, but I guess we must continue to try to find relief and

answers. Take care and I'm hoping that you and I find answers soon -- it

isn't easy living with these terrible symptoms. It's depressing and

distressing. I've started avoiding certain situations like going to

restaurants because I feel like I'm going to get something stuck in my

throat and something terrible will happen.

My prayers are with you. Ann

At 03:12 PM 3/28/00 -0800, you wrote:

>From: " alley " <alley@...>

>

>Hi all, I am taking synthroid and my doctor now prescribed T-3, I am having

>horrible neck problems, aches, my neck feels hot, I always feel like there

>is a lump in my throat, now a lymph node is swollen! I have done a

>scan-nothing, a barium swallow=nothing. Can anyone identify with my problem?

>I also feel so drained and tired......all the time.

>

>

>

>When You Have The Courage To Pursue Your Dreams The Whole Universe Will

>Conspire Help You--Paolo Coehlo

>www.merriweatherart.com

>

>

>

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Good friends, school spirit, hair-dos you'd like to forget.

>Classmates.com has them all. And with 4.4 million alumni already

>registered, there's a good chance you'll find your friends here:

>1/2623/7/_/62054/_/954278443/

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear :

Lymph glands are the body's sewer system. What you are suggesting is that

your lymphatic glands are overwhelmed with toxins, probably from a toxic

intestine with a compromised liver function.

So how does one acquire a toxic intestines.

1-by eating the SAD or standard American diet

2-by taking any form of drugs, or chlorinated or fluoridated water or

acquiring toxic metals or chemicals

3-by a deficiency of raw food which bulks up the intestines and moves out

the debris

4-by relative inactivity. Exercise moves the lymphatics, so does hot epsom

salts baths and saunas.

Suggested therapy:

1-access www.hacres.com and consider adopting at least some of their

nutritional guides

2-consider doing the ImmunoGuard protocol that eliminates pathogenic

organisms while it detoxes the intestines and restores correct gut bacteria.

3-Then, taking Thyrodine will restore thyroid function, which I'd suggest is

underactive. For more data see: www.thyrodine.com

Many folks tend to rely on taking " meds " to combat health problems when they

might be considering;

1-eliminating junk food, processed food, and adopting a good nutritional

program, such as advised at www.hacres.com or www.thyrodine.com

2-remember that " meds " are the cause of many, if not most, health problems.

3-doing more reading and web searching of good authors like Fit for Life by

Marilyn and Harvey Diamond or any books by Kenton, or the above web

sites.

Hope this helps,

Earl

problems

From: " alley " <alley@...>

Hi all, I am taking synthroid and my doctor now prescribed T-3, I am having

horrible neck problems, aches, my neck feels hot, I always feel like there

is a lump in my throat, now a lymph node is swollen! I have done a

scan-nothing, a barium swallow=nothing. Can anyone identify with my problem?

I also feel so drained and tired......all the time.

When You Have The Courage To Pursue Your Dreams The Whole Universe Will

Conspire Help You--Paolo Coehlo

www.merriweatherart.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good friends, school spirit, hair-dos you'd like to forget.

Classmates.com has them all. And with 4.4 million alumni already

registered, there's a good chance you'll find your friends here:

1/2623/7/_/62054/_/954278443/

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Earl, I also have some wonderful raw food links with

http://www.rawtimes.com/

http://home.sol.no/~dusan/herbal_news_juice_fasting.html

I have more links if anyone else is interested.

I am in the market for a juicer http://www.discountjuicers.com/compare.html

and have been comparing them at the above link. I am seriously considering

Juiceman II, but am also considering an Omega 1000. Does anyone have any

information good or bad about either of these juicers.......I would really

appreciate the information because I want to purchase ASAP. After searching

the net I found Discount Juicers to be the most reasonable but worry about

purchasing online.

When You Have The Courage To Pursue Your Dreams The Whole Universe Will

Conspire Help You--Paolo Coehlo

www.merriweatherart.com

problems

>

>

> From: " alley " <alley@...>

>

> Hi all, I am taking synthroid and my doctor now prescribed T-3, I am

having

> horrible neck problems, aches, my neck feels hot, I always feel like there

> is a lump in my throat, now a lymph node is swollen! I have done a

> scan-nothing, a barium swallow=nothing. Can anyone identify with my

problem?

> I also feel so drained and tired......all the time.

>

>

>

> When You Have The Courage To Pursue Your Dreams The Whole Universe Will

> Conspire Help You--Paolo Coehlo

> www.merriweatherart.com

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Good friends, school spirit, hair-dos you'd like to forget.

> Classmates.com has them all. And with 4.4 million alumni already

> registered, there's a good chance you'll find your friends here:

> 1/2623/7/_/62054/_/954278443/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

I wanted to share this book

The Thyroid Solution : A Mind-Body Program for Beating Depression and

Regaining Your Emotional and Physical Health by Ridha Arem

I was browsing through the other day while lounging around and

Noble, the book is fantastic! I have an appointment with the Doctor who

wrote it in July, he is always booked solid. The doctor is located in

Houston if anyone would like his number I can e-mail it privately.

When You Have The Courage To Pursue Your Dreams The Whole Universe Will

Conspire Help You--Paolo Coehlo

www.merriweatherart.com

problems

>

>

> From: " alley " <alley@...>

>

> Hi all, I am taking synthroid and my doctor now prescribed T-3, I am

having

> horrible neck problems, aches, my neck feels hot, I always feel like there

> is a lump in my throat, now a lymph node is swollen! I have done a

> scan-nothing, a barium swallow=nothing. Can anyone identify with my

problem?

> I also feel so drained and tired......all the time.

>

>

>

> When You Have The Courage To Pursue Your Dreams The Whole Universe Will

> Conspire Help You--Paolo Coehlo

> www.merriweatherart.com

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Good friends, school spirit, hair-dos you'd like to forget.

> Classmates.com has them all. And with 4.4 million alumni already

> registered, there's a good chance you'll find your friends here:

> 1/2623/7/_/62054/_/954278443/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

I have alot of neck pain too. I am having my amalgams taken out to get rid

of the mercury. Several other people on another list also have this neck

stuff going on and all are considering the possibility of mercury poisoning

from their silver amalgam dental work. Might be something for you to look

into. Have you also researched Fibromyalgia?. These are the things that I

am dealing with along with the Thyroid stuff...

Let me know if you want more info.

Lucinda

problems

>From: " alley " <alley@...>

>

>Hi all, I am taking synthroid and my doctor now prescribed T-3, I am having

>horrible neck problems, aches, my neck feels hot, I always feel like there

>is a lump in my throat, now a lymph node is swollen! I have done a

>scan-nothing, a barium swallow=nothing. Can anyone identify with my

problem?

>I also feel so drained and tired......all the time.

>

>

>

>When You Have The Courage To Pursue Your Dreams The Whole Universe Will

>Conspire Help You--Paolo Coehlo

>www.merriweatherart.com

>

>

>

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Good friends, school spirit, hair-dos you'd like to forget.

>Classmates.com has them all. And with 4.4 million alumni already

>registered, there's a good chance you'll find your friends here:

>1/2623/7/_/62054/_/954278443/

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Though this is not officially on the BFL book authorized list, get

some Kashi cereal, the one with 8 grams of fiber advertised on the

box. It has low sugar and promises to be a very slow acting carb

because of its fiber content. Be sure to get all the water in too.

Stasia

[Guest guest]

lilimama@... wrote:

> Yes have any of you had problems with consitpation. I am so sorry i

> know this topic is not good but i am having alot of problems with this and it

> is causeing me to weigh even one more pound. Is there a carb from the list of

> allowed foods that is high in fiber. Before i was taking phyillium husk but

> stopped because i thought with including alot of things back in my diet i

> would feel different but boy i tell i am hard as a rock and it is very

> uncomfortable for me. it feels like you are twice your size. Any suggestions.

> Thanks

>

> Linet

Hiya Linet.. I take Metamucil most mornings that I remember. I believe that

fruits where you eat the skin are higher in fiber..

Serenity

[Guest guest]

Are you eating protein bars. If I eat more than one a day..i have similar

trouble. My friend who is doing BFL has the same trouble and rarely eats

protein bars because of it. She drinks shakes though.

Donna H

problems

Yes have any of you had problems with consitpation. I am so sorry i

know this topic is not good but i am having alot of problems with this and it

is causeing me to weigh even one more pound. Is there a carb from the list of

allowed foods that is high in fiber. Before i was taking phyillium husk but

stopped because i thought with including alot of things back in my diet i

would feel different but boy i tell i am hard as a rock and it is very

uncomfortable for me. it feels like you are twice your size. Any suggestions.

Thanks

Linet

[Guest guest]

Linet~

Most of us old timers take some sort of fiber supp. either through the means

of diet [such as what Stasia suggested with the Kashi cereal] or with fiber

pills or powders. I take the sugar free citrucel once a day to keep

everything moving along...but it does take a day or two for it to work and

you do need to take it faithfully each day other wise you end up constipated

again.

Hope this helps~

Joann

problems

>

> Yes have any of you had problems with consitpation. I am so sorry i

> know this topic is not good but i am having alot of problems with this and

it

> is causeing me to weigh even one more pound. Is there a carb from the list

of

> allowed foods that is high in fiber. Before i was taking phyillium husk

but

> stopped because i thought with including alot of things back in my diet i

> would feel different but boy i tell i am hard as a rock and it is very

> uncomfortable for me. it feels like you are twice your size. Any

suggestions.

> Thanks

>

> Linet

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Linet,

What works for me is either All Bran Extra Fiber or Fiber One

Cereals. The first has 50 cals for half cup with 13 grams fiber, 0

sugar and 7 other carbs, the latter 60 cals for half cup with 14

grams fiber, 0 sugars and 10 other carbs (better stats than ANY

cereal on the market, guranteed; I was obsesses with this last year

and checked it all out). They both have 3 grams protein and 1 gram

fat per serving.

I think the Fiber One tastes best, although I'd recommend both

sprinkled on cottage cheese or on yogurt only; they get way too soggy

in milk. I eat the Fiber One every day, at least half a cup with one

of my meals, and I have no problems.

Dani

[Guest guest]

Dani,

I agree -- Fiber One on cottage cheese is yummy! I do enjoy,

however, Fiber One with skim milk and chocolate protein powder.

[Guest guest]

Also, try Uncle Sam cereal...has flaxseed which will definitely make you go.

I just don't LIKE it!! lol

Re: problems

Linet,

What works for me is either All Bran Extra Fiber or Fiber One

Cereals. The first has 50 cals for half cup with 13 grams fiber, 0

sugar and 7 other carbs, the latter 60 cals for half cup with 14

grams fiber, 0 sugars and 10 other carbs (better stats than ANY

cereal on the market, guranteed; I was obsesses with this last year

and checked it all out). They both have 3 grams protein and 1 gram

fat per serving.

I think the Fiber One tastes best, although I'd recommend both

sprinkled on cottage cheese or on yogurt only; they get way too soggy

in milk. I eat the Fiber One every day, at least half a cup with one

of my meals, and I have no problems.

Dani

[Guest guest]

Same for me - Fibre One is great!

Rita

Re: problems

Linet,

What works for me is either All Bran Extra Fiber or Fiber One

Cereals. The first has 50 cals for half cup with 13 grams fiber, 0

sugar and 7 other carbs, the latter 60 cals for half cup with 14

grams fiber, 0 sugars and 10 other carbs (better stats than ANY

cereal on the market, guranteed; I was obsesses with this last year

and checked it all out). They both have 3 grams protein and 1 gram

fat per serving.

I think the Fiber One tastes best, although I'd recommend both

sprinkled on cottage cheese or on yogurt only; they get way too soggy

in milk. I eat the Fiber One every day, at least half a cup with one

of my meals, and I have no problems.

Dani

[Guest guest]

If I'm feeling " blocked " I try to increase my fibrous vegetables and I don't

worry too much about portions or carbs for them. I'll eat an entire large

artichoke (doing the scrape the edible part of the leaf thingy and eating the

heart), or a pound or more of grilled asparagus. Oatmeal with flaxseeds

sometimes helps. In addition for some reason, coffee is often a fast acting

laxative for me. I'll have a cup of strong espresso blend or French roast black

(yes, it took me a while to be able to take my coffee black, but now I prefer it

that way) and within 1/2 hour I'm holding court on my personal throne. :-) As

others have said, lots and lots of water. Slightly more off the wall, but if

you like highly spiced foods (like many Asian cuisines), toast and grind your

own spices, but don't grind them fine. I think the fiber from some spices also

helps contribute to regularity.

Lynette

problems

Yes have any of you had problems with consitpation. I am so sorry i

know this topic is not good but i am having alot of problems with this and it

is causeing me to weigh even one more pound. Is there a carb from the list of

allowed foods that is high in fiber. Before i was taking phyillium husk but

stopped because i thought with including alot of things back in my diet i

would feel different but boy i tell i am hard as a rock and it is very

uncomfortable for me. it feels like you are twice your size. Any suggestions.

Thanks

Linet

[Guest guest]

Hi Charlene, I think it stinks too. Do they have a Preschool in your

area that won't go based on income? The reason I'm asking is because

where I live Head Start & preschool are 2 different types of

schools. In fact if you can get him in preschool it's usually

smaller classes than Head start is. Theresia went to preschool

instead of HS for that reason.

Take care,

> See I have a problem when a preschool can go to school

solely based on

> being low income only. When a preschooler talking about

headsstart is at

> least 4th generation born and is taught spanish. Reason I have a

problem

> supporting this tax wise is because my son cant even speak pex or

sign and

> because we make too much money he cant go to school! Sounds

weird huh

> charlene

>

>

[Guest guest]

NOt in the Trinidad area there is no preschools. Now Aguilar and

Primero has a public preschool. Since we are out of district, they make up

reasons why they cant take a hard to deal with child. Most of the time

here if these kids are not forced upon these people then they are not taking

them.

-- Re: problems

Hi Charlene, I think it stinks too. Do they have a Preschool in your

area that won't go based on income? The reason I'm asking is because

where I live Head Start & preschool are 2 different types of

schools. In fact if you can get him in preschool it's usually

smaller classes than Head start is. Theresia went to preschool

instead of HS for that reason.

Take care,

> See I have a problem when a preschool can go to school

solely based on

> being low income only. When a preschooler talking about

headsstart is at

> least 4th generation born and is taught spanish. Reason I have a

problem

> supporting this tax wise is because my son cant even speak pex or

sign and

> because we make too much money he cant go to school! Sounds

weird huh

> charlene

>

>

[Guest guest]

Charlene, That's a shame that you can't get him in a preschool

anywhere, I sure don't understand the educational system there. They

are pretty good in Ohio I guess, for kids 3 & under they have a

program called Even Start & a public preschool, in fact they have at

least 3 just in my county & I'm in the country & most counties have

a school for special needs kids.

Take care,

> > See I have a problem when a preschool can go to school

> solely based on

> > being low income only. When a preschooler talking about

> headsstart is at

> > least 4th generation born and is taught spanish. Reason I have a

> problem

> > supporting this tax wise is because my son cant even speak pex

or

> sign and

> > because we make too much money he cant go to school! Sounds

> weird huh

> > charlene

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Please.. Please... get in touch with me. I WILL help you. I am very

aggressive and know the right people in D.C. to make just about anything

happen in any local area. Pressure is what makes it work.

808-845-7841 Hawaii home office < Generally I'm located in California, but

do to the Felix Decree I need to be here >

Peace to all of you...

God bless the kids..

Lil Mikey's Daddy

E.

US Civil Rights Lobbyist

>From: " pookeybearsmom89 " <josette86898@...>

>Reply-Autism_in_Girls

>Autism_in_Girls

>Subject: Re: problems

>Date: Wed, 07 Aug 2002 12:45:14 -0000

>

>Hi Charlene, I think it stinks too. Do they have a Preschool in your

>area that won't go based on income? The reason I'm asking is because

>where I live Head Start & preschool are 2 different types of

>schools. In fact if you can get him in preschool it's usually

>smaller classes than Head start is. Theresia went to preschool

>instead of HS for that reason.

>Take care,

>

> > See I have a problem when a preschool can go to school

>solely based on

> > being low income only. When a preschooler talking about

>headsstart is at

> > least 4th generation born and is taught spanish. Reason I have a

>problem

> > supporting this tax wise is because my son cant even speak pex or

>sign and

> > because we make too much money he cant go to school! Sounds

>weird huh

> > charlene

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Really in any local area? I need help getting my 4 1/2 year old

nonverbal in school. Plus no one wants to train teachers or aids on how to

deal with autism or other major disorders. Trinidad co has no public

preschool except COG. Had major problems with COG. HEadstart refused him

because of our income. Aguilar said no room plus they didnt have to take

him because were out of district. Raton NM will take all disabled children

as there state runs a whole lot different but right now having troulble with

residency because two households and no RV parks want to take us because

family owned and autism! Tomarrow I am going to try Primero school

district. Please wish me luck as this is not our district and they can

turn us away. We live in the Trinidad district. I need help if you have

any suggestions cheezer@... My advocate has me sort of scared of

due process. She says we have to pay for the lawyer and if we loose the

school can collect from us. I am in so much stress right now I really do

not want to deal with these people on my own. Think you can help? Its a

difficult case. Charlene

-- Re: problems

>Date: Wed, 07 Aug 2002 12:45:14 -0000

>

>Hi Charlene, I think it stinks too. Do they have a Preschool in your

>area that won't go based on income? The reason I'm asking is because

>where I live Head Start & preschool are 2 different types of

>schools. In fact if you can get him in preschool it's usually

>smaller classes than Head start is. Theresia went to preschool

>instead of HS for that reason.

>Take care,

>

> > See I have a problem when a preschool can go to school

>solely based on

> > being low income only. When a preschooler talking about

>headsstart is at

> > least 4th generation born and is taught spanish. Reason I have a

>problem

> > supporting this tax wise is because my son cant even speak pex or

>sign and

> > because we make too much money he cant go to school! Sounds

>weird huh

> > charlene

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Ben, I've had problems w/ my esophageal peristalsis from the beginning

when I was first diagnosed. I'm pressed for time right now, but below

this I'll paste a message I wrote on 1/14/04 that explains a little better

what the body of my esophagus does. (That message was written in response

to people discussing " peristaltic contractions " and if they have them or

not -- I felt there was some confusion about what people were calling

" peristalsis " so I wrote the message to explain that just b/c you have

contractions does NOT mean you necessarily have peristalsis.)

When I'm explaining my achalasia to a lay person, I tell them that my

disease is two-fold. First, when a normal person swallows, the esophagus

contracts to propel the food towards the stomach (I demonstrate w/ my

hands, making fists one above the other in a successive order like the

ABCD in my note below.) But when I swallow, they'll either all " fire " at

once (demonstrated w/ simultaneously closing fists), or they'll not " fire "

at all, or they'll " fire " in a completely random order. Second, when the

food does finally make it down to the " trap door " that is the LES, the

trap door doesn't want to open, so the food just sits there and builds up

w/ each successive bite until " there is no room at the inn " anymore.

It's a simplified way of describing it, but I find that most people " get

it " especially w/ the visual of the hand demonstrations.

I was told that most achalasians have messed-up peristalsis in some

manner: either no contractions at all, simultaneous contractions, or

" misfiring " contractions. The true definition for achalasia is a failure

of the LES to relax, so it *is* possible to have achalasia (LES staying

shut) and still have normal peristalsis in the esophagus. But from what

I've read and what I've seen on the board and what I've heard from medical

professionals, the vast majority of patients have problems with both the

LES and peristalsis.

Hope this helps!

Debbi in Michigan

---------------------------------------------------------

Just wanted to clear up something. In many of us in this group, the

" peristaltic contractions " seem to vary. I've always been able to see my

manometry (I've had maybe 6-10 in the past decade.... kinda lost count!)

and I've always discussed it with the technician and/or the physician. It

was very obvious from looking at my manometry what was happening in my

esophagus when I swallowed.

For the purposes of this (over-simplified) illustration, think of the

" regions " of an esophagus labeled A, B, C, and D, with A being closest to

the top and D being the LES. In a normal person, when they first swallow

food, they'll get a contraction at the top (A), then further down (,

then further down © and a little more (D) and finally the LES will open

and the food will pass into the stomach.

In just one 45-minute session, I can have a swallow where ABCD all

contract simultaneously. Another swallow will have A and C together, but

no activity by B and D. Sometimes they'll contract in a random pattern,

maybe something like A B D B C A D B D B C B C A D B (this one is really

neat to watch on video from fluoroscopy (video x-rays)... I call it the

" ping-pong " effect, b/c you can see the barium bouncing up and down, back

and forth.) Sometimes no regions contract at all, or they do enough to

make a teeny bump on the manometry, but nothing like the big MOUNTAIN bump

you'd get from a normal person. And sometimes I'll get a funky

contraction when I wasn't even swallowing.

For people who say they have " no peristalsis " I think it would be good to

clarify what you mean, b/c not everyone interprets that the same. I think

for the purposes of this discussion, it's being interpreted to mean NO

contractions at all, and it would help if everyone could clarify what we

mean so we're all on the same page.

Technically, peristalsis is defined as " successive waves of involuntary

contraction passing along the walls of a hollow muscular structure (as the

esophagus or intestine) and forcing the contents onward " (according to

Merriam-Webster.) By definition, then, " aperistalsis " is not the complete

absence of ANY contractions, but rather the absence of SUCCESSIVE WAVES of

contraction (as in A then B then C then D.)

My " ping pong " contractions are, indeed, contractions, and they do move

the bolus (swallowed food/liquid) around inside my esophagus, but they are

*not* defined as PERISTALTIC contractions, because they don't occur in the

A B C D order like they are supposed to, and they don't properly propel

the food along my esophagus towards the end goal of having the food reach

the stomach.

We also have peristaltic contractions throughout our GI tract... that's

what propels the food through the small and large intestines as it's being

digested.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for that Debbi .... the doctor didnt seem to explain as well

as u have!

Many thanks again

Ben

> Ben, I've had problems w/ my esophageal peristalsis from the

beginning

> when I was first diagnosed. I'm pressed for time right now, but

below

> this I'll paste a message I wrote on 1/14/04 that explains a

little better

> what the body of my esophagus does. (That message was written in

response

> to people discussing " peristaltic contractions " and if they have

them or

> not -- I felt there was some confusion about what people were

calling

> " peristalsis " so I wrote the message to explain that just b/c you

have

> contractions does NOT mean you necessarily have peristalsis.)

>

> When I'm explaining my achalasia to a lay person, I tell them that

my

> disease is two-fold. First, when a normal person swallows, the

esophagus

> contracts to propel the food towards the stomach (I demonstrate w/

my

> hands, making fists one above the other in a successive order like

the

> ABCD in my note below.) But when I swallow, they'll either

all " fire " at

> once (demonstrated w/ simultaneously closing fists), or they'll

not " fire "

> at all, or they'll " fire " in a completely random order. Second,

when the

> food does finally make it down to the " trap door " that is the LES,

the

> trap door doesn't want to open, so the food just sits there and

builds up

> w/ each successive bite until " there is no room at the inn "

anymore.

>

> It's a simplified way of describing it, but I find that most

people " get

> it " especially w/ the visual of the hand demonstrations.

>

> I was told that most achalasians have messed-up peristalsis in some

> manner: either no contractions at all, simultaneous contractions,

or

> " misfiring " contractions. The true definition for achalasia is a

failure

> of the LES to relax, so it *is* possible to have achalasia (LES

staying

> shut) and still have normal peristalsis in the esophagus. But

from what

> I've read and what I've seen on the board and what I've heard from

medical

> professionals, the vast majority of patients have problems with

both the

> LES and peristalsis.

>

> Hope this helps!

>

> Debbi in Michigan

>

> ---------------------------------------------------------

>

> Just wanted to clear up something. In many of us in this group, the

> " peristaltic contractions " seem to vary. I've always been able to

see my

> manometry (I've had maybe 6-10 in the past decade.... kinda lost

count!)

> and I've always discussed it with the technician and/or the

physician. It

> was very obvious from looking at my manometry what was happening

in my

> esophagus when I swallowed.

>

> For the purposes of this (over-simplified) illustration, think of

the

> " regions " of an esophagus labeled A, B, C, and D, with A being

closest to

> the top and D being the LES. In a normal person, when they first

swallow

> food, they'll get a contraction at the top (A), then further down

(,

> then further down © and a little more (D) and finally the LES

will open

> and the food will pass into the stomach.

>

> In just one 45-minute session, I can have a swallow where ABCD all

> contract simultaneously. Another swallow will have A and C

together, but

> no activity by B and D. Sometimes they'll contract in a random

pattern,

> maybe something like A B D B C A D B D B C B C A D B (this one is

really

> neat to watch on video from fluoroscopy (video x-rays)... I call

it the

> " ping-pong " effect, b/c you can see the barium bouncing up and

down, back

> and forth.) Sometimes no regions contract at all, or they do

enough to

> make a teeny bump on the manometry, but nothing like the big

MOUNTAIN bump

> you'd get from a normal person. And sometimes I'll get a funky

> contraction when I wasn't even swallowing.

>

> For people who say they have " no peristalsis " I think it would be

good to

> clarify what you mean, b/c not everyone interprets that the same.

I think

> for the purposes of this discussion, it's being interpreted to

mean NO

> contractions at all, and it would help if everyone could clarify

what we

> mean so we're all on the same page.

>

> Technically, peristalsis is defined as " successive waves of

involuntary

> contraction passing along the walls of a hollow muscular structure

(as the

> esophagus or intestine) and forcing the contents onward "

(according to

> Merriam-Webster.) By definition, then, " aperistalsis " is not the

complete

> absence of ANY contractions, but rather the absence of SUCCESSIVE

WAVES of

> contraction (as in A then B then C then D.)

>

> My " ping pong " contractions are, indeed, contractions, and they do

move

> the bolus (swallowed food/liquid) around inside my esophagus, but

they are

> *not* defined as PERISTALTIC contractions, because they don't

occur in the

> A B C D order like they are supposed to, and they don't properly

propel

> the food along my esophagus towards the end goal of having the

food reach

> the stomach.

>

> We also have peristaltic contractions throughout our GI tract...

that's

> what propels the food through the small and large intestines as

it's being

> digested.

[Guest guest]

Glad to have helped, Ben! One of the frustrating things w/ achalasia is that not everyone has ALL of the same symptoms, too, so what I've described doesn't really apply to everyone, either! How's that for confusing???

I think that's part of the reason that docs have trouble diagnosing us, too -- "the last patient w/ achalasia didn't have chest pains, so you must not have achalasia" and stuff like that. The failure of the LES to relax upon swallowing is the ONLY thing we all seem to have in common.... the peristalsis/lack thereof, pains, etc., are all variable between different people. Heck, even what helps/hurts can be different -- some need hot, some need cold! (Although I think just about all of us agree that bread, rice, and pasta are "evil foods" for achalasians!)

I just read an article about someone who went seven years w/o being diagnosed w/ a disorder (Cushing's disease) caused by a brain tumor that causes high cortisol levels. Every doctor KNEW she had super-high levels of cortisol in her blood (like TRIPLE the norm!) and one doc even wrote in her records something like "looks like Cushing's, but it can't be that b/c she doesn't have the mouth sores" and she went YEARS AND YEARS before finally finding her own diagnosis on the internet (this sounds like a familiar scenario to many of us here, doesn't it? In my case, it was sitting on the floor of the library's basement, rifling through medical textbooks, b/c we didn't really have the internet yet!)

If you have any other questions, Ben, feel free to post them -- I think most of us who have been dealing with this for years and years know more about it than the average GI specialist (meaning one who does NOT have a sub-specialty in achalasia)!!!

Deb

Thanks for that Debbi .... the doctor didnt seem to explain as well as u have!Many thanks againBen

[Guest guest]

Yes, it is extremely upsetting to have to deal with a health problem for

life, and especially when one is experiencing severe symptoms. The better

one is doing, though, the easier it is to take. I think we each try to find

a way to do our best.

HyperT is not only helped by ATDs, but learning about and managing triggers

for the disease. Avoiding iodine, stress, cigarettes, artificial flavorings

(MSG), artificial sweeteners, excess sugar and saturated fat...these can

make a big difference. The goal is remission, and most of those who reach

and remain in remission typically make and maintain lifestyle changes.

At 11:26 AM 6/30/2004, you wrote:

>Has anyone else experienced difficulty coming to terms with

>Hyperthyroidism. I was diagnosed two years ago and have been using

>ADTs to help control the situation.

>I am find that the biggest difficulty is in accepting that I have

>thyroid disease and accepting that due to the illness (it has been

>severe) I have given up so many of my hobbies and am about to give up

>my job. I think it is the permanence of this illness that bothers me

>most, the knowledge that in one way or another (hyperT or hypo) I

>will have thryroid disease from now until the day I die. Doctors are

>unsympathetic, just offering more and more pills and I know there is

>no cure, only the removal of one set of symptoms to be replaced by

>others.

[Guest guest]

I think I accept it. My mother clearly suffered from it and

was never treated. When I was very young a druggist

suggested kelp for a very evident goiter. It helped and she

never sought further treatment.

Two sisters are " naturally " hypo. They are medicated. They

admit they frequently feel like slugs. My choice is to feel

up and active and on a run rather than at a crawl.

I have dealt with three bouts of Graves since 1991, each

precipitated by stress. I have had orbital radiation for

double vision. It worked. I was warned I might have early

cataracts. I suspect one has appeared and will be making an

appt. with my ophthalmologist. So far I have no serious

problems with the eyes but subjectively I think they are

swelling/reacting. The ghastly stare is NOT yet here but I

check each day.

I thought I was being smart refusing RAI since it would doom

me to lifetime medication as a hypo. Now, it appears I may

be doomed to permanent ATD medication for Graves. My

personal family physician understood the why's of my

refusal. I am getting old, this bout is worse than any I

have previously suffered. Food in one end and almost

immediately out the other. Graves myopathy so difficult it

is sometimes impossible to rise from a chair without help.

The heart has been hit and I am being treated for congestive

heart failure. I hope the ATDs will turn me around. But I

am getting old, I sometimes doubt my earlier decision to

stand firm about no RAI. The fluid retention, swollen

ankles, all serve to undermine my feelings about what I

decided long ago. Now having dealt with TED and perhaps

again facing eye problems, I think RAI would be dangerous.

So, yes, I have a lot of questions. But weakness and all,

life goes on, and I am trying to maintain a positive outlook

and to deal with it. Stress remains, a much beloved family

member is in difficulty and it is constantly on my mind. I

worry more about the young man than I do about myself. I

have no doubt that that worry has brought on the most severe

of my bouts.

Hang in. That's all most of us can do.

Elaine

Hello ebonymood

On Wednesday, June 30, 2004, you wrote

> Has anyone else experienced difficulty coming to terms with

> Hyperthyroidism. I was diagnosed two years ago and have been using

> ADTs to help control the situation.

> I am find that the biggest difficulty is in accepting that I have

> thyroid disease and accepting that due to the illness (it has been

> severe) I have given up so many of my hobbies and am about to give up

> my job. I think it is the permanence of this illness that bothers me

> most, the knowledge that in one way or another (hyperT or hypo) I

> will have thryroid disease from now until the day I die. Doctors are

> unsympathetic, just offering more and more pills and I know there is

> no cure, only the removal of one set of symptoms to be replaced by

> others.