Understanding

It's really neat working for a gastroenterologist. I've talked to three people whom I believe suffer from achalasia. They didn't come out and say it, but the symptoms they were describing to me sounded just like those of achalasia.

I actually told one female patient today that I too suffered with a swallowing problem. The neat thing is that she said that she finds that her symptoms worsen with stress--just like me. The reason she was calling today is because her GI retired and she was referred to the doctor I work for. She told me something quite interesting. Her old doctor has her on a small dose of Zoloft (I think she said or some kind of anti-depressant) to help with her stress. She said it actually works for her and doesn't have to get dilations done for like 2 or 3 years at a time.

Now, I had once asked my GI about that, and he told me that he could not prescribe any kind of anti-depressants for me, but at least now, maybe I can make an appointment with a pyschiatrist or something in the future.

I wish I could have told that patient about this blog, but I guess that would probably be violating some kind of HIPPA regulation or something. I just find it really comforting to talk with people who know what you're going through. Maybe one day she'll come across it.

It's been a while...

Hey everyone,

Sorry that I haven't written in a while. I've been so busy. As far as my achalasia problems go, they've been okay. Actually I have gained weight. (It's a little more weight than I wanted and now I'm being a little more conscious of what I eat.)

A Funny Thing:

I've recently started working for a gastroenterologist! How funny is that? I've told her that I have achalasia, but the conversation has never really gone much further than that. Not to mention, I was seeing a different G.I. before I started working for her. Yeah, that was kind of awkward, though I probably would not have been able to work for her if I was a patient of hers, so I guess it all worked out. I've only been there for 4 weeks, but after a while I'm hoping that maybe I'll be able to get some "free" advise.

To Update:

Well, I had a balloon dilation back in the end of July and it has done wonders for me. I would totally recommend it, but I'm not sure how long it's going to last me. It hasn't even been 2 months, and I think my esophagus is already starting to close. Although I've been having mixed feelings about my weight gain, I'm still aggravated that I paid $4000.00 for something that may possibly only work for about 2 months. So, I'll keep you posted.

Hope you are all doing well!

A Change of Heart

Yesterday, I had an appointment with my surgeon to discuss having the Heller Myotomy done again.

When I had the Heller back in July of 2004, I was living in Mississippi at the time, and my new surgeon asked me if I had my operative reports with me. I thought, "Crap! I totally forgot about those!" When I left Mississippi in May, I remembered to get all of my chart notes from my gastroenterologist, but totally and utterly forgot about my operative reports from the surgeon.

So, my new surgeon's office tried calling the other hospital in Mississippi and went through hell to get them. I waited and waited and finally they got a hold my charts. Then I was told that my new surgeon and gastroenterologist had both decided that the next best step would be to do another dilation, but use a much bigger balloon.

I was pretty upset, but they said that it is going to be a pretty difficult surgery to do a second time and that this is the best option for now.

Maybe it will work. Who knows?

ANOTHER INTERESTING FACT:
I got a call from my doctor's office the other day, and they told me that after receiving the pathology work from my recent dilation, they have found yeast in my esophagus! Yeast! Isn't that lovely? Now they have me on Diflucan for a few days.

As far as my eating habbits are concerned, I've been doing okay actually. Certain things stay down and certain things don't. You know the old routine, I'm sure. Let's play the game of "What can I eat?" Honestly, I have been a little better lately. I am still amazed that chicken cacciatore went down the other day, but oreo cookies don't. How wierd! I think my esophagus just has a mind of it's own. Chicken cacciatore was a major thing for me though. Lately, I've only been able to do soups and ice cream. I just decided to try the chicken cacciatore and it went down! I'm not sure how, but it did.

Achalasia Gone Prime Time!

I was watching Law and Order, Criminal Intent on Sunday night and was completely caught off guard when I suddenly heard the word "Achalasia".

A girl in her 20's was found dead in an alley-way. They suspected her of drug hoarding, but soon after the autopsy they discovered that she had achalasia and never could have swallowed a balloon filled with drugs.

They pronounced it differently than I have been saying it though. They said "Ack - alasia". I have been saying "Eh - calasia". That is how my doctor in Mississippi pronounced it, so that's how I've always said it. Lately, I've heard a few people here in New Orleans pronounce it "Ack - alasia" too. But now I can't actually recall how my new doctor in New Orleans pronounces it. So which way is the right way? How do you all pronounce it? I don't want to sound ignorant.

Anyway, I was still overly excited about our condition making it to Prime Time television! I hope you all can share in my excitement! I'm such a dork sometimes.

Not Working

Well, my dilation was officially unsuccessful.

I talked to my doctor on Friday, and he said that he may want to try the Botox injections again, and he also wants me to schedule an appointment with a surgeon about possibly having the Heller myotomy done again.

I'm all about having the surgery again. It really wasn't that bad of a recovery time and it did at least work for about a whole year.

Some people think I'm weird, but I actually enjoy staying in hospitals. They usually take pretty good care of you and you have that wonderful bed that props you up so you don't have to move an inch. After my last surgery, they wanted to send me home after one day and I didn't want to go, but I went home anyway.

Needless to say, I'm actually looking forward to it, and I will keep you all posted.

Post Dilation Update

Well, I had the procedure on Monday and it went okay.

As far as the procedure itself is concerned, it went fine. Though, after I woke up from the sedation, I began to be in so much pain. I was also having dry heaves. I'm not sure what that was all about. They gave me Benadril before they sedated me and I think I am allergic to it, because the minute they injected it into the IV, it began to burn the back of my throat and I started coughing.

Unfortunately, I still don't feel any better. I know it's only been 3 days, but I've thrown up each day so far. I even threw up mashed potatoes, which was a first for me.

Of course, they have to start off small for your first dilation. They only dilated my esophagus 20 milimeters. The next step up would be 30 mm. My doctor told me that if the dilation doesn't seem to work, it may be possible that my Heller myotomy will need to be done again.

I had the Heller back in July of 2004. It worked for about 1 year. They think that they probably didn't cut into the muscle far enough. You know, the whole "Err on the side of caution" thing. If having the surgery over again well help for at least 1 year, I think it is worth it!

I've been really depressed lately. This month has been especially difficult. I have been on a liquid diet for most of it. I miss meat. I love chicken, and ground beef, and steak. Oh how I miss them so! I love food! There isn't anything that I won't try at least once! I've been feeling ashamed of myself. I've been thinking of better diseases or problems I could have rather than achalasia....and then I finally realize....Lauren, what are you thinking? There ARE things far worse than this disease. I try to be grateful for what I have but it's hard sometimes. Hunger drives me to think the craziest things.

I've posted a picture of myself and my husband from graduation last month because it makes me smile! I hope everyone has a good weekend.

Gastroscopy on Monday

I am having a gastroscopy on Monday, June 26. I've had this done lots of times, but for some reason I am still nervous. Though, I'm not really nervous about the procedure itself, but I'm nervous about what the doctor will find and what step he will want to take next.

These past few weeks have been rough. About two weeks ago, I nearly fainted in Walgreens. I had been eating whatever I wanted and was throwing everything up. So I went to the ER to have an IV put in me to replenish my fluids. I have been on a strict liquid diet for 2 weeks now. I LOVE Ensure. They are so good. They honestly do taste like a melted milk shake. Just as I was starting to accept being on a liquid diet, I now have to be on a CLEAR liquid diet. No Ensure, no ice cream, no nothing tasty...except broth and jello. Luckily, it's only until I have the gastroscopy. I think I can handle 3 days.

I think I've once mentioned this major surgery I could possibly have in the future. After these recent affairs, if I could afford the surgery, I would have it as soon as possible. My doctor told me that you have to stay in the hospital for 10 days! I may just have to be in debt for the rest of my life, but if I can once again eat most foods, I think it's a small price to pay.