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.
posted by Lauren @ 10:11 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I'm so happy for you! I'm glad the botox is working for you, and I hope it lasts a really long time. Also, sorry to hear about the case not going through. Keep working on it.
I also have some good news. I had the balloon dilation done yesterday and I think it's actually working! I had heartburn today, which I know that not too many people think is a good thing, but it is for me! If something can come up, then that means that stuff should be able to go down. My doctor was actually excited to hear that, but that heartburn is so painful, I have to be on Prilosac. Believe, I totally don't mind. I hope this lasts for a long time too! I'm praying and crossing my fingers!
I'll be praying for you too! Good luck and have fun at your daughter's party! Eat lots! :-)
Hey girly,
glad to hear that your dilation went well this time. Maybe it'll help longer, and you'll be able to enjoy our reunion! Just wanted to drop you a line!
Kelly T.
Hello to you from the west coast.
I am sorry to hear of insurance battles, that is such a bad thing to worry about when eating is tramatic enough. Insurance companies love to have everything proved. Mine likes to deny my Protonic prescription every year when it needs to be refilled, because its written for more than the normal dose amount. They would rather see me have surgery they don't seem to understand I will always need the prescription with or without another surgery.
I will probably have another dialation or two before spring if I need to and will be then haveto decide if I will have the surgery again in the spring. I hope to put it off that long.
I was told not to try botox and such ayoung age because even though it helps the symptoms at first after a few shot it can do more harm to the eshopagus then good, have you been told that?
So far protonix, about 2-4 dialations a year are getting me thru. I do not want to have surgery again. I may look into an alternative with the balloon dialation. Quicker recovery. And it would save the major surgery for another few years. Its nice to hear from you guys with your stories.
My mother in law suffers with Barrett which is a "cousin"t o achalasia. She can eat and swallow she just pays the price with bloating and her stomache feeling full. She has to stay away from certain things that create more symptoms but she can eat. Sometimes I am so jealous! Please take care you guys.
Marylin
07-29-06
Hey Marylin:
You know, I have never been told anything about the botox possibly being harmful. I'll have to check into that. I, myself, have had it and it only lasted me about 2 months.
I just recently had a balloon dilation done and am doing great! I'm swallowing everything! I haven't really tried any other meat besides chicken and fish, but still, I'm happy to be getting anything down!
I have heard of the Barrett's disease. It sounds painful enough. I think that any kind of gastrointestinal disease or condition is a horrible thing to have to live with. I mean, in this society, eating is everything. It's all we ever think about and having to deal with problems during or afterward eating totally henders our way of life. Though, we just have to keep going on and hope that we can one day find better ways to cope with our conditions.
Thanks for stopping by Marylin. Come back often!
Post a Comment
<< Home