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POEM Surgery for Achalasia
Hi everyone,
I’ve had achalasia that progressively got worse over the course of three years, to the point where I almost couldn’t eat without throwing up, and drank at least a liter of water with every meal. I just had a POEM surgery done in November (2017) with Dr. Robert Bechara in Kingston, Ontario. I wanted share my experience because, like many people here, before my surgery I scoured the web for hours trying to get an idea of what I should expect. I ended up being very anxious about the surgery, afraid that it wouldn’t work or even make things worse. I now know I fell victim to confirmation bias, since people are much more likely to post a bad experience rather than a good one, and I want to dilute that a bit.
Like many, I was first diagnosed with GERD and took Proton Pump Inhibitors, which obviously didn’t work. After a barium swallow, endoscopy, and mamotomy (ugh), I was correctly diagnosed with Type I achalasia and was lucky enough to be scheduled for POEM only three months later. Dr. Bechara and his staff were incredibly friendly, communicative, and accommodating to the fact that I lived out of province. Dr. Bechara studied in Japan, where the procedure was developed, and had a success rate of 100% from 100 patients that he’d done the operation on. Contrasting to how nervous I was, he seemed to almost be bored. In fact, the day I had my operation, he had another person getting it too. So, he’s a total expert. Do ask your doctor how many operations they’d done and if they had any complications, if nothing else it’ll put your mind at ease.
Three days before the operation I was on a fully liquid diet, which isn’t bad but really drains your energy. All I wanted to do was lay in bed and watch TV, so don’t plan any marathons. The morning of the surgery I was put on IV and right before the surgery I was knocked out and put on anaesthetic. All I remember is the count down, and the next thing I knew I was coming to in the post-op room. At first the anaesthetic was still working so I felt sleepy but great. As it wore off though, I started feeling a pain in my chest. Getting up was out of the question for at least a few hours, but they gave me a fantastic pink numbing liquid (Lidodan 2%) which worked wonders. I was pretty much bedridden for the next three days, and had almost no energy for anything. So take that week off work is my advice.
This pain remained for about three weeks, and, I’ll be honest, it really sucked. At first it was a constant dull pain that inhibited my breadth of movement and would only be subdued by the pink stuff. After about a week the pain became acute, which was worse. I would feel almost totally fine, and then this sharp stab would suddenly come on and I had to lie down wherever I was; always have your pink stuff (or Tylenol) on hand. I thought these was the spasms some people wrote about in blogs and was afraid it wouldn’t go ever away. I definitely had thoughts that this wasn’t worth it, and I should’ve just lived with the swallowing issues rather than inhibiting spasms. BUT, the pink liquid was awesome and it would calm the pain in about 30 minutes, and it did go away after three weeks. It became less and less frequent, and now totally gone. The pain is not that surprising really, they put a 17cm incision inside your body – its gonna hurt. After a week after the surgery I was able to work just fine.
Right now, two months post-surgery, I feel so incredibly grateful that I had the operation done. I can eat all my favourite food not only without throwing up, but with consuming only a small amount of water (often not even necessary). I’ve started feeling thirsty again, can eat until I’m full, and have finally started regaining the weight I’d lost. If you have a chance to do this operation, do it. And I would highly recommend Dr. Bechara if you have the opportunity. Good luck, and don’t give up hope!
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Hello @evgenimat and welcome to Mayo Connect!
We appreciate your sharing your story of achalasia and about your successful surgery. We are so glad that you have experienced so much help after 2 months post surgery.
I'm sure your experience will encourage others who are considering surgery as treatment for achalasia. We all learn from each other at Mayo Connect and we are glad that you have added to this learning.
How much follow-up will you have now?
Teresa
@evgenimat ,
Thank you for sharing your experience. So far ablation is working for me, but I know down the road it will not. It is nice to know of other's experiences. You are correct.. one finds more negative than positive when researching. It is nice to read of a positive outcome. I pray it continues.
Zaroga
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1 ReactionThank you for posting your experience. I am having this procedure done this month and I can not find very much info relating to what to expect post op.
I am 10 days poet op the POEM procedure. Your note has been the most helpful reference I have been able to find. I am feeling much stronger now that I am on puréed food but the pain is sometimes debilitating. Did you find sleeping difficult some nights at this stage? By the way, I have not been offered the ‘pink liquid’ so the pain has been a real challenge. Thanks for your note, it is balanced and a real public service. JP
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4 Reactions@pjstatham- just reading your post and wondering how your procedure went?
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1 ReactionHello @jphilp. Thank you for posting. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
Do you have to sleep sitting up? What do you find most difficult?
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1 ReactionI had POEM surgery 1/18/19 so I’m five days post op. Mine was performed at RWJ New Brunswick NJ by Dr Kahaleh. As posted by a another contributor I too had not heard of achalasia. I thought I had reflux until the swallowing difficulty began. To confirm the diagnosis, I had a barrium swallow test, endoscopy and esophageal mynometry. With a confirmed diagnosis I had the POEM. Yes the disease is rare but Dr. Kahaleh and his team were very matter of fact about it. He showed me a video as to how the procedure was informed. I am grateful that unlike some other patients I had zero pain post op with the exception of a sore throat which lasted three days. Hardly worth mentioning. I am weak and tired from the post op dietary restrictions. I have completed my three day clear liquid and have begun full liquids today which introduces dairy. A struggle for me. I tolerate low dairy intake so I’m working around it. In three days I’ll begin a soft diet which greatly increases food choices and I’m looking forward to it. I took a week off from work. It’s necessary. Energy lacking from the limited diet. I am taking a proton inhibitor as prescribed for reflux and supplementing with an antacid. I follow up in one month with the doctor. So far so good. Even though I’m only consuming thickened liquids at this point I am swallowing normally. Wonderful!
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4 ReactionsHello @margaretmary and welcome to Mayo Connect,
I am so pleased that you posted about the good results from your surgery. I hope your progress continues to go well.
Was the swallowing problem the main symptom you had prior to surgery or were there voice problems as well (like hoarseness)?
I had no speech problems.
I am so happy this POEM procedure worked well for so many. I am sitting here next to my husband. He just had the procedure. He would be released fr his overnight stay in the hospital here soon. Just like everyone else, my husband was diagnosed with Gerd. He knew this wasn't the case, that he was dealing with a type of mobility issue. He is only 34, so doctor's stated that he was too young for Achalasia. It ended up progressing to Type ll. He lost 30 pounds in a few months. Prior to the surgery, he couldn't even keep water down. Even though he was on a liquid diet for days prior to the procedure, when they went in to do the POEM, they had to clear food from the esophagus. It had been sitting there for over 3 days.
We are hoping and praying that this procedure helps him be able to live again. However, upon going down and doing the Barium Swallow, they stated that some of the liquid was still sitting at the bottom of the esophagus. Has this happened to anyone else? We are terrified it didn't work. His esophagus is twisted and turned now, due to the ongoing condition. The doctor said it is "bag like", not a straight path. Has anyone else had the Barium not go down all the way, but had success with the POEM? If so, please let me know. We need some sort of hope!
Also, he felt pain upon drinking a sip of water. I am hoping this is because of the surgery, not the same pain he was getting. All feedback is appreciated!
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