@lillian32

May I ask what type of stomach surgery you were having a work up for?

I have heard the term aperistalsis. Basically it is the lack of involuntary muscle movement. The esophagus is a muscle. When we swallow that is one push of the food down and then the esophagus usually pushes with movement the food down to the stomach where it should push the food through an opening into the stomach.

Basically it is the same as achalasia. The Mayo Clinic's description is:

“Achalasia is a rare disorder that makes it difficult for food and liquid to pass from the swallowing tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus) into your stomach.

Achalasia occurs when nerves in the esophagus become damaged. As a result, the esophagus becomes paralyzed and dilated over time and eventually loses the ability to squeeze food down into the stomach. Food then collects in the esophagus, sometimes fermenting and washing back up into the mouth, which can taste bitter. Some people mistake this for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, in achalasia the food is coming from the esophagus, whereas in GERD the material comes from the stomach.

There's no cure for achalasia. Once the esophagus is paralyzed, the muscle cannot work properly again. But symptoms can usually be managed with endoscopy, minimally invasive therapy or surgery.“

More on the symptoms and treatment here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/achalasia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352850

When I swallow I have a spasm at the back of my throat. Then sometimes a spasm above my stomach. My food basically drops from the back of my throat to above my stomach.. the esophagus does no squeezing motion to move the food down. Food, medications, and liquids will sometimes stack in my esophagus. It is difficult to tell when this is happening until nothing will go down. Sometimes I can tell ahead of time if I have taken my oxycodone and have none of the signs of it kicking in. So far I have avoid the emergency room.

At the link above it gives information on treatments to help. There is no cure. So far with me dilation has worked.

There are several discussions on Connect about achalasia. Use the search option above this post to the right .. click on a spyglass (magnifying glass) located to the left the bell, envelop and your profile photo or shadow. Type in or copy and paste (I don't spell as well as I used to 😁) into the box achalasia.

Ask anything you want and the people in this community will try their best to answer. We are not health professionals, but we learn a lot in our journeys that might help others.

ZeeGee