Achalasia

My Mum suffers from achalasia - diagnosed in 2007. She has had at least 12 EGDs, for either dilatation, or botox injections, and has had surgery in 2009 - a Heller myotomy with a fundoplication. The latter procedure was "too tight" and now is going for a consult with Mayo to see what to do next. She can't eat anything by mouth, and has a feeding tube to get her calories (for a year now). The last two dilatations didn't work. I hope this doesn't discourage you...how old are you and how far along are you with the achalasia?

By now you have had your surgery, as I can see by the date of your post...how did it go?

Yes! Had my surgery on July 13th at Mayo in Rochester. Kept going to doctors here in Mississippi, and no one could figure out what was going on with me for 2.5 years. I was having the typical trouble swallowing, but also excruciating esophageal spasms. I'd had it, so we went up to Mayo to see Dr. Katzka. He diagnosed me within 2 days with achalasia and recommended the surgery. Highly recommend Katzka...he treated us like I was his only patient and was so understanding (something I had not experienced in any of my previous interactions with GI doctors). We flew back up to Mayo a month later for the surgery with Dr Mark Allen. The surgery went really well. Dr Allen and team were absolutely great. Now, 5 months later, I can swallow everything, even pills and steak! Turned out better than expected. Still have occasional spasms, but they aren't as painful as they used to be. Dr Katzka said those will hopefully go away a year after the surgery. In summary, I'm SO GRATEFUL that I went to Mayo. I don't believe I could have had a better outcome anywhere else in the country. Granted, your mother's surgery may be more involved, as she's already had surgery and all the dilitations, but Mayo is the best place for her to go. I only have good things to say about my experience and the doctors who worked with us. I thank God often for leading me to Mayo.

I was diagnosed with Achalasia in early 2009, and was operated on at the age of 45. My surgeon was the Head of Surgery at our local hospital and came highly recommended. He performed a Heller's Myotomy and Partial Fundoplication, all laproscopically. I have the rare swallowing difficulty but it passes immediately.
My father was diagnosed with Achalasia at the Mayo Clinic in 1978, at the age of 41. Oddly enough, he was living in MS at the time and not a single doctor there could figure out what he had. Within hours of arriving at the Mayo Clinic he was diagnosed and scheduled for surgery.
Back then they opened you up from the middle of your back to the middle of your abdomen, a small price to pay to save your life before you starve to death.
In all the literature I've read they've said Achalasia is NOT genetic or hereditary, I can't buy into that one. What are the chances of such a rare disease occurring in the same family, and almost the same age?
I am glad to hear that all went well with your surgery; the Mayo Clinic is certainly an amazing place. I wish you the total success that I have seen with my surgery.

My mom has suffered from Achalasia since age 18. She is now 59 and this past year her colon began shutting down and she has severe episodes of dumping syndrome. I'm taking over as her caregiver next month. Does anyone else suffer from dumping syndrome and if you do are there any suggestions you've found to help. The dumping syndrome has gotten increasingly worse since her esophagus was removed, her vagus nerve was cut, and her stomach was reshaped to connect to her throat 10 years ago at Virginia Mason in Seattle WA.

I have this also and losing my voice a way to control reflux is lemon water it brings the acid down lemon is high pH alkaline stops the acid erosion my brother RIP and sister have had esophagus reflux also. When I sip lemon water my voice gets stronger squeeze a half of lemon in a glass or bottle of water! Don't forget to take pits out! I might have read it on here?

I am 46 and I was diagnosed with acalasia of the esophagus in 1992 (at age 22) and underwent an esophageal myotomy and Nissan fundal plication. I have seen some of the best doctors (I have been told) at northwestern in Chicago, mayo in Rochester and most recently in the twin cities. I continue to have reflux and wake up every night with pain. Strangely- the only thing that helps is eating. Most acid blockers have not helped. I have been on omeprazole with mixed results. I also am often extremely bloated by the end of the day- or wake up bloated when I have "chest" or esophagus pain at night. I may have mild gastroparesis but have no stomach pain. I am very, very concerned about the damage the reflux is doing to my esophagus. I have started going through the usual battery of tests again and have my final two in sept. before I meet with my doctor again. Anyone else experience anything like this? Thank you!

Your statement -- "the alkaline acid in lemons neutralizes the stomach acid" -- has caught my attention, for it defeats science. If it works, are there explainable reasons behind it? Just would like to know since I too have an imbalanced pH.

Hi @etsy, my alcalasia has gotten worse. I am afraid it could turn into esophagus cancer. I am schedule for a colonoscopy this November, I will discuss with my GI doctor about. Endoscopy also. Thanks for the replay.

I also wanted to thank dandi 48. I had a endoscopy last year and of course had it done in the ENT's office (didn't like that) and didn't care for him either. Everything was fine then. This year I just had a colonoscopy, everything fine there, but the doctor was a gastro doctor and said he would take care of me for the acid reflux so am going to make an appointment with him and am going to have him do the endoscopy. Thanks