Achalasia III

Hello to all.

I am scheduled for surgery April 14, 2024 for my Achalasia III. I am not scared. I am very hopeful.

I found it interesting that Achalasia III is a rare disorder. . . . Very interesting. With my Dr. Google degree (Ha!), I've gleaned the good, the bad, and the ugly. Pay attention to the good. Use the bad and the ugly as questions for your surgeon.

Not treating the disease is a mistake. It will progress and lead to end-stage Achalasia. Don't wait. If you experience negative side-effects, please stay in communication with your doctor. (I've been guilty of recovery impatience.) I've read several posts in which people are suffering greatly post-surgery. It should not be normal.

If your surgeon did not explain you will live with GERD, you will. There needs to be a life-style change. It's easy enough. Pay attention to what triggers reflux. Don't eat late. And, if you're like me, prior to surgery -- I have to burp sitting straight upright -- or else I regurgitate. So, some of the GERD you're experiencing probably was normal prior to the surgery.

The surgery is a help -- not a fix all. Keep your expectations in check. Watch the positive YouTube patients. They will explain not just their relief, but also the lifestyle changes to keep GERD in-check by changes in eating, resting, etc. Remember, your lifestyle is already compromised. Be reasonable.

If after following your doctor's instructions and you cannot obtain relief, don't be afraid to seek a second opinion. Do your research.

See where your potential physician studied. Where they obtained their fellowship. Look at the reviews. Don't be turned off if the doctor obtained his/her degree from a foreign nation. (Both my GI and my surgeon obtain their MD outside the U.S. I love them!) If you have a research hospital in your area, they are using cutting edge methods.

While I am not a patient at the Mayo Clinic (due to location of residence), I respect this hospital and enjoy its educational posts.

I will provide an update post-surgery.