Achalasia
Wednesday February 28, 2007
Achalasia is a disorder of the esophagus that affects the esophagus' ability to move food toward the stomach. Also, the valve from the esophagus to the stomach (lower esophageal sphincter or LES) does not relax enough during swallowing to allow food to enter the stomach. One of the symptoms is heartburn.
Comments
I was just diagnosed with Achalasia and I’m scared to death. I now am aspirating liquids please tell me some good news ONLY on the treatment of this and prognosis. I don’t want to hear any bad or negative news. I’m just getting over having cancer NOT of the esophagus, but thyroid and I can’t handle this right now. I’m fifty years old and wants some help from someone. I’m working with a great ENT and will soon start some things hopefully to help I just want to know now and long term that I will live a long life with this with hopefully some relief from NOT being able to swallow for years. THANK YOU SO MUCH TONI
Toni, please don’t be so afraid. Hopefully by now you will have been treated for your achalasia. If not, if you have been putting it off, I recommend you get the balloon dilitation. You can always move up to the surgery when the dilitation wears off. I had the procedure done last year and have found relief. If you wait too long your esophagus could get misshaped and then your options become fewer.