Confused about Achalasia condition. Can anyone help me?

This is why when you asked this question last month, I mentioned going to the doctor. Hiccupping can be a serious symptom. Sounds to me like it didn’t happen in one day.

Look into the best specialist in your area and get a second opinion.

I absolutely do not mean to be intrusive or rude and I say this with the utmost care and caution for your feelings as respectfully as possible… Have you ever suffered with bulemia?

Esophageal aperistalsis is often misdiagnosed either way. Those who do suffer as bulemics, and those who do not purge who have esophageal aperistalsis who because of it, are often mistaken for bulemics as well.

@SpatzieLover I haven’t seen hiccuping listed as a symptom until just know when I specifically searched for a connection – there does seem to be one, though. He never asked about that, but I will mention it. It does still seem rather sudden.

EDIT: I haven’t seen hiccups as an official symptom anywhere yet, but I am seeing several things that suggest they may be related.

@GabrielsLamb No worries. I have not had bulemia, but I did go through a bout of frequent vomiting about 9 years ago.

Esophageal spasm occurs equally in men and women, and can develop at any age. It tends to affect people who have recurrent heartburn or indigestion. Stress appears to exacerbate the symptoms.

Why were you vomitting in the past? That could also have a connection here.

Hmmm, You have no leisons or pockets in the esophageal lining or wall? What did the scope find exactly?

Let me ask you a question, Do you have any known allergies to corn starches, corn itself, glucose, latex, wheat gluten, sugar, anything of the sort? Any food type allergies at all?

It’s very rare but some people actually have internal allergic reactions to the EC coating on some medications as most of the ingredients are made from common foods that some people are actually reactive to.

You seem to be concerned with the pills so it kind of made me wonder.

And what about the possibility of a haitial Hernia? Benign Esophageal Disease, Gastroesophageal Reflux & Hiatal Hernia, Achalasia, Esophageal Diverticula all mimic one anothers symptoms and always look the same.

But anyway… If this Doctor is swearing that it is Achalasia and nothing but… and wants you to have laparoscopic esophagomyotomy… GET A SECOND OPINION! Including a test by an allergist.

I have no history of heartburn or acid reflux, though I do burp quite a bit. The burping began when the bout of vomiting started. It decreased significantly, but never went away. I was under a lot of medical care at that time and it was never mentioned as being anything more than an annoyance to deal with. (Of course, I have other reasons to think the surgeon who started it all messed up the surgery and was trying to hide something, so I guess he wouldn’t be volunteering any extra information.)

The scope found two strictures and two “raw spots” (I’m assuming that means not yet ulcers). That was it. The scope went through tthe esophageal sphincter with no problem during both EGDs, but he dilated it during the second one to see if it would help. He said the sphincter will typically open just for the scope and then close around it, but that didn’t happen.

No allergies.

From here:

Other symptoms can include chest pain, regurgitation of swallowed food and liquid, heartburn, difficulty burping, a sensation of fullness or a lump in the throat, hiccups, and weight loss.

Any chance hiatal hernias run in your family? they do in mine, thus burping, without reflux is quite common in my family

I just noticed that the source I linked to claims that difficulty burping can be a symptom. You seem to have the opposite of that, though. A second opinion definitely couldn’t hurt.

@SpatzieLover Only my grandmother.

Oh well, I guess I was hoping there was a decent chance he is wrong and I don’t have a life-long, progressively worsening disorder that usually starts in older people.

Another stupid question if I may? Are you Lactose intolerant? Any Gout, Lactic acid problems?

I think your grandmother’s condition and the hiccups would be worth mentioning to the doctor. If this was me, I’d be typing up every symptom I’ve had over the past decade that could assist with a diagnosis and a 2nd opinion visit.

Write down anything you think could be pertinent, including any digestive issues in your family tree.

Here is a good short summary of achalasia and the treatment options
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000267.htm

@GabrielsLamb No lactose intolerance, gout. As the PA said, she doesn’t see this in healthy 37 year old women, she sees this in 67 year old men who have smoked all their lives. I know is a sweeping generalization. She was using hyperbole to make the point that she finds this extremely odd.

Also, you mentioned that I am concerned about the pill. I think it is in my mind because I was A-OK before I took it and very not OK after I took it. It may not be the reason for this, but in my mind, it is the moment that marks the turning point.

@Rarebear Thanks. I’ve been all over the internet. Haven’t found much of anything encouraging. :\ I know it isn’t the end of the world. I am mostly concerned with quality of life issues. The timing also sucks as the Disney World trip we’ve been saving up for three years to take is less than a month away. I know we can reschedule. It’s just disappointing. And, this is taking place during our anniversary and our daughter’s birthday – with so much up in the air right now, they’re taking a backseat. My daughter is being so cool about it, but I feel like I am letting her down. Again, just disappointments, not real problems.

Interestingly, my grandfather has a similar problem. His came on at age 78 due to smoking his entire life, which caused an enormous cancerous growth that resulted in a larengectomy. The ENT was astounded and pissed that no one found it sooner. He had been complaining of difficulty swallowing for months and they just kept treating him for excess mucus for at least a year. They don’t consider this to be relevant since his is not muscle related (there is just so much scar tissue from the surgery that they can only dilate to a certain size without a high risk of rupture) and there is no other history of cancer on either side of my family. I guess you never know, though, and that pretty much scares the crap out of me.

If the diagnosis really is achalasia, the gastroenterologist can inject botox into the muscle and relieve the symptoms. You should be able to go to your Disnleyland trip.

@Rarebear I know! He’s totally against it, though. He says it is because it is temporary (I’m okay with that) and because it is so close to the heart. I’m going to revisit this option at my appointment on Thursday.

It’s a standard therapy for it. He’s right in that’s it’s temporary, but so what? You get another injection in a few months. Go to another gastroenterologist.

Final – I hope – update: (Thanks to everyone who helped.)

I went to the doctor to go over the results of my manometry test and pretty much got the all clear. I’m at about 90% of my original esophageal function and I can live with that. They offered anti-spasmodic medication, but I declined unless things get worse again. She said that was exactly what she was hoping I would say since my spasms (if that’s what they are) are infrequent and would probably be gone by the time I got the medicine, put it under my tongue and got the medication into my system. I’ll go on the meds daily as a preventative if things do get worse.

As to why this happened, they don’t know. Best guess is that the pill lodged in my throat and caused the erosions, which led to the muscle in my esophagus shutting down for self-preservation of sorts. They removed some old sutures that were near my lower esophageal sphincter and perhaps that caused that area of my esophagus to do the same thing. Anyway, definitely is not achalasia – which is excellent news! I’m a little annoyed that they jumped to worst case and caused me so much stress and worry, but mostly I’m just thankful that things are looking good!

@Supacase Thanks for the update! I’m glad you’re doing so much better. :)