Re: Achalasia

Posted By Brian on March 29, 1999 at 12:43:05:

In Reply to: Re: Achalasia posted by KIM on March 29, 1999 at 06:56:59:






From a manometry study, I have been diagnosed with achalasia.
I have a few questions. How is achalasia differentiated from
vigorous achalasia? If there was measured aperistalsis in the
esophageal body, does this mean that DES can be ruled out as a
source of pain, and the retrosternal pain I experience is probably
due to spasm at the LES?  It seems inconceivable to me that acid
reflux could occur in conjunction with achalasia, are the 2 conditions
ever seen together? After successful pneumatic dilatation, and
assuming that the esophagus itself has become mis-shapen during the
progression of the disorder, can the esophagus return to its
former shape?
Thank you in advance.




Can someone describe achlasia (achalasia) for me?  I, among others I have read on this board, have a burning chest pain in the center of my sternum.  Doctors where I live (Key West, FL) can't figure out what I have (I will post a request to ID this problem elsewhere) and I am reaching, grasping at anything it might be.  Thanks so much, KIM




Kim,
Achalasia is an esophagael motility disorder comprising 2 separate elements.
There are no contractions in the body of the esophagus when swallowing.
(Food gets down to the lower esophagal sphincter by gravity). There is also
no or incomplete relaxation of the LES, and so as a result, there is delayed emptying of
the esophagus as food or liquid gets stuck. It may be painful, or it may not
It can be diagnosed with a barium swallow test, but the definitive diagnostic
tool is an esophagal manometry study which measures the co-ordination and
intensity of the swallowing muscles as well as the resting pressure of the LES.
Personally, I experience pain in the chest area. I think that is caused by
a combination of the spasm at LES, and the food and liquid getting stuck.
The pain is, at times, similar to angina, so perhaps as a first step you
should rule out cardiac pain. If your heart is OK, I would then inquire about the
barium swallow, or maybe the esophagal motility study.
Hope this helps.