Swallowing Difficulty

[Mom's Girl]

My Mom has had difficulty swallowing for 4 months.  While hospitalized it was determined that she had an esophageal stricture and she was treated with a botox injection in the spincter.  She came home after a 1 week stay and numerous tests that included barium swallow study, EGD with esophageal motility study, thyroid ultrasound, thyroid CT with contract, and another swallow study that I can't remember now. The gastro dr. told me she had achalasia and home she went.  Now the gastro dr. wants to do a second motility study to confirm achalasia because it turns out the tube would not go into her stomach so now he must do it again and force it.  My Mom has lost close to 50 pounds in 4 months.  She is 76 years old and I'm wondering how neurology fits into the picture.  The gastro dr. has never mentioned it but a neurologist friend said it could be neurological.  What are the treatment options and are any permanent?  She has an appetite but can't get food down, only liquid, primarily water.  Is there another doctor she should be seeing?  She has seen internal med/ endocrinologist, gastro and has an appt with a surgeon.  THANK  YOU for any help you can give me or any direction you can steer me.  I just want my Mom to feel better.

[jjm111]

I have achalasia, I know exactly how she feels.  I am 38 and had what was called a heller myotomy (spelling?) 5 years ago.  Feel great just get the occasional spasm in my esophagus.  
I don't know is they would do that due to her age but another procedure is to insert a balloon into the esophagus and actually tear the bottom of the esophagus a little.  

I may need another procedure down the line if I have difficulties again.  For now I feel great and had a child since my surgery.

They don't know what causes it.  Could be Neurological or they are even studying viral.

Best of luck!
jjm

[napehbnyc]

Hey, on November 25th of 2008(I am 26) I had a surgery for achalasia also. I was held at the hospital for 10 days. For the first 7 days all the nutrients I was getting were through he IV, nothing by mouth, even no water. After that I have been on all clear for a few days and then on yogurt to restore the flora of my digestive tract. It has been a few months after the surgery and I also had some symptoms left, so I went to the doctor and he told me that it is normal. As they only fixed the muscles, now the body has to repair itself and relearn the whole eating process as it has been functioning wrong for a long time. Imagine a rubber band. Now try to expand it a little, it will get back in shape as soon as you will let go the pressure. Now if you expand it more and more it will reach one point after getting to which it would not get back and would stay stretched. And now it would take a lot more time for the rubber band to get back in the original shape.That is exactly what happened to your esophagus. The doctor has just fixed the muscles in order to work properly, now your body need some time to get used to that. In a matter of fact, my symptoms are almost gone. I hope that helps.