5th May 2004
To Katie G. OK I see why you had to have the manometry and the fundo. I don't think any of that is my problem. Mine is probably esophageal spasms according to my GP. The manometry will supposedly tell the tale. Being involved with the test will take care of the worrying alright, be too busy concentrating on that ! Thanks for that info. Acording to everything I have read esoph. spasms are difficult to treat. They can try Calcium Channel Blockers but I have been taking one Adalat CC ( Nefedipin ) for 10 yrs for high blood pressure and I got this mess while on it so obviously that won't work for me. Also sublingual nitroglycerin for the acute episode. But since it is with each swallow of food, pills or water I'd have to take one all day long, so you know that won't do. And then there are endoscopic injections of botox into the distal esoph. wall that relieves 2/3rds of patients BUT is temporary .Lasts 3 to 9 mos . and if eventually I had to have a myotomy then supposedly these injections make it more technically difficult and less effective. Sigh. Then there is balloon dialation that requires multiple sessions and results in esop. perforation in 40% of cases . It is temporary too , 2 to 5 yrs . Then finally myotomy if a patient is a good surgical risk which I don't know what is considered there. It is either done thru the abdomen or throat and they divide the muscle between the lower esophagus and upper stomach or something. It is a major surgery and I don't know how I would ever get thru it. Goodness this is long and probably waaaaaaaaay more than you wanted to know ! I guess I just needed to talk about it . Lia