I am a 33-year-old female who has been
diagnosed with achalasia. My doctor says I should go for surgery. What do you
recommend?
Achalasia is a rare disorder that presents with difficulty swallowing
solids and liquids. The condition is progressive and can be debilitating. There
are some medications to relax the esophagus, but they often do not work. You
have two good choices. Try out Botox- If it works, you will have relief for a
few weeks but will need many more repeat treatments (can get to be expensive). The
other option is endoscopic balloon dilation. This can be done as an outpatient
and the relief is immediate. Surgery is a great option but is a last option. Go
with balloon dilation and I think you will be impressed with the results.
Even
if you decide on surgery, seek a good thoracic surgeon. Ask for their
experience with myotomy (muscle splitting surgery). Most North American
surgeons have never ever seen this disorder.
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