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I'm a teenager who was diagnosed this year in mid-February with achalasia. I had complications of feelings in my throat and began throwing up the third month into the illness without knowing what it was. It was late July when they knew for sure it was achalasia. I couldn't eat, sleep or drink much. I was always light-headed, and losing more weight by the day. I had no joy or energy to do anything.

I have had achalasia since I was 7 years old. I had an operation at age 11 to relax the muscles at the entrance to the diaphragm. I found I could then swallow if I forced the food past the constriction by swallowing wind. This can be quite painful, but it works. I am now 62 years of age, and I have had dilatations performed on a number of occasions with varying degrees of success. They only lessen the pain of swallowing; they don't cure it. The lower part of my esophagus collects the food like a second stomach, and then over a period of time, I can force the food into my stomach by swallowing wind and holding the wind under pressure while the food slowly passes through the diaphragm.

I am going in for my surgery tomorrow. Apparently, I was misdiagnosed for several years. I was finally diagnosed when I aspirated into my left lung and developed pneumonia or something similar to that. I was released from the hospital a month ago. I am really looking forward to being able to eat without choking or vomiting. I am glad I found this site and am feeling better about going in.

I have had achalasia for over 25 years. I have had all the various courses of treatment dilatation, balloon dilatation, multiple endoscopies, Heller myotomy 8 years ago. The myotomy helped with the swallowing problems which was great. However, I have severe pain often, and have never been able to trace it to any particular types of foods. The pain mimics a heart attack, and at its worst causes immediate headache and nausea. What I would like is a way to deal with the pain. I can deal with the swallowing difficulty. I had a terrible case of stomach flu two months ago and the repeated vomiting caused such severe chest pain I ended up in the emergency room.

My esophagus is actually twisted inside, so when I try to drink water you can actually hear sound as if going down a funnel. I am on a liquid and soft food diet now. I was in denial for a while trying to pretend that everyone has pain when having a grape. The reality that I can control my chest pain with simple changes to my diet gave me back some control. I know that sounds weird, but I feel better.

The first day I encountered having this disease I couldn't figure out what the deal was. I was gagging, losing weight, and nothing worked. I was medicated and that didn't work they stretched my esophagus with a small size black tube nothing changed then the next size black tube after that I had to see a specialist. He then did a balloon dilatation which worked for eight years now my stomach blows up and its very uncomfortable, so back I went to see the doctor again they performed Botox which I think its okay for now.

I've had this for years. 9 years, but it seemed to go away for awhile, but now its back. I sit down to eat supper and one bite of dinner and it sets it off. It's bad it lasts a long time. I can't relieve it, I throw up and it hurts and I keep gaging myself to try and get up whatever it is, so I can relieve the feeling, its awful and scary. Finally whatever was down there after an hour sometimes comes up. I don't have it all the time though.

I have had achalasia for approx ten years. I am 48 years old. I had a laparoscopic myotomy a few years ago. Helped for a couple years, but now symptoms are back. I thought it was caused by spicy foods, but it can be anything now. I am trying chiropractic to see if that will help the muscles and nerves. Anyone out there had positive feedback from chiropractic for achalasia?