My Experience with Achalasia Cardia

Achalasia Cardia is a disorder that makes it difficult for food and liquid to pass through the esophagus connecting your mouth and stomach. It is a painful condition, but there are treatments available.

 

In this blog, I share my experience with achalasia cardia and achalasia cardia surgery to help anyone suffering from the condition understand what to expect.

 

 

My Experience with Achalasia Cardia

About a year ago, I noticed that I was taking a long time swallowing my food. Initially, I did not regard the issue as serious and thought, “maybe I’m eating too fast and putting in more food than my body can swallow at a time.”

 

However, the condition gradually became more and more discomforting and soon, both eating solids and drinking liquids caused pain. I lost my will to eat due to the pain. Even thinking about food used to shoot shivers down my spine.

My friend knew a gastroenterologist and he booked me an appointment. Upon my first visit, the doctor asked me my symptoms and upon hearing it, he suggested a barium swallow test. The test showed that my esophagus wasn’t functioning correctly. I had to undergo other tests, including upper endoscopy and esophageal manometry and the doctor diagnosed achalasia cardia.

Achalasia Cardia Laparoscopic Surgery

The gastroenterologist recommended achalasia cardia laparoscopic surgery. The surgeon explained the whole process to me before the surgery. 

The surgery was performed under general anesthesia. During the procedure, a small incision was made in my upper abdomen through which a tube was inserted into my belly. Then, the surgeon inserted a telescope attached to a miniature video camera through the tube. The camera relayed magnified pictures of my insides on a video monitor.

Other minor incisions were also made through which four additional tubes were inserted to insert the surgical instruments.

Using the instruments, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and the muscle layer in the upper part of the stomach were divided. The upper part of my stomach was rotated and fixed so that it created a valve. The valve prevents the acid from my stomach from flowing back into the esophagus.

Achalasia cardia surgery recovery

After the achalasia cardia surgery, I experienced minor pain for about 12 to 24 hours, along with nausea and vomiting. The doctor in charge recommended medications to relieve the pain and help with nausea. I got up and started walking gently as soon as I felt comfortable. 

I was discharged within 48 – 72 hours after the surgery and recovered within 10 – 15 days. The doctor prescribed me to follow a blenderized diet (food that is mixed with liquid and made soft) for around 6 weeks as the area of surgery was still healing. 

I got back to my normal diet and started enjoying my food after the initial period of 6 weeks without any pain or discomfort.