One of my motives behind creating this blog was to create more awareness about Achalasia. It is an embarassing and difficult disease to have to deal with. Running to the bathroom multiple times during a meal, having difficultly eating (which is a public activity), and looking like you ate almost nothing at all, can be humiliating. One of the reasons I was heasitant to talk about it was because I assumed most people would think I just had a eating disorder, rather than a physical ailment.
Please help by signing this petition: http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/the-dr-oz-show-please-broadcast-a-segment-on-achalasia-and-other-motility-disorders#share
One of the reasons so little is known about Achalasia is due to lack of research. By creating more awareness, hopefully more will want to help fund research so that one day a cure can be found.
Thanks!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Post Surgery Shoulder Pain
I mentioned this in an earlier post, but as it is bugging me again, I decided it deserved an article of its own.
Shoulder pain is actually very common post laparoscopic surgery. Reason being the CO2 gas used to inflate the abdomen during surgery. By lifting the abdomen away from the internal organs, the surgeon is able to get a better view. This same CO2 gas becomes trapped post surgery. So why shoulder pain? The diaphragm of the shoulder is connected to the abdomen and other organs of the body via the phrenic nerve. The CO2 exerts pressure on this nerve which translates to a sharp pain felt in the shoulder. For me, that means sharp pains in my left shoulder. I had pain the first 2 weeks after surgery and it seemed to dissipate after a nice massage, but now (7 weeks post surgery) the pain has returned. Tylenol does not see to help a lot. Other tips I have found online include: using heating pads, and drinking peppermint tea, ginger ale, or carrot juice to help dissipate the gas. So far the best thing I have found is a nice soak in a hot tub. I will be sure to update this post though if I find another solution!
source: http://endometriosis.org/resources/articles/post-surgery-ailments/
Shoulder pain is actually very common post laparoscopic surgery. Reason being the CO2 gas used to inflate the abdomen during surgery. By lifting the abdomen away from the internal organs, the surgeon is able to get a better view. This same CO2 gas becomes trapped post surgery. So why shoulder pain? The diaphragm of the shoulder is connected to the abdomen and other organs of the body via the phrenic nerve. The CO2 exerts pressure on this nerve which translates to a sharp pain felt in the shoulder. For me, that means sharp pains in my left shoulder. I had pain the first 2 weeks after surgery and it seemed to dissipate after a nice massage, but now (7 weeks post surgery) the pain has returned. Tylenol does not see to help a lot. Other tips I have found online include: using heating pads, and drinking peppermint tea, ginger ale, or carrot juice to help dissipate the gas. So far the best thing I have found is a nice soak in a hot tub. I will be sure to update this post though if I find another solution!
source: http://endometriosis.org/resources/articles/post-surgery-ailments/
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The Little Things
If this disease has taught me one thing, that is to be thankful for the little things in life.I found a good place to get my lunch at. I tried a "Stawberry Hulk" today, which has a whopping 964 calories in it; just what I need to gain back the 20 lbs I lost!! Also, the slogan is perfect, chewing is over-rated. For those who suffer from Achalasia, we all know blended things are easier to swallow.
http://www.smoothieking.com/smoothies/smoothie-detail.php?id=62
http://www.smoothieking.com/smoothies/smoothie-detail.php?id=62
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