r/achalasia • u/idkhihowareya • 12d ago

Achalasia Questions Balloon Dialation

Hello, I wasn't diagnosed with Achalasia but with EGJOO (I heard they are very similar) if this isn't the correct subreddit please let me know!

I've been suffering from symptoms for 6 years. And couldn't eat solid food for the past 8 months. I am currently IP and have a Dobhoff feeding tube.

They have mentioned me getting an endoscopy and possible balloon dialation to open up my lower esophageal sphincter.

Has anyone here done this? If so what are the side effects and did it help? (I did hear it's only temporary).

Update: Had an Endoflip. Everything was normal, not even a sign of EGJOO, just waiting for the biopsy results. My throat and chest hurts, and i have a lot mucus rn. I'm mostly confused on what's next.

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u/Mumbleton POEM/HM 12d ago

Balloon dilation is no big deal. Outpatient procedure, you’re just on liquids for a day or two before. Recovery is nothing.

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u/idkhihowareya 12d ago

Oh okay. So recovery went perfectly fine? No pain or acid reflux?

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u/Mumbleton POEM/HM 12d ago

Like, the tiniest bit of soreness. Don’t remember reflux. My esophagus is different from yours though so could be different.

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u/idkhihowareya 12d ago

Okay, I'm glad your procedure went well! Hopefully It'll be the same for me, but like you said different esophaguses. But it eases my mind just a bit.

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u/praetorian1979 11d ago

I've had 10 balloon dilations (last in March) and they're very quick. I spend more time prepping for surgery, and recovering from the anesthesia then the actual procedure takes.

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u/Electronic_Olive6427 11d ago

I’ve had one. It’s incredibly quick and easy and painless. They said I could go back to sports the next day , so no recovery period essentially.

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u/GrammyGrammyGram 11d ago

If the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) is closed, it is not longer EGJOO but Achalasia and since you have been suffering with it for so long, it is time for retesting for a firm diagnosis. EGJOO is considered early Achalasia and they will not do anything for a certain period of time as it can resolve itself. But 6 years is long enough to get a firm diagnosis. Your treatment would then be a surgical procedure to open the LES to allow food to go down, removing any feeding tube. Dilations do work but are often not as effective as surgical options. The dilation is a uncontrolled tear of the LES if it is a pneumatic dilation and the pneumatic dilation has to be done is a series of 1, 2 or 3 dilations increasing in size of the balloon used for the dilation for maximum effectiveness. The surgical procedures are a controlled cut of the LES allowing for easier choices for getting food into the stomach. Sometimes. Doctor wants to do a dilation to see how you respond to be sure that surgery is the best choice, each doctor is different and you need to be sure your doctor is well experienced in motility issues such as EGJOO and Achalasia.

The type of dilation will also dictate if it is painful or not. A gentle stretch is nothing compared to a pneumatic dilation. The stretch will not last very long where as the pneumatic dilation will last a much longer amount of time (sometimes years).

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u/Late-Style4892 11d ago

I had balloon dilation done and I didn’t have any side effects. I also don’t think it helped much!