[Terri]

Hi All. My am writing on befalf of my dad. diagnosed with IPF feb.  2016. put on ovef. just reduced dosage too 100 mg due to diahreah daily.  over the past 2 years been on the journey to treat gerd ( due to link w ipf). thinking acid reflux aspirating into lungs causing lung damage. he never tbought he had symptoms of gerd. because of ipf diagnosis, he was automatically put on gerd meds  by pulmonary doctor  and consult w GI doctor to treat.  did a ph probe showed no major  GERD.   did a swallow study/ tests showed mild swallow delay. did a manometry test. diagnosed with achalasia- no peristalsis in his esophagus. thus probably aspirating on food. because food /drink doesn’t empty into stomach. only gravity moves it food into stomach. the options of treatment ( no cure) ballon dilation, botox injections into esophagus. surgery ( heller myotomy) open muscle from esophagus to help empty food  into stomach. or POEM laparoscopic surgery similar to Heller.. but not as complete.  opted to do POEM less evasive. the non evasive options not work or last very long. and have to redo. thus introducing scar tissue. the discussions on this blog have mentioned doing surgery to do the opposite results of what my dad needs.  ( fundoplication. close the muscles from esophagus to stomach reduce Acid reflux. ). so after this POEM proceedure, my dad may end up with acid reflux by opening these stomach muscles.   DOES  anyone with IPF have swallow  issues or problems with esophagus ?  if so how did you treat?