Testimony 3 months after POEM

My name is MOYMOYRH AMALIA and I am 32-years-old
Since 2016 I started having dysphagia symptoms. My symptoms gradually deteriorated and I lost 25kgs, I could not even swallow liquids, while I had symptoms at night, such as cough.
After the diagnosis of achalasia type II, which was proved by manometry, I contacted Dr. Eleftheriadis, who recommended me the endoscopic method POEM as the best therapeutic option for my problem, after having explained in detail the process of POEM.
I am lucky I had followed his proposal. POEM was performed in 07/06/2019 by Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis himself, with absolute success, which resulted in my complete cure in short time and permanent disappearance of dysphagia symptoms, which I had sufferred for three years. Next day after POEM I discharged from hospital and within a week I went back to my work. Today, about three months after POEM, I can eat normally, I have gained 7 kgs and my spleep problems disappeared.
I feel the wish to thank my doctor publicly for his medical services he offered me, since I returned to my previous normal life. He helped me to get through one of the most difficult period of my life. I highly recommend the POEM method for achalasia.

Testimony 4 months after POEM

My name is Natsi Arturo and I am 55-years-old. From the age of 16 years-old, I suffered from esophageal achalasia. It was troublesome for me for several years. During all these years I consulted many doctors and almost all of them advised me to underwent laparoscopic surgery. Only Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis proposed me a better method, the endoscopic myotomy known as POEM. I searched by myself on the Internet and learned about POEM technique and finally I found the Internet home page of Dr. Eleftheriadis. Immediately, I made an appointment and visit him at his office in Thessaloniki.

From the first moment Dr. Eleftheriadis inspires you confidence and trust and seems to be very experienced Doctor. Without a second thought I made an appointment for endoscopic myotomy, which was performed on 28 th November 2018. Istayed only one night in the Hospital after the procedure, which was not painful, like a simple gastroscopy.

The next day I was discharged, left Thessaloniki and drive myself to Athens without problem. Then I followed specific instructions for 15 days. After these days, I returned to normal life, to my work, eating and drinking normally without avoiding anything. I don’t have any pain and I feel totally healthy.

I thank very much Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis for successful POEM procedure, for his professionalism and for his character. I strongly recommend Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis and no patient who suffered from achalasia, should hesitate to underwent the POEM procedure.

Testimony 4 months after POEM

My name is Stylianos Fanourios Tassou and I am 31-years-old.

Eight years ago I started to experience dysphagia symptoms. As time passed
symptoms became more and more severe and I gradually lose weight. A series of
examinations followed and finally I was diagnosed of esophageal achalasia type II.
The definitive solution to my problem was operation.

The most important decision in such a health adventure is the choice of a doctor. After
personal research through the internet and other doctor’s recommendations, we finally
decided to visit Dr. Eleftheriadis, who is an excellent scientist, with a very nice personality!
He is experienced POEM specialist, which is the most modern and technically-documented
method applied in such cases.

The procedure was performed the 6th of February 2019, and I can now eat without pain and
swallow normally from the very first day after POEM!!

I definitely recommend POEM and particularly Dr. Eleftheriadis, who has great experience in
this method, since he really gave me back the quality of life I had lost.

Thanks from my heart, Dr. Eleftheriadis, who gave me back my health !!

Testimony one year after POEM

My name is Gountelos Kon/nos and I am 33-years-old.From the beginning of 2016 I began to have dysphagia symptoms and chest pain during swallowing of both water and food. The symptoms gradually deteriorated, and on December 2016 I had lost more than 30 kg, and as time passed, the amount of food and liquids I could consume was restricted. After examinations and I was diagnosed with type 2 achalasia. My particular case was treated only by surgery. Either open surgery, or nowadays by a new method known as P.O.E.M.
I contacted Dr. Eleftheriadis and from the first communication I was touched by his immediacy, kindness and warmth. He thoroughly explained to me the practical issues about the POEM procedure, and that I will soon be able to eat and drink, like before. I decided to undergo the POEM, which finally was performed by Dr. N. Eleftheriadis in Athens in 16th January 2017, and in a short time after I could eat and drink everything I wanted!
Today, (February 2018) one year later, I’m totally fine, I continue my life without any problem and I can eat and drink everything I wanted! I am grateful and I would like to thank for my heart Dr. Eleftheriadis Nikos, because he gave me my quality of life back. He helped me to go through one of the most difficult times of my life.

“My name is Mpaltzoglou Euthimios (Makis). I am also one of the unfortunate persons, who had the misfortune to suffer from this so rare disease known as “esophageal achalasia”. I have to admit that from the beginning of 2017 until August of the same year, my life was a constant suffering, even during hot summer time I could not even drink water. After my own research I tried the ‘balloon dilatation’ method, with totally negative results and complete failure, because my symptoms seriously deteriorated the weeks after. To tell the truth, I feared somehow to underwent POEM, because I had not heard so good things about POEM, supposedly it is an extremely invasive intervention and so on … Result: I underwent POEM in August 2017 with Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis and we are now in January 2018. My life has returned to normal and I live as if nothing had happened. I can eat everything normally. To say that the experience of Nikos Eleftheriadis played a major role in this method, which succeeded to restore my esophageal function to 100%. Except for an excellent scientist, he is also a sympathetic man and a friend-brother.

Testimony one month after POEM technique for achalasia

My name is Rempelos Alexandros. In summer 2015 I had the first symptoms of achalasia. After many false diagnosis and therapies for simple reflux and not being satisfied from treatments and also from the findings of different physicians, I finally went for esophageal manometry in Navy Hospital Athens in 2016. Manometry showed, what I thought and waited, that I suffered from achalasia.

Having in my hands the diagnosis of achalasia, I started another journey of information about this disease, consulting many gastroenterologists and phycisians, discussing with them the therapeutic options in my particular case, while simultaneously doing my personal research on the Internet.

From my personal research I came to the conclusion that I wanted to undergo the POEM technique. It seemed to me that POEM was more advantageous in many aspects than other therapeutic options for achalasia, however in Greece, all physicians I visited, advised me to perform the oldest Heller myotomy. They said that POEM is technically difficult intervention and that there was no such experience to be first treatment option at that moment.

One more year has passed since then, until daily eating difficulties and symptoms, forced me to do something for my problem. By chance I watched on youtube about POEM and I found the site of Dr. Eleftheriadis. I read his CV, saw his publications, his collaborations abroad, especially with Professor Inoue (who is the “father” of POEM) and I decided to contact him.

That was one and a half month ago. Few weeks later I underwent the POEM procedure and today, three weeks after POEM, I write these words and the only weakness I feel, is to describe, how unexpectedly well the thinks has gone for me. So much anxiety, discomfort and doubt nearly three years and they all disappeared in practically a week.

Reading the testimonies of other patients, It does not seem to me that I have to add something more either for Dr. Eleftheriadis or to the whole POEM process. For me personally, I feel that achalasia is in the past and I am surprisingly happy to have trusted Dr. Eleftheriadis. I would strongly recommend everyone suffering from achalasia to undergo POEM and to do the same as me. There is no doubt in my mind that POEM and Dr. Eleftheriadis are ultimately the one-way street for achalasia.

My name is Konstantinos Karakousis from Paros island. I am 44-years-old and diagnosed with achalasia since 2006. The only solution I had to solve my problem was surgery. I was reluctant and I did not want to be operated with open, traditional surgery. As the time passed my problem grew gradually and my quality of life deteriorated and I could not sleep and neither eat nor drink.

Searching and researching for a solution on Internet, I learned about the modern POEM technique, which is performed worldwide with great success. So I contacted Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis, who performed the POEM technique in Greece. I underwent the POEM procedure endoscopically, bloodless and painless. I was hospitalized only one day, although I was very good even from the first day of operation.

I really have no words to thank this wonderful man & Doctor …. Nikos Eleftheriadis! He solved my problem and now I’m fine, sleep and eat normally!

My name is Venetis Ioannis.Every time I drink a glass of water at one gulp I am thinking you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

My name is Papasotiriou Sotirios. In December 2015 after manometry I was diagnosed with achalasia type 2. For 10 months I could not eat normally and my situation gradually deteriorated (even to drink water was suffering) and as a result I lost 20 kgs, while the process of eating for me was suffering and not pleasure.

After POEM, which I performed with Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis I could finally eat solid and liquid foods normally, without pain and return to my normal body weight.

The whole procedure was quick (only one overnight in the hospital) and after having been endoscopically treated I had no scar, as it would be in a classical surgery, while recovery was rapid.
Thank you very very much

My name is Michalopoulou Amalia. I had esophageal achalasia for almost 2 years and I had even reached the most severe form and I could neither eat nor drink for almost 2 months, when achalasia reached its end-stage. I visited 6 doctors and all 6 doctors recommended me the surgical Heller. I had however read that it is most likely to need re-surgery again and that the results of Heller could not be permanent. Reflux and even possible esophageal stenosis re-appears again in the majority of patients.
Finally I learnt about endoscopic POEM technique and I made the decision to find and talk to Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis, who performed POEMs in Athens, as my last hope at that time.
His support, dedication, professionalism and humanity were and are, what helped me to make the decision to undergo the POEM intervention.
I had several fears for the procedure, especially the post-operative stage, which left after the completeness of the procedure, and during the follow-up period, when I started slowly to eat again normally as previously, without pain, vomiting or difficulty.
Everything was gone so unexpectedly perfect that neither me believed.
One year later, I can eat everything without fear, thanks to this man who cured me. I did not believe that I would get to eat again normally like before, without the fear of drowning or regurgitation or food not passing to stomach.
Although I lived in Berlin, where POEM technique is widespread, Ι choose to come to Greece, because I trusted Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis who inspired me.
Now after all this, I feel like I had never achalasia.
Mr Eleftheriadis is for me, apart from an excellent doctor, he is also a wonderful man! He helped me so much; he was next to me all the time.

In addition, he is so analytical and eager to help the person, who is facing him, with understanding and sympathy, that these characteristics make him a great doctor and undoubtedly a great man.
Thank you very much for all the dedication, courtesy and humanity that you showed me and above all, that achalasia for me now belongs to the past.

My mother, 95-years-old today (2017), in 2015, showed gradual severe difficulty in eating solid foods and even liquids. After examinations sigmoid achalasia in advanced stage was diagnosed.
She underwent balloon dilatation ten years ago. Her age and comorbidities did not permit any other conventional surgery,
After POEM, which was performed by Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis in Athens in 24/07/2015, until today 2017, my mother can eat and lives normally with excellent quality of life.
I would like to add that except for an excellent scientist, we were fortunate to cooperate with a remarkable man, Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis! Thanks.

My name is Fotini Goula and I lived in Florina. One year after POEM procedure (October 2016) I write to you to let you know about my current health status.
Before POEM I had reached to the point not only to swallow foods but even water. After much searching and thinking I concluded that I had to undergo the POEM technique, which was performed by Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis in Athens in 1/9/2015.
Soon after POEM and after short recovery period I returned to regular and physiologic life. Now, one year post-POEM I can eat normally without any problem. Sometimes and may be with specific foods I had mild reflux. I am satisfied from the entire behavior, interest and presence of Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis after the operation until today 2017.
I really believe that POEM technique was the most appropriate for my case Thank you very much.

My father suffered from achalasia diagnosed for years. The diagnosis was made in Belgium when he was 40-years-old. They told him to follow it regularly, but due to daily routine and responsibilities he left it.
Severe complaints occurred about ten years ago, when my father lost weight and reached about 65 kgs. He underwent a balloon dilatation in a private hospital and we hoped that the problem had solved.
However, some years later, symptoms returned and even worse. We went to University Hospital and he started a fight against achalasia with multiple and painful balloon dilatations with poor results….
Then one of our family friends, who suffered from achalasia and underwent the POEM procedure by Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis in Thessaloniki, he spoke to us about and we decided to visit him to examine my father.
Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis took my father’s medical history and after explaining the specific difficulties in our particular case, because of end-stage achalasia, we made the appointment and a few days later came the day that my father underwent the POEM operation by Dr.Nikos Eleftheriadis in Athens.
Everything went unexpectedly perfect! In less than a month our dad ate everything and mostly he slept without regurgitations or pain. Day after day both us and Dad forgot what had passed … In February 2017 we close two years after POEM and we calm down from all that Dad had passed ….
All this due to the wonderful doctor Nikos Eleftheriadis!!! With his knowledge, mood and persistence we are finally well!Many congratulations and endlessly “Thank you” !!!!

My name is Morfidis Dimitrios. I live in Aposkepos Kastorias. I suffered from achalasia since 2012, and in 27 August 2013, I underwent the POEM operation by Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis in Thessaloniki. Since then until today 2017, I have no problem with my esophagus and my life is totally normal.
With my consent, the POEM procedure performed by Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis was recorded and I allowed Dr. Nikos Eleftheriadis, to use the above video material according to his judgment.