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Esophageal spasms wont go away!!!!!!!!!

Posted , 12 users are following.

Chiffy31
Chiffy31

I'm glad I found this site as well you all my name is Chiffon I'll be 34 on the 29th. Anyway I was diagnosed officially after a year of terrible nausea and pain in August 2012 with Gastritis and Esophagitis. Up until this year in June I thought it was the gastritis causing the pain. I have been through three doctors due to them not being to treat my pain or refusal to treat my pain. Either way no matter that I've changed insurance companies each time, I still end up with the same GI specialist. He's not paid he just works with the system of step by step and now we've come to the point where I'm past taking everything under the sun from PPIs to pain meds and channel blockers nitrates. I've have 3 upper GIs and this morning I had an esophageal manometry which was horrible so pray you won't need one. I'm hoping to have the surgery soon. My Dr doesn't want to give me pain meds so I suffer through this excruciating pain daily mind you or find a way to self medicate. I can't work or finish school which I fought my way through twice to finish because of this illness and now that I'm done , I can't dare go out on my extern ship like this so I have to wait it out even longer. My bills have piled up and I have no idea what kind of Christmas my daughter will have this year if any. I could care less about cerebrating my birthday I just want her to have a decent christmas and my life back. Thanks for listening and allowing me to vent. I will keep you all updated on the results of the test and I'll be praying for healing for us all through these painful and trying times. God bless.

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1 like, 28 replies

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  • chris10905
    chris10905 Chiffy31

    Posted

    Try eating apples for the reflux. Don't know abour the spasm pain, though.
  • AlanJM
    AlanJM Chiffy31

    Posted

    You might try Buscopan but you will need to check with the doctor first. some people find Sudanfil helpful. Some people eat bananas, or drink warm water.

  • letitia60960
    letitia60960 Chiffy31

    Posted

    I have been suffering daily, too, since the beginning of June.  Do you mind if I ask what your pain feels like - the spasms?  I constantly have a heaviness feeling in my chest that makes me want to burp, and I do (so tired of that...) - but it doesn't help, and my chest hurts from doing that.  I have a kind of heartburn-like feeling, but it's not heartburn and Zantac doesn't help (nor does taking Prilosec ... but then again, even if I don't eat anything I have this feeling from the moment I wake up and start my day).  I feel like i have a lump in my throat that gets progressively worse by the end of the day, with radiating tightness going up the sides/back of my neck.  Swallowing has become more difficult and now I find that no matter what I eat or drink, I regurgitate some of it back up.  An entire meal or drink doesn't get stuck in my esophagus... just some of it - so I can eat/drink and eventually usually all goes down.  However, sometimes it doesn't, and I feel like there's a lump in my chest - with that heartburn feeling - then I have to vomit to get it out (not a nautious vomit, and it comes up very easily).  Anyway - sorry for the grossness and TMI... I have a manometry scheduled on Dec 22 and I actually hope they can finally diagnose what's wrong with me and do something to help me.  I can't take it anymore!
    • Chiffy31
      Chiffy31 letitia60960

      Posted

      Hi thanks for responding. I don't mind at all my spasms Ares very strong like contractions. I'm not sure if you know that feeling but very sharp stabbing pain that starts in the lower part of my right where the esophagus ends and the stomach begins. The pain radiates to the middle of my back. Its very excruciating. As far as food I've been where you are so don't feel bad its beyond your control. There's been many times where I've had to vomit to get relief or just from eating to much or suddenly feeling like my body rejected my food choice. I've learned to change my diet no spicy foods or anything in high acid. Add fiber to your diet and your gonna have to eat smaller bits and chew your food up more before you swallow. If you smoke try to stop and I can only drink beer now nothing hard or I'll pay for it dearly.
    • Chiffy31
      Chiffy31 letitia60960

      Posted

      As far as meds im way past antacids and PPIs and channel blockers nitrates you name it nothing has worked. I just take norco and sometimes morphine for the pain and am now waiting for my surgery. Its unfortunate that sometimes none of the meds work for some people and I guess I'm one of them. So my GI specialist told me to stop taking everything except my pain meds until the surgery.
    • letitia60960
      letitia60960 Chiffy31

      Posted

      Hi,

      Thank YOU for responding.  Sorry it's taken me so long to write back.  I don't have sharp stabbing pains, rather more of a "heavy" feeling... which actually hasn't been too bad lately.  More so I'm having trouble swallowing.  I'm starting to learn which foods to avoid, no spicy for sure.  The other day i was surprised that a salad I ate got stuck, but maybe it was because of the type of vinegarette?  Also, the globus sensation I feel in my neck is a constant, some days more noticible than others.  Still waiting on manometry results from 12/22.  Hope I hear from my doctor's office tomorrow... that procedure was AWFUL.  i was so happy when it was done, and literally had to convince myself to stay calm to just get through it.  Hope I never have to do that again, and hope it gives me some answers.  Oh - i dont' smoke, drink alcohol minimally.  Need to learn better chewing habits.  Small bites and chew better, and slow down! PPIs usually don't work for me... sometimes Zantac 150 does if I have the feeling of heartburn, but usually that's not what my issue is.  When is your surgery?

    • chandra57367
      chandra57367 letitia60960

      Posted

      Hi leticia,

      I hope you are still on here after all this time. I have the exact same symptoms and issues that you described and want to know what you ended up having and if you are feeling better now?

      Thanks !

    • CoocooBird
      CoocooBird letitia60960

      Posted

      Hi there, thank you sooo much for sharing this. I've felt so alone throughout this whole thing. Your previous symptoms are nearly Exactly what I'm going through! I hope you don't mind me asking, but is there any advice, info, or hope at all you can give me? I appreciate you taking the time to read this, thank you! I hope you're in good health now!

      Best wishes,

      Jane

    • AlanJM
      AlanJM CoocooBird

      Posted

      You can try to google the Achalasia Action charity's website. There are also some zoom-enabled meetings coming up that you may be able to join.

  • suncat
    suncat Chiffy31

    Posted

    SO SORRY FOR YOU...This is a scary disease. I ought i would havegood days andbad..  So far its been tough. Ill pray =for you to haveno pain     
  • didragon
    didragon Chiffy31

    Posted

    Hi Chiffy, firstly I am really sorry you are struggling so much with this. It really is a difficult condition . I know manometry is difficult but will hopefully provide the results required to get the procedure you need . In terms of the spasms have you tried Altoid mints ? They are very very strong with high levels of peppermint oil . I carry them everywhere and start crunching a few as soon as the pain starts and they really help ! I have had this for 5 years but only had my HM 3 weeks ago , it has been fantastic for me as already able to eat sitting down , drink cold water and sleep flat . Hope you find relief soon.if you have facebook you may find it worthwhile to join one of the support groups there. They have helped me a lot . Good luck 🍀 xx 😊

    • Chiffy31
      Chiffy31 didragon

      Posted

      Hi thanks for responding. I've never tried the mints usually things like that add to my nausea but I'll try it. Unfortunately I didn't have any spasms during the test so I doubt I'll get the results I need. Not to mention there's a 24 hr test their able to do right after but I didn't get that option so I surely hope they don't except me to do that again because I'm not. I just hope they do the surgery soon. By the way what's a HM ? Is that a type of surgery?
    • didragon
      didragon Chiffy31

      Posted

      Hi Chiffy, it may not matter about the spasms as the pressure in your LES is the main thing they need to look for I believe as well as the pressure wave ( or lack of it ) initiated on swallowing. The 24 hr test is about the acid reflux not the spasms I believe . The HM is the Heller myotomy with partial wrap I had done so yes surgical procedure I had done laparoscopically, for me this was a great success . I had all these tests done 4 years ago and they showed a weak and ineffective swallow but were not definitive for achalasia so went away and coped as long as I could thinking that there was no hope for me until I could not cope any longer then went back and all tests repeated which thankfully were more definitive and surgeon was then willing to operate which has worked well for me so far !!good luck 🍀
  • Robinjr2
    Robinjr2 Chiffy31

    Posted

    I sympathise as I've had this for years and have ended up in hospital more times than I can count because people think it's a heart attack and I'm in no state to tell them it's not.  I've had my gallbladder out and I've had children and this is a worse pain than either because I just can't breathe.  It's as though there's an iron band across my chest preventing it from inflating. I have had all the tests - the nurse who passed a tube down my nose then my throat was amazing, although how I kept it down for over 24hours I don't know.  What helps?  Sometimes a course of omeprazole, because I think my attacks are related to stress and tests showed I had an acid stomach; nitrolingual spray although it gives one heck of a headache - apparently I use too much - and breathing into a paper bag when you can't breathe.  But despite all this it still happens out of the blue.  I am going to try hynotherapy to cope with the pain because that works for labour pains...I was treated with high dose antibitocs in case I had some hostile bacteria in my stomach but apparently I hadn't. Sorry I can't be more help: I hope something works for you. Interestingly very few people appear to be diagnosed with this in the UK, where I'm from.
    • AlanJM
      AlanJM Robinjr2

      Posted

      Sometimes the reflux might cause a reaction, but the stress / tension may well affect your nerves and muscles in your oesophagus.   There are medications like Buscopan or nitrates that might help.   Some recommend Cialis but it is something you would need to ask your doctor about.

      There is an Achalasia patients meeting arranged in London for 9th March 5pm (google Meet Up groups; Achalasia) that you might find worthwhile.

    • Nythfa53
      Nythfa53 Robinjr2

      Posted

      I'm from the UK too and I know your post is old but wondering if you've found relief for your spasms. 

    • TKD
      TKD Nythfa53

      Posted

      Hi, I'm from the UK and have suffered with spasms for years. They are incredibly painful, not that I've had a heart attack but that's what I thought my first one was! Often lasting 20-45mins, very debilitating. However, after suffering for years, I tried taking Gaviscon Advance as soon as I feel the spasm start, and it's literally a life saver! I have to carry it with me everywhere but honestly, if I can take it straight away, the spasm stops. If I'm late taking it, then it still helps but not as quickly. I'd recommend it as its helped me out so much.

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