Does anyone have esophageal spasms?

Lia813 · 04-07-2004, 07:09 PM

My Dr THINKS now that is what I have. It all started the first of Jan. with pain on swallowing and the feeling of food or pills hanging in my throat and terrible chest pain. Chest pain that radiated from my breast bone to my back and behind both breasts. He thought I had esophagitis so I had a Barrium Swallow that showed a large ulceration on the esophagus . I then had an Endoscopy that showed nothing. No ulceration there and if it had been it was healed. Still the same pain. I began Aciphex on Jan. 15 and have steadily gotten worse. He now thinks it is esophageal spasms but to be certain wants me to double up on the aciphex for 4 weeks. Sigh. Then I am to have a Manometry . Does this ever get over with? Is there any cure for this? I hurt 24/7 , with each bite of food or swallow of water . My entire esophagus hurts and the pain radiates up into my left ear. Plus of course the chest pain. I took Fosamax for 18 mos. prior which I think is what brought this on. Can anybody relate and give me some hope ? Lia

holly1981 · 04-09-2004, 01:41 AM

Hello,
I have a digestive disease called Gastroparesis....AKA stomach no longer digests foods. That is one of the symptoms of it. From what you describe i would have my doc check me for GP. You sound like you have all the symptoms. The GES test isn't bad. They make you eat and see how your stomach emptys. Usually scrambled eggs you lay down and they take pics of your gut at intervals. I have esp spasms. All that helps is the gi cocktail. So if you do have them and it sounds to me like you do I would ask the doc to get you some. otherwise you can always go to the er and get it. I take it as a rescue med.

Lia813 · 04-09-2004, 08:56 AM

I have LOTS of questions. I am new to gastro disorders , this being my first experience. As you well know, it is not fun ! Lia

LiLi1126 · 04-11-2004, 09:49 PM

Hi Lia,

I am new to these boards and specifically signed on to join the digestive board...then I saw your post...the weirdest thing I found was that...my name is ALSO Lia...(I didn't think anyone else spelt it this way...

)

I am ALSO suffering from the EXACT same thing as you...and have now been diagnosed with esophageal spasms...I'm battleing the same things as you...the same pains as you...everything.....I hurt 24/7 also and am at my witts end with this....

I'm very frustrated an in pain every day...the chest pain is the worst!!

Just thought I'd reply to your post and let you know that there is someone out there who also is going through the exact same thing as you....who also happens to have the same name...LOL!

Hope you find a way to stop hurting so much...(and if/when you do..can you share it with me? ha..ha..)

Li

Katie G · 04-12-2004, 01:20 PM

Hi Lia. I'm so sorry for your troubles. The manometry will measure the motility of your esophagus and whether esophageal movement (or contractions) is in sync or not. I occasionally have esophageal spasms myself, but they are not constant and do not last much longer than a few minutes. Mine are brought on by trapped gas related to my fundoplication surgery back in 2001. Once the gas passes, I'm fine.

I don't know what medications could help. Way back in the late 80's when my GERD was first diagnosed (as esophagitis), my doc then prescribed Valium for occasional attacks of spasms, since it relaxes smooth muscle. However, hopefully your doc will come up with a better solution than that. Valium pretty much knocked me out for the day.

Good luck to you,
Katie G