Re: Severe Esophageal Spasm

Posted By DEBBIE on October 02, 1998 at 20:33:36:

In Reply to: Re: Severe Esophageal Spasm posted by Jodi on September 29, 1998 at 19:56:30:






: : I am having a lot of discomfort which I will discribe after I give you my history.  Healthy 45 year old male, normal blood chemistries, normal upper GI CAT scan, barium swallow, lower sig.  14 months ago, Lap Chole 3 months ago with pathology of chronic inflamation (inflammation) without stones- healed up fine, regular daily BM's, hemacult negative, recent history of burning stomach pain that is relieved by Prevacid. My current complaint is severe upper GI pain midline just below the breast bone.  I notice the pain will frequently occur when I just wake up in the morning although I have had it occasionally in the PM.  It feels like a cramp that gets very intense, then will subside and when it decreases it will be occampanied by gurgling sounds in the same area.  If the pain gets extreme enough I will feel the pain in my back as well.  I find that if this comes on when I first awake in the morning it will continue to be very intense unless I get up and move around at which time I notice less pain accompanied by gurgling in my stomach area.  I also find that if I drink a large warm glass of H2O the pain will reduce quickly.  I do notice whenever I have had one of these "spasms" that while the acute pain may be gone I still feel a uncomfortable for a number of hours kind of like when you get a calf spasm and it still hurts after you have rubbed out the cramp.  I have scheduled an appointment in 2 weeks with my Gastro DOC and am considering asking for an Endoscopy.  However, I would like to hear what other tests you might recommend.  I have thought that this might be a Pancrreas issue but I don't drink and the pain comes and goes within minutes which is not how I understand Pancreatitis operates. I am baffled?  Can you actually get sort of a chronic esophageal or stomach spasm syndrome? Are there medications that will help?  Your thoughts on this are appreciated.  Thank you.  Jim
I started having esophageal spasms after I had a lap gallbladder removal 2 years ago.  They came from nowhere.  I usually get them in the morning and sometimes they last all day.  I had a number of tests done and all are normal.  The one for spasms is manometry, a tube is put through the nose and into the esophageous.  Mine was normal although I am sure that I am having esophageal spasms.  It is a chronic condition that there isn't too much that can be done with medication.  I tried propulsid, levbid, levsin, etc.  I was put on an antidepressant for chronic pain that seemed to help but made me gain weight.  I am now taking St. Johns wort and that has helped.  I still get the spasms but not as often or as intense. Talk to your doctor about this test.  Sounds like esophageal spasms.  I never had this problem until after the surgery.  I have read enough stories at this site that convince me that it has something to do with gallbladder removal.  Good Luck in getting relief.  It has now been 2 years for me and I recently read at this site someone that has had the spasms for 10 years.
: Debbie
Debbie,
Thanks for the feedback.  I to have noticed that this pain did start after the surgery, although I did have upper right quadrant pain prior to the surgery that was terrible.  Do you find like I do that eating something or getting up and moving around helps?  Also, do you find your symptoms more frequent in the early morning, and sometimes when you wake up?  I have tried Prevacid and that helps with the reflux, but nothing for the spasms.  Also, Levsin doesn't help at all.  I even find that hard exercise can cause more discomfort.  Finally, have your symptoms slowly improved over the last few years since your surgery?  Any other thoughts on what helps would be appreciated?  Thanks
This is amazing to me to read these responses!  I have been suffering with horrible spasms ur about 6 years.  I have been to various physicians and they have told me they were allergies, asthma, and muscle spasms which they put me on valium for.  Today I went to the radiologist for an UGI and he finally told me about esophageal spasms.  What are some of the causes of this and is there any way to fix it??  
Jodi
JODI,  I HAVE HAD THE SPASMS FOR 2 YEARS FOLLOWING GALLBLADDER SURGERY.  HAVE BEEN TO NUMEROUS DOCTORS HAD ALL THE TESTS AND BEEN PUT ON MANY MEDICATIONS BUT NOTHING HELPS.  SOME DAYS ARE REALLY MISERABLE WITH SPASMS LASTING ALL DAY, EVEN MY LIPS GET NUMB.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT.  IF YOU HEAR OF ANYTHING, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THE DOCTORS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.  GOOD LUCK.  DEBBIE