Esophageal Spasm pain alleviated by leaning forward

Hi everyone,

I have severe attacks of pain that my doctors originally thought was gallstone related (an ultrasound showed i have gall stones), however the esophageal manometry and 24 hr pH test showed that i have lower esophageal spasming and reflux, so now they think that the bursts of excruciating pain i have (usually lasting 2 or so hours) are most likely esophageal spasms caused by the acid reflux, rather than gall stones, however they are still not 100% sure.

my question is this: when i am having an attack, the only thing that will alleviate the pain at all is leaning forward.

has anyone else had esophageal spasms that were a) extremely painful, and lasting for 2 or 3 hours; and b) where the pain is at least slightly alleviated by leaning forward?

thanks.

[1976922009]

hi i have the very  same thing and have it for about six years or so.threr is  no easy fix and any medicine i got made me very drowsy and the nissan  operation  did not help me. i find that very cold water will help a lot i have seen a lot of doctors and i still have to live a life of hell no pain killers will work i think i have try them all .  try a hot bath some times it works for me or if you find any thing let me no thanks

[armandpro]

Sometimes a liquid or soft diet helps. Eat slowly and chew your food carefully. Avoid stressful situations or take steps to improve your ability to cope with stress. Antacids sometimes prevent esophageal spasm linked to indigestion.

If food appears to be “stuck” in your throat, performing an exercise called the Valsalva maneuver may help it pass into the stomach. This maneuver involves taking a deep breath and then trying to forcefully expel the air from yourlungs with your mouth tightly closed and holding your nostrils closed.

I hope this help.

[klumpus]

In the early 1990s, I would get very painful esophageal spasms caused by very bad reflux. These were very scary and I would go to the ER.  One lasted for over six hours.  My gastro MD said the only way that you could stop a very bad spasm was by having the ER give you an IV of valium.  I no longer have the problem, but chicken will still get stuck in my throat and I have to be very careful and chew carefully.  I have never had another spasm after starting Prilosec. I found with the spasms that I wasn't even able to take a sublingual med as the spasms were so violent.  For years I would have to regurgiate food because I couldn't get it down the esophagus.