Esophageal spasms

   For 2 1/2 years I had a thick sticky saliva and bad taste in my mouth. About three weeks ago, my symptoms changed - gnawing pain in chest below chestbone and sore throat and acidy taste. I was put on prilosec - then aciphex. This helped some but  I would have some breakthroughs. For a number of months I also would have esophageal spasms - tightening of my chest and sides and feeling of pressure where esophagus meets stomach.
    This week I had an esophageal manometry test - it showed diffuse esophageal spasms and lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction. I was started on Dexilant which is a newer stronger PPI drug - so far, I have had little breakthroughs - only on two days. And I was put on norvasc which is a calcium channel blocker - this made me sick - headache, tired, nauseated, and it impacted my vision.
   I am having an endoscopy next week. the question is - do I have GERD which causes the spasms - which is a weakening of the sphincter or do I have esophageal spasms which is kind of the opposite of GERD with the spasms causing the regurgitation of food.
   Spasms are impacted by anxiety. When I am anxious I spasm more. Not taking any anti anxiety meds but taking doxepin (switdching to elavil) for IBS. Heard that benzos weaken the sphincter and can cause GERD.
   Do you have any input on getting a botox shot for the spasms or esophageal spasms.

[CalGal]

GERD can unfortunately trigger esophageal spasms. It may be due to the irritation caused by GERD in the esophageal lining. I'm not sure you can separate the two conditions. Spasms can be made worse by anxiety, but I'm not sure esophageal spasms can be caused strictly by anxiety.

There is a link between anxiety and GERD. For many GERD sufferers, anxiety can make the GERD worse. That, in turn, my trigger the reflux of more acid into the esophagus, and perhaps the increased irritation to the esophagus could be triggering an increase is spasms of the esophagus.

Botox injection into the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is typically used when the LES is closed - in conditions such as achalasia - and food can't go through at all. Botox would leave the LES completely relaxed allowing food to move through from esophagus to stomach. However, that would also allow unimpeded movement of acid from stomach to esophagus. If you want to consider botox, and you doc believes it will help - if the condition were something like achalasia - then the person to talk to would be your doc.