Esophageal spasms

[jboss19]

I have been reading about esophageal spasms.  I have had 2 bouts in the last month, the current one right now.  It starts after a too big meal it seems and then lying down and or slouching and at night (so far but probalbly just because of a big evening meal)  It begins with a little pinching sensation in the throat.  It subsides and builds back again, stronger.  This process lasts a few seconds to a minute. The spasms come and go. It gets worse until it spasms down the throat with any swallowing motion.  At the peak spasms it is severe pain in the chest and out the back just below the right scapula.
It forces me to breathe very shallow and is painful.  There is 2 very painful episodes that last about 1-2 minutes each then the pain moves to just below the breastbone.  There are 2-3 one minute(+-)spasms there and it finally starts to subside.  As I have typed it has subsided to a mere pinch of pain out the back area.
I have tried drinking sips of water but to no avail, just caused small burps that may aggrivate that situation.  I try to sit up in a comfortable chair and sleep...usually slows it down but seems go through a full spasm episode before the pain is gone.
There is no evidence of heart problems.  

My first attack was about 5 years ago.  The doctor gave me propulsid which relaxed and solved the problem but it also had the side effects of running to the bathroom. (A small price to pay for the relief.)  My recent bouts were treated with Prilosec under the idea that acid reflux was the instigator of this situation....probably so.  So far no real solution.  Ideas?

[CGHODGE]

My son has a horrible time with spazzzing!!!  And he just was seen by a neurologist and they said the are T-waves.....basically from the brain.  He just put my son on Depakote to try to prevent them.  Cindy

[MARY ANN]

first i would like to to say even thogh some people believe in the drug propulsid please do not take any more of it myself along with many many other patient of acid reflux(gerd)have had grave side afects including the death of a lot of people it has sense been removed from the market if you have any of your perscription left discontinue use.it has been known mostly for causing serious heart conditions .now to respond to your concerns it sound to me that you no doubt have gerd but it also sounds like you could have a possible blockage or other upper digestive problem you should go to a good gastro digestive specialest it sounds as though you are in a great deal of pain so i would make a apointment asap.best of luck and god bless ps.i am one of thoes heart patients from propulsid so please be sure  to discontinue use .wishing you well .

[MARY ANN]

i just wanted to add ask the specialest to run a upper scope for you it should reveal the problem.good luck

[jboss19]

Thanks for the info.  I will not take the proplusid...only 1 left anyway.  I did have the upper done after my first attack 5 years ago...nothing apparent.  I only have these attacks on rare occassions, at least I did.  It is only recently that I have had 2 in the past month.  I hadn't had one in over a year and usually had at most one a year.

[steveaustralia]

You are not alone. I have required hospitalisation recently as the spasms have got worse. Buscopan seems to work but unfortunately, unless you know an attack is coming, the oral tablet takes 30 mins to work. Good luck. I'll keep watching please post any cure you find.

[Burpee]

I suffer from spasms to the Phrenal nerve and taking Neuronton has helped fantastically. Perhaps it would work for the esophagus also? Ask your doctor.