Esophagus Problems & What Helps

[Lamar75]

I am in my early 30's and have had this sensation for many years without knowing if it was my heart, stomach, muscles, or what.  It's a feeling that I find to be the most uncomfortable and I used to suffer from GERD, severe cramping & heart attack-like pains in epigastric region, difficulty swallowing & eating, problems with belching when needed, etc.  I am sure you all know the endless symptoms this can create.

I've been to doctors and had tests yet nobody seemed to do anything very thorough or beyond a simple palpation of my stomach while lying down.  I've been prescribed countless medicines (some of which may have helped a bit, but not 100%).  

Frustrated, I started to do my own research and findings.  I don't know if this might be of help to someone out there but I hope so.  I have studied my problem on my own very critically for a few years now and am always coming up with new finding and ways to improve my condition (spasms of the esophagus).  First, I learned that people with this problem suffer also from some other stomach/digestive ailment (whether it be GERD or an intolerance of some sort).  These could be brought on by stress, genetics or simply poor lifestyle and bad decisions.  

When I started documenting every single thing I ate & drank, I noticed what made these spasms happen.  There are some rules I have come up with that have helped dramatically with this.  I still get it, but only if I have violated a rule or two, and they aren't nearly as bad as they used to be and many symptoms are completely gone!!

My personal rules:

1.  If you are intolerant to a food (dairy, caffeine, etc) don't eat it!!  It's hard to do because you might go to a party and be offered delicious things, but if something contains an ingredient that makes you suffer in any way, don't eat it!!  My biggest culprits are alcohol, lactose & greasy things.  

2.  We cannot eat like everybody else!!  When I noticed I was trying to eat like the others sitting with me at the table, I realized that perhaps I am expecting a bit too much of my sensitive digestive tract.  We must eat several small meals a day (no pigging out), our choices of food should be as healthy as possible (whole grains, lean meats, cut the fast & junk foods replacing with healthy choices, etc.), we need to drink a lot of plain ol' water with everything we eat (washing down after every few bites is my recommendation), we need to take our times when eating (don't compete with your table mates and try to finish first or even with them). Mind your own personal table rules and forget the others! :)

3.  Eating healthy foods and substituting is a must!!  I noticed I suffered the most when I gave into that bowl of chips at a party, or drank a few cups of caffeinated drink.  Now I know that when I substitute for a tea with no caffeine, I get no problems.  Also, alcohol is a bad one too!!  If I seriously want to socially drink to be a good sport, it has to be something very light and bubbly like Champagne or sparkling wine.  Stay away from processed foods!  Stay away from fast foods & junk.  Read the labels & packages.  You need to educate yourselves about the foods you eat (grocery store or restaurant bought).  Don't just eat whatever...we cannot do this with out sensitive digestive systems.  It's not exactly a bad thing since people now think I have high-class taste in food & drink. :D  My stomach settles very happily after a light sushi dinner or Middle Eastern buffet (without overdoing it).  

4.  Make a list of things you absolutely cannot have or should not have.  Try not to give into more than one per day.  I know if I eat mounds of chocolate (eat the healthy high cocoa one if you can btw), I should not have any tea with caffeine or even one glass of alcohol, etc.

5.  Realize that there are things to calm your digestive tract and keep them available for yourself.  I am in LOVE with chamomile & lavender tea!!  This is my best friend when any sort of stomach trouble arises.  Another one is Japanese miso soup (made with a fermented bean that includes live cultures).  These live cultures (similar to what's in yogurt) work wonders for an angry stomach.  A bottle of sparkling mineral water not only helps me to get out troublesome gas, but is very healthy to replenish your bodies natural mineral balance. Mangoes & papayas are also a miracle when my stomach feels horrible.

6.  Take your multivitamins & supplements with food in your stomach.  Don't take any pills or medications with an empty stomach unless directed to do so by your doctor.  This is complete hell for any stomach!

7.  Exercise & relaxation techniques are necessary.  Think of this as a whole new lifestyle!  I am starting to get into yoga and finding such an added benefit to it.  Exercise does not need to be heavy and sweaty...a simple daily walk, calisthetics, dancing, etc. does your body good and keeps everything flowing smoothly in your entire body.

8.  Fiber fiber fiber!!!  Eat your fiber folks and make sure you can 'go' every day.  Fresh fruits & veggies, whole grains, etc... make sure you get enough EVERY DAY!  

I hope this helps someone out there.  Remember to stick to your guns and don't give up.  Sooner or later you will find yourself feeling so much better and not even craving another salty burger or greasy French Fry!  Let me know if anybody else is helped by my finding.  

All the best,
~L


This discussion is related to Esophageal Spasms?.

[Curiouscat03]

Sorry, Lamar.  You already answered how I can live a bit longer.  I will follow your advice to a T.  I already do parts of it out of desperation.

You are an oasis of hope.

CC03

[Curiouscat03]

Hey Lamar75,
It's wonderful to read your letter. I am hurting now and have to wait weeks to see the GI Doc to get his take on my problem.  Everything you said rings bells for me.  I have had heart tests, ecocard, heart cath, all very strong heart. INT said it may be a gallbladder problem.  No pain on right side under rib cage, no tenderness anywhere.  I do have a feeling of exhaustion in my upper arms (could be tennis) and back aches in different places that come and go (could be just a tired back from too much sitting at a stretch.)  When I eat, I get this horrible sensation in the center of my body, like a slow squeezing (lasts a few seconds then goes, but can come back again) below rib cage, but really it sometimes is overwhelming and stretches up to my neck giving me a sense of strangulation.  Also I get really dizzy for a moment at odd times and a brief wave of nausea--I can be anywhere, sitting, standing, or bending over.  I am narrowing down my eating, tonight I made spinach, ginger soup and a salad of lettuce, carrot, celery, green pepper (not happy about that one) and some soy beans, with hummus and lemon juice and water for dressing. Something in that combo is bothering me.  Oh yes, a few canned beets.  I have read how they help gastric juices.   Ginger tea is what saves me in the a.m.  I was interested to read about your lavendar chamomile (did I get that right?).  My big worry is that that my liver is more involved.  I have taken Nexium (since January) for acid reflux (after eating two meals of roast pork in a row and feeling like I was going to expire on my own sofa-)-but I don't think it has helped much.  I have never smoked or drunk alcohol.  Just an occasional soda water at a party or a light champagne or white wine very occasionally, when it was rude not to. Now  I am really scared.  I have been experiencing small annoying spasms of some type in my chest for about a year. (My internist at that time blew it off and said 'we'll watch it.'and strode out of the room never to be seen or heard from again) Now they're big annoying sensations that overcome me and make me feel weak and sick.  I am an athletic female, 71 yrs old, playing tennis about 3-4 times a week.  So the rest of me is healthy so far.  The other thing related to this problem and that no doctor has payed any attention to in my life is the chronic constipation.  Nothing, no fiber, tea or fancy concoction, will get my bowels to move.  Only when I get really scared, i.e. standing up in front of people for a speech, etc. will I get the urge. (where does it all go?  Can't wait to hear what the GI guy will say about that!)  Of course I bloat frequently  Do you have any advice?  I can't eat like a normal person!  I feel best when I don't eat at all, but I am losing weight too fast!  Sometimes I am so hungry I could eat a horse. (speaking of which the only red meat I can tolerate is VERY lean prime rib..a small slice. but that was a few weeks ago.  I am worse now)   What can I do to stay alive a bit longer?   HELP!  Thanks for any words at all from anyone out there.
Curiouscat03