Spasms

[medicine woman]

I have just had Gallbladder surgery in January,  I still get spasms in my upper back  and for the past week have experienced mild heart burn in which I have been on Raberprazole.   It helped at first, I dont get the reflux up the throat
just the heartburn symptoms which can be just as bad.  Resent I have had spasms in my upper back into the throat
which last 20 min . Then I have the feeling that I have to have a bowel movement , just after that the spasms are back
for another 15 min.  I have been told I have IBS .  Also notice every time I get this I have sinus problems.
I have been through heart tests and stress test , no problem .  All blood work fine , Just had rescent Cat scan , waiting
for result.    When these spasms come and go and are strong up the throat , I have spit ip a small amount of blood , not much . I feel like I have to clear my throat often . The only time is at night when I am in bed , but I have to spit up
in the morning .   I have used raw unpasturized honey , to help the esophagas.  I was also told I have a hiatis Hernia
in which has caused the problem , they said I have GERD.   I have been in pain for the past few days with direaha
that is yellow and mucus .    I wish I knew what was happening ... I thought by having my Gallbladder out that that would have helped ... any sugestion??

[CalGal]

Medicine woman, if the doc hasn't suggested following a low fat diet, you may want to consider starting one. Part of what may be going on may be your system trying to adjust to processing fats in a 'different' way. Many people have problems after GB surgery in that they may not release bile in a coordinated manner - the way it should be done.

What you're describing could be related to your biliary system, or may have GERD in addition, but please follow-up on the biliary system.

When people have spasms after GB surgery many docs fall back on the IBS diagnosis, but it's not IBS and if a doc doesn't know the biliary system well they may use that to try to explain it to a patient. Most often it's not true. Yes, the diarrhea and abdominal spasms may be similar to what is found in IBS, but the location of the URQ pain is not what is seen in IBS.

As far as the antispasm meds, was the bentyl used in a dose high enough to effect the gallbladder, biliary system and the esophagus? You need to ask the doc that question. The doses used for IBS are not sufficient to try to calm down the musculature in the biliary system nor in the esophagus. Despite the bile duct and the sphincter of Oddi being small structures, they can produce very strong spasms and a lot of pain. And esophageal spasms are very strong and can resemble a heart attack.

You could also talk to your doc about using some nitroglycerin or specific calcium channel blockers which may help with either biliary system spasms and/or with esophageal spasms which could be part of what you're feeling in the chest.

[medicine woman]

The medication , Raberprazole was for my Gastro relux, ..I take it once per day.
I had always trouble with constipation before the surgery  for GB.  Then just this past
week  I had a spell with yellow mucos diarrhea..The pain first started as back spasms then into my lower abdomen over the left side .  As I released a BM ,  about 15  min later I would get sharp  back spasms.    I do a lot of belching.  I have been drinking warm
water  and this helps a bit.  Sometime I feel nausa .  The PPI  that I take , I dont know
if it helps.     I find that when I have sinus  my GERD  acts up I have all this flem (phlegm) , throat
clearing.    I have been to chiropractor for acupucture to see if this helps. He says alot
has to do with the hiatis hernia .....  this morning I am up again feeling nausea  and maybe it is because I have not been eating well .   I will question these things with my Gastro doctor , as I just had another Cat scan this week...
Thank you for your reply.