Esophageal Spasms

[maryslamb]

I have been dealing with what i believe to be esophageal spasms for 2 years.  My symptoms include nearly constant chest pain and pressure, extreame tightness and pressure in my lower throat, tachycardia, bloating feeling intermittantly.  I have seen GI, ENT, Cardiologist, Rhematologist.  All doctors were unable to pin point what was going on with me.  I have had numerous studies done of which revealed GERD evidence found VIA EGD, Tachycardia with no cause found by EKG and Stress Echo, Englarged Pharangeus Muscle found VIA barrium swallow, Low Vit. D levels found by the rheum. I am constantly in pain and it is really effecting my emotional status and creating so much stress in my life.  The only thing that i have found to improve it is alcohal, which seems to really improve all my symptoms.  I, of course, dont want to begin self medicating with alcohal, so I am looking to see if anyone out there is dealing with the same thing and what might help me.  I am going back to the ENT tomorrow, hopfully to get on a calcium channel blocker for these spasms (if that is what really is going on).  Currently i am taking Zegerid (PPI), Lexapro (for the anxiety all of this has caused me), and Nadolol (for tachycardia).

Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Mary

[selmaS]

  Hi..I was wondering if u were ever checked for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, it is typical to have a hyatial hernia with it and many of the symptoms u mention r common...

The other issue could just be ur hiatial hernia and the GERD that accompanies it...the bloating and pressure can be on the vagus nerve and that could explain ur heart palps....

  There are soooooooooo many conditions with similar symptoms the only answers can be found after u have an exam with a Dr.

  I have a lot of the same issues and as a result of my EDS do not absorb vitamins and minerals, so my vit D is low no matter how much I take....and it is also due in part to the meds I take for GERD from the hernia, they also block vitamin absorption....and with some research I found that the low levels could also be from low levels of magnesium..and without the right levels of magnesium u will not be able to absorb the Vit D.....

  So do get all ur levels checked and know u can not gauge what is going on with u, with what is going on with someone else..we r all so very diff.

  Good luck and do post an update

       "selma"

[elisapooh]

wish I could have found out the outcome of mary - nobody ever follows up and tells people what they had. I also have Vitamin D deficiency, Graves disease but my thyroid levels are in normal range right now.  I too am having esophageal spasms,but also have severe gastritis and have had several episodes now of scary tachycardia with numerous ER trips where nobody finds anything wrong. The EGD found a stricture, GERD, hiatal hernia and severe gastritis. I went for mannometry (hell for a test) and found that I have the esophageal spasms. I am just on Nexium. Went thru heck with Omeprazole (prilosec). I have been in ER 2 times in last week for palpitations - they told me I had gall stones. Then I went for severe stomach pain that was unrelenting. They did a CT scan and told me that I had nothing wrong with the gallbladder. Everything was okay ... still don't know why I am having palpitations. I have learned to live with the pressure in chest that feels like I am having a heart attack and difficulty swallowing - it is intermittent but when the dysphagia comes on, it lasts for nearly a month and I can just get down fluids and soft foods. Had a bout of tachycardia tonite - pulse went up to like 150 - scares the **** out of me and you can just hear it beating and beating. I wish I knew what to do - didn't go back to the ER that's for sure. What good would it do? HELP!!!!!!!!! Anyone have any answers for this??????? REAL answers? The palpitations have been in last 2 weeks, but stomach issues/chest/throat issues have been going on almost 6 months now.

[selmaS]

Hi....I pray that works for u...please update us on how it works !!


Godspeed
"selma"

[maryslamb]

Went back to the specialist today.  Looks like i am going to be getting botox into the cricopharangeal muscle to relieve this endless pain.  Hoping to get some relief!!

[selmaS]

Hi...I agree u should not self medicate with nething especially alcohol...and alcohol can actually increase ur gerd  issues.

Ask ur dr about using a pro biotic and see if that may help.