Esophogeal Spasm

Wotan · September 19, 2005, 2:17am

I have some GERD---i take protonix in morning. From time to time i get that Esophogeal Spasm--i can feel the esophagus spasm & it hurts like all heck---going up & down---only lasts a few mins. Any suggestions?? I know anti cholingerics are good---but anything that could knock it out quickly, like a drink of hot tea or something? Very annoying--thanks---Robert

Alfred · September 19, 2005, 12:23pm

A doctor may want to give you a shot of Botox in the muscle, or even cut two incisions in the muscle itself. I would try to treat the system as a whole. I have read that a little peppermint oil mixed in water helps, not a big believer in that method as peppermint oil is caustic. I would chew DGL chews, as they mix with your saliva to form a coating as you swallow. Maybe marshmallow tea for the same reason. All three are inexspensive, and my guess is that at least one of them, or all together, will help. Perhaps accupunture? I'm not a big believer in it as you have to have it done 3 time a week for a month or two to help, but it will work, at least for a temparary solution. Ah! Slippery elm bark lozenges. Slippery elm bark has been used by native americans for hundreds of years. Even soldiers durning the civil war made gruel out of the bark. I would try all 4 things, you might spend $25 dollars or so, but in doing so you may find that one or all of them help a lot, especially before bed. Any natural foods store should have them. I see the older gods guide your way, perhaps.

Best Wishes
Alfred

CathyA · September 19, 2005, 2:04pm

I used to take a couple Rolaides for them, and sometimes that would work, and sometimes it wouldn't. Then I discovered that if I drank a little something, or ate a little something, they would go away. I think when we eat or drink something, it forces the esophogus muscle to try to contract in a reasonable way, and maybe that stops the spasm??

Teri16 · September 20, 2005, 3:32am

Hi Wotan! It's nice to see you here!!

I've gotten those spasms before as well, but I take nitro for angina, and as sometimes that's hard to distinguish, my Dr. told me to take the nitro. It helped.

Check with your Dr. to make sure this is what you are having!

Wishing you all the best!! Hugs, Teri :)

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

Teri16 · September 20, 2005, 3:33am

PS Great Article, Jen!! Thanks!

Big Hugs, Teri :)

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

hearty · September 30, 2005, 8:02pm

Sometimes I get a really sharp pain in the middle of my chest. It feels so deep and lasts several seconds and goes away. A nurse told me one time that it was an esophagus spasm....it is really scary. Is that the feeling you all are talking about?

Wotan · September 30, 2005, 8:53pm

Hi hearty---Mine is actually feeling the

esophogus spasming. I can feel it going up & down (the pain)----it's intense--but it goes away.