Esophageal Spasm

Question: What the home treatment or self treatment for esophageal spasm? ive been suffering from this esophageal spasm lately... and it really sucks. I mean feel like i am soffucated. and even i try to relax it wont relax... pls help.

Answer: there are few treatments really, some Dr's prescribe ranitidine or omeprazole to stop you making so much stomach acid so when the spasm occurs the acid doesn't jump into your oesophagus and cause you pain. for the spasm itself, its a case of trial and error with meds as the drugs they use are all primarily designed to be used on other conditions. Things you can do yourself are as follows avoid taking big gulps of fluids avoid food + fluids that are excessively hot or cold make sure you drink plenty at mealtimes to make food easier to swallow + digest some people can identify specific food as triggers- your Dr can help you look into this. also please make sure you have a medical diagnosis of oesophageal spasm before you self treat as there are many digestive disorders with similar symptoms, some harmless and some potentially very serious.

Question: what can I do esophageal spasm pain at home? I use to get e.....spasms years ago , I have barrerts esphogaes, and tike heartbearn meds for that,, in the mean time these spasmes just started again, if any one knows if a heating pad, or any thing else I can do to help would sure be a great help. thank you

Answer: Treatment : Sublingual (beneath the tongue) nitroglycerin may be effective in an acute episode. Long-acting nitroglycerin and calcium channel blockers are also used to treat esophageal spasms. Chronic cases are sometimes treated with low-dose antidepressants such as nortriptyline to reduce symptoms. Rarely, severe cases require surgery. Expectations (prognosis) : An esophageal spasm may be a condition that comes and goes (intermittent) or lasts for a long time (chronic). Medicine can help relieve symptoms. Complications : The

Question: I think I have an esophageal or cricopharyngeal spasm, has anyone else? What are your symptoms?

Answer: See a gastroenterologist and get an endoscopy done. I had narrowing of my esophagus and it was hard swallowing food. You shouldn't try to diagnose yourself.

Question: What medication is helpful for esophageal spasms?.? A lot of times, I get severe epigastric spasms anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour after I eat. Even if it's a food that doesn't bother me, I'll get a spasm from the same food in the same quantity at times. I've tried benzodiazapines but they don't work. Any suggesstions? Also maxeran and buscopan don't work.

Answer: Homeopathy :- What you have mentioned here can be cured with BELLADONNA 30C thrice a day half hour before or after meals can be repeated every 15 to 30 minutes for 2 or 3 doses till you start feeling relief.If there is no relief after three doses stop and report back with your specific individual symptoms and any other accompanying symptoms and please explain in detail ! The correct Homeopathic Medicine according to your specific individual symptoms will cure your disorder please give your individual symptoms for an appropriate remedy ! Take Care and God Bless you !

Question: Can esophageal spasms be caused by flying? woke up in the middle of the night with painful, frequent spasms in my esophagus. this was shortly after flying with stuffed up ears and nose.

Answer: maybe

Question: diffuse esophageal spasm? Anything to take over the counter. This is my 2nd epsode. Been a couple of hours. Man this sucks. Can't eat or drink! Not hiccups, basicly i regerg anything i eat or drink. And about every half hour my syliva comes back up. All I did was wait. You also should try to calm down. Try not to think about it. Try doing something else to keep your mind off of the problem. I am going to the gastro doctor. Good luck to all who have this problem.

Answer: Hiccups?

Question: Has anyone heard of Esophageal spasms? I have had these for many years and they are so painful! The symtoms are just like a heart attack. I have gotten better with Effexor and Nexeum, but I still get them. Stress is a big factor. I can get them so bad that I feel like I can't take a normal breath. Like a vise. Sometimes I wonder if I have a heart problem because I have Lupus and Sjogrens Syndrome.

Answer: I used to get them many years ago. You're right they are painful and scary. I finally noticed that I got these spasms when my asthma was acting up...not necessarily DURING an asthma attack, but within a day or so of one. Once I got the asthma under control the spasms subsided. If you are asthmatic or have severe allergies, you might want to have that link explored. Good luck.

Question: Has anyone taken Donnatal for esophageal spasms? How does it make you feel?

Answer: this sounds like a good combination of constituents, do make sure that the prescribing doctor is aware of your other medical illnesses, alleries and other medicines that you are using, good luck

Question: fosamax and esophageal spasms? Has anyone had trouble with Fosamax causing esophageal spasms? When this happens, what can be taken to replace Fosamax?

Answer: Fosamax may rarely cause esophageal side effects. I would make an appointment with the doctor who prescribed it for you to discuss what you've been experiencing. If you're taking this drug for Osteoporosis, there are other medications out there that may be helpful as well (i.e. - Evista, Actonel). Either way, as those commercials on TV say, "talk to your doctor" about this.

Question: Esophageal Spasms diagnosis with endoscopy Hi, I have been having non-cardiac chest pain and my doc thinks that I have GERD and scheduled me for endoscopy. But I do not have other typical acid reflux symptoms (like acid taste in the mouth, nausea etc) and my chest pain is not responding to prilosec or zantac (I have been taking prilosec for the last 15 days but I do not see any improvement). I read on internet about Esophageal spasms. I want to see if I have this problem. Will endoscopy find these spasms? Or a different test is needed?

Answer: Esophageal spasms From MayoClinic.com Special to CNN.com Introduction You're really thirsty and you take a huge gulp of a cold, carbonated beverage. Suddenly, you experience a severe pain in your midchest that lets up after a couple of seconds. This is one form of an esophageal spasm. In some people, esophageal spasms occur with much greater frequency and can lead to chronic swallowing problems and pain. Your esophagus is a long tube-like structure that connects your throat to your stomach. A healthy esophagus moves food into your stomach through a series of coordinated muscular contractions, called peristalsis. Esophageal spasms disrupt this process. Esophageal spasms are an uncoordinated series of muscle contractions that prevent food from traveling properly from your esophagus to your stomach. These spasms can be very painful. Chest pain is a common symptom of esophageal spasms. The cause of esophageal spasms is unknown. Esophageal spasms are more common in people with acid reflux disease, and your likelihood of developing the condition increases with age. Treatment of esophageal spasms in the short term may involve using medications to quickly relax the esophageal muscles. Long-term treatment may involve managing any contributing health condition, taking additional medications, altering your eating habits, and other approaches. Signs and symptoms Esophageal spasms affect the smooth (involuntary) muscles in the walls of your lower esophagus. These spasms may occur in two forms: Diffuse spasms. These simultaneous or irregular contractions of esophageal muscles slow down the progress of food toward your stomach. Nutcracker esophagus. Food may progress to your stomach normally, but the contractions of your esophageal muscles are painfully strong. For both forms of esophageal spasms, periods of contractions often occur intermittently, becoming more severe over a period of years. Signs and symptoms of esophageal spasms include: Pain in your chest, often intense, which you might mistake for heart pain (angina) Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) Painful swallowing The feeling that an object is stuck in your throat (globus) Bringing food back up (regurgitation) Heartburn, a burning sensation that may radiate from your upper abdomen to your neck, sometimes leaving a sour taste Esophageal spasms can be difficult to diagnose because of their similarity with other disorders, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which stomach acid or bile flows back (refluxes) into your esophagus, irritating its lining. Causes The exact cause of esophageal spasms is unknown. Some possibilities include: Extremely hot or extremely cold foods, although how these foods may trigger the spasms is unclear Gastroesophageal disease (GERD) or heartburn, conditions affecting the esophagus and which may trigger spasms Risk factors Esophageal spasms are more common in women, and the incidence increases with age. If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, you may be more prone to esophageal spasms. Your doctor may test you for reflux or try a medication targeted at acid reflux. When to seek medical advice If you have difficulty swallowing, chest pain, frequent heartburn or difficulty keeping food down, see your doctor. Screening and diagnosis Your doctor may confirm a diagnosis of esophageal spasms by these methods: Barium swallow (esophagram). This is the best imaging study to help diagnose esophageal spasms and a common test for people who have difficulty swallowing. A barium swallow uses a series of X-rays to examine your esophagus. During the test, you'll drink a thick liquid (barium) that temporarily coats the lining of your esophagus so that the lining shows up clearly on X-ray images. You may also have air blown into your esophagus, to help push the barium against the esophagus walls. After the test, you can eat normally and resume your daily activities, although you'll need to drink extra water to help flush the barium from your system and prevent constipation. Esophageal motility (manometry) test. In this test, your doctor inserts a thin tube through your nose or mouth into your esophagus to measure the effectiveness of your esophageal muscles in the swallowing process. Esophageal computerized tomography (CT) scan. CT scans use an X-ray-generating device that rotates around your body and a powerful computer to create cross-sectional images, like slices, of the inside of your body. This test may show abnormal thickening of your esophageal muscles, a possible indicator of esophageal spasms. Treatment Treatment may include: Managing any underlying conditions. Conditions such as heartburn or GERD may trigger spasms. Behavior modification. Your doctor or a dietitian may suggest approaches ranging from changing your eating habits (for example, avoiding meals before bedtime) to changing your diet (avoiding certain foods, such as spicy or acidic foods). Biofeedback. In this method, you use the power of your mind to control your body. A biofeedback therapist connects electrical sensors to your body to help you recognize and control your body's physiological response to stress. This treatment option is available in many physical therapy clinics, medical centers and hospitals. Medications. Smooth muscle relaxants, such as calcium channel blockers or nitrates, can reduce the severity of contractions. Your doctor may also prescribe tricyclic antidepressants, such as trazodone and imipramine, to reduce pain. Newer treatments, such as peppermint oil and sildenafil, have shown promise in small studies. In a small number of people, direct injection of botulinum toxin also has shown some benefit. Surgery. In rare cases, surgery may be an option to make esophageal contractions weaker (myotomy) or to remove your esophagus entirely (esophagectomy).