Newest symtpom started yetserday--esophageal spasms--even wake me up at night. Anyone else have these or know the remedy? Hiker53
[ 05. January 2008, 10:11 PM: Message edited by: hiker53 ]
Posted by amkdiaries (Member # 7035) on :
Yes I had this so bad last year I couldn't sleep. It felt like something was choking me to death and my doctor didn't know what to. She wanted to send me for a barium swallow but I kept telling her it felt muscular.
I then went on Biaxin/Plaquenil for three months and knock on wood it seems to have gone away. I still get some mild spasms but nothing like the original symptoms.
Posted by BJG (Member # 4723) on :
up for Hiker
Posted by BJG (Member # 4723) on :
up
Posted by Ann-OH (Member # 2020) on :
Maybe you should have an endoscopy to see what is going on. There is a rise in esophageal cancer - not saying that is what is happening in your case, but an Endoscopy might give some answers.
It is out-patient and you would be sedated. I have had a couple of these. Luckily, I didn't have cancer, but do have a hiatial hernia and reflux. Did have H-pylori as well, but that was cured with abx. Still take nexium, which takes care of the reflux.
Ann - OH
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Do not have a Modified Barium Swallow Study if you suspect
Problems with the esophagus. Have them do an upper GI series
With the focus on the esophagus and any motility issues that may be associated with it
Such as strictures. Scoping may be needed.
Some things that may help include small meals frequently.
Staying upright in a 90 degree angle for at least 60 minutes following a meal.
Elevating the head of the person with problems to at least 75 degrees during sleeping.
I haven't had this and usually is an area which is not treated by a Speech Therapist.
Dilation of the esophagus can be done if there is a stricture.
Some meds are used to control acid.
The only eosphageal problems I had was when I took doxycycline without an 8oz glass of water,
Then lay down for bed. Felt like my esophagus was on fire!
Hope you get some relief soon.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
gi doc needed endoscope gerd medications may be laryngospasm which can be very dangerous. feels the same possible cranial nerve maybe 10 neuralgia #10 is vagus nerve and goes down the throat bilaterally and can cause spasms also.
this would be the order to proceed
docdave
Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
I notice so far this has only happened when I lie down. I just had an endoscope in July which showed a normal esophagus but stomach gastritis and swollen upper part of the small intestine.
I was just prescribed doxy today, but maybe I had better hold off on it.
Doc Dave--you are scaring me! Wht do you do for a laryngeal spasm and for vagus nerualgia? Hiker53
Posted by Kiwikid (Member # 12974) on :
Ironically, last night I forgot to take my Doxy till late long after dinner. So I took two Doxy with a couple of cookies and a little milk. I didn't stay up for long and I woke up with a horrible spasms and burning throat. I was taking tums, and everything else I could and it has taken all day and it still isn't too good.
From now on, if I forget to take the abx till late, I will skip them unless I am willing to stay up at least two hours before bed. Good grief!!! I felt like I was dying, and that's on top if this crappy lyme. At the time I couldn't figure it out. But I think I've go it ingrained in my mind now;)
Posted by Munch (Member # 11323) on :
I wouldn't lie down after taking Doxy. Hope you don't have them again.
Those esophagus spasms are the pits. Mine made me feel like I was having a heart attack. Very cold water helps me cope with them.
Posted by maryland (Member # 10345) on :
Yes! I was experiencing pain, pressure and even difficulty swallowing. I had a series of different tests. THE BEST TEST (most accurate and painless) was called a cineoesophagram. I had this test performed at john's hopkins GI department. I'm sure you can go anywhere. The test revealed; esphogeal spasms, moderate GERD, and a sliding hietal hernia. Nexium 40mg seems to have done the trick. Of course, symptoms subside when eating small meals, and not lying down right after eating. And, cutting down on the acid foods helps with reflux. best wishes!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Yep. Mine surfaced about the time my GB went nuts. Sound familiar, hiker??
I only get them when I drink something cold. [For about a year, I drank only room temp drinks.].....
OR... when I take my pills too quickly and sometimes when I eat.
I have to take two-three handsful of supps/meds twice a day. If I take them too quickly and no "rest" in between handsful, then I will spasm.
It can be EXTREMELY painful and feels like what I'd imagine a heart attack would feel like....but MAYBE not quite as bad???
I also react sometimes to acidic foods and/or caffeine. For quite awhile, I stopped all caffeine.
Posted by dmbfan (Member # 11948) on :
things get stuck in my esophagus-even water-assuming its spams
Wound up in ER in Sept and had to have food extracted.
Barium and motility test showed nothing.
Dr told me to chew my food better and take small bites! Gee thanks...
Since on biaxin and bactrum for 3 months doing better
Posted by Gabrielle (Member # 5329) on :
Hiker, how are you doing now in regards to the esophagus spasms?
I'm glad I found this post. This is my newest symptom that came after I took the Levaquin/Minocyclin combo.
It sure feels like a heart attack. Horrible painful spasm in the esophagus and sometimes the pain goes up to the jaw.
In my case it's absolutely independent of food intake. Even if I had no food for 12 hours I can have these spasms.
In Dr. Bleiweiss' Lyme check list he mentions esophagus spasms as a Lyme symptom.
Gabrielle
Posted by Alv (Member # 15192) on :
Yes I had it and was too crazy and it is scary.I had H PYLORi found by Endoscopy and it started when I got infected with BLO ( now I can say) and it spread to my lower jaw ( did not know back than about lyme and company.
it lookecke like sombody was strangling me and was gasping for air.It used to come out of nowhere.
When I herxed on Bart treatment it will come back and I knew that I was killing bart .I already have taken the antibiotics of H pylori also.I had severe GERD from endoscopy.
But the chocking feeling it will usully come to me even when I was just talking .1 year after that my lyme became active.
Thank Good it is gone no problem with it anymore in my through.