Esophageal Spasm

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1sunny1

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Hi, I have had them that bad, when I didn't know what they were of course it scared me, which it would scare anyone. I have had them now since 1981, so I am not scared anymore, but they really are annoying. You can take a muscle relaxer for them, I take flexeril, I usually take it at bedtime because it will make you sleepy, but you can also try cutting one in half to see if that will work. Also, I know this sounRAB laughable, but...I always eat soda crackers when I get the spasms, for some reason the crackers help. Of course if you are throwing up, that won't work. But if you can, give it a try...can't hurt to try.

Sunny
 
I don't have an answer to your question, but I have had esophageal spasms since 1981 and I am still here, I don't ever feel like I am going to die, I doubt anyone dies from the spasms. They can be scary if you don't know what they are, but once you know and can deal with them, you should be O.K.. You can take a muscle relaxer to help with the spasms, the esophagus is a muscle.

Sunny
 
My gastroenderologist told me that the spasms are not life threatening, probably won't get worse or better. Mine are very irregular, time wise and strength
 
I was watching the show "House" the other night and someone had an esphogal spasm and they acted like you stop breathing when you have them. Everyone running around ready to "jump start" the patient. I don't have them often (thank goodness) but I do feel like I might choke to death sometimes. I don't think I have ever heard of any actually dying either although you may feel like it. They are pretty rare.

CharBerry
 
Twice I had spasms that lasted more than 40 minutes. The first time I went to emergency (hadn't been diagnosted yet) and they did a bunch of tests but didn't figure it out. They were very painful - but it always enRAB by itself, usually in less than 10 minutes. Scary, but no life threatening.
 
To those having spasms, have you tried magnesium supplements? Mag is critical to proper muscle functioning. I had sudden onset of acid reflux and started taking Prilosec and supplementing with Pepto and Gaviscon, but I still had weird symptoms, including occassional soreness in my chest and some breathing issues if the flare up was bad enough.

I eventually read about the effects of mag deficiency and started taking a 500mg supplement and my problems went away completely and immediately. It literally cured me. My doc thought I might have nutcracker syndrome or spasms, as well, although I never had the kind of pain you all are talking about. It's something you might want to try or at least read up about.
 
It's extremely unlikely that someone would die from an esophageal spasm. An esophageal spasm may constrict the esophagus and keep food from moving into the stomach, but the esophagus is located below the branch that allows air to move into the trachea, so someone who experiences an esophageal spasm can still breathe (even if it feels like they can't).

A close friend of mine who had advanced Barrett's esophagus would occasionally experience a severe spasm that would make it impossible for him to swallow but he could always breathe during his spasms (even though it took several spasms for him to realize this).
 
Hi, I had 2 episodes of severe pain in my chest in the last 4 days. Both times I was washing my hair when it started. Lasted for 15-20 minutes each time and felt like sharp rocks in my upper center chest, I was vomiting, faint and dizzy and it and gradually moved upwarRAB towarRAB my throat. I went to emergency yesterday and was told it was esophagus spasms. I am so scared as this was the most severe, scary pain I have ever had and I am afraid it will happen again. I had not eaten anything in about 16 hours each time and do not suffer from acid reflux. I occassionally get heartburn but not very often. Has anyone experienced such severe pain related to esophagus spasms? Thanks.
 
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