Re: Anti-spasm medications Was: Hiccups

[Guest guest]

> Liz -- have you tried any of the anti-spasm drugs? If the hiccups are related

to

esophageal spasms, then that might help??? (Just guessing???)

>

>

I inquired about anti-spasm medication before, not because of the hiccups, but

because of

the fact my E was still having so much activity (all in the wrong order and

direction of

course) that my food has a hard time to go down despite the myotomy and the fact

that I

am lucky and my E does NOT have pockets. Unfortunately, with low blood pressure

and a

heart rate that fluctuates between 35 and 55 (and I am definitely not an

athlete), the

doctor said those were not made for people like me.

One interesting fact was that one doctor mentioned that valgus nerve spasm may

be

responsible in part for the low heart rate. I wonder if others also have low

heart rates...

Is there anything out there that does not lower BP, affect heart rate, cause

heartburn?

Thanks for the info on cardiac spasm/chest pain in another message I read this

morning. I

talked to my specialist about that and he told me it was heartburn, but heaven

knows I

suffered enough heartburn for years to realize that this felt quite different

though every bit

as painful. On the basis of this " heartburn " I am on Nexium 40 mg permanently,

yet I get

typical heartburn only occasionally. I wonder...

Thanks a lot for your contributions.

Liz

[Guest guest]

---

One interesting fact was that one doctor mentioned that valgus nerve

spasm may

be

responsible in part for the low heart rate. I wonder if others also

have low

heart rates...

The vagus nerve is a nerve that can be directly responsible for a

decrease in heart rate (aka HR) Any stimulation of this nerve is

referred to as " vagal stimulation " , and can happen all the time.

When you are constipated and push too hard, that after effect of a

dizzy feeling is a consequence of that action. Coughing can do the

same. The most most prominent anti-spasmodic (NCCPS) that I see on

the board that seems to help everyone is Procardia (Nifedipine) a

calcium channel blocker. Simply put, there are a lot of calcium

channels in the heart--as it is the most important muscle of the body!

By decreasing the influx of calcium, there is a direct effect on the

heart rate and it slows down. I can go through all sorts of

complicated explanation, but you can look them up through physiology

websites-I'm sure. This will and can drop your HR. However,

nitroglycerin (NTG), (simplified explanation), because it works on

all sorts of systems, can act on the smooth muscle and decreases the

spasms. They both have the same end results, but work in different

ways. Nitroglycerine also works on the arteries and veins

and " dilates " them, allowing a " vasodilative " effect, causing a drop

in BP and major headaches. With a HR of 35-55, your " CO " (cardiac

output) may just be enough for you to function (do you feel dizzy?

lightheaded all the time?)or not. Only your doctor can say. Have

you worked up all of our systems--specifically cardiac? EKG,

Echocardiogram--etc.,? Has he fully ruled out a medical history that

does not involve the heart? That could be why he is hesitant. Also,

is your GI the only one running the show? Do you have an internal

med or cardiac specialist? Seek ye the right specialist; you may not

have to live with this, exhaust all of your avenues first. But

remember, ASK YOUR DOCTOR WHY.

Jo

In achalasia , " hellisabette " <hellisabette@y...>

wrote:

>

> > Liz -- have you tried any of the anti-spasm drugs? If the

hiccups are related to

> esophageal spasms, then that might help??? (Just guessing???)

> >

> >

> I inquired about anti-spasm medication before, not because of the

hiccups, but because of

> the fact my E was still having so much activity (all in the wrong

order and direction of

> course) that my food has a hard time to go down despite the myotomy

and the fact that I

> am lucky and my E does NOT have pockets. Unfortunately, with low

blood pressure and a

> heart rate that fluctuates between 35 and 55 (and I am definitely

not an athlete), the

> doctor said those were not made for people like me.

>

> One interesting fact was that one doctor mentioned that valgus

nerve spasm may be

> responsible in part for the low heart rate. I wonder if others also

have low heart rates...

>

> Is there anything out there that does not lower BP, affect heart

rate, cause heartburn?

>

>

> Thanks for the info on cardiac spasm/chest pain in another message

I read this morning. I

> talked to my specialist about that and he told me it was heartburn,

but heaven knows I

> suffered enough heartburn for years to realize that this felt quite

different though every bit

> as painful. On the basis of this " heartburn " I am on Nexium 40 mg

permanently, yet I get

> typical heartburn only occasionally. I wonder...

>

> Thanks a lot for your contributions.

>

> Liz