Spasm after surgery & vigorous

[Guest guest]

There were some postings about vigorous achalasia and I thought I'd

add what I've surmised through the years. They don't really treat it

differently, it is just a matter of more spasms or possibly stronger

spasms. For some reason some of us get more spasms and they are more

intense. No one knows why, For some, like 's husband, that is

the main problem, no achalasia. For more, it is a combination w/

achalasia.

For some the spasms don't START strongly until after treatment, then

decline with successful treatment, then may redevelop stronger if

more treatment is needed. It seems to be relatively common for the

spasms to be very strong soon after a myotomy, but taper off. Like

aftershocks of an earthquake.

It seems like antidepressants may help spasms. Eating often seems to

keep the esophagus busy, and less likely to spasm. For many,

stuffing in food, like bread, that actually sticks, then gulping

water will stop the spasm, the sooner you eat, the better. But then

you may have to get the bread out of your esophagus. Stress triggers

it. For me talking a lot, like a presentation, can also start a

spasm, we maybe strain to talk louder.

All in all, there isn't that much doctors seem to be able to do with

the spasms. Usually treating the achalasia will help the spasms.

Returning spasms usually mean the achalasia may need another

treatment.

I've heard warnings about some treatments for chest pains, as it

affects alllllll those types of muscles and should be considered

along with any other health conditions.

For most, treating the achalasia is the best and first approach, you

can't do much with the spasms. If you get spasms right after surgery

(doctors never warn you, but they are very common, and VERY strong)

don't freak out, as they do taper off a lot in the following months.

Sandy

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > My husband is 39. He's in hospital just now because his symptoms

> > (severe non-cardiac chest pain, regurgitation,

> > difficulty swallowing) have become too debilitating for him to

cope

> > with.

> >

> > He was diagnosed about 6 years ago after suffering the symptoms

for

> > 18 months. One NHS consultant gastro-enterolgist told him it was

in

> > his head!!

> >

> > Fast foward to having 4 or 5 dilations (it may have been 6 but

his

> > notes are down south) and 2 Botox injections.

> >

> > It's the chest pain that floors him the most at the moment.

> > Nifedipine, GTN and viagra gave no effect except to give him

> > headaches.

> >

> > I'm reading that in a lot of cases the myotomy helps with

> swallowing

> > but not the spasms/chest pain.

> > Would that be a reasonable generalisation to make or not?

> >

> > I'm not sure what is going to happen to him. I've yet to speak to

> > medical staff or get reliable info from him! They mentioned

myotomy

> > but also partial removal of his lower eosophagus, which I thought

> > was a bit extreme, considering they could try a myotomy with

> > fundoplication first.

> > Perhaps they learned something from the barium swallow. He'll

have

> > an endoscopy tomorrow, so hopefully will know more. My worry is

> that

> > they'll discharge him without doing anything other than swallow

> > tests and endoscopy.

> >

> > It's a relief to know others have the same symptoms and to get

tips

> > and ideas from others about what relieves their chest pain/spasms.

> >

> > I do find reading about " end stage achalasia " disturbing. I've

seen

> > TV documentaries about oesophagectomy, and I've read about

people's

> > experiences.

> >

> > Anyway thanks for letting me think out loud!

> >

>