Question:
Has anyone had esophageal spasms post-op?

I'm 2 years post-op RNY. Two nights ago I woke up in the middle of the night w/ excruciating pain in my chest, between my breasts. It felt like something was stuck in my stoma. I tried vomiting, but nothing came up. I drank some hot tea in case the vitamins I had taken before bed (with a few peanuts) were stuck. The tea went through no problem, but didn't help. The pain was so intense I couldn't talk, catch my breath, or stand up straight. I broke out in a sweat. It lasted about 1.5 to 2 hours. It felt like it was going to ease up a couple of times during this time for about a minute, and then came back. It went away just as we were pulling into the ER parking lot. I felt fine the next day. This had happened once before, and I was checked for gallbladder and heart problems but nothing was found. Someone suggested that it could be an esophageal spasm. Has anyone else had these? How was it diagnosed if it only happens once every six months? What is the treatment? Thanks for any info.    — mom2jtx3 (posted on September 2, 2003)

September 2, 2003
Anyone with esophageal spasms? My question never made it to the top ten since eleven questions were posted at once (mine was #11), so I'm trying to kick it up in the queue. Anyone w/ severe chest pain/esophageal spasms please read :) Thanks.
   — mom2jtx3

September 2, 2003
Yep, I get them with too much stress. They eventually go away like yours did. I have had them for years, ummmm maybe I should stop working at the police department, too much stress sometimes.
   — ChristineB

September 3, 2003
I to have had a couple of episodes. I ended up in the Emergency Room about 3 months ago and after 6 hours, they found it had nothing to do with my gall bladder or heart. They gave me a shot of Bentyl which stopped it right away and sent me home with a prescription for the same med in pill form. I went 3 months without an episode and then about 10 days ago, it happened again. The pills didn't help much, just took the edge off. It took a good 2 1/2 days to go away completely. It felt like someone pinching off my esophagous for a minute and then letting loose and then doing it over and over and over. It's a terrible feeling and I would appreciate any "home remedies" to help with the spasms when it happens. I hate taking prescription meds.
   — moodymich

November 17, 2003
This sounds just like me! I'm 3 months post& this has happened twice. The 1st I didn't exactly understand what was happening. I was out to eat and had eaten some baked chicken, which I normally tolerate quite well. But when I suddenly felt so awful I went to the restroom suspecting my first dumping experience. I was in there for about 20 minutes with terrible chest pain, hot as hades, beet red, sweating and scared out of my mind. The pain came and went in waves. I'd think it had passed and it'd start again.In my head,I started calculating the time it would take to get to my doctor's office vs the ER, hoping my friend would come check on me soon because I wasn't even sure I could get out there to her. I honestly wasn't sure if it was surgery related or if I was having a heart attack! I waited to vomit but couldn't, even when I tried to make myself. Finally, I was so hot and sweaty (and a little delerious) that I started taking off my hot and heavy clothes in the bathroom cubicle. Just as I bent to put my sweater in my bag, viola! Up came lunch, finally! This happened again a few days later in an entirely different situation. Remembering what happened before, I bent over and vomited and felt immensely better. Sooo... I don't know if any of this answers anybody's questions, but if you're reading into this posting, you might have this problem. My advice if you find yourself in this kind of pain, would be to try this to help gravity bring it up. In my case, it stopped the pain immediately. Maybe my pouch just can't do the work itself anymore? I don't know. Thanks for all your posts on the subject though. Glad to know it's not just me!
   — christied