Question:
I am 20 months post op and have had 2 episodes of esophogus

spasms.They are very scary and feel like a heart attack. I had an endoscopy done and everything is fine, does anyone know what causes these? and has anybody else had this problem after their surgery?    — love2babrat (posted on July 26, 2005)

July 26, 2005
I also developed these spasms as a post-op. It's happened to me maybe 6 to 8 times and occured most frequently when I was under severe stress (when my Dad was dying). I haven't had any for over a year though, so maybe it's resolving. I kept some percoset on hand since they only lasted a couple of hours for me, and by the time I'd be seen in the emergency room, they'd be over with.
   — mom2jtx3

July 27, 2005
Wow this is so Ironic! I just went to the Doctor last week for and found out that I have the same problem. My doctor increased my nexium to twice a day and I have been doing fine ever since. You may need to be put on nexium or something similar to it.
   — Colette B.

July 27, 2005
YES!!! I am almost 5 years post-op and I have these at least twice a year. I never know when they will hit. When I first had one 4 years ago, I went to the emergency room and I could barely stand up straight. They thought it might be my gallbladder and took my gallbladder out. I didn't have one for a while after that. Then I had another one and when I told them I had my gallbladder out, they did an upper G.I. and told me that my esophagus was spasming. They aren't sure what causes it since I don't have acid reflux or anything like that. I notice that they do seem to hit me after a very stressful situation. One of the times I went in the emergency room, they gave me a G.I. cocktail which is a mixture of lidocaine and Maalox and some other thing. That is great if you keep it refrigerated, but what if it happens not in your house? Well the last time I went to the E.R. they gave me valium which is a muscle relaxer. I now keep a bottle of 2 mg valium on me at all times. My last severe bout was when I was going through my divorce with David. I don't take Valium everyday but only as needed when I feel my stomach and esophagus getting tight. I have learned the symptoms of an upcoming attack so I head it off at the pass. Actually just half of a pill will stop it before it gets too bad. So really I take just 1 mg of valium as needed. That is a very very low dose. The one they gave me in the E.R. was 25 mg.. WOAH! Enough to knock out anything!! LMAO. 1 or 2mg acts as muscle relaxers... you don't even mentally or physically feel like you are on something because that low dose doesn't make you feel loopy. But.. it's enough to take care of the spasms at their first sign. So far I have been spasm free for 10 months. I do think stress is the big factor, or lifting something to heavy. That is what my doctor thinks in my case. E-mail me anytime if you have any questions. They hurt SO bad. [email protected]
   — danabky

July 27, 2005
Wow, I'm very suprised to read other stories about this. I've had these spasms for at least 6 yrs almost constantly. The surgeon that did my RNY sent me for the testing, and that was part of the reason he recommended RNY. I've had ulcers most of my life, gerd for at least 15 yrs, hiatial hernia don't know how long and some other stuff. I've had three heart attacks that were caused by vessel spasms, not by plaque, same end result, different cause. The RNY helped a little, but I still have ulcers, gerd, and the spasms. I've tried the GI cocktail helps for a few hours, I've been on anti-spasmotics (I can't spell either) muscle relaxers, long acting nitro (which does help a little) and lots of pain meds which don't do much for me at all. I have discovered I'm having problems with food sensitivies, which seems to trigger my spasms. The best thing I've gotten is a shot of Antivan at the ER, It's a anti-depressant but off label a great muscle relaxer. It stopped the spasms in their tracks. Now I have a scrip for Xanax, another anti-depressant, 1 mg and I take 1/2 of 1 mg and it knocks me out, but it stops the spasms. I really believe my problem is foods, but I'm still trying to find a doc to help me with this. I am so glad I'm not alone with this, the last GI doc just kept telling me I needed to seek mental health counseling and "don't sit at home and worry about my problems". I hope this helps someone. Nut
   — Nut Picker

July 28, 2005
Yes, I have had a number of them and my doc says that swallowing to large of an amount of anything can bring them on. They are not much fun and make you feel like your time has come. Really cold items can do it to me too. He told me to just go slow with anything and I figure that I will just have to grin and bear it. To me it is just a trade off. I figure, that maybe it is just a small way to remind me of where I was headed if I didn't knock off my stupid habits and bad ways. Good luck and go slow. debbie
   — imdebbie

August 1, 2005
I am 2 1/2 years out, and started having these spasms at around 6 months out, was under alot of stress at that time, but never put 2 and 2 together,.... i had been to the surgeon, the er several times, and had upper GI's, endoscopy done, but it showed nothing, all tests and bloodwork came back normal. I was getting very frustrated, and couldn't hold anything down, because no matter what i did, they wouldn't go away, well for a short time, but ALWAYS came back strong, I finally went to my family doctor this past Feb. and cried, and told him of all my experiences and nothing coming up, he told me not to worry, ran a special blood test, and found out that i have anxiety, and put me on Cymbalta 60mg, once a day, and ever since then,....... NOTHING, all pain and spasms are GONE,.... he said that stress can bring on anxiety on at anytime,.... and looking back, i should have noticed it sooner,..... thank goodness for my family doc,.... I LOVE this man,.....
   — Tina L.

August 12, 2005
I am 9 months post op and had one attack after taking some cough medicine for a cough (I was about 2 months post op at the time). My parents (who are both nurses) said the attack was most likely brough on by stress (the holidays) plus a reaction to cough medicne. Perhaps it is a med you are taking?
   — lizryan