Esophogial Spasms? Warning: Gross Details

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

I'm looking to see if there's anyone else out there with this problem and what you do for it.

Every once in a while, when I swallow, my esophogas seems to clench up or spasm or something, because all of a sudden whatever I'm eating will just sit there. Now since it's the esophogas, and not the trachae, I can breath, but I can't swallow. Most times, it resolves relatively quickly on it's own, but I have had several incidents where I've had to go to the hospital.

The first, and the worst, was back in the early 90s at dinner (this was when I still lived at home). I felt like I couldn't swallow, but mom was convinced that I had just scrapped it. We ended up going to ER the next day (and did mom feel bad about not taking me earlier) and despite numerous attempts to relax my muscles (and thus having the meat go down) didn't work (although by that time I didn't care that I couldn't swallow, I was in a "happy" place), I had to be put under and have the thing shoved down (and I have the photos to prove it -- yuck!). To this day I can remember the pushing sensation and me trying to tell the doctor that he needed to stop for a minute (I probably didn't though, I was quite drugged up).

This has happened twice more with meat products over the years (once was at work -- I had only been working there for 4 months and I had to have a co-worker take me to the hospital and call my mom). Both times I didn't have to have any invasive procedures, once just trying to get the barium down to take an x ray did it and I don't recall what did it the last time.

Yesterday, since I have a head cold, I went to take a Tylenol Sinus/Cold or whatever it's called pill before work. They are pretty big pills and the first one lodged and wouldn't go. I KNEW that the medication would eventually melt, but it took 45 minutes of retching (told you it was gross) and trying to swallow warm water before it finally passed.

So now that I have regaled you with this grossness, has anyone else had this problem and if so, what do you do to prevent it or to "relax" it once it happens?

I did go for tests a while back, but they showed nothing abnormal (like I said, it only happens every once in a while and I was fine when I was doing the swallowing test).

Thanks for any input.

 

[Rajah]

Yep. In my case, for some reason, Aciphex helps keep that down. It still happens to small degrees, but not as much or as bad. I also don't swallow large pills any more -- choking three times on pills just smaller than a Centrum was enough for me. And I physically *can not* eat if I don't have a drink within reach that has at least 3 large swallows in it. Sometimes a large gulp of water will take care of it before it gets full-blown.

I've also found that it tends to happen with certain foods for me -- there are two types of cheezes that will close my throat up in an instant, where I can breath okay, but it just gurgles for a few seconds (even up to a minute or more) before it goes down. It's **** annoying. And scary.

I'm assuming when you've done tests you mean you've gone to a gastroenologist? (sp?)

Oh, and have you had your thyroid checked? I've heard that difficulties swallowing can be due to thyroid problems as well.

 

[jfulcer]

My boss had something similar happen - his throat was narrow and had some scarring at the bottom (the doctors think from previous problems with acid/reflux kinda thing. Certain foods would cause his throat to constrict a little - for most of us it was no big deal but for him it meant he couldn't eat.

He had some sort of procedure done to clean up some of the scar tissue and open up his throat some (I want to say it was something like an angiplasty for the throat). Have your doctors checked for something like this???

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Thanks for the fast replies.

Yes, I saw a gastroentrologist after incident #2 and that's when I went for testing with no results (no scarring as Jeff mentioned).

I *try* to be extra careful, but usually it's too late. Yesterday I tried to drink warm water to "melt" it, but it didn't work!

Can you tell me more about Aciphex?

 

[Rajah]

Aciphex is really for acid reflux, or at least that's what I've had it prescribed for. We think in my case, it's a side-effect of the acid reflux, at least in part.

 

[floridafam]

My father had awful problems with swallowing food and it came to the point where he could hardly eat. He went in and the doctor told him his esophogus was the size that a newborn has. He had acid reflux and really didn't know it. The reflux began scarring his esophogus by building up scar tissue. He went through heck for a long time. He would have to leave the dinner table and try to get whatever was stuck in his throat to come out. He had surgery that was done with 3 incisions in his abdomen and somehow they bypassed that area. He has had NO problems since.

I must say that he went in several times to have his esophogus "stretched" and it never worked. The Dr. said that it is only a temporary solution and usually doesn't work for long. He basically said it was a waste of time. The results were immediate for my father. He eats like normal now and can have meat, take large pills, etc.

Another thing that may cause problems is the valve or "flap" that is in your esophogus. Doctors told my dad that his had lost all function and couldn't really help keep acid where it needed to be. Maybe there is something wrong with that and it can't help move the food to where it needs to go.

Good luck.

 

[Cruisin]

My 20 yr old son has this problem also.

He usually has trouble with meat, chicken etc. It gets stuck in his chest right where it empties into the stomach, so fairly low down in the esophagus. Nothing will come out and nothing will go down, so if he tries to drink to help it down, he retches it all back out. He also retches the whole time it is stuck in there.
Once he was right outside the operating room door when it finally came loose and came out on its own.
He had a lot of tests done too and they could not find a good reason for it.
He now takes Losec, which is also for heartburn, and he hardly ever has a problem anymore.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

This has happened to me several times in the last 5 years or so, but it has always eventually gone down on its own within 30 minutes. It has always been meat. But it is scary. I also have to have lots of water nearby when I eat, and now eat slowly and take smaller bites. And when something is stuck, I can't drink anything, or swallow, until it's gone.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Have you also been checked to see if you have a hiatal hernia? I have one and it's the pits when the food seems to get 'stuck' there. You just have to stop eating for a few minutes to give it time to get better. Luckily when I had my gastric bypass done 1.5 years ago, it stopped the heartburn dead, but the hernia is still there and can occasionally remind me of it! Good luck dealing with the pain and frustration.
Kim

 

[MeanLaureen]

I've had this happen a few times to me as a side effect to the meds I'm taking. It hasn't bothered me since I started taking Flexeril for other muscle spasms. Don't know if it's just a coincidence or not.

Hope you get help and it gets better soon. It scares the heck out of me when it happens!

 

[Pig Pen]

Oh my. I thought I was the only person in the world with this problem.

For the past 10 years or so I cannot eat anything without water nearby. I never know when something will get "stuck" - most times a good gulp of water will force it down, but I have had a couple episodes where that didn't work and a bathroom trip was necessary (won't go into the nasty details about what happens in the bathroom). I used to panic but now I handle it calmly and this seems to help a bit.

My problems are with breads mostly - bagels are the absolute worse and I don't eat them anymore, but I have had rice, pasta, and meat get stuck too.

I have told two different doctors about this problem and both pooh-poohed it....telling me to slow down and chew more when I eat. I have a thyroid condition - they didn't seem to think it was related but they didn't even check so how would they know? One doctor even had the audacity to say that it certainly wasn't affecting my food intake (I was overweight at the time).

I was certain I had a tumor or cancer, but after 10 years I guess this is not the case and I have learned to live with it. My family can tell by looking at me if I am having an "episode." My daughter says "Dad, Mom's choking again" and they all stare at me until I get the food to go down.

The human body is a strange thing isn't it?

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Thank you again for all the replies.

Crusin' it sounds like your son and I have the same problem. And now that I think of it, this problem started when I was in my 20s.

 

[ahutton]

My DH has this problem, and was told it was related to his Acid Reflux. He has been taking Nexium and Zantac for a year now, and hasn't had it happen since. If I recall correctly you have some food allergy problems? Is it possible it is partially related to that too?

 

[Pig Pen]

I went for barium swallowing tests today. The radiologist who did the test said he would "review the films" and call my primary physician.

Sounds ominous.

 

[Snowysmom]

I was thinking acid reflux too. My older DS actually had laryngospams that cut off his breathing for 1-2 minutes right after he feel asleep. The acid damaged his larynx to the point that it was red and swollen. He spent 4 days in the hospital. Acid can really do alot of damage and the esophagus is frequently injured. My DS is now on prilosec and it is working for him so far. (It is great that it is over the counter now.) Ask your doctor about any acid reducing medications. Good luck.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I have a very similar problem, except mine is more in the very back of my throat, so when things stick, I can't swallow *or* breathe! I've had all sorts of tests and they can't find anything physically wrong with my throat, so I'm sort of stuck. I miss being able to eat like a normal person!

Let us know how things go!

 

[Feralpeg]

I have a similar problem, although not as intense. It has been diagnosed as a result of acid reflux. I take Prilosec and it helps. I am a heavy Diet Coke drinker. I can really tell when I've been drinking to much because my throat will start to bother me and I will start having problems. I am trying to ease off of the Diet Coke. Are you a heavy carbonated drink drinker?

 

[4greatboys]

Originally posted by Pig Pen
I went for barium swallowing tests today. The radiologist who did the test said he would "review the films" and call my primary physician.

Sounds ominous.

Dont let that worry you. Its normal for the radiologist to call your dr or send over the report and then your doctor calls you. I used to work in an imaging facility and our radiologist never gave out results to the pts.

 

[Kermit]

I do that, too. For me, it's a symptom of schleroderma, an autoimmune disorder that usually starts in your young 20s. Do you have any odd looking things on your fingers and toes, or do you ever lose circulation to your fingers and toes in cold weather? Those are other possible symptoms of schleroderma. If that's what you have, you should see a rhuematologist (sp?).

 

[Pig Pen]

I am a heavy diet coke drinker (well, two or three cans per day). Nothing wrong with fingers and toes either. I guess I will just wait it out and see.

When I explained the symptoms to my new MD, he said there's a valve at the top of the stomach that sometimes malfunctions and he suspects that is what is wrong. He says they can go in and stretch it but the condition is not life threatening or anything. I asked him if I HAD to have anything done and he said no.

I'll keep you posted as this appears to be more common than I thought!