what do esophageal spasms feel like?

I am scheduled to undergo manometry and 24 hour ph impedance testing May 8th and I know they are looking at esophageal motility issues as well as other measurements. My question is what do esophageal spasms feel like and for that matter what does esophageal hypersensitivity feel like?

I have (in addition to acid reflux which causes burning of my chest/back/neck and even arms) a chest pain that feels like it my chest is being squeezed. Intermittently and often in response to cold liquids so I have stopped drinking anything cold and it is happening much less. Does this sound like an esophageal motility problem?

I know that only the tests can definitively diagnose an esophageal motility problem but I just want to get the full picture if I can. I am anxious about having these tests done and I am considering putting them off at least since the chest pain and squeezing have gotten less intense since I stopped drinking anything cold. I appreciate any info regarding this, thanks!

You know, I was talking to my surgeon about this recently. I said I didn't have anything that felt particularly like a spasm, and he said that there were no hard and fast indicators of spasms directly, and most of what you look for is the resultant problems from them. I think you and I may be in similar boats, in a sense, and I've also had my problems lessen around the time of the tests. Have you had any other tests prior?

Hi Hayley,
I now have upper dysphagia from silent reflux - my upper sphincter is in a constant state of spasm and I am having Botox injected into it next week to see if that can help my upper swallowing.

My lower sphincter also spasms and it really can be painful getting food through to my stomach now. My new consultant thinks it may all be related to my reflux causing more motor disturbances, I am on huge doses of ppi's 80 mg morning and night, I was on Domperidone but it stopped working so with the recent warnings about the drug I have stopped taking it.

I have to wait until after the Botox then have another manometry and ph study and then get a treatment plan in place.

I developed a slowing down of my peristalsis last year when I was getting a lot of weak reflux and that's when the oesophageal spasms started. I can't take calcium channel blockers as I have low blood pressure but they have me on diazepam to reduce the pain and to increase the distal amplitude of the lower oesophagus.
I also find that a how water bottle on your chest works wonders.

Do let me know how you get on with your tests, and I hope that you feel better soon.

All the best,

Pink

Mine mimicked a heart attack. It's brutal. My surgeon prescribed nitrous tablets, but I avoided them and dealt. Eventually, they went away for the most part.

Any time one acts like it's coming on, it's worrisome. I don't think that pressure is that abnormal, but I had a Nissen done.

I didn't have any testing done in regard to this. I do know my esophagus doesn't function to full capacity right now via a barium swallow.

Hi Cristian, I am so sorry you have been dealing with this for so long without any definitive answers :(
Have the doctors tried any medications to see if they help relieve or lesses your symptoms such as smooth muscle relaxants, anticholinergics or pain modulators or something else perhaps? I hope you find relief soon Cristian. You are young and someone will be able to help you I know it. Hang in there!

Smooth, when you say your esophagus is not functioning fully what do you mean exactly...does it affect the way you eat or your quality or life and is there anything you do that helps improve your condition? Sorry for all the questions but I am just trying to learn as much as possible about this. I never realized so much could go wrong with the esophagus.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with me and I hope you continue to improve and do well.

I am so sorry smooth. I hope somehow you start improving and this becomes a distant unpleasant memory. (((hugs))).

I dont have experience of spasms that I know of, but my esophagus is sensitive, my ph test score was "normal" despite severe symptoms on the day. I also had no esophagus inflammation on endoscopy despite heartburn symptoms, and normal barium swallow despite my esophagus feeling very sore and heartburn like.

I found that my sensitivity decreased quite a lot over the last 18 months as my mental state improved, I have read of links between anxiety/depression and hypersensitivity and think that was a factor for me. I have read about some anti-depressents being effective in treating hypersensitivity too, even without underlying depression so its one possible route to explore.

Andy1986 said...
I dont have experience of spasms that I know of, but my esophagus is sensitive, my ph test score was "normal" despite severe symptoms on the day. I also had no esophagus inflammation on endoscopy despite heartburn symptoms, and normal barium swallow despite my esophagus feeling very sore and heartburn like.

I found that my sensitivity decreased quite a lot over the last 18 months as my mental state improved, I have read of links between anxiety/depression and hypersensitivity and think that was a factor for me. I have read about some anti-depressents being effective in treating hypersensitivity too, even without underlying depression so its one possible route to explore.

I'm glad you are doing so much better Andy, that's wonderful! I am a very upbeat person usually but I am a worrier and I have no doubt my worry/anxiety can exacerbate symptoms. Thanks for your input and I hope you continue to do well :)

Hi JK, I am so sorry you are dealing with this and I totally understand how frustrating it all is. So many tests and so few answers.

I feel like I have been through so many tests as well these last few months and still no closer to any answers. As I type this my chest is burning and I am just so uncomfortable.

To update this thread: I had the manometry test and 24 hour ph impedance test this past Thursday to Friday. The manometry was relatively easy for me and I completed that in less than 15 minutes. The 24 hour ph test which was supposed to be the easier test because the catheter is thinner was much more difficult for me because I was aware of the tube in my throat the whole time. My throat felt raw and every time I moved my mouth the pain radiating from the tube in my nose was not pleasant and that's an understatement lol. But I got through it and I am glad I did because each test hopefully gets me closer to what is going on with me and my body and what I can do for relief.

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your perspective) the test results were normal according to my esophageal specialist. I reflux 3% of the time and no correlation to when I pushed the pain button. He called that functional heartburn.

The only number that wasn't normal (and that was just outside the normal range) was on the manometry test. I am unclear as to the measurement but my number was 17 and 16 was the cutoff. He said it is probably just a normal variant and not to worry. He was talking fast and it was Friday night so I understand he probably wanted to get out of the office and when he called me that night I was surprised because he had told me he would call the beginning of this week. I share that to explain why I understand he didn't want to spend time on the phone when my results were normal.

I called his secretary this morning and she is mailing my results from this test to me and I will update this thread then with what measurement was just slightly abnormal. I might need input at that time but for now I guess the search continues. I am taking a doctor break for a while though because the last few months have been exhausting both mentally and physically and I am trying to remain positive and hopeful and get my old personality back. I need normalcy back. I just want to start feeling better, yanno?

Thanks for all your support and I hope everyone is hanging in there and feeling well.

Best,
Hayley