Esophageal spasm

I have spasms just beyond the back of my throat and just above my stomach. They can make it difficult and painful to swallow. Sometimes food will not go into my stomach nor liquids. Sometimes it is just a fluttering feeling. Mine are becoming more frequent and more painful.

A link at the Mayo site incase you have not read it. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/esophageal-spasms/symptoms-causes/syc-20372250

I've had esophogeal spasms on and off for many years and they've always quite painful lasting 2-20min and always in the center of my chest just like a heart attack. It seems to occur with GERDS. In Jan 2019 after my 2nd hiatal repair, reversal of a 24yr old Nissan wrap and LYNX band placement I began having almost daily spasms. I learned from personal research from one post-op LYNX recovery article that drinking fluids will stop the spams almost immediately. It works! I wish I had known this years ago.

I thought you might be interested in viewing this video/post on Connect’s GI page where Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist, Dr. Magnus Halland talks about a novel therapy:
– Esophageal Self Dilation Therapy: An Effective Alternative https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/gastroenterology-and-gi-surgery/newsfeed-post/esophageal-self-dilation-therapy-an-effective-alternative/

I just experienced my second esophageal spasm last night! The first time it happened, I genuinely thought I might be having a heart attack. The pain was so intense that if I hadn’t put my head between my knees, I would have passed out. That’s how severe it can be.

This second episode struck when I went for a midnight snack of leftover refrigerated halibut. Interestingly, the first time it happened, I was eating ceviche. Last night, I couldn’t swallow at all during the spasm. While I didn’t feel like I was going to pass out this time, the pain was still excruciating. I can’t imagine dealing with this on a regular basis.

Aside from these spasms, I sometimes get a strong sensation of food feeling "stuck" if I eat cold chicken too quickly. I will be super careful about any cold protein in the future, especially cold fish.

hi grace, im not sure if youll see this since its been a long time, sorry to bother but currently trying to google my symptoms that have been recurring for a year now (subsided for a few months) but restarted again i think also when im a little more stressed. Anyway, your comment caught my eye because I also have had Thyca in the past, total thyroidectomy, and on thyroid med for over 5 years. My doctor has always told me to always keep my TSH around 0.1 and my levels have always fluctuated haha but this feeling of something sort of like a palpitation but actually more like a soft blow to my chest or now im thinking more upper stomach? (i can have multiple in a day and sometimes quite close proximity when im particularly worked up stressed or exercising) sorry to put all this background but just to see if anything relates to how you felt?

I feel for you because I have had them for over 20 years and it wasn’t until recently when I was at the mayo for my back that the anesthetist said I think you have esophagus spasms. I have the same type you have and it really kicks like a mule to your throat and back and the muscles on the side of your neck. I’m getting in with the gastrointestinal doc but all the best to you because you can understand it really unless you’ve experience it and trying to explain it to someone is very difficult.

I will try sylvias advice of drinking liquids while suffering what I believe to be a spasm. Over the past year I have been sipping Gaviscon Advance when having the chest pains, which almost immediately stops the pain. If water can accomplish the same result, that would be great, because GA is expensive and may become even more expensive under tariffs increases.