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Non Specific Esophageal Motility Disorder Caused by Beta Blockers
Hello, I am six months into the worst health nightmare of my life. I went to see a dentist in early January 2017 for a root canal. He injected me with numbing solution, but couldn't get me numb. For three days after that injection my heart was racing out of my chest, and I was having tremors at night. I went to the doctor and she said it's likely the solution went into my system, and since it has epinepherine, it caused my heart symptoms. So she put me on propranolol/Inderal 20 mg 2x a day. After a few days, I developed intense mucous and cough and it felt like my throat was flapping in the wind. I was also experiencing what felt like my heart being squeezed and my throat closing. So she told me to back off the meds, and sent me to a cardiologist. The day I saw the cardiologist I was having major propranolol withdrawals. The cardiologist gave me the same information my GP had given me, that it was likely he dental numbing solution. She put me on a different beta blocker called metoprolol succinate ER. Six hours after taking it, I was having what felt like heart flutters when eating, then feeling like if my swallow was stopping. After a few days I noticed it was becoming increasingly harder to swallow, until by the end of ONE WEEK on the medication, I could not swallow at all and was choking on chicken broth and having very intense feelings of my heart being squeezed and then my throat closing. I took myself to a gastroenterologist after having googled my symptoms and being ignored by every medical professional I saw, and he said the drugs likely relaxed my smooth muscle too much. He had me stop the medication and do an endoscopy and a barium swallow/manometry. My endoscopy was normal, and my barium swallow showed I had tertiary contractions and also significantly diminished primary peristalsis. About six weeks after stopping the meds, I was given a manometry which showed that i had 90% swallows failed. About two months after stopping I was given another barium swallow which showed that now my distal esophagus had diminished peristalsis and that i was having spasms. I have never had any problems in my life. Then six hours after taking a random heart medication, esophagus is malfunctioning. I am six months out, and i have had improvement in that I am no longer choking up top, but i can't eat solids w/o spasms and food getting stuck. The doctor said I have non specific esophageal motility disorder and there was NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD FOR ME AND I HAD TO LEARN TO COPE. I refuse to accept this and am looking for a doctor with 1) compassion and 2) knowledge and willingness to try to treat, as I've read there are treatments. I realize none of the treatments work for all, but to give up on me and leave me hanging w/o a nutrition plan, w/o anything, is cruel. I've lost 53lbs since this started and I was so weak I could barely work. I am doing better now, but only because I am eating tons of ice cream and anything liquid, SO MUCH SUGAR. If anyone has experienced this or maybe can assist, please let me know. Thanks! i am in the dallas, tx area. I will take all recommendations, for in and out of state and even at Mayo! Thanks!
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@tryingtofindanswers, hi, first off, omg. Im so sorry you had this happen to you. I too have extreme problems swallowing but not to your extent. Mine, i think was caused by multiple decades of GERD. I believe you will get very good suggestions and info here. We are all caring people. Good luck on your journey, just wait and you will receive some information. Dont give up. Dany
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1 Reaction@tryingtofindanswers
I am so sorry to hear about your reaction to the dental procedure and numbing solution, what a difficult reaction. It sounds as if you need some experts on your side who can sort through all of these symptoms and come up with some answers for you.
At this point, you might consider getting an opinion from a large medical center like a medical school in your area. Also, Mayo Clinic has a location in Phoenix and also in Florida and Minnesota. Here is info on getting appointments at Mayo:
Appointments by Phone
Calls may be monitored or recorded for quality purposes.
Mayo Clinic in Arizona; 480-301-8484
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain standard time, Monday through Friday
Mayo Clinic in Florida; 904-953-0853
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday
Mayo Clinic in Minnesota; 507-538-3270
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday
Keep us posted on how you are doing. It sounds as if swallowing is the main problem now. Are you experiencing pain as well?
Teresa
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1 ReactionThank you. I'm currently seeing someone at a teaching hospital. They aren't doing much and I was considering mayo, but wasn't sure if my insurance would cover it. Does out of state insurance cover Mayo visits? Thanks!
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1 ReactionThank you so much. It's so hard to not want to give up as my doctors have told me there is nothing left to do. I am not even sure what to do or where to go next. I'm sorry you also have swallowing trouble but I'm glad it's not as severe as mine. I have also had GERD but I'm sure it was the medicine I took as that morning I ate a huge fast food breakfast and by dinner I was having issues swallowing. 🙁
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1 ReactionHi @tryingtofindanswers,
Very good question about out of state insurance at Mayo Clinic. I think you may find this resource helpful:
Patient Account Services at 800-660-4582.
For further information about billing and insurance, check out this resource: http://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/billing-insurance.
The best way to get the answers to your question is to contact that number and they will certainly be best equipped to help with your questions regarding insurance.
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1 Reaction@tryingtofindanswers
Eating smaller, more frequent meals will help greatly. I've had 3 surgeries of the upper digestive tract and also vocal cord surgery so I eat light meals (light in quantity and light in quality). It really does make a difference.
Keep us posted as to what you find out about going to Mayo and let us know how you are doing.
Teresa
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1 Reaction@tryingtofindanswers, hi. I made a pig of myself last night. I hadn't eaten sjnce breakfast and we had Taco Bell last night. I love their burrito supremes so i had two of them, and 8 cinnapuffs. Well? Today i feel like i ate two basketballs. Having shortness of breath, stomach hurtjng. Took. two of my bentyl and waiting for them to kick in.
It sucks to go to the dentist and then have your life change forever. Do you think he hit a nerve with his needle. That happened with me one time. Not with my mouth, but, i went to a party one time when i was a senior in high school. Someone put something in my drink that made me crazy. I was crying and thrashing all around. The nurse in the ER couldnt get a good shot at my arm so when she stuck me she hit the bone in my elbow. My right arm was in a sling for 3 weeks. And boy did it hurt..
Well, the Dr. gave you beta blockers and medicine for hbp right? Iam finding out that they both have some nasty side effects.. For about 2 years i have had this cough. I thought it was allergies which i have. But now that i think about it, it22609 91st Way S. J103 could be the metoprolol and lisonopril im taking, both heart meds. Ive developed a lot of mucous which im using flonase for.
Aint life grand, and all from a dental appt. Do you think your Dr would let u take an antihistamine for the mucous? At least you might not have to fight with that all the time. Can u sue your dentist? Sounds warranted to me.
Hang in there. We're right here. Dany
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1 ReactionHello Cam, @tryingtofindanswers,
I found this Mayo Clinic journal article about Esophageal Motility Disorders, and thought you may wish to view it: http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)63127-3/fulltext
I would also encourage you to go through these discussions on Connect:
– Achalasia, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/achalasia-29e1d8/
– Esophagus issues: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/esophagus-issues/
Meanwhile, I'm tagging @barens2 @ryman @amoll157, @jimhd, @fjg827, @bilobabe, @margo42, @apportee, @rsinger22, @ladysky, @dandl48, @robbinr, @ed32, @brie87144 and hope they will join me in welcoming you, and adding their thoughts and experiences.
Cam, there are a few procedures like POET (Peroral endoscopic tumor resection), which seem to have successful outcomes in the treatment of esophageal motility disorders; would that be something you would consider?
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2 ReactionsThanks so much! I'm still so overwhelmed with all of this and trying to find answers and potential treatments. My doctor says there is nothing left to do. I was considering Mayo Clinic but have no idea where to start. Ugh. I appreciate your links and tagging others as well.
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1 ReactionIf your doc says there's nothing left to do, you should definitely continue to seek answers. There's always a higher authority on everything - whether a doc or grocery store complaint! If you're interested in the Mayo Clinic, simply start by using contact info from their website. Once you have someone on the line, you can ask to be directed to the division that handles your gastro/esophogus issues. Good luck! Is IS frustrating at times. I know mine has gotten much better by going back on Aciphex and watching the acid foods. I can usually get by with a bit of cheating for something special!
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