Well, an update to my post. Oh, and I am 42 years old now. I seen my Doc this morning and he has suggested that I am having esophagospasms. He said that my esophagus is irritated from the reflux and eating just adds to, which in turn makes my esphagus spasm. First thing we are going to try is Zantac for the acid and another med for the spasms. We will see if this helps any and take it from there. He also has refered me to a gastro Doc for an upper GI to see if any damage has been caused to my esphagus from the reflux. We will see if we can accomplish anything that way. I will keep you posted.
Wow, i can't believe people have the same problems I do...I had a head Trauma about 3 months ago and ever since then I've had some weird things going on: Tingling/numbness of fingertips on both hands, frequent headaches, thought my heart stopped one time. The worst of it is the anxiety of thinking that something really bad is going on and that I might have something seriously wrong with me. Oh and whenever I tilt my head forward or lean forward, I get this feeling that all my back muscles tense up or contract; not so much spasms but it's like an uncontrollable muscle contraction...I'm gonna ask my neurologist about all this but up until now, I've been told nothing was wrong with me, even though I quite frequently think otherwise.
I was so delighted to find out that I'm not alone. I was diagnosed as having GERD and esophageal dysmotility. My symptoms were gone when I took some PPI and did some preventive measure but right now, I'm having stomach fluttering/spasm that leads to palpitation when I lay down on my side. I just been to a gastroenterologist (I got rid of my previous one coz she was not a big help to me). Though, this Dr was much better but he only said one thing, I'M HAVING AN ANXIETY with all the symptoms that I presented. I asked for a medicine for the palpitation, and just told me to go to my primary physician coz he's not at the right position to prescribe it. Actually, my symptoms make me anxious and not because I'm problematic or stressful. So here I am now, looking for an angel to cure me. I know, I'm partly to blame that I'm encountering this right now. I used to be a bulimic and used to drink coffee and red bull when I was at work. Right now, I'm doing yoga classes and do some breathing exercises(breath into your nose and out to your mouth). I'm also practicing good posture (I don't sit and lean on the couch and stand up for a while after eating). I went back taking my PPI and take peptol Bismuth when I feel like nauseated. I keep myself busy and don't think about my stomach fluttering. That helps me right now even a bit. To all of you who posted on this site. PLEASE, tell us the preventive measure you are doing right now that helps you to ease your symptoms. If no doctors doesn't want to believe us, through this site, at least we could help each other ease ourselves. Thank You.
i have the exact same set of symptoms discussed. Seems worse when over weight. Sometimes happens later on in the day, but stress seems to be a factor before and after. the "spasm" can be gradual or come on all of the sudden. Donnatol has helped some. each doc has different opinion and I'm still suffering, afraid to go to sleep at night. i have had nissen funduplication and gall bladder out. still somehow have hiatel hernia after surgery. ?
Dear Suffering friends,
I'm a 33 y/o woman suffering with all of these symptoms mentioned here for about 15 years. Ive been to every Dr. you can imagine with no help, until I decided to give alternative medicine a try. The alternative MD told me that I had low stomach acid as well as food sensitivities (which no regular MD will treat you for) and so he suggested that I do a few things. He suggested that I buy apple cider vinegar from a healthfood store and put a cap full or two in a glass of water and drink. This helps the stomach pressure a lot. Another thing he suggested is that I take hydrochloric acid tablets (Zypan). This took that feeling away. He also changed my diet. I only eat vegetables and protein as well as a fruit 3x a day. This helped my food sensitivities and reestablished my health. If I have an alcoholic drink however, it will bring forth the symptoms. Please give the diet and the Zypan or Apple Cider vinegar a try, and let me know how you do. Be sure not to eat any Sugar as it will hinder your success. Write to me with any questions at ***
**edited by moderator** **e-mails are not allowed**
I'm a 33 y/o woman suffering with all of these symptoms mentioned here for about 15 years. Ive been to every Dr. you can imagine with no help, until I decided to give alternative medicine a try. The alternative MD told me that I had low stomach acid as well as food sensitivities (which no regular MD will treat you for) and so he suggested that I do a few things. He suggested that I buy apple cider vinegar from a healthfood store and put a cap full or two in a glass of water and drink. This helps the stomach pressure a lot. Another thing he suggested is that I take hydrochloric acid tablets (Zypan). This took that feeling away. He also changed my diet. I only eat vegetables and protein as well as a fruit 3x a day. This helped my food sensitivities and reestablished my health. If I have an alcoholic drink however, it will bring forth the symptoms. Please give the diet and the Zypan or Apple Cider vinegar a try, and let me know how you do. Be sure not to eat any Sugar as it will hinder your success. Write to me with any questions at ***
**edited by moderator** **e-mails are not allowed**
Reaux wrote:
Well it has been a month or so and I have had to upgrade to prilosec 100 mg once a day, which has helped the reflux and I am taking Benzonatate 100 mg 2x daily for the spasms. They are almost gone. I have taken note that alcohol brings on the symptoms so I have stopped alcohol all together. The spasms are far and few between at this point. I can deal with it now. I have also made moderations to my diet. No spicy foods and eat meals in small amounts. I will continue this treatment unless things change. It has seemed to work for me.
Reaux wrote:
I was amazed when I found this site. I have been dealing with this since I was 16. It has come and gone over the years but the past two days has brought me to this site looking for answers.
I have always has this heart fluttering feeling, being able to feel my heartbeat after I eat, the feeling of needing to burp but can't (sometimes burping has subsided the symptoms), severe bloating. . . all seeming to be associated with after eating, but it has never lasted for two days. It has always been a few minutes or so. Two days of this and I am going nuts. I ended up going to the hospital last night due to the fact it has never lasted long and I was sure that it had to be a heart attack. They found nothing, as I see others on here have had to deal with. I know I am not crazy, as I am sure all the ER staff last night thought. I just want this fixed and don't know where to turn. I can deal with it periodically lasting for a few minutes at a time, but not two days.
I am seeing my new Doc in the morning for a check up, will tell him what's happening and tell him of this site and the things I read.
I am so glad I found this. I feel so much better knowing I am not the only one going through this. If any solutions are found, please post them. I will be keeping a check on this site.
Well, an update to my post. Oh, and I am 42 years old now. I seen my Doc this morning and he has suggested that I am having esophagospasms. He said that my esophagus is irritated from the reflux and eating just adds to, which in turn makes my esphagus spasm. First thing we are going to try is Zantac for the acid and another med for the spasms. We will see if this helps any and take it from there. He also has refered me to a gastro Doc for an upper GI to see if any damage has been caused to my esphagus from the reflux. We will see if we can accomplish anything that way. I will keep you posted.
Well it has been a month or so and I have had to upgrade to prilosec 100 mg once a day, which has helped the reflux and I am taking Benzonatate 100 mg 2x daily for the spasms. They are almost gone. I have taken note that alcohol brings on the symptoms so I have stopped alcohol all together. The spasms are far and few between at this point. I can deal with it now. I have also made moderations to my diet. No spicy foods and eat meals in small amounts. I will continue this treatment unless things change. It has seemed to work for me.
Has anyone considered looking into MVP (Mitral Valve Prolapse)? Just a suggestion.
I suffered with these same issues for almost five years. I was also experiencing an increased heart rate along with digestive issues. Over the years I saw my regular doctor, a GI doctor, a neurologist and a rheumatologist because I starting to have joint pain too. Nobody could find anything wrong or offer me any relief. I had an echo cardiogram, an upper endoscopy and a million other test and xrays as well. I started having panic attacks because my heart was constantly skipping beats or racing especially after eating or when I tried to sleep at night. I was getting depressed because for years I literally felt crappy in one way or another every single day with no hope of relief in sight. Then about a year ago I finally found some relief after reading The Complete Guide to Nutritional Healing's section on Heart Burn/Acidosis that talked about how your bodies PH levels can be unbalanced. I never was a big believer in the idea of vitamin supplements being cure-alls but I started taking the more basic vitamins suggested in the book. I didn't want to take anything that I'd never heard of before so I started taking a B-complex, a calcium with D and zinc, a magnesium and a potassium everyday. Also I had already been taking CQ-10 and Fish Oil for quite some time. Although I had tried potassium alone in the past with no effect when I started taking these vitamins I started feeling better. Not 100 percent but the pain and bloating in my stomach subsided and the palpitations almost disappeared. Even more recently I gave up Gluten on a whim after talking to a friend that had developed a wheat sensitivity. Now I feel better then I have in years. I'm currently between jobs so I can't confirm anything with my MD but it may be that I developed a wheat sensitivity which was the beginning of my stomach issues. Over time the damage that Celiac Disease causes to your intestines can prevent your body from assimilating the proper vitamins and minerals with could cause heart palpations and bone loss. They say it takes around 6-7 years for most people to finally be diagnosed with this disease. Then it also takes around six months for your intestines to properly heal after you eliminate the gluten from your diet. I haven't been gluten free for that long yet but I can tell you that I'm no longer lactose intolerant which sometimes happens when celiacs start healing their intestines. My gastrointestinal and other issues have almost disappeared so I think I may have finally found the answer on my own. The best part is that the vitamins I take aren't risky or expensive. Also eliminating gluten wasn't easy but it cures Celiac symptoms and anyone can give it a try on their own. If it doesn't work for you there's no harm done. If you've tried everything else like me then you don't have anything to lose and you might finally find relief. Good Luck!!
I had so many of the symptoms you all describe. If you have gone through all the normal routes as far as physicians are concerned. Start looking for an allergist. I also went to so many Drs. they all thought I was looking for attention, (at least that was how they made me feel). So I went to a shrink cause of course it was in my head. I just never had the symptoms when I actually had a Dr. appointment. Many of the specialists made me wait 6 months for an appointment. I started to keep a food diary on my own, because I had noticed many odd symptoms after eating certain foods. Certain potatoes I eat can do a number on me, I don't know if there is pesticide residue or a higher than normal mold count on the potato but I can either get extremely tired and have to lay down. I actually feel like I am ready to go into a coma. Other times in the past, I have only taken one bite and suddenly feel panicked like there is something wrong, kind of like my blood pressure is dropping. I quickly eat either an egg or some kind of leftover meat in the fridge and I feel better in a few minutes. We have a local potato plant near us and we went on a tour with the Boyscouts and I found out that the burlap bags that they use to transport potatoes in are actually treated with a mold inhibitor. Who would have thought. I have eaten a blue M & M once and within 5 minutes became dizzy and felt like I was going to have a severe case of diarrea, which I did. I found out I was allergic to blue food color. I used to eat tons of ice cream when I was younger, but within the last 8 years I have been forced to stop eating it. And stop using all milk products. Cheese makes me feel like I am ready to pass out from being tired. I stopped eating it. Ice cream would keep me awake as if I was an amphetamines, I would get a rapid heartbeat, get shaky. I also developed blood in my stools. I lost 10 pound in one month without even trying. It was scary. I had so many what I thought was panic attacks for many years. I actually stopped going outside because I thought I would have a panic attack. I cut out most of the foods I ate and I was tested for all the foods that I noticed were causing me to have symptoms, and guess what? I was allergic to every one. Not only that but, I also suffer from celiac disease, which cuts out all grains in my diet. My body just was not able to digest all these things I was putting into it, and causing me to become sick. So if you keep going to doctors and not getting any answers, just remember, it isn't you! It is them! Not every disorder is a textbook case. I read somewhere that there is a rise in intolerances to dairy products because of the use of such things as carrageenen and other additives. Carrageenen is basically derived from seaweed. I am also allergic to rice,(which I didn't think was possible). But my allergist said rice allergies are very common in the orient due to rice being a grass. Who Knew. Good Luck to you all and I hope this has helped someone.
I have had spasms in the stomach for 3 years now. At first i was on holiday, getting stressed with my partner. Ended up in hospital. From then i have been getting them quiet regular. Nearly every night when i go to bed i get a vibrating sensation in my stomach going up to my heart side and then a jolt that makes me bolt up. I have found that Doctors cannot help i have been on every medication possible. And had key hole surgery to mt heart to see if it is functioning ok. I find have a stiff drink before i go to bed helps to calm the nerves. I have tried everything going to the gym, dvd's, diet, soak in the bath before bed. But nothing so i just carry on with life and just hope it goes away.The only thing i have no had tested is if it is gluten so i am going to get tested.
Same symptoms: feeling of gas, fullness or pressure just behind the bottom of my sternum, occasional skipped heartbeats, and resultant anxiety. This seems not to be food related, but anxiety related. Once I feel the symptoms, I'm tuned into the area for hours. Each little "mini-attack" makes me think "Is it stomach? Or heart?" which, of course, produces ever more anxiety and raises my blood pressure. It's a vicious circle.
I regularly see both a cardiologist and a gastro doctor; after an endoscopy, the latter believed I have a minor case of GERD. He prescribed Nexium, which after about six months seemed to make me feel a lot better. I stopped it since I felt "cured," but after another six months the symptoms are back. Guess I'll have to start with the Nexium again. (Tried 14 days of Prilosec, but that had no effect.)
Good luck to us all.
I regularly see both a cardiologist and a gastro doctor; after an endoscopy, the latter believed I have a minor case of GERD. He prescribed Nexium, which after about six months seemed to make me feel a lot better. I stopped it since I felt "cured," but after another six months the symptoms are back. Guess I'll have to start with the Nexium again. (Tried 14 days of Prilosec, but that had no effect.)
Good luck to us all.
I started having many of the same symptoms...weird stomach spasms, heart palpitations, pain in my esophagus, pressure high in my throat, even the feeling that I wanted to die, soon after having a neck injury. I don't know if it was the injury itself that started it, or from the muscle relaxer, Skelaxin, that was prescribed to me for the neck injury...anyway...I have been to neurologists, gastroenterologists, orthopedists, osteopaths, and had MRI's, ultrasounds, cat scans, xrays and endoscopies. All the doctors told me I was fine, prescribed antacids and sent me on my way, even though I actually burst into tears in many of their offices because of the horrible symptoms.
But I never stopped looking things up on the internet, and there have been two things that have saved me.....a chiropractor who was trained to manipulate a hiatal hernia, and a craniosacral therapist who worked on the muscles/soft tissue issues. I am certain, and so is my chiropractor, that I have a hiatal hernia, and she has done regular reductions to keep it down while I pursue every health aspect of keeping it down myself.
I recommend that you all google hiatal hernia and chiropractor to find one in your area. It might take some doing, I had to call one I found in a nearby city (I was willing to drive that far!) but he was able to tell me of someone in my city (Columbus, Ohio) that he had trained. She has saved my life!! The feeling of relief is immediate!! I can walk into her office bent over and suicidal and walk out humming!!!! And I feel fine as long as my stomach stays down, but you need more information. I suggest you buy a copy (used--it is out of print, but available) of Dr. Baroody's book on Hiatal Hernia. It is full of wonderful practical information. I have found a couple things that he says that are problematic. One is the use of peppermint tea, which is okay if you know what you are doing. It can work if you use it when your stomach is up and you are doing the "jump" to help get it down, but since peppermint is a muscle relaxer, it can also relax your esophagus to allow the stomach to go UP when you don't want it to. I found that I had to do a lot of things standing up, since sitting often pushed my stomach even farther up into my esophagus. I set up my computer station on a bar and stood instead of sitting to work. And stay away from cold anything! I ate some ice cream, than bent over to feed my cats, and my stomach slammed up into my esophagus so hard I thought I was going to pass out!!!!
Also, for the Craniosacral therapy--go to Upledger Institute online, and search for a practioner in your area...look for the ones with the most classes in CST--they have the most experience and knowledge. Read all about it on the upledger website. These people are amazing!!
My chiropractor and therapist have done so much more for me than any doctor ever could. Oh, and find something natural at a health food store for the reflux...there are tons of good ones...but do not get yourself on prevacid or anything else!! These drugs suppress your stomach acid, which is unnatural and terrible for your health!! Also, get a wedge or raise the head of your bed---and if you must continue seeing a traditional doctor, go loaded with information and ask questions, but plan to find and see both a good chiropractor and craniosacral therapist! I have gone from the most pathetic, suicidal person who was bedridden for months, to someone who is well on their way to recovery.
And to the person with the head trauma....please go to www.getprolo.com and see if this may help you. I ended up getting prolotherapy after seeing 2 different neurologists who wanted to fuse my cervical spine!!!! The shots helped end the head/neck horrors, without surgery, and allowed me to be well enough to pursue the correction of the hiatal hernia.
I wish you all the very best, I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH!!!!
Do not give up!
But I never stopped looking things up on the internet, and there have been two things that have saved me.....a chiropractor who was trained to manipulate a hiatal hernia, and a craniosacral therapist who worked on the muscles/soft tissue issues. I am certain, and so is my chiropractor, that I have a hiatal hernia, and she has done regular reductions to keep it down while I pursue every health aspect of keeping it down myself.
I recommend that you all google hiatal hernia and chiropractor to find one in your area. It might take some doing, I had to call one I found in a nearby city (I was willing to drive that far!) but he was able to tell me of someone in my city (Columbus, Ohio) that he had trained. She has saved my life!! The feeling of relief is immediate!! I can walk into her office bent over and suicidal and walk out humming!!!! And I feel fine as long as my stomach stays down, but you need more information. I suggest you buy a copy (used--it is out of print, but available) of Dr. Baroody's book on Hiatal Hernia. It is full of wonderful practical information. I have found a couple things that he says that are problematic. One is the use of peppermint tea, which is okay if you know what you are doing. It can work if you use it when your stomach is up and you are doing the "jump" to help get it down, but since peppermint is a muscle relaxer, it can also relax your esophagus to allow the stomach to go UP when you don't want it to. I found that I had to do a lot of things standing up, since sitting often pushed my stomach even farther up into my esophagus. I set up my computer station on a bar and stood instead of sitting to work. And stay away from cold anything! I ate some ice cream, than bent over to feed my cats, and my stomach slammed up into my esophagus so hard I thought I was going to pass out!!!!
Also, for the Craniosacral therapy--go to Upledger Institute online, and search for a practioner in your area...look for the ones with the most classes in CST--they have the most experience and knowledge. Read all about it on the upledger website. These people are amazing!!
My chiropractor and therapist have done so much more for me than any doctor ever could. Oh, and find something natural at a health food store for the reflux...there are tons of good ones...but do not get yourself on prevacid or anything else!! These drugs suppress your stomach acid, which is unnatural and terrible for your health!! Also, get a wedge or raise the head of your bed---and if you must continue seeing a traditional doctor, go loaded with information and ask questions, but plan to find and see both a good chiropractor and craniosacral therapist! I have gone from the most pathetic, suicidal person who was bedridden for months, to someone who is well on their way to recovery.
And to the person with the head trauma....please go to www.getprolo.com and see if this may help you. I ended up getting prolotherapy after seeing 2 different neurologists who wanted to fuse my cervical spine!!!! The shots helped end the head/neck horrors, without surgery, and allowed me to be well enough to pursue the correction of the hiatal hernia.
I wish you all the very best, I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH!!!!
Do not give up!
I am a 31 yr old female. I have been experiencing what I call heart palps off and on for the last six years. It is usually worse after I eat. Its in the middle of my chest and it feels like a big flop/beat and sometimes it does it more than once in succession. THAT scares the c**p out of me. I've been to the ER two or three times and each time nothing reads out on the heart monitor. I got sent home once with Nexium...and it did make me feel better. I spent a week in the hospital for a soft tissue infection and didn't experience any, which I was a bit PO'ed about because there were no symptoms to complain about at the most opportune time!!!!!!!
I believe the spasms, palps...have something to do with what and how much you eat. I know when I was hard core dieting for my morbid obesity changed my whole eating habits and there was a definite improvement. Little to no palps, no daggers in the stomach, less gas pocket pain that popped up in weird places between my chest and lower abdomen. My whole digestion going in and out was great.
I cut out all fried or fast food, beef and pork, caffeine, sodas, sugary and salty snacks, bread, cheese, starches. I ate healthy cereals, 2% milk, fibery foods, banana's (awesome power food), veggies of all kinds especially spinach and other greens and boneless skinless white meat chicken or turkey. I dropped 11 inches in three months and the digestion pains and palps+ the horrible anxiety and fear tremendously reduced and I felt so much better.
I joined Overeaters Anonymous online support and it really helped in case anyone wondered if I used any kind of a diet support group.
Now when I eat outside that diet, I suffer......boy do I suffer. Like tonight. I will be taking a bunch of gas X tonight.
I believe the spasms, palps...have something to do with what and how much you eat. I know when I was hard core dieting for my morbid obesity changed my whole eating habits and there was a definite improvement. Little to no palps, no daggers in the stomach, less gas pocket pain that popped up in weird places between my chest and lower abdomen. My whole digestion going in and out was great.
I cut out all fried or fast food, beef and pork, caffeine, sodas, sugary and salty snacks, bread, cheese, starches. I ate healthy cereals, 2% milk, fibery foods, banana's (awesome power food), veggies of all kinds especially spinach and other greens and boneless skinless white meat chicken or turkey. I dropped 11 inches in three months and the digestion pains and palps+ the horrible anxiety and fear tremendously reduced and I felt so much better.
I joined Overeaters Anonymous online support and it really helped in case anyone wondered if I used any kind of a diet support group.
Now when I eat outside that diet, I suffer......boy do I suffer. Like tonight. I will be taking a bunch of gas X tonight.
The first time I got this was in late November. I remember eating a big bag of cheese doritos within the 24 hours of this happening, and I didn't eat much else up until my dinner one night which was a chicken cutlet sandwich. I remember my stomach being sort of empty and I was eating real fast because I was starving. Halfway through is when I started to feel the palpitations in my lower chest/upper stomach area. I had them for the next day than they disappeared for one whole day before returning for the next 5 days constant. I assumed it was trapped gas so I was drinking alka seltzer and guzzling glasses of water and doing hiccup tricks all week. One night they suddenly disappeared. (I'm a smoker as well)
For the next 6 weeks I was fine until one night before dinner. I was cooking pancakes and my stomach was semi empty this time as well. I sat down and halfway through the feeling came back. Like an id**t I was eating fast again. It has now been 3 weeks I've had these spasms or whatever they are. I've done everything known to man. I've been reading up so much on it that I diagnose myself with something different everyday, lol.
I'm still not panicing because I know what this is from. I know it's not my heart or any major disease. However, it's a pain in the butt to get rid of. I assume I'm gonna be dealing with stuff like this considering my mom said I was real gassy and burpy as a child. THIS IS A GAS PROBLEM.
My next step is I'm gonna fast for 2 days only drinking liquids because whenever the spasms go away they come back for a little while after I eat. I think this thing needs to be put at bay for a couple days and it may pass. I'm gonna do a little ex-lax as well. I'm basically gonna detox myself and live like a somolian for a little while.
For the next 6 weeks I was fine until one night before dinner. I was cooking pancakes and my stomach was semi empty this time as well. I sat down and halfway through the feeling came back. Like an id**t I was eating fast again. It has now been 3 weeks I've had these spasms or whatever they are. I've done everything known to man. I've been reading up so much on it that I diagnose myself with something different everyday, lol.
I'm still not panicing because I know what this is from. I know it's not my heart or any major disease. However, it's a pain in the butt to get rid of. I assume I'm gonna be dealing with stuff like this considering my mom said I was real gassy and burpy as a child. THIS IS A GAS PROBLEM.
My next step is I'm gonna fast for 2 days only drinking liquids because whenever the spasms go away they come back for a little while after I eat. I think this thing needs to be put at bay for a couple days and it may pass. I'm gonna do a little ex-lax as well. I'm basically gonna detox myself and live like a somolian for a little while.
This is all the stuff I read about and possible cures.
Acid Reflux, Gerd, Hernia, Food allergy, Thyroid problem, Esophageal spasms ect..
What the body needs under these things.
Vitamin B, B6, B12, Calcium, Magnesium (not antacids)
Home remedies.
Cider Vinegar, Peppermint Tea, An Apple.
Techniques
Take in a breath and hold it in for 5 seconds than swallow that breath while still holding your lungs closed. Take in another breath, wait 5 secs swallow again. Do this 3-4 times before breathing. It's hard to do but it releives you for a while.
Acid Reflux, Gerd, Hernia, Food allergy, Thyroid problem, Esophageal spasms ect..
What the body needs under these things.
Vitamin B, B6, B12, Calcium, Magnesium (not antacids)
Home remedies.
Cider Vinegar, Peppermint Tea, An Apple.
Techniques
Take in a breath and hold it in for 5 seconds than swallow that breath while still holding your lungs closed. Take in another breath, wait 5 secs swallow again. Do this 3-4 times before breathing. It's hard to do but it releives you for a while.