Has anyone else experienced esophageal spasms since surgery? At first my surgeon and I thought it was gas but when I went for my yearly physical my family doctor told me she thought it was esophageal spasms and it does make sense because it immediatly goes away when I drink something. It would also explain why sometimes with no warning I get nauseous after eating foods that normally don't bother me.

OH MY GOD... YES, YES, YES I have experienced these spasms. Let me tell you my story:

I was banded on 5/22/08. Was doing great until February of this year. About 8 weeks after I had had a fill (was thinking of going for another as I was eating anything and everything) I awoke one night with severe chest pain radiationg into my neck, down my arms, vomiting, was diaphoretic (cold sweats), and feeling like I was dying. Went to the local emergency room. Had full diagnostic work up with some EKG changes though not enough to cause the pain I had. Was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse. Well...from the vomiting with the chest pain I developed swelling to the band area.

Went to my Lap-Band surgeon expecting just a small unfill to get back on track. He unfilled me immediately (didn't listen to what I had to say as to what I think had happened to cause the pain-I was thinking esophageal spasm as a Donnatal coctail eased my chest pain in the E.R.) and decided to take me to surgery for a diagnostic laparoscopy. Well, that was normal. He did do some lysis of adhesions.

Anyway, I have been going back for gradual refills. The last time I went for a fill was about 5 weeks ago. Well, 2 weeks ago I had a really bad incident happen (life incident so to speak-was involved in a really bad accident where my car was totalled but I was not hurt) and vomited due to the stress. Well, since that time I can't eat without severe pain. This pain occurred just as soon as the first bite would round my throat on the way down to my stomach. Hadn't even reached my stomach. Well, after the spasm, I couldn't eat as every bite I tried would lead to a spasm. Went to my family doctor who told me to use nitroglycerine 5 min before I eat-I can't do this as my blood pressure is normally only about 110 on a good day. When I take the nitro I feel like passing out as it lowers my blood pressure. The family doctor did give me some very mild "nerve" pills to take if something bad happens again to prevent vomiting in the first place.

Anyway, I continued to have the horrible, severe spasms until I got the bright idea to drink some hot Water or tea just prior to eating and then eat with a warm pack (one of those cloth bags filled with dry Beans or rice warmed up in a microwave) on my chest. Now I can eat with no pain. I am able to eat like I should. I know my band isn't too tight because I have just had a barium swallow which I am awaiting results on but the radiologist did say that the band was not too tight. The warmth of the hot drink and the warm pack keeps the inital spasm from happening and starting a viscious circle. I have been able to eat for the last 2 days like this and feel like I'm on the road to recovery, so to speak.

Hope this helps. It is too bad that Docotors don't listen to their band patients and take it from there. I feel as though I had an un-needed surgery and other tests done because they wouldn't listen.

Millie

Millie,

I couldn't agree more about drs. listening to us. I can't believe what you went through!! I thought I had it bad with the pain without knowing what it was but now I realize how bad it could have been. My family dr. to more interest in my symptons than the surgeon. I too discovered drinking hot liquids makes a HUGE difference-I wish drs. would pass these things along to their patients. It seems like once the surgery is done they lose interest. I have also noticed that what I can eat in the morning is alot different than what I can eat at night. I can't get much down in the a.m. but at p.m. I can eat almost anything. Good Luck and thanks for sharing-now I don't feel so alone. Thanks!