MEDICAL CONDITIONS: Esophageal Spasms, Chest Pain, Vomiting, Nonepileptic Seizures



SYMPTOMS: Chest Pain, Difficulty Breathing, GERD, Vomiting, Peripheral Neuropathy, Fainting, Non epileptic Seizures, Anxiety, Confusion



CURRENT DIAGNOSISES: Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, Leukocytosis, Herpes Simplex Virus, Cholecystectomy, Chronic Chest Pain, Esophageal Spasms, Post Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy, GERD, Nausea, Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Involuntary Movements, Shortness of Breath, Thoracic Herniation



TRIGGERS: activity, anxiety, being startled, loud noises, car rides (duration or bumpy roads), weather (hot, cold, humid, wind, rain, snow),



WHAT HELPS? pain meds, warm liquids (soup, hot chocolate), cold foods (Italian ice, ice cream), spicy foods (Chinese food)



TESTING:

HIDA scan X-rays

CT-scans MRI’s

Endoscopies Colonoscopies

Gastric Emptying Study Bravo Esophageal pH Test

Esophageal Motility Test Electrocardiogram

Stress Test Echocardiogram

Heart Catherization Electroencephalogram



TREATMENTS:

Chiropractic Adjustments Accupuncture Reiki

Cholecystectomy Ingunal Hernia Repair

Epidural Steroid Injections POEM (Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy)



MEDICATIONS TRIED (* current)

Amitiza Amitriptyline Baclofen

Bentyl Bethanechol Carafate*

Cymbalta* Dexilant* Diltiazem

Famotidine Gabapentin Horizant*

Lidocaine Patch Lidocaine Viscous Lorazepam*

Lyrica Omeprazole Prednisone

Promethazine* Reglan Sildenafil

Tizanidine* Transderm Scop* Trazadone*

Venlafaxine Viagra Zofran



It came on suddenly 5 years ago. I thought it was a stomach bug. Two days later, I went to the hospital in an ambulance with severe chest pain. They removed my non functioning gall bladder, but my chest pain and vomiting returned a couple of weeks later. The frequency of these pain attacks increased to multiple times daily. The pain was a constant pounding and squeezing in the center of my chest. The vomiting was so bad that it chased doctors out of the room. I was eventually diagnosed with Esophageal Spasms. Two years later, I had a POEM procedure (Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy). My esophageal spasms were gone, and my doctor started weaning me off my pain meds. About 7 weeks after the POEM, I was rushed to the hospital for seizures. Testing showed that I did not have Epilepsy. They called them Non Epileptic Seizures. My Neurologist explained that this was my body’s way of reacting to the pain, before passing out. The pain has changed since the POEM procedure. It is still behind my sternum, but it is now more of a burning sensation – like someone has stuck a hot poker in my chest. I have been cleared by Cardiology, Gastroenterology, and Neurology. Without a diagnosis, all they can do it treat my symptoms which offers only temporary relief.



I have no quality of life. I am homebound because I am just not up to going in the car most days. I am desperate for answers. My doctors keep telling me that I can not keep taking these pain meds forever, but they don’t have any suggestions about what else can be done for this terrible pain.