Just curious...does anyone else have esophageal spasms with their IBS or lupus? I have bouts of IBS but sometimes I have spasms in my esophagus that burn and hurt through to my back and if I try to swallow food or water it just hurts worse ! These usually just last about an hour or so and then I am o.k. except for a lot of burping. If anyone else has these, does anything help? I have tried gas-x , maalox , tums , eating yogurt .........nothing helps me......it just has to run its course..........hopefully someone out there has a helpful hint. Thanks for any and all help.
Time to see a gastro-enterologist You could have strictures which can be relieved but on-going inflammation of the esophagus needs to be treated to prevent things like Barrett's and cancer ulcers etc I have it and must remain on Prilosec or Nexium- mine caused strictures that needed to be dilated- which helped tremendously. Do you have a hiatal hernia? That can hurt like the dickens also
I too have these issues. I know that when my voice starts to get horsed then I’m probably going to have trouble swallowing. My voice gets horse every night and I have been having trouble swallowing for the past few months. Does anyone think it’s related to the Plaquenil?
That’s not something I’ve ever seen attributed to plaquenil. But to be sure, google plaquenil and look for the manufacturers package insert. There will not only be a list of side effects, there is usually a table demonstrating how common they were seen in the study group.
Thank you Poobie...I guess it is time to see the gastro Dr. and I dread it !......I don't have these problems all the time ....just 2 or 3 times a month .......I am curious...would a stricture or hiatal hernia hurt all the time or sporadically ?
Thank you OllieVy ...I have noticed that my voice sounds tight or hoarse too when I am having these spasms.........
and yes I have noticed that I have been having these problems since I have been taking the plaquenil.....could just be a coincidence ......could just be my crazy lupus symptoms !!!
Thank you both for your reply......as they say "knowledge is power"......and we learn from each other on here :)
Blessings
It is sporadic although the hiatal hernia can cause prolonged pain Look up GERD- as this is a common cause of esophageal irritation And no it is not caused by plaquenil- getting older is one risk factor as the esophageal sphincter begins to relax. Obesity or enlarged abdomen is another cause. Caffiene intake, smoking can also be culprits the list goes on but the GI doc can sort it all out for you
Thank you Amy.......it might just be a coincidence ......I do have I.B.S. and those symptoms are more bothersome since I started the plaquenil................
and I would think too that if it is the plaquenil that I would probably have the spasms all the time since I take the med daily...just guessing :)
Poobie....I think you are right about the GERD.... my esophagus is 61 years old ( LOL ) so it might be relaxing a bit.....
and I have quit chocolate as of a few weeks ago because I did notice it was causing my indigestion to be worse.......I think those are the only things on the list that apply to me................I guess it is time to go back to the gastro Dr....it has been a while....a few years in fact ....I haven't had to see him since he took my gall bladder out 4 years ago !
Thank you both for your replies and all the info ! :)
Blessings
Please DON'T stop your plaquenil! At least, not unless your doctor tells you to. It's not worth it... I know of a doctor who says that the worst lupus flares he's ever seen were in a patient who stopped plaquenil. It's safe to take even during pregnancy. I would be very surprised if the cause of your IBS/esophageal spasms was plaquenil.
And yes, I have esophageal spasms too, but taking a proton-pump inhibitor such as Prilosec or Prevecid helps. You need to see a gastroenterologist for sure. Coffee, chocolate, tomato sauce, citrus fruits/fruit juice, all of these things can make acid reflux worse. Acid reflux is usually the culprit, it's notorious for triggering esophageal spasms.
And your IBS may resolve itself if you go on a gluten free diet. No one with an autoimmune disease (such as lupus, for example) should be eating gluten anyway. Gluten can help trigger other AI diseases as well. I don't mean that you have celiac disease, although it's possible, I mean there are studies that show gluten actually creates the right conditions for AI disease to develop.
Best wishes to you!
Thanks JoAnn.....I feel so much better on the plaquenil....I have no intentions of stopping it unless I really have to.......
I have been on a gluten free diet for almost 2 years now and it is amazing how much that helped me when I stopped the gluten, I definitely agree with you on all of that.
I don't drink coffee, I am allergic to tomatoes so I don't eat that....guess I need to stop my morning orange juice .........and I guess I need to see the gastro again .....................
Thanks again.....
Blessings
For me meds that reduce the amount of acid in your stomach or that your stomach makes made all the difference in lessening esophagus spasms (radinodine and pantoprozol (sp?). I read that they could be from sjogrens- I have this in addition to lupus. Other than that I drink some divol and take small sips of water and stay in an upright position until the spasm passes.
Thanks Meg, is one of those meds the same as zantac ? I took that several years ago when I had my gall bladder out......so those meds are o.k. to take with plaquenil ?
When I have my spasms, I go out and rock in a rocking chair on my porch until they pass, unless it's too cold of course......
Thanks again for your reply, I need all the help I can get ! :)
Blessings
Yes one is prescription strength zantac. I can't remember which one. I take plaquenil and pred and cellcept and they can all be taken with the stomach meds but you have to wait 2 hrs after the stomach meds to take your other meds. I also cut out coffee and anything really acidic out of my diet. Take Care,
Meg
THANKS Meg for all the info.......you have been very helpful....... :)
Blessings