Are your symptoms related to eating? Are they triggered by any particular food or type of food?.Is your chest pain associated with arm or jaw pain, shortness of breath, or nausea?.Does exertion bring on your chest pain?.What, if anything, seems to improve or worsen your symptoms?.Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?.When did you begin experiencing symptoms? How severe are they?.Being ready to answer them may leave time to go over points you want to spend more time on. Your provider is likely to ask you a number of questions. In addition to the questions that you've prepared, don't hesitate to ask other questions. How can I best manage these conditions together? What types of foods are likely to make my symptoms worse?.Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?.What tests do I need? Is there any special preparation for them?.What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?.Ask a relative or friend to accompany you, to help you remember what the doctor says.Write down questions to ask during your appointment.Write down key personal information, including any recent changes or stressors in your life.Write down your key medical information, including other conditions.Make a list of all your medications, vitamins and supplements.Write down any triggers to your symptoms, such as specific foods.Write down your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason you scheduled the appointment.Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions, such as fasting before your appointment.You may be referred to a health care provider who specializes in the digestive system, also called a gastroenterologist. Place the peppermint lozenge under your tongue. Peppermint oil is a smooth muscle relaxant and might help ease esophageal spasms. Let foods and drinks that are very hot or very cold sit for a bit before eating or drinking them. Make a list of foods and beverages that cause your esophageal spasms. To help you cope with occasional esophageal spasms, try to: Like standard myotomy, POEM is usually considered only if other treatments don't work. Then, as in standard myotomy, the surgeon cuts the muscle at the lower end of the esophagus. This allows a surgeon to make an incision in the inside lining of your esophagus. This recent technique involves inserting an endoscope through your mouth and down your throat. The POEM procedure is minimally invasive. However, it might be considered if other treatments don't work. Long-term studies of this approach aren't available, so myotomy generally isn't recommended for esophageal spasms. This procedure, called a myotomy, can help weaken esophageal contractions. If medicine doesn't work, your provider might recommend a procedure that involves cutting the muscle at the lower end of the esophagus. Peppermint oil, onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections or calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac, others), can make spasms less severe. Medicines to relax your swallowing muscles. This medicine may help reduce the sensation of pain in the esophagus. Sometimes an antidepressant, such as imipramine (Tofranil), may be prescribed. Your provider might recommend a proton pump inhibitor to treat GERD. Esophageal spasms are sometimes associated with conditions such as heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If your spasms make it difficult to eat or drink, your provider might recommend: If your spasms are occasional, your provider might first recommend avoiding extremely hot or cold foods to see if that relieves your symptoms. Treatment depends on the frequency and severity of your esophageal spasms. Endoscopy also can be used to collect a sample of tissue to be tested for other esophageal diseases. Your provider inserts a thin, flexible tube equipped with a light and camera down your throat to examine the inside of your esophagus and stomach. The coating allows your provider to see a silhouette of your esophagus, stomach and upper intestine. X-rays are taken after you drink a chalky liquid that coats and fills the inside lining of your digestive tract.
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