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Here are some different coping methods to try:
Swallowing something warm or something cold.
Some have found relief by chugging water, others by sipping.
Carbonated drinks can some times help open the LES, and also help spasms.
Believe it or not belching really hard can help.
Swallowing really hard, some people turn their head when they do this.
These methods are trial and error, just as we all react differently to different treatments.
CCB medication (calcium channel blockers) -- when having NCCPs, prick the shell of a nifedipine capsule and squirt it the tongue. It absorbs
into the bloodstream under the tongue (this is called a "sub-lingual" medication, meaning under-tongue) and relaxes smooth muscle tissue
(which is what the esophagus is made up of). You can also just swallow the capsule, but since we have trouble swallowing in the first place,
most have found the under-the-tongue method works best (then you just swallow when you've held it there as long as you can and your saliva
requires a swallow). Unfortunately, it can also lower your blood pressure (usually only a problem if you already have low BP to begin with) and
cause a headache afterwards, another adverse reaction can be a rapid heart beat. Some people may experience these reactions, some don't.
CCB's can also be tried in the "slow release" formula as a daily medication to help prevent NCCPs starting in the first place.
Nitroglycerin medication works in much the same way as the CCB mentioned above, and can also be taken sublingually for fast relief. These
are only taken at the time of NCCP. These can have some unpleasant side effects, such as dizziness and rapid heart beat.
Certain anti-depressant and anti-convulsant medications when taken prevent some people from having NCCPs when taking these types of
medications, believed to be a function of the medicine's effect on serotonin in the brain (antidepressants such as Nortryptaline, Amitryptaline,
Imipramine and Trazodone have been studied; Neurontin is being studied in a similar way for "phantom limb pain" in amputees, etc.) People
have had luck with Paxil, Ativan, Nortryptaline, etc. The dosage needed in this case is generally lower than the dosage that is normally used to
treat depression. Some of the antidepressants also help you sleep better at night.
L'Argnine supplements do help some people relieve NCCP symptoms.
If symptoms are debilitating and none of the methods above help, you may need a narcotic pain reliever, but definitely try all the options above
first, because if you're on narcotics you can't drive, work, etc., and the vast majority of people can find relief in a way that doesn't involve
narcotics.
There are soooooooooooo many things that can be done to reduce NCCPs, but doctors don't even bother to TRY to find a solution for us.
We say let THEM curl up in a fetal position making plea-bargain deals with their maker at 3:00 in the morning just ONCE, and you can bet your
booty that they'll find a solution REAL fast!!! As always, everyone reacts differently.
We hope that some of these mentioned methods might help you in relieving your NCCP's, and as always consult a doctor for treatment options.