[jknnej]

Does anyone else get chest pain? I have it right around my left breast...it's a stabbing pain that can linger for days.
My doctors have said it's not heart related b/c I don't have any numbness, tingling, back pain, shortness of breath, etc and it has been going on for quite a few years. They think it's muscle related so I wanted to see if anyone else has these issues. I also get stabbing pains under my ribs....anyone else? those can be so sharp they take my breath away. Then these mystery pains will go away and not come back for a month, two months, or even more!
What gives???
I want to know if it's Celiac related or not.
I waterskiied this weekend so maybe I aggravated a muscle problem; you use all of your chest muscles when waterskiing.
any thoughts/help would be greatly appreciated,
Jennifer

[rmmadden]

Jennifer,

I get the chest ache on the left pectoral leading down into my armpit. Most of the times it is just an ache but occassionally I will get a momentarily sharp pain. I went to the doctor and wore a heart monitor and everything is normal. I take my BP daily (which is good) and exercise regularly and have never been short-of-breath (This is how I double-check myself each day). I guess it's just something some of us have to live with.

Hope this helps.
Cleveland Bob

[skbird]

I get this. I have been getting it my whole life - I can remember being about 8 and having an "attack" of it and freaking myself and my parents out because I thought I was having a heart attack.

Mine don't last for days, just usually a few minutes, though the last one (which was within the last month) lasted for a couple of hours. I kept trying to breathe differently and relax, took a Xanax at some point, no help. Weirdly, when I took my nightly B12 sublingual (and B complex sublingual) within moments (maybe a minute or two?) it faded away.

I have always envisioned it as some air bubble in my chest. This last time it was on the left side but I don't think it's always on the left. It does take my breath away - it's hard to breathe because when you do it hurts worse.

I have not gotten any answers on this - I even posted about this on another message board I'm on when it happened earlier this month.

I can identify with you but I don't know what it is... sorry!

Stephanie

[jaimek]

I used to get extremely sharp pains right under my rib cage. the pain was excruciating. After going gluten-free they stopped. I have had it come back once in the past year and that was when i accidentally ingested gluten. So, I believe that mine was definitely gluten related.

[jknnej]

Oh, wow! I will DEFINITELY look into this.
I keep freaking myself out, thinking I am having a heart attack. But I don't have any other symptoms of a heart issue and I am only 28 with low cholesterol and low blood pressure.
Costocontritis? I'm going to look it up on the net.
I also am a choral conductor-I lift my arms for a living! (And sing).
I haven't had it in awhile but I think maybe the waterskiing aggravated it. You really get yanked up by the boat and it uses all of your chest muscles. Weird, though, that is started hurting 4 days after the boating.
I hope that's what it is.

[jknnej]

Mine can be left or right, thought it is most commonly left. Ribcage pain can be left or right, as well. Very sharp pain.
We'll see what the doc says.

[Bette]

Eloisa,

Ditto, after years of suffering with that symptom, I too, found out by my g.i. doctor it was part of the reflux. Nexium has helped, but occasionally it still happens, my doctor never told me about the nitri tabs. I will have to look into it. Just curious , is this like the nitro patch medication that is used for chest pain in cardiac pts., and is it g.f.?

[skbird]

Well it sounds like this is a different kind of experience than I've had - but also makes me think of something else that I've had a problem with as well. A year and a half ago I was in France for Christmas and eating more bread than I had in ages. Most of the way through the trip I suddenly had this mother-of-god bad pain in my left rib cage, on my side, below my breast. It was painful to the touch and spasmy as well. Breathing was uncomfortable. Made me think of when I got a cracked rib about 10 years earlier. Ever since this has been a problem of recurring pain for me.

I even went to a chiropractor and massage therapist and neither have helped. I have noticed recently that when I am glutened, it starts to hurt a day or two later and that lasts for a few days. I'm beginning to see it as an indicator of glutening.

Interesting about Costocontritis - I'll look it up.

Stephanie

[jknnej]

My pain isn't in the center it's usually on the left side with occassional right side pain. I also get it right under my rib cage where it hurts so bad I can't breathe every once in a while.
For me it does NOT happen related to gluten, though, which is why it sounds like this costochoritis or however you spell it! I read up on it on the net and it said it comes and goes and it is an autoimmune disorder but doesn't have to be gastro related, i think.

[Bette]

Yeah prior to me being diagonosed with the reflux disease, my doctor did think I might of had the costochondritis, I was actually sent to a anestesiologist to get injections with antiflammatories with lidocaine right into the ribcage (the cartilage part). It did not help, but I was thankful to have somebody try to get rid of the pain. The reflux was diagnosed a couple of years later.

I guess every one persons symptoms can present very differently. But it sure helps to hear what other people have dealt with on this board, and how they dealt with it. At least now you have some ideals what it may be, so that you can look it up and then discuss it with your doctor.

Good luck