Heartburn That Looks/feels Like Heartattack

[surviormom]

Hi, I am not sure if I was accidentally glutened or if it was just bad air.  Yes, I have had bad air experience in Panera Bread.

 

I have Gerd, so this has happened before, but not like I will describe.

 

I was out with husband at a popular sports place, I ordered what I thought was safe, and was not having any issues until I began eating.  Except I was very cold, when everyone else seemed fine.  Suddenly, after about 5 bites, the bad heartburn hit, like never before.  I have had it bad before, to the point of making heart attack jokes (you know you see it in the movies).  I could not walk it off, it would not go away, I walked out of the place and it cleared.  I walked back in to my husband and boom, back, I thought I was going to be sick.  I told him I had to go and left immediately.  By the time I had made it to the car, I was fine again.  Just felt fevered, and began coughing up a little mucus.  Now, an hour later, just fevered, today fine except some bloating.  Was this CC?  Is this place off of our list?  Or am I missing something here?  I am not so new to this that I was careless, I ordered grilled mahi, no seasonings.  I thought I was careful,  I do not understand the air being a problem, at Panera I do understand, but a Sports place?  Help?  I need to know what those with more experience, think may have been going on?

 

Hubby likes this place and I usually only have a drink when here, because I was not sure I could trust it.

 

My whole insides (chest to belly button) felt like they were tightening/closing up, even breathing was hard.

[w8in4dave]

I have had really bad Acid reflux the same way. Not sure it was anything I ate.. I am not sure the air you breath could make you have an acid reflux attack. Maby a lil claustrophobic? MAby next time you go take an acid reflux pill and maby it won't happen? Not sure! Hope you feel better and find your problem. Thats just weird. Good luck.

[anti-soprano]

Was it stomach bloating?  Do you normally experience that with acid reflux or only with gluten?  Does your GERD usually flare up when you eat gluten?  

 

Either way, it seems as though you're not ruling out CC.  I swear that I got a case of cross contamination from salad that I put my own dressing on before. It was mild, but it DID happen. How the heck did they manage that?!?  You never know what happens in a kitchen. The only things I can think of in this case are the grill being glutened or if they put butter on it that was contaminated. Both completely possible.

 

I'm afraid that I don't have any more experience than you do, so you can take my comments with a grain of salt! 

[surviormom]

I feel like I was glutened, I have the pregnant looking bloated stomach.  But, why did leaving make me start to recover?  Yes, I stopped eating then too, but I walked back in once and it became worse again, then leave totally and start to recover.  Stomach bloat, does only happen with gluten.  The Gerd is under control unless I have tomato products or get glutened.  I have been really good at controlling this, even over the season, its been ok.  Too much chocolate and sugar, but I have been ok, until last night.  Bloated and may add a touch cranky according to my kids.  No fog and that is big when I am glutened.  The stomach problems, if I was glutened will not be evident for a day or two, for me its constipation.   Well, its 4:30 and I am dragging too, tired.  All thoughts are appreciated, I am afraid I was glutened, I just thought I was being very careful.  The grill very possible I suppose.  How do I protect myself from the grill in the future?  Aside from never eating out again.

[surviormom]

I have had really bad Acid reflux the same way. Not sure it was anything I ate.. I am not sure the air you breath could make you have an acid reflux attack. Maby a lil claustrophobic? MAby next time you go take an acid reflux pill and maby it won't happen? Not sure! Hope you feel better and find your problem. Thats just weird. Good luck.

It was very weird.  It was under control until last night.  No instances since last summer, when I was in another place that was not the most friendly for someone needing to be gluten free, but I thought I could have a salad, and I had a similar attack, just not as weird, we were waterside, and I had fresh air to breath and was able to walk it off.  I have even tried sugar like for hiccups and it can help relieve some of the pressure, but not last night.  Nothing in my arsenal worked last night.

[anti-soprano]

So sorry Survivor!  As for the "Bad Air", I really have nothing, except maybe the mind is a powerful thing.  Never discount the power of your mind and its effect on the body.  If somewhere deep down you knew it wasn't right- it just sounds like your body and subconscious were ahead of you conscious mind. I hope you feel better soon.  

 

I got glutened from our own gas grill that we used to cook pizza on prior to my diagnosis.  We had to buy new grates.  I now always ask if any bread products are ever on the grill (like grilling buns or pancakes).  You can always ask them to pan fry it and make sure it's in a clean pan.  At Carraba's they have a grill baste that has gluten in it.  I have to check that they can clean the grill first.  If they can't- I don't chance it.  Other little holes in the wall have told me they haven't cleaned their grill in 7 years or something like that!  Needless to say- I didn't get eggs that day.   

[eers03]

Survivormom,

 

I would encourage you to search heart attack symptoms for women and if you think you match up, be seen by your HCP.  Now, with that being said, I had the same issue.  I have had heartburn and GI irritations before but the sensation I was getting was foreign to my normal.  I went in for a stress test at a Cardiologists office and absolutely crushed it.  He told me that whatever my "deal" was, it wasn't my heart.

 

Interestingly enough, this last October I went up to Mayo for a follow up visit with my celiac specialist and had to do some labs while I was there.  My phlebotomist as it turns out, has celiac disease as well.  I asked her how she figured it out.  She laughed and said, "Well, to be honest, I thought I was having a heart attack.  I started getting bad pain in my chest."  As it turned out, it was celiac disease.  Probably something to do with cartilage or connective tissues in certain areas of the rib cage.  I'm not sure.  Anyhow, this sounds much like what you describe.  To be on the safe side, I would consult an HCP.

 

I have not had that sensation since beginning the gluten-free diet.

[nvsmom]

I get costochondritis pains every few months. It can last a few hours to a few weeks. For me, it hurts over my heart, and the pain gets worse when I take a big breath or sometimes if I bend forward. 

 

This has more info: Open Original Shared Link

[anti-soprano]

Survivormom,

 

I would encourage you to search heart attack symptoms for women and if you think you match up, be seen by your HCP.  Now, with that being said, I had the same issue.  I have had heartburn and GI irritations before but the sensation I was getting was foreign to my normal.  I went in for a stress test at a Cardiologists office and absolutely crushed it.  He told me that whatever my "deal" was, it wasn't my heart.

 

Interestingly enough, this last October I went up to Mayo for a follow up visit with my celiac specialist and had to do some labs while I was there.  My phlebotomist as it turns out, has celiac disease as well.  I asked her how she figured it out.  She laughed and said, "Well, to be honest, I thought I was having a heart attack.  I started getting bad pain in my chest."  As it turned out, it was celiac disease.  Probably something to do with cartilage or connective tissues in certain areas of the rib cage.  I'm not sure.  Anyhow, this sounds much like what you describe.  To be on the safe side, I would consult an HCP.

 

I have not had that sensation since beginning the gluten-free diet.

eers-  I think we may be Celiac-Symptom twins based on the hives post as well!    I had chest pains for 10 years.  10 YEARS!  It was attributed to GERD and I was on heavy meds for 6 years.  Never had GERD, actually- just celiac.  I still get pains in my chest and went to the ER one time because it was around the same time that I had a lovely allergic reaction to an antibiotic and I wanted to be sure it wasn't related to that.  Took a follow up stress test and had no issues.  My most elevated blood pressure after running for a number of minutes was in the normal range.  I think the pains I have now are muscular and wrap around the sides to my sternum.  It appears when I'm inactive and I think it has something to do with hold I now hold my stress.  But I think it's a pattern my body learned through years of untreated celiac.

 

I'm sure that Survivor truly has GERD since she was coughing up mucus- yikes!  Wish I could be of more help to her 

[anti-soprano]

I get costochondritis pains every few months. It can last a few hours to a few weeks. For me, it hurts over my heart, and the pain gets worse when I take a big breath or sometimes if I bend forward. 

 

This has more info: Open Original Shared Link

Nvsmom- Do you get knots in your muscles on your sides when this happens?  Just wondering if I can add something else to my list, although I kinda like the sounds of "Autoimmune Trifecta".  

[pricklypear1971]

It sounds like when you get up and move around it helps. When I've had stuff like that happen, moving helps move the built up gas around....which feels better.

It can be incredibly painful and surprising.

[luvs2eat]

I had terrible reflux and often had what felt like heart attack chest pains. I took Protonix for a good while. Then I lost 20 lbs. and the reflux vanished. I was completely gluten-free but was eating too much and too late.

[eers03]

eers-  I think we may be Celiac-Symptom twins based on the hives post as well!    I had chest pains for 10 years.  10 YEARS!  It was attributed to GERD and I was on heavy meds for 6 years.  Never had GERD, actually- just celiac.  I still get pains in my chest and went to the ER one time because it was around the same time that I had a lovely allergic reaction to an antibiotic and I wanted to be sure it wasn't related to that.  Took a follow up stress test and had no issues.  My most elevated blood pressure after running for a number of minutes was in the normal range.  I think the pains I have now are muscular and wrap around the sides to my sternum.  It appears when I'm inactive and I think it has something to do with hold I now hold my stress.  But I think it's a pattern my body learned through years of untreated celiac.

 

I'm sure that Survivor truly has GERD since she was coughing up mucus- yikes!  Wish I could be of more help to her 

Wow...  Sure does!  I think I get the muscle wrap around referred pain you are talking about as well.  Sometimes if I jog for too long it will detour up to my shoulder.  Party.

[surviormom]

It sounds like when you get up and move around it helps. When I've had stuff like that happen, moving helps move the built up gas around....which feels better.

It can be incredibly painful and surprising.

Yes, Exactly!  I totally expected moving, to move some gas and it all to alleviate and let me sit back down.  It just did not that night, not until I left.  A night I will not forget.

[surviormom]

eers-  I think we may be Celiac-Symptom twins based on the hives post as well!    I had chest pains for 10 years.  10 YEARS!  It was attributed to GERD and I was on heavy meds for 6 years.  Never had GERD, actually- just celiac.  I still get pains in my chest and went to the ER one time because it was around the same time that I had a lovely allergic reaction to an antibiotic and I wanted to be sure it wasn't related to that.  Took a follow up stress test and had no issues.  My most elevated blood pressure after running for a number of minutes was in the normal range.  I think the pains I have now are muscular and wrap around the sides to my sternum.  It appears when I'm inactive and I think it has something to do with hold I now hold my stress.  But I think it's a pattern my body learned through years of untreated celiac.

 

I'm sure that Survivor truly has GERD since she was coughing up mucus- yikes!  Wish I could be of more help to her 

You have been a great help.  Yes, I do have Gerd, it was just under control, until that night, and that night, it could not be controlled the way I had in the past.  It was just WOW!  My blood pressure is normal, I have passed the stress test, but I do have a completely messed up intestinal system, years of gluten that should not have been.  I am very good about what I eat, so, I think I was cc'd via the grill, and I had total flare up in my system.  Complete with irritability yesterday, ask my kids, and constipation, now. 

[LauraB0927]

I'm glad that someone brought this up because I sometimes get these "heart attack" symptoms too - I just turned 30 so I shouldn't be having any problems with my heart.  When I have my "episodes" (which have become MUCH less frequent since being diagnosed with Celiac), it hurts so bad that I actually think, "well, this may be how I die..."  In fact, it landed me in the ER twice in one day because I couldn't take the pain - the doctors did a ECG which turned out completely normal, so an injection of Pepcid and Ativan was the second choice and knocked me right out.  The pain came back 4 hours later.  The pain builds up in my chest and comes in waves, but is consistently uncomfortable.  Moving somewhat makes the pain subside but I end up engaging in this rocking motion that really freaks my husband out!  I have definitely had symptoms of GERD also (burning in the chest and up the esophagus) and that also has subsided since eating gluten free.  Do you guys think that the chest pain could be related too?  I have varying glutening symptoms so sometimes its hard for me to pinpoint when I've actually been cross contaminated.  While I'm sad for everyone else who's had to experience this, its a bit comforting to know that I'm not the only one who goes through this.   

[surviormom]

I'm glad that someone brought this up because I sometimes get these "heart attack" symptoms too - I just turned 30 so I shouldn't be having any problems with my heart.  When I have my "episodes" (which have become MUCH less frequent since being diagnosed with Celiac), it hurts so bad that I actually think, "well, this may be how I die..."  In fact, it landed me in the ER twice in one day because I couldn't take the pain - the doctors did a ECG which turned out completely normal, so an injection of Pepcid and Ativan was the second choice and knocked me right out.  The pain came back 4 hours later.  The pain builds up in my chest and comes in waves, but is consistently uncomfortable.  Moving somewhat makes the pain subside but I end up engaging in this rocking motion that really freaks my husband out!  I have definitely had symptoms of GERD also (burning in the chest and up the esophagus) and that also has subsided since eating gluten free.  Do you guys think that the chest pain could be related too?  I have varying glutening symptoms so sometimes its hard for me to pinpoint when I've actually been cross contaminated.  While I'm sad for everyone else who's had to experience this, its a bit comforting to know that I'm not the only one who goes through this.   

Yes.  I am certain now, I was glutened.  I started having the other problems that come with it.  It is more of a CC.  We are not alone.  I am happy to hear from others that know more than I do, and will help those that are new like me as much as I can.  I joke with my husband, that I will have a real heart-attack and we will not know it.  He does not find it funny.  I refresh myself periodically on how to identify a real heart attack.  He is the reason I did the stress in the summer, he saw me go through this too many times.  But, like you said, the right food, and it is controlled.  I was under control.  BOOM!  And yes, my symptoms seem to go everywhere too.  Its as though the more healing the harder the hit and if there is a long time between incidents symptoms change.

 

Good luck, glad my pain, gave you some comfort  

[w8in4dave]

It was very weird.  It was under control until last night.  No instances since last summer, when I was in another place that was not the most friendly for someone needing to be gluten free, but I thought I could have a salad, and I had a similar attack, just not as weird, we were waterside, and I had fresh air to breath and was able to walk it off.  I have even tried sugar like for hiccups and it can help relieve some of the pressure, but not last night.  Nothing in my arsenal worked last night.

Wow!! I sure hope you can figure it out!!