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Anxiety?

lacey

By lacey
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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lacey Contributor
lacey
Posted

Hi guys,

I went to urgent care today due to terrible pains in my chest. My lungs feel tight and it's hard to breathe. The doc said I was fine and even did an EKG. She said it was probably anxiety and prescribed me someone form of anti-anxiety medicine. (She didn't believe I was Celiac which was frustrating...rant).

I didn't pick up the prescription yet, and forgot the name at that, but I highly doubt she even checked if it has gluten or not. If I do take it I'll certainly have to do my research. People just don't get it!

Now I'm at home. It still hurts. I'm nervous but know anxiety can accompany Celiac. Has anyone else had this issue? What do you do/take? Advice?

My life is stressful yes...but I feel like my level of anxiety (if that's what it is) is unnecessary. I'm in Colorado and admit to using marijuana drops just to calm myself down a bit :( even that hasn't been doing the trick these days.

Thanks for listening. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I don't know how I'm gonna sleep tonight.

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Mandijoy Rookie
Mandijoy
Posted

I have anxity.... my doc gave me zanx  .25 ... if it's bad I take 2 and helps me sleep... good luck anxiety sucks almost as much as celiac... 

cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted

I wonder if the doctors considered costochondritis or tietze's syndrome.

Open Original Shared Link

Do you have any tenderness in your ribs/sternum?

My doctor diagnosed me with tietze's a couple of years ago. I had my doubts as I felt sure that another doctor was nearer the truth when he told me I was suffering from shingles without the rash. Whatever it was, there are still days when I wake up with tightness around my ribs, left side. I almost feel on those days I am struggling to breathe. Heavy lifting is what seems to kick off the pain now - not at the time, but maybe later at night or the following morning is when the tightness hits.

Something that can also contribute to this is a too tight bra.  Sorry - not sure if you are female or male so this might not be a factor!

There is quite a bit about costochondritis on this website, so maybe it is something that affects celiacs.

I take soluble aspirin on bad days, with food, which seems to help. I can't take ibruprofen as it hurts my stomach too much.  I also try to focus on other things, like just meeting up with a friend, as it gets my mind off the tightness and stops that cycle of anxiety.

 

 

 

Jmg Mentor
Jmg
Posted
12 hours ago, lacey said:

Hi guys,

I went to urgent care today due to terrible pains in my chest. My lungs feel tight and it's hard to breathe. The doc said I was fine and even did an EKG. She said it was probably anxiety and prescribed me someone form of anti-anxiety medicine. (She didn't believe I was Celiac which was frustrating...rant).

I didn't pick up the prescription yet, and forgot the name at that, but I highly doubt she even checked if it has gluten or not. If I do take it I'll certainly have to do my research. People just don't get it!

Now I'm at home. It still hurts. I'm nervous but know anxiety can accompany Celiac. Has anyone else had this issue? What do you do/take? Advice?

My life is stressful yes...but I feel like my level of anxiety (if that's what it is) is unnecessary. I'm in Colorado and admit to using marijuana drops just to calm myself down a bit :( even that hasn't been doing the trick these days.

Thanks for listening. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I don't know how I'm gonna sleep tonight.

I know what is like to be sat in a hospital thinking you may have just had a heart attack.  I had horrible chest pains for years, each time I thought it may be my last. I had a full heart checkout and it was ok, the cardiologist said try not to worry... It's not easy and a certain amount of anxiety is natural on those occasions. 

My pain has mostly gone since going gluten free, but I did have a twinge the other day, which makes me think I may have been glutened, is that a possibility for you?

My anxiety has also improved, but  I think the very process of learning that diet can impact on you so profoundly can lead some of us to become more anxious. I think we need a certain amount to maintain vigilance, but like much else in life too much isn't healthy.

you did the right thing in going to the doc and the right thing in checking the medicine. So take comfort from that, you are asserting control over your own health, good on you!

as for marijuana, I no longer indulge, but if I was in Colorado I'd be sorely tempted! 

Best of luck :)

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

Doctors are not going to check out whether your prescription contains gluten. They are doctors not pharmacists. They can't possibly know which manufacturer your pharmacy carries of any given medication therefore they can't possibly know if what you're going to get is gluten free. You need to ask the pharmacist where you are filling the script to check & make sure it's gluten free. I do that and my particular pharmacy is super good about checking BUT I STILL double check & call the manufacturer myself!!!

  • 1 month later...
Forman337 Apprentice
Forman337
Posted

My celiac symptoms caused me to have chronic anxiety. Not everyone gets it but it is common from what I know. Going gluten-free can reduce the anxiety and the right medication can help as well. Therapy can be really helpful too if you're committed to making it work. I've never had any problems with my medications causing a gluten reaction but I usually do research on them before I take anything. Best to ask the pharmacist when you pick them up or call the pharmacy.

Things I use to help with anxiety are self-soothing statements, controlled breathing, putting cold water on my face, neck, and wrists, and of course, anxiety medication when it gets unbearable.

lacey Contributor
lacey
Posted
  • Author

Hi guys. Thanks for responding. Quick update that may help others...I've been taking holy basil supplements and getting regular acupuncture. It's helped quite a bit actually. I'm still anxious but at least this has helped some of my scary symptoms...such as chest pain/tight lungs :)

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