Chest Pain

[Karina]

Hey all!

I have been having chest pains for about 7 mos. now. In fact, they started about the same time the GI symptoms from my celiac disease started. At first, I assumed indigestion, but then I thought it should be checked. I mentioned it to my PCP and he said he thought it was costochodritis (inflammation of the rib cage area). I mentioned it to my GI guy and he said he didn't know, but when he did my endoscopy he didn't say anything later about reflux, so I'm wondering if that is ruled out now. It has gotten worse lately, and I have a new PCP so I asked her about it and she ordered some blood work and I will have an echocariogram in June. My EKG was perfectly normal. I am only 30, with no big family history for cardiac problems, but I read somewhere that celiac disease can be involved with cardiac problems, so now I am a little nervous. I do get short of breath when I do certain activities, but not others (like I get SOB when I climb the stairs). However, I have read about others here having heart palpitations and shortness of breath as well, and I wonder if it just from an underlying nutritional deficiencies. Also, if it is costochondritis, I wonder is this typical in celiac disease, since a lot of other aches and pains are typical of celiac disease. Today is my first day to be gluten free (no obvious gluten), in a couple weeks I will move to phase two where I really search for any hidden gluten contamination (toaster, etc.). I hope this diet makes me feel better and healthier. I am so looking forward to not having constant health issues--I hope that can happen for me. Anyway, if anyone has experienced similar chest pain I would love to hear about it, and what you did.

[Rick1254]

Have you had a stress test? Is your pain similar to angina?

Rick

[travelthomas]

Hi Karina,

I too was having chest pains all the time this winter down in the Yucatan. So when I got back to the States I cut eggs, and other heart problem foods out of my diet. Being I

[Karina]

Rick,

I have not had a stress test, and even though I am a nurse I cannot tell you if my pain is like angina, b/c I have never felt it before, and many of my patients have had atypical angina--so I guess it could be, although I do not get chest pain from exertion, but I do get short of breath on exertion.

Thomas,

Since I am a newly diagnosed celiac, I do think it could be related to malnutrition. I have only been gluten-free for two days and today I ate a pretzel out of habit . I suspect and hope that much of the crazy stuff that goes on in my body will reverse on a gluten-free diet. My hope is that it is not too late in terms of irreparable damage to my heart or any other organ for that matter.