Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Chest Pain


jknnej

Recommended Posts

celiachap Apprentice
Not sure if this was mentioned but...I have Mitral Valve Prolapse (A heart valve keeps "flopping" around, sorta gets backed up and then releases) it is VERY common and the Dr says not to worry about it unless you get other symptoms of course)

My symptoms were dull to severe chest pain, sorta like someone was squeezing my heart. I don't remember getting Sharp pains however.

I also have Mitral Valve Prolapse, and a lot of the symptoms that people are describing are consistent with it. You can get diagnosed with an Echo.

Many doctors and health professionals do not understand it and play it down, telling patients that “it’s all in your head”. It is not.

Not everybody that has MVPS (Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome) has Celiac, and vice versa, but I believe that some of the nutritional problems that exacerbate MVP in Celiac patients may be caused by Celiac in the first place. Magnesium supplementation is something that people with MVP often benefit from. Ditto for Omega 3.

Here's some good links:

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



DOCKLEARFAN Apprentice

Let me add with regards to Mitral Valve Prolapse that STRESS can really increase symptoms.

jknnej Collaborator

I, too, had a slightly low potassium level and I still get chest pains from time to time.

I also get like, I feel exerted just by doing the smallest movement. For example, if I roll over in bed my heart will beat like I was running. My dr says not to worry about this..hmmmm...sounds like all of our drs say not to worry about this but it is scary.

skbird Contributor

My dad has mitrol valve prolapse. I have asked my doctor about this because I've read it can be genetic but he didn't seem concerned. (sigh, isn't that the way most docs are?)

I am wondering more about angina at this point. I just got an appointment for a rheumatologist for next week because of my high ANA titer level in my arthritis test last month. I have read that people who have Raynaud's phenomenon have higher likelihood of migraine (I have both, though haven't had the Raynaud's in a few years) and that they both can be correlated to prinzmetal angina (non-stress induced). Anyway, yippie. I don't know how all this works and if it's all connected or not but I have been having that chest pain my whole life. I hope to find out it's just irritating, or at least that I find out something about it. Right now I'm just hoping like crazy I don't find out I have scleroderma...

Stephanie

Diosa Apprentice

I've had those under the rib pains for years I also thought it was heart related. FWIW, mine turns out to be a muscle that's under the breast right under your arm. I have to get that one worked by a massage therapist every once in a while or I'm in agony for weeks. It also flares up the muscles in my back under the shoulder. But I've also had those stabbing-hot-poker-in-between-the-ribs that just murder. I can't breathe, move or do anything when those hit.

ruddabega Apprentice

When I get a really bad stomach ache (especially from gluten) I get horrible chest pains that hurt so bad I cannot breathe lying down. I think it's GI related. The pain starts in my stomach and moves up towards my chest and into my back. The GI doc hasn't been able to explain it to me.

I had open heart surgery and have heart problems too... but I don't have chest pains from my heart anymore.. Also, it's very common for those who have had their chest cracked to get chest pains that are probably from the rib cage. The cartilage and even the bones can be ripped or damaged causing chest pains.

ruddabega Apprentice
Costo is another auto immune problem. It is inflamation of the cartiledge connecting the rib cage to the breast bone. Sometimes it is also caused by a sports injury. My doctor says that Celiacs would be more prone to have Costo.

em.

Can open heart surgery cause this as well?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



jknnej Collaborator

What is scleroderma?

skbird Contributor

Scleroderma is an autoimmune connective tissue disease, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. It is characterized by thickening, stiffening skin, especially on fingers, arms, face, and can occur other places in the body. Internal organs can be affected.

I don't have any skin problems but do have achy joints and knuckles in my hands, sometimes in my feet (these are called arthralgias, I think) and was diagnosed several years back with Raynaud's phenomenon. Recently, I had some tests done and my ANA (antinuclear antibody) test was high positive, 1:320, and had a particular pattern (they look for that) called nucleolar, which cannot definitively diagnose you but can help point a doctor in the right direction. Anyway, 95% of people with scleroderma have high ANA and many have the nucleolar pattern. Also, first presentation is often Raynaud's phenomenon. Joint pain/arthritis is also a symptom.

Anyway, hoping I don't have it - can somehow be ruled out, but despite not having a skin reaction, I seem to have a few things that are related to it. I just got a rheumatologist appointment for next Friday the 15 when I'm sure I'll get more testing and stuff done.

Sounds kind of scary. And it's not as simple as controlling with diet. :huh:

Stephanie

num1habsfan Rising Star

I get chest pains too that catch me out of nowhere. they are mostly on the right though for me, but sometimes on the left just above the heart. Its annoying :P

~lisa~

jknnej Collaborator

I don't know if it's just this medication I'm taking-Effexor or what...but lately I get winded and my heart beats fast if I even just get up and walk around the house or turn around in bed. I told my doc and he said this is normal? Last time I was in his office my blood pressure, if the nurse took it right, was 82/60-and it's usually right about 120/80. Plus my potassium was just a smidge low, again he said no issues with either of those? He seems like a really good dr...am I crazy?

skbird Contributor

Last night, a friend was over when I had a small chest pain attack and she immediately quizzed me on it and said it sounded a lot like when she has pleurisy. FWIW, that is also common in scleroderma. Sigh. Well... I guess I'll know a lot more next week (I hope!) when I have my rheumatologist appointment.

Stephanie

  • 1 year later...
Montess84 Newbie

:rolleyes:

Montess84=January 13, 2006

jk - I have had chest pain since early Oct 06. Got numerous chest xrays to see if i had a broken rib, cracked rib, etc. Nothing. Gave me a chest support belt thing, muscle relaxers and sent me on my way. Helped some. Then the pain moved from my rib cage right under my left breast to behind my left breast, it kinda moved up. Lower rib doesn't really hurt anymore. But I never went back to the dr (it was a doc in the box). She said to come back the next week and schedule me for CAT scan, but I still haven't gone. Now with in the last 2 weeks or so the pain moved to my upper pectoral muscle above the boob and it hurts to my armpit. Hurts to blow my nose. I saw a posting from rmmadden about having the chest to armpit pain, curious to know if they had the pain lower and then higher. I don't go to the dr on a whim, i will live with the pain for weeks/months before i go to the dr. but this hurt so bad i had to go. my regular physician was no help as usual, she did xrays like doc in box but didin't see any rib injury. I went to doc in box about a month later because it was still hurting so bad (it did ease up some after my phs gave me steriods but i could tell it was still there, but anyway i guess its my fault for not following up. But it was nice to see other people describing exactly the same pain as me.

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

Montess84 Newbie

:rolleyes: "Montess84=January 13, 2007

Hey Bob My pain started at the rib right under my left breast, hurt to laugh, sneeze, blow my nose; doc gave me steroids, made it more tolerable but it was still there, then the pain moved to behind my breast, but i didn't return to the doc (the doc in the box was going to schedule me a CAT scan if the pain didn't get better) but as usual, i didn't go back. Now the pain has moved to my left pec muscle and hurts to my left armpit. This is very strange. Never have had pain move; had pluersy (not sure how to spell) about 10-12 years ago, pain was on right side, about midway hip to breast, felt like someone was stabbing a knife in my rib. Do you have any pain before, like maybe lower like mine? Also, do you remember anything you did that could have strained your rib muscle? I fell off the bed and caught myself with my left arm (however the pain had begun 3 weeks before I fell; it started after i had stuffed myself at a Cracker Barrel, started sneezing (and I do have hard, loud voilent sneezes) I couldn't stop sneezing, it hurt so bad. After the first sneeze it felt like someone had stabbed me right below my left breast with a knife. Got a little better over the next week or so, but then i fell and its like it aggrivated the problem. It hurt so bad I was crying my eyes out at a business gathering and the next day at the airport. Would love to hear back from you. Let me know if you have any new information as to what this couled mean, be. Thanks.

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 B)

mn farm gal Apprentice

I was getting very strong chest pains and found out I am also allergic to Millet. Chest pain for about 8 hours at a time. I finally found the link after always having strong chest pain after having gluten free banana bread that had millet in it. Millet showed up on my test at the natural pathic doctors appt. I also get chest pain from gluten found in salad dressings but they don't last as long as the millet thing. So it could very well be something that is gluten free but your body just can't handel. Do you keep a food journel?

Electra Enthusiast

Yup I get them too, but they usually only last a half an hour to an hour with me. I don't get them very often, but the stabbing rib pain used to be constant with me and I've been rushed to the hospital with it before!! Mine has almost completely gone away since going gluten free, but once in a while I get a mild case of the rib pain again!!

I hope it goes away for you soon!!

tiredofdoctors Enthusiast

Costalchondritis can be caused by a number of things. One of them is a vertebral rotation in the thoracic spine. Because the ribs are connected in between the side portions of the vertebrae, if one is rotated, it twists the rib. Kind of causes it to "torque". If you can find a physical therapist that specializes in manual therapy --particularly if they use Paris or Maitland techniques, you can get them to address that.

Also, tight pectorals -- Pectoralis Major and Minor -- can cause costalchondritis.

Basically, it is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone.

And open heart surgery can CERTAINLY cause it!!!! Unfortunately, the techniques that are used to address vertebral rotations can't be used on open heart patients because your breastbone was split, your ribs were pulled apart (talk about rotating the vertebrae!!) then your breastbone is literally wired back together. MOST of the patients that I treated who had open heart surgery had costalchondritis. I was only able to teach them the stretches of the pecs, and how to mobilize the ribs downward --that tends to help quite a bit. (It is GREAT for singers. My daughter sings opera, and I can mobilize her ribs downward, and her ability to have better breath control is amazing.)

  • 4 weeks later...
5PointStar Newbie

I think I just found out what's been plaguing me for a year and a half, after searching on the internet; it matches the symptoms exactly. It's called precordial catch syndrome, or Texidor's twist. I get a sharp pain under my left ribs, and a sharp pain in the chest when inhaling, usually when laughing or talking without taking a breath. It's like someone is twisting my heart, though it's not considered a cardiac event. Apparently it's prevalent in childhood and adolescence, but can occur in adulthood. It's benign, and they can't really surmise as to what causes it, and they don't treat it. Very interesting.

shadowfax Newbie

I sometimes experience pain in the heart, but I think it's acid reflux. The worst problem I get when glutenized is heart palpitations. My heart's been checked out (and it's fine) and it took years for me to make the conclusion that it has everything to do with diet. Since going gluten free a few weeks ago, no palpitations (and I've had them off and on since age 13) and very little chest pain.

I hope this clears up for you soon.

kibou Rookie
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.

Jennifer

this is great (lol not really) I have that exact same pain!!.. my left breast area. When i was super sick with hypo/celiac I actually went to an ER and they did a .. (forgive me an EKG? was a few years ago).. some sort of thing where they test the current through your body? and the Dr. said it's location shows that its not from your digestive track and that the test they did was normal and that it must be an inflamed tissue. I'm having it now. It certainly is scarey. what else but a heart attack would do that but I'm still here. Has me very concerned but apparently no one else. I tried to chalk it up to diet (seeming occured after eating chicken) but its too hard to tell. Sometimes its there for motnhs sometimes it goes away. I have no idea but I find it fascinating that there are other people with celiac that also have it. I wonder many times since antibody diseases go hand in hand (meaning if you have 1 chances are higher you have some others). seemingly my whole body is inflamed including my heart muscle or chest muscle as everything else in inflamed also.

I should also note that its most always on the left but HAS been on the right hand side too.

The One Apprentice

I

  • 2 years later...
laurie-carr Newbie
When I get a really bad stomach ache (especially from gluten) I get horrible chest pains that hurt so bad I cannot breathe lying down. I think it's GI related. The pain starts in my stomach and moves up towards my chest and into my back. The GI doc hasn't been able to explain it to me.

I had open heart surgery and have heart problems too... but I don't have chest pains from my heart anymore.. Also, it's very common for those who have had their chest cracked to get chest pains that are probably from the rib cage. The cartilage and even the bones can be ripped or damaged causing chest pains.

The same thing happens to me.... when I get contaminated I get what others would call heart-burn-like chest pain.....I know that it is gluten because other things happen too!! you know what I mean....But this chest pain HURTS and it is hard to breathe....especially when I lay down....my doc can't explain it either....My husband tell me that I should just take my nexium every day and that wouldn't happen....but for me, this is how I know when I get contaminated....

Hope this helps.....Laurie

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,554
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Becky 0163
    Newest Member
    Becky 0163
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.