Esophageal Spasms

NoahsWife · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 177 Location: Missouri

Has anyone heard if Celiac Disease and esophageal spasms are related? I just spent six hours in the E.R. thinking I was having a heart attack. It turned out to be esophageal spasms. A disorder where the esophageus does not contract properly while delivering food to the stomach, causing incredible chestpain that radiates to the arm and neck. Any info would be very helpful!
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Never let your fears become the bounderies of your dreams!

nancw · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 782 Location: Denver, CO

I had esophogeal spasms in the past - a couple of years before I went GF. Was one of my mystery symptoms my doc could never explain. I still get them to some degree when I ingest foods I'm not supposed to. Makes me think they are related in some way to CD/GI.
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Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free

cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 2425 Location: Washington State

I used to have horrible esophageal spasms when I was first diagnosed. I even posted about it here. I had all kinds of heart tests done at the time, but everything was normal.

When I am totally GF, I do not have them, but if I slip up, they are back with a vengeance.
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-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
9-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters have negative bloodwork - so far!

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

NoahsWife · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 177 Location: Missouri

I am vigilant about staying GF. Did not have the spasms before going GF a year and 1/2 ago, after CD diagnosis. But, has gotten worse over the past few weeks. No new things in my diet or in my vitamins, I appreciate the response that I'm not the only one with this problem.
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Never let your fears become the bounderies of your dreams!

Lizbuppers · Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 53 Location: midcoast Maine

I recently had 2 episodes of mid-chest pressure that was constant, but not sharp, and definitely not anything like heartburn. Both appeared at times of acute stress. One went away on its own when I got distracted from it, but the other lasted for 13 hours, until I went to bed, and even then my chest was sore then next day. When I saw my doc (a week later) he did an EKG and said my heart was normal. He said he thought it was reflux and put me on Protonix. Only trouble is, I had terrible reflux and heartburn prior to my diagnosis, and this was nothing like that. I know the med can't hurt me, but one of my health goals is to be as healthy as possible on as few meds as possible. I have a recheck in 6 weeks. Of course I've had no further chest pain, but I also haven't had any acute stress either. I just wonder whether the spasms could be caused by stress alone.
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Most people don't know there are angels whose only job is to make sure you don't fall asleep and miss your life!

nancw · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 782 Location: Denver, CO

Ah yes, our friend stress - that could be a factor.
Have you considered that other foods may be causing problems? My spasms came back this past summer and I determined that dairy (primarily), soy and corn were at fault.
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Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free

NoahsWife · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 177 Location: Missouri

Stress level has been about the same.I lead a very busy life, but nothing unusual has cropped up. I eat very healthy, don't smoke or drink, workout 5x a week. So my lifestyle seems to be in check. Doc said he thought the esphpgeal damage causing the spasms was related to the Celiac. But, I wanted to see if anyone has seen any research on the matter.
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Never let your fears become the bounderies of your dreams!

FranW · Joined: 20 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

Happened one time and it was SOO scary. Spent almost a whole day in the ER ruling out a heart attack. Apparently, it can happen with lupus which I also have. Hope you are feeling better.
Fran

pajohnso · Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 20

I had the same thing I believe, before going gluten free. It felt like, when you are going to cry, but you try and stop yourself, you feel that in your throat?? Kind of like that. I described that to my doctor when I was going through all the myraid of tests they put me through, and of course she said I must be depressed and wanted to put me on anti-depressents! I told her no of course, that was not it. I didn't really realize that the gluten was causing that until several months after going GF and realizing it went away.