Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Severe Chest Pain Post Alcohol Consumption?
Question: I was just wondering sometimes I get severe chest pain from drinking some kinds of alcohol but at other times nothing happens it has happened first time from drinking curacao half a glass mixed with lemonade and separate occasion cherry brandy only one small glass mixed with soft drink this was years ago another time Smirnoff vodka I also sweated profusely and could not stand this was after half a bottle it was a premixed drink in a bottle. another time alcoholic ginger beer one small bottle another time a mix of wines at a dinner and I had just eaten some sweet desserts to that took over an hour to get better, couple days ago it was an energy drink and one small drink of whisky and coke I also get this reaction from codeine. I had stomach ulcers many years ago had operations to correct it a vaegotomy and pyloroplasty
Brief Answer:
I recommend performing some tests.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to a gastrointestinal disorder.
Alcohol, spicy food and caffeine (contained in energy drinks and coffee) can lead to irritations of the gastro intestinal mucosa and painful contractions of the muscles of this tract, which can lead to pain and cramps, especially when there is an underlying disorder of the digestive tract.
A careful differential diagnosis between different disorders, which may mimic this clinical symptomatology is necessary to be done.
Your past medical history for stomach ulcers is concerning about a new exacerbation of this disorder.
Gastritis and gastric ulcers can be exacerbated from alcohol intake.
From the other hand the episodes of diarrhea and intolerance from codeine, raise the suspicions for possible gall bladder disorder (like cholecystitis or gall bladder stones). Codeine can induce spasms or painful contractions of the biliary ways, exacerbating this condition. Alcohol and spicy food are also triggering factors.
Pancreatitis (which is inflammation of the pancreas) could cause similar symptoms too.
Esophageal spasms could also be triggered by all the above mentioned factors and cause severe chest pain.
So I would recommend consulting with a gastroenterologist, for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, an abdominal ultrasound, an endoscopy of the GI tract and some lab blood tests:
- complete blood count (for chronic anemia)
- liver function tests (ALT, AST, gama GT, tot bilirubin, direct and indirect bilirubin, ALP)
- amylase plasma levels (possible pancreatitis)
- LDH plasma levels
- PCR, sedimentation rate (inflammation)
- blood electrolytes
and a stool analysis.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
I recommend performing some tests.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to a gastrointestinal disorder.
Alcohol, spicy food and caffeine (contained in energy drinks and coffee) can lead to irritations of the gastro intestinal mucosa and painful contractions of the muscles of this tract, which can lead to pain and cramps, especially when there is an underlying disorder of the digestive tract.
A careful differential diagnosis between different disorders, which may mimic this clinical symptomatology is necessary to be done.
Your past medical history for stomach ulcers is concerning about a new exacerbation of this disorder.
Gastritis and gastric ulcers can be exacerbated from alcohol intake.
From the other hand the episodes of diarrhea and intolerance from codeine, raise the suspicions for possible gall bladder disorder (like cholecystitis or gall bladder stones). Codeine can induce spasms or painful contractions of the biliary ways, exacerbating this condition. Alcohol and spicy food are also triggering factors.
Pancreatitis (which is inflammation of the pancreas) could cause similar symptoms too.
Esophageal spasms could also be triggered by all the above mentioned factors and cause severe chest pain.
So I would recommend consulting with a gastroenterologist, for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, an abdominal ultrasound, an endoscopy of the GI tract and some lab blood tests:
- complete blood count (for chronic anemia)
- liver function tests (ALT, AST, gama GT, tot bilirubin, direct and indirect bilirubin, ALP)
- amylase plasma levels (possible pancreatitis)
- LDH plasma levels
- PCR, sedimentation rate (inflammation)
- blood electrolytes
and a stool analysis.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
You mentioned I may have trouble with my gall bladder. I had a cholysysectomy at thirty two and it was after that that I could no longer tolerate panadiene forte which has codeine in it and I got the severe chest pain after taking it. I have had some liver function tests ALT 34 U/L AST 33 U/L Gamma G.T. 12 Total Bilirubin 9 umol/L LD 229 U/L Alk. Phos 94 U/L but have never had the other tests you mentioned. Seeing the above was told to me to be normal I am just wondering why I get these attacks. Incidentally I am not a regular drinker I do not drink alcohol every week. Three times now I have suddenly vomited in my sleep and all of a sudden a rush of acid comes up my throat and burns my throat real bad. the first time it happened was over two years ago but the other morning it woke me cause it choked me and last week I woke up and had diarrohea so bad I could not get to the bathroom quick enough. I am ok today quite well today but I did not eat much. I am fairly good except for these things as I work fourty hours aweek in a full time job. The only thing is I get fatigued and get the symptoms of a head cold on and off but the head cold does not fully happen just my nose runs a bit and I just got a cold sore. I am on antidepressants but I still get a bit of depression on and off because I miss my family I have financial problems and I get very lonely because most of the people I work with are in their early twenties and thirties. So socialising is difficult. What can I do to keep this mild cold symptoms away cause I feel tired with it and that's a nuiscance I must perform to keep my job.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the information provided.
Your liver function tests are within the normal ranges.
Regarding cholecystectomy, I would explain that it is normal to have sometimes pain, dyspepsia and episodes of diarrhea in this situation. The intolerance from codeine is common too.
You should know that the gallbladder function is to excrete biliary acids in a pulsatory way related to the food intake. The cholecystectomy makes this process irregular and not related to the food. The bile is directly excreted in the gut from the liver, without any relation to the food intake. This can cause pain, dyspepsia, abdominal distension from gas creation and episodes of diarrhea.
The fact that you vomit during sleep, raises suspicions for gastro esophageal reflux.
I strongly recommend performing a GI endoscopy to exclude the above mentioned possibilities.
Regarding the cold symptoms, I recommend would advise consulting with the allergologist and performing allergy tests. It may be an allergic reaction.
A sinus discharge culture and a sinus x ray are necessary to exclude possible sinus infection (even fungal infection), which could mimic this symptom.
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the information provided.
Your liver function tests are within the normal ranges.
Regarding cholecystectomy, I would explain that it is normal to have sometimes pain, dyspepsia and episodes of diarrhea in this situation. The intolerance from codeine is common too.
You should know that the gallbladder function is to excrete biliary acids in a pulsatory way related to the food intake. The cholecystectomy makes this process irregular and not related to the food. The bile is directly excreted in the gut from the liver, without any relation to the food intake. This can cause pain, dyspepsia, abdominal distension from gas creation and episodes of diarrhea.
The fact that you vomit during sleep, raises suspicions for gastro esophageal reflux.
I strongly recommend performing a GI endoscopy to exclude the above mentioned possibilities.
Regarding the cold symptoms, I recommend would advise consulting with the allergologist and performing allergy tests. It may be an allergic reaction.
A sinus discharge culture and a sinus x ray are necessary to exclude possible sinus infection (even fungal infection), which could mimic this symptom.
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr. Sharka. I will take your advice . Thankyou for your help in answering my questions. From XXXX
Brief Answer:
You are welcome!
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I am glad to have been helpful!
Please feel free to ask me directly at any time, whenever you need at the link below:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=69765.
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
You are welcome!
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I am glad to have been helpful!
Please feel free to ask me directly at any time, whenever you need at the link below:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=69765.
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
