A potentially silly question about chest pains

[Medi32]

Hi all!

So the question of if you're having chest pains with AF always comes up and, this may sound silly, but what does that really mean? What kind of chest pain?

Sometimes I might get a very brief little digging pain (not very painful at all) under my breast that doesn't seem to be triggered by anything. It doesn't seem feel like what I think of when people say chest pains and and I don't want to worry about it, but perhaps I should.

I realise this you are not doctors but sometimes I get confused with the way things are put, maybe I get too caught up in the language.

Thanks!

[BobD Volunteer]

If you have to ask you haven't had them . Gripping pressure which extends into the neck or left arm is pretty obvious. Odd jabs are probably wind.

[Medi32 in reply to BobD]

Thank you, I thought so but you know what it's like, you're brain starts whirring at any little thing (or maybe that's just me!).

I'm sorry you've experienced them.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Medi32]

Worst pain I had was cracked ribs following CPR after arresting but nothing to do with AF.

[Medi32 in reply to BobD]

Uff you poor thing

[CDreamer]

My only caveat is that females may present with different symptoms of a heart attack to those described by Bob.

[Buffafly in reply to CDreamer]

My friend had a heart attack in the middle of the night and though she didn’t have chest pains as such she felt ‘weighed down’ and no doubt something was seriously wrong, unfortunately without the classic crushing pain ambulance didn’t come for two hours 😰 All ended ok though.

[Buffafly]

Internal bear hug 👹

[Finvola]

My AF pain was as if a pair of large hands were squeezing my lungs inward from each direction. I struggled to breathe and my own fear of what was happening made things worse, I suspect. The diagnosis was AF and not a heart attack, fortunately.

[Ppiman]

I had various chest pains while I had atrial flutter last year, but never any "crushing" feelings that extend into the left shoulder and arm, which seem to be a feature of a heart attack. I know exactly what you're saying, and probably how you feel about it. I think it's one of the most fear-inducing aspects of our condition, myself.

Steve

[ThinLizzy1]

I had various little tweek like chest pains while I had atrial flutter- I wouldn't even say it was pain more like a tiny nip for a minute or so. At the time I put it down to muscular things like rib cartilage but I must say since my AF has pretty much stopped after an Ablation so have the tweeks.

[Hidden]

It’s difficult to know. It could be indigestion, chondritis or suchlike. However, you should not simply assume the pain is innocuous -it needs to be investigated.

[irene75359]

My first ever episode of AF (before being diagnosed) I thought I has a severe case of indigestion. It never occurred to me it might be something to do with my heart as bizarrely I wasn't aware of my heart racing. The next episode I had pain in my back and chest and my daughter took me to my GP and I had an ECG and was diagnosed there and then. And I still wasn't aware of a fast heart rate, although I had. Subsequent episodes I haven't had pain but have become much more aware of my heart and know all the signs when an episode has started.

[scotsrish]

Women present heart attacks so much differently than men, so much so there is very little comparison. I don't know if you are male or female but i must bring this matter up as people need to stop comparing. I had an elder female friend who's only symptoms were fatigue, nauseated and slight shortness of breath, no pain! Five blockages and open heart surgery.

[Slidingdoors99]

Hi! I’ve just been reading your posts and responses. I ought to say that women have very different symptoms from men! I thought I had indigestion at first and then had little digging pains under my left rib cage. I saw my GP when I could only walk 10 steps without getting breathless and had to stop and rest. I wish I‘d seen my GP days earlier!