Slight ache near heart

[GrannyE]

I had abdominal surgery in November. They used inappropriate dressings despite being warned and I had very inflamed skin on the stomach area. This all triggered paraxsysmal af. I then had terrible burning/itcing all over the torso for which I was prescribed strong pills. I have had a bad yeast problem requiring further strong pills. I tend to get yeast problems when my body is under stress.

Meanwhile I have af and often have a slight ache around the heart area. It is not bad and I can live with it. It could of course be muscle ache because I have been gardening between the showers. Have not been able to do too much because I become breathless. Have not told anyone about it. should I do so? Is there anything which could be done? I hate the thought of taking more pills. If there is nothing to be done and it is not dangerous if left I feel inclined just to leave it.

Am on apixaban 2.5mg x 2 daily, and candesartan 2mg for bp.

[Desanthony]

Anything like this should be investigated. Please make an emergency appointment to see your GP or call 111.

I sympathise with the problems you have with the dressings. My sister is allergic to certain types of dressings and had major abdominal surgery a few years ago - this was written up everywhere even over her bed. Guess what? Yes. Just like you she woke up with the wrong dressings one. On the other hand my wife remembers being woken up from sedation after a procedure with the nurse holding a dressing in front of her and asking - is this OK - wife could hardly focus on the darn thing she just said er yeaahss. thankfully it was OK!

[GrannyE in reply to Desanthony]

I complained to the private hospital group and have had a response that they have changed the dressings they use for the entire hospital to hypoallergenic ones so that no-one else will have the same problems in the future

[BobD Volunteer]

Any chest pain should be investigated.

[GrannyE in reply to BobD]

Oh dear Bob. Problem is I am not at all sure what they can do about it. Further question while my heart is aching slightly should I sit quietly or can I go out and do some gentle gardening, or pottering around the house which I have been doing. I am pretty certain now it is heart. I felt tired so put myself back to bed on my left side (which I never do normally) and when I woke the pain was worse. Won’t do that again. Sometimes when I come in from gardening I am panting away like mad for a while and then I know I have done too much. I have to sit quietly for a while then. My new Apple Watch 9 says that my blood is well oxygenated.

[GrannyE in reply to BobD]

Spoke to GP yesterday and she told me to dial 999 and call an ambulance. Did that at 12noon. Ambulance arrived 3am. Still waiting to see doc in hospital. Blood tests and ecg s done.

Thx everyone

[Buzby62]

You should follow the NHS advice here

nhs.uk/conditions/chest-pain/

Sorry but no one should offer you any advice here other than to get it investigated.

Best wishes

[GrannyE]

thanks. You are probably right but I am dreading it.

[mrsg46]

As an addendum to all the other replies, and not wanting to alarm you, but a week ago my sil went to A&E with 'heart pain' which last year his local GP practice nurse told him was probably muscle pain! but had recently become worrying enough for him to take himself off to hospital.

On investigation and after several tests by hospital doctors he has been diagnosed as having pericarditis, which is worrying but not life threatening. Nevertheless, as others have suggested, don't just leave it to chance that it may be just from gardening etc, please do go and have it checked out, via 111 if necessary.

[GrannyE in reply to mrsg46]

Have decided to ring the GP tomorrow and asked to be referred back to the cardiologist and if the appointment is months away will ask the Royal Brompton what I should do (because they have told me that I am always going to be their patient) and if no joy there then will try and see the cardiologist privately.

Thanks for the advice everyone.