Shortly after 7 this evening I started getting a sharp pain on my left side over my ribs whenever I took a deep breath. To be on the safe side I called my daughter. She wanted me to go to the Emergency Room right away but I knew deep down it wasn't anything grave. So I took a shower, dried my hair, had some coffee and after a great deal of pressure from my family let her take me (mostly to shut everyone up). Well I was right after all, it wasn't my heart but the EKG showed some previous, mild damage that they have no idea when it happened. A number of hours later after a repeat of the bloodwork and EKG they let me go home. I started having a panic attack which my daughter told me to just breathe through as if that would have worked! I didn't want to be a difficult patient since my husband was working but finally asked if they could discharge me as soon as they got the test results. I wanted to go home, take my anxiety medicine and sit in front of the fireplace curled yo with the cat and dog Now that I have calmed down I am dreading the next few days since they will be pressuring me to contact my primary care doctor then go to a cardiologist and have more tests done. I'm in no rush to do that until whatever is going on heals and they have already started being quite nasty about it. They may be the ones with the medical knowledge but I am the one who knows my family history and my body. Next time I think I will keep quiet and follow my instincts. The entire experience was stressful and scary. No matter how much they harass me I will handle this my own way on my own time frame. The so called heart damage is quite minor which is a blessing. Now I have to find a way to get them to listen to me. I am much smarter than they give me credit for. Time to assert that knowledge. Wish me luck.
A long, scary night: Shortly after... - Anxiety and Depre...
A long, scary night
Hi M.
I really feel for you and am sorry to hear what a bad time you have just had.
I definitely know what you mean about wanting to handle things in your own way. Stick to your guns and play it the way you want to and do not let them intimate you. It is mild damage and often lots of people have things like this I believe but they are never picked up. For example I have a friend who has been having alot of abdominal pain and she has had lots of tests for possible G I cancers all of which have come back negative thank goodness. They have however found nodules on her gall bladder and polyps somewhere else which lots of people have but she would never have known about if she had not had all the tests. They do not need to do anything about them but now she knows they are there, they are worrying to her.
You quite understandably want to take any more tests you need at your own pace because you know how unsettling they will be and how this will cause so much stress.
I felt the same about various tests I needed a couple of years ago when having bad GI symptoms of nausea and loose stools. I know how really badly affected I was when I went for an endoscopy. I think it was the final straw in triggering my anxiety disorder. I had nothing wrong with me and prior to 3 very stressful things in my life coming together I was not even an anxious person but being pushed to do the tests pushed me over the edge and it was a long and incredibly difficult journey to get to where I am now, better than before I was ill. I have subsequently taken more control over when I am prepared to have routine screening etc, such as occult blood in stools test etc and have been able to stay well because I waited until I knew I was ready to cope despite family and some friends thinking I should not delay.
I can cope with all routine screening now and am also coping really well so far with tests I have to have related to a heart condition I have had since childhood.
I will be thinking of you and hoping all goes well. Do keep us updated if you feel it helps to do so.
Very best wishes.
Kim
Thank you. I am planning to follow up as soon as possible but was told it's not urgent. The diagnosis last night was non cardiac chest wall pain probably due to inflammation. I am planning to rest for the weekend and will go back to the ER if there is a change for the worse. Feeling much better this morning and will follow up with my primary care provider as well as the person who treats my fibromyalgia since that is a possible cause of the inflammation. I didn't feel like the pain was a grave situation but went to be safe. I will eventually see a cardiologist and have any recommended tests but have already been told since this wasn't a cardiac event I may have a long wait. I have strong intuition, know my body and that is why I have chosen to do this on my terms. But will get right to the hospital if anything changes. Thank you.
I have a different take on this. I'm definitely all for advocating for yourself. Medicine should be handled as a team approach, not a dictatorship.
Weigh the pros and cons heavily. Preventative medicine and early detection are very important.
I will and since this wasn't a cardiac event I am in no rush unless something changes.
I understand you wanting to back away from this and want to think it's nothing. Denial protects us from anxiety sometimes. My fil went to the doc for the some routine stuff and they did an ekg and said the same thing, mild damage previous and who knows when it was. He debated getting a stress test because he was scared. A week or two later he scheduled an ultrasound to look for plaque build up, which I highly recommend, but he died from a massive heart attack the Friday before the scheduled test which was Monday. He was 62 and fairly recent.
I'm not trying to scare you, but previous damage means there was some heart event that occurred and you need to know why and maybe can intervene with meds or a procedure.
I'm so sorry to hear about your father in law. I lost my Mom suddenly and unexpectedly when I was 22 and she was 42. She didn't take her diabetes seriously and it was the underlying cause of her death. My brother ignored his diabetes too and had a triple bypass then a stent for another blockage a little over a year later. I am taking this seriously even though my diagnosis last night was non cardiac chest wall pain caused by inflammation. I am calling my primary care provider on Monday and will also contact the provider who treats my fibromyalgia. If the pain worsens or I develop other symptoms I will call an ambulance and go to the hospital immediately. Both my husband and daughter are nurses and were not overly concerned by what the EKG showed. It's a very minor change. I have already been told that since my visit last night turned out not to be a coronary problem I will most likely need to wait awhile before I can see a cardiologist. So when I say I am dealing with this quietly on my own terms it doesn't mean I am ignoring it. I am simply doing everything I can without alarming my husband and children. My primary care provider is amazing and truly listens to me. I get annual check ups and bloodwork which has always been good. My blood pressure is also good. The ER doctor looked at the monitor and assumed I was on blood pressure medication which I am not. I don't take anything for cholesterol either. Keep it under control with diet and exercise and my weight is at a healthy level too. I will check with my primary to see if she will order some tests that will be useful when I do see a cardiologist. I will definitely ask about the ultrasound as well as a stress test. Once again I am sorry to hear of your loss and appreciate your response. I guess when I 'm over tired I should be more careful when I post.
The test is a calcium score. My fil worked out out three times a week his whole life and was at a healthy weight and good BP and cholesterol. The best test is too see if there are blockages. If he had it, they would have probably done a bypass asap. Also, it sounds like with your brother it's in you family. I'm worried that's all. I know you will do what's best.
Try not to worry. I am following the ER doctors orders, resting and in much less pain. I will.be on the phone first thing Monday morning scheduling appointments and tests. I appreciate your concern a great deal.
Found out yesterday that the EKG I had five years ago when the damage supposedly first appeared was read by a cardiologist who didn't see a problem. This cardiologist is very good so I will still follow up but there may not be a problem. My husband works in the ER where I went and if possible will pull my chart and have it looked at by another doctor with a better reputation. I am relieved but will still be making calls today to follow up.
Good your husband can check that info.
I just want you to be well. I would rather have five people check a questionable EKG that have something happen to you.
Keep us posted
I will but right now my anxiety is much better so it will be easier to make calls, schedule appointments and have whatever tests I need. I am actually quite vigilant about my physical health. Don't have the best family history so I get frequent bloodwork and physicals. This just came out of nowhere and I couldn't understand how I missed it or wasn't told about it. My daughter was actually suprised to learn just how carefully I follow my health. She had no idea.
Get well soon mrs p
Thank you. I am spending some time following the doctors instructions and resting. And the dog and cat are by my side both calming me and making sure I am ok.
An update:
Found out yesterday that the EKG I had five years ago when the damage supposedly first appeared was read by a cardiologist who didn't see a problem. This cardiologist is very good so I will still follow up but there may not be a problem. My husband works in the ER where I went and if possible will pull my chart and have it looked at by another doctor with a better reputation. I am relieved but will still up. Will be making lots of phone calls today.
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