How do you know when you should worry?

[Careful1]

I hope it's okay to post this here. I don't know where else to ask. If it's not okay kindly let me know and I will delete the post.

I am a 37 year old female with a history of SVT and other arrythmias. I have a loop recorder implanted currently due to some dizzy spells I have been having for the last 2 years otherwise I am okay with them. They don't much scare me anymore and so I'm here for another reason.

I have been having pain off and on in my left arm for a few days now, yesterday it became near constant, in addition I started getting some pains in my right arm as well as some chest pains. I am a bit worried but unsure when one should worry. I have high triglycerides, my blood pressure has been normal until recently when I went for my 6 month follow up at the cardiologist. The nurse informed me that my blood pressure was high at something like 150 something over 111. She took it twice and when the doctor came in and took it, it was 130/80 and so she said it was fine. Since then I have been measuring it once a day from home and been getting readings like 140 something over 90 something or 130 something over 80 or 90 something. I have also been dealing with some serious short of breath episodes, I even at times get out of breath just having a conversation. I did bring this up to cardiologist and she offered me a chest x ray if it didn't get better. I have recently quit smoking and so I'm not sure if smoking caused the sudden short of breath or what but I smoked for a long time and while I did get short of breath running or going up stairs it was nothing like now where I get short of breath just walking around my house or talking..

I do have a family history of sudden death on my father's side both my father and his father died at 50 and 51 and there were others as well but I never met my father so I don't know much beyond that. I did have a normal stress test almost 2 years ago and my echo from last year showed some minor changes but they weren't a worry at this time according to my cardiologist. I had a negative cardiac catheterization 10 years ago give or take a year. I gotta be honest, I miss my old cardio who unfortunately stopped taking my insurance. My new cardiologist just doesn't seem to listen to me.

So here I am. I am worried and I'm just not sure if I should be and if I should be what my next step should be. I have been masking the pain all day the best I could with acetaminophen and ibuprofen. It doesn't take the pains away but brings the level down some.

[Speakeazi]

I am not a Dr or a patient with your “stuff”. But it sounds like you should go and get yourself checked. You are in increasing pain and sound scared to me. Better to go and be reassured there’s nothing to worry about than sit at home taking painkillers trying to convince yourself into believing nothing could be wrong.

Take care of yourself and go get checked out.

[Maisie2014]

I agree. You need to see someone ASAP. Take care.

[Careful1 in reply to Maisie2014]

It's currently 230am here where I live. Should I go to the emergency room or get an appointment in the morning?

[Shar28 in reply to Careful1]

Do you have a phone helpline via your insurance/Cardiologist/hospital that you can call for guidance? In the UK we have a national NHS phone line we can call. Otherwise it might be best to get checked out sooner rather than later. All the best.

[Careful1]

Yeah I just called the ask a nurse line and she told me to go to the ER within the hour and so I guess I'm going. I will let you all know how I make out.

[Careful1]

They ordered some blood, chest x ray and they did an EKG. They said the EKG is beautiful and so now I'm waiting on the blood work and chest x ray to come back. Fingers crossed that everything comes back good.

[Careful1]

Just wanted to let you all know that I just left the hospital. EKG, chest x ray and labs were normal. The doctor said he thinks I am okay. He prescribed a muscle relaxer and told me to call my cardiologist and primary care doctors when they open to set up an appointment for follow up...

I am still a tad concerned about the pain but I am glad there is nothing immediately life threating that they can tell.

Thank you all for responding and pointing me in the right direction. If I hadn't made this post and gotten all your opinions I would have no doubt been sitting home still wondering if I should go to the emergency room or not, it could have been something serious and so thank you ❤️

[Speakeazi]

So pleased to hear you went and got yourself looked at. And delighted there was nothing immediately urgent going on. And I agree with Thatwasunexpected- thanks for the quick update.