Sick of second guessing

[Buffy6956]

I’m sick of having to second guess any pain I get whether it be in the arm jaw shoulder area.... my recent shoulder arm pain happens at any time, walking, resting, working and lasts seconds. I did go to A&E where all tests seemed normal reluctantly but the dr said I was right to go get it checked out but you can’t keep running to A&E every time you get a pain can you? So how are we supposed to know the difference between something trivial as opposed to something much more serious? Because it’s really not clear to me!!!!

[thehypnotist]

Yes, I’ve been having similar issues over the years now some entailing overnights etc. But never any advice other than not to ignore it!!

[Garto1]

You are so right . If only it was black and white. Like you I struggle to explain symptoms as they can come and go so quickly. I’m also so fed up as my recovery from HA last October seems to be plagued with issues . Gastric, Angina amongst some . I can’t walk for longer than 5 minutes outside and I am now being referred back to cardiologist. It’s feels like I’m climbing a mountain and there’s never a day that’s pain free . I hope you are sorted soon . Good luck

[fixedrider]

It can be hard. I've made a really excellent recovery from my double bypass in summer 2019. The surgeon who discharged me cleared me to push myself, and last night I was out cycle racing with my club (just for fun and not to any standard). But I've always been conscious of feelings of "tightness" in my chest, ever since the op. It seems to be skeletal mainly, not cardiovascular, but I have raised it with my GP a couple of times. Someone in another thread mentioned being told to expect at least 18 months for the chest to recover fully.

Lately, as I mentioned in another thread, things have been confused by an outbreak of shingles, which definitely caused pain! And not long ago, when it got a bit worse, my GP sent me to A&E, who did a really thorough checkup and found nothing. I now believe that that was in fact the early stages of shingles, which obviously isn't what they were testing for.

That helped though because a clean bill of health, 20 months on, confirms that anything I've been feeling isn't cardiovascular. I've just learned to live with it. It's still the right thing though to get advice in case of doubt, as I've done.

[DiggyDoggy]

I have been through exactly what you are doing, and to an extent still am - 1.5 years after my heart attack.

There have always been unwanted sensations during that time, and at the beginning I used to panic. I probably called 111 or 999 around 3 or 4 times in the first 6 months and they took me to hospital every time.

As time went by I got to learn that some of these feelings were my new 'normal', and, even though I didn't like them, I stopped panicking. I also started having days and even weeks at a time without any worries at all.

Now, I know my body and its quirks, so only need to call 111 if something feels different or worse. At those rare-ish times I always call 111.

My advice is to always call 111 if you are worried, and give yourself time to figure out which feelings are false alarms. The NHS always want you to be checked out if you have worries, so do not be concerned about calling them.

[VickyHK72]

Hi Buffy, I’m sorry to hear what a difficult time you’re having. I totally feel for you, in fact when I read your post I felt I could have written it myself! I was diagnosed with coronary artery disease and high BP in the new year - I’m 48, no symptoms, only went to get checked as a sibling found a problem. It sent me into a tailspin and I also found the meds I was suddenly on (ramipril and atorvastatin) made me feel odd which really didn’t help. I ended up calling an ambulance on 2 occasions (which I am so embarrassed about now, but both times they said it was the right thing to do) and had a panic attack in front of the paramedics the second time - but there was Nothing wrong on the ECG and the first time I spent the night on the emergency assessment unit and had numerous tests, nothing wrong and a nice doctor told me I needed to go home and try to relax. Like another person on here has said, I’ve come to think these twinges are the new normal for me. I rang the BHF helpline and spoke with a lovely cardiac nurse who told me a HA generally has pretty intense pain (although from other posts here that doesn’t seem to always be the case) With the help of some CBT therapy I have got to a much better place where I’m able to feel the twinges and make a decision about whether they’re just twinges. Having said that I still have a fear of what may happen, for sure, but I’m able to enjoy day to day life whereas before my anxiety ruled every second of my day. As others have said, of you're worried, always ask for help using 111 or 999. I found meditation (breathing exercises) to really help combat my anxiety. Good luck x

[Arty56]

Hi, I know exactly how you feel, I have cad and unstable angina and have had overnight hosp stays, and visits to a & e too, always abnormal ecg and on heart meds. I have constant pain in shoulder and arm that goes to my finger tips, then excruciating pain for upto 20 secs or so. I have had cortisone shots not working. What can we do, its never ending, the pain is so bad sometimes your sure your having a HA but it comes back no. Presume your on all the meds you need and good painkillers. I mean could be alot worse tbh, but like you, your whole life now is different, every day you don't know what will happen. Slowly after over two years I'm trying to accept new life, live day to day now, no dreams like before, I feel you, the uncertainty, the worry, wonder if we will get to the point where we can accept it, what will be will be and live our life's, coz ultimately that's the goal, otherwise it cracks you up, I lie in bed days upon days in pain, that's the truth no energys, side effects from my meds... I hope you start feeling abit better, It wears you down I know, the not knowing, all I can say is if its very bad keeping going to ae and docs, I don't like going, so only if very bad do I go tbh. Maybe a change or qty in meds may help, see your doc. I feel you, most definitely. Good luck with everythingYvonne xxx

P. S. As my shot not working, presume we both need scan or mri next. I hate going and faffing about, I'm not one of those people that go to hosp and docs only when I have to seriously. Prob should get out of that mindset, it doesn't help. Your right to keep going if your worried, honestly you must go, for your peace of mind if nothing else. I should, take that advise too....

[Qualipop in reply to Arty56]

HI ARty, just a word of caution. If your shoulder is like mine with shredded tendons; it has a ridiculously long name, think long and hard if surgery is suggested.. I just got re-referred back to orthopaedics after first diagnosis in 2013 but my GP warned me that the shoulder op is the worst of any for recovery time and physio. It can take a year of intensive physio if you want full use of your arm.. I can no longer lift my arm to head height to even do my hair but I will be thinking long and hard before I consent to surgery.

[Qualipop]

I have the same problem of is it isn't it? I have badly damaged shoulders and herniated discs. Trying to work out whether it's spine or heart is a nightmare. Right ow I have apparently a peptic ulcer which causes mid chest pain but then when I had the heart attack, the only symptom was 2 days of severe indigestion which felt exactly like the ulcer. Before the heart attack, my breathlessness was out down to spinal problems. Is there an answer because I haven't found one. Even though the GP examined my stomach yesterday I'm still sittinghere wondering if he got it wrong.

[WardijaWardija]

Hi Buffy. I think the thing is, that following any heart related incidents, we become super-alert and understandably so, given the circumstances and our personal experiences.

Heart conditions are very scary, whether you have a familial connection or they come suddenly "out of the blue".

It takes a long time to get our heads around it . .

I'm a great supporter of listening to our inner instinctive feelings, there's a reason we have them and they can be imagined as our true guardian angels as they are our protectors, that little voice in the back of our heads . .

You seem to be around my age, so I would imagine, having lived in your body for X amount of years, you would know yourself well enough to determine the difference between any fleeting pain and twinges from something more potentially serious.

I have 3 stents, so I think I know where you're coming from.

I guess a lot is down to our individual characters, some people seem to be born as worriers, others not so.

So when one of life's natural born worryers experience pain or discomfort following a cardiac event, I'm sure their anxiety can be genuinely be for them ,"off the chart".

Of course it's generally better to seek medical attention if you have a genuine concern, and judging when to make that call can be anxiety provoking in itself, the "shall I ring now" or "should I wait a bit longer?" scenario is one I'm sure we have all experienced at one time or another.

But as you Doctor pointed out, you cant constantly go to A&E for every twinge, especially when they have run all the tests they deem to be appropriate for you.

Over time, following the cardiac event, we get to know instinctively when and if its necessary to make that call to the emergency services.

If you are having difficulty with differentiating between the validity of your physical "pain" and the need to seek professional medical help, your GP may consider you appropriate to be referred to a Therapist for a course of CBT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which can be very effective in understanding and for the treatment of health anxieties before they become overwhelming and out of hand.

Relaxation therapy might be helpful, if you're into that sort of thing. Mindfulness, the state of being mindful, (in the moment) is also a very useful technique.

I wish you well for the future. Take care and stay safe 🌹