Arm ache

[Fynndog]

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about aching arm.

This had been the first sign of the heart attack I had in 2020. You all sent me advice to get it checked .

Knowing the problems in NHS I was reluctant to add to the queue but I went yesterday.

Luckily they were not overrun at 11 in the morning and I have to say that I received a brilliant service .

ECG and bloods , thankfully all seems normal. What the cause of arm ache and tightness in chest is I don’t know.

I was told repeatedly that I was not wasting anyones time and heart issues are not to be taken lightly.

[BridBoy]

I had a similar concern earlier this week, our GP and local hospital were brilliant.The checks all centred round my heart....then a consultant came to see me, after looking at my results, having a chat and examining me he's taken a four pronged approach to finding out what the issue is.

He said it's all too easy to just assume "heart" related for folk like us.

I was back yesterday for an ultrasound of my abdomen, it was all ok.

I'm in next week for the camera down the throat.

I'm waiting for appointments for an MRI of my spine and a double check at cardiology that my heart is in fact ok.

[Fynndog in reply to BridBoy]

you certainly got A1 treatment. I hope it all turns out to be nothing important.

I felt very pleased with the treatment I got and mainly that I wasn’t palmed off as a time waster.

The doctor was really amazed when he saw what my troponin levels had reached at time of Heart Event. He was laughing and said I was a miracle ( I don’t know if my husband would agree) he said he’d never seen levels as high. What was important that yesterdays troponin was normal.

all my very best wishes for you for the future xx

[BridBoy in reply to Fynndog]

And to you xx

[Enwau in reply to BridBoy]

I have a very similar problem. I had a heart attack last September while on holiday in Bath. Around two months ago I had the same pain with burping so I decided to play safe and go to my local hospital. My troponin level was fine but they tested my blood and I had an Ultrasound. They wrote to my doctor saying that my liver results were high and that I had five gall stones. My GP insisted that the liver results were down to the gall stones. As they didn’t seem to know what the liver results were, I asked if I could have another blood test. They agreed and it was Alkaline phosphate 366 Alt 99. My doctor suggested I reduce my Avorastatin from 80mg to 20mg and wait to take another liver test. Luckily I managed to find somebody who was more understanding and she made and appointment for me to see a doctor at the hospital. As a result I had the tests yesterday. I was diagnosed with Barrett’s Oesophagus and a hiatus hernia. No results from the ultrasound yet. I’m sorry fr writing such a long post but I hope it was helpful.

[BridBoy in reply to Enwau]

Excellent that you found a good Doctor who didn't "take the easy option".I hope that your treatment works well

[Pollypuss in reply to Enwau]

I was very interested in what you said. I knew someone who had repeated chest pains - this was about 20 years ago - and he was diagnosed as having heart disease until one Christmas a year later when his chest pain was so bad that he was admitted into hospital . However a thorough investigation proved that it wasn’t his heart but gallstones that was the problem. In that year he had given up all sporting activities and lived a totally different life.

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to Enwau]

Hi Enwau - re: Atorvastatin. When admitted to hospital in Jan 22 after a heart attack I was immediately prescribed a daily dose of 80mg of atorvastatin (among the other usual HA meds!) and I'd to stay in hospital to wait for a triple by-pass. I had bloods taken the day before the planned op and that evening a bunch of doctors rushed into my room to say that my op had to be cancelled due to my "deranged" (their word😀! ) liver readings which they said were almost off the scale. It turned out that I'm statin intolerant. Once taken off the atorvastatin my liver reading results returned to normal after only about four days and I was able to have the op just over a week later. Our livers really are amazing organs in how they manage to regenerate themselves! Good luck with all your other tests in the meantime. Carol x

[Fynndog in reply to Enwau]

I’m glad you got taken notice of and a diagnosis was given. It’s always very helpful to hear other peoples experiences. Nothing to apologise for.

All the best to you xx

[Wooodsie in reply to BridBoy]

Gosh, where do you live? Might consider moving 😂😂

[BridBoy in reply to Wooodsie]

On the Costa del Yorkshire, glorious coastline and great place to live

[jeanjeannie50]

What great service you had from our NHS, good to hear.

[Greenthorn]

Well done for having the courage to go to hospital.

[Enwau in reply to Greenthorn]

Thank you all for your replies.

[Fynndog]

yes you are right. Very glad it came to nothing

[Enantiodromia77]

Yes it wasnt a waste of time, don't ever think that please. That is what A n E should be used for and they were 100% correct. Working in NHS the priority is taken in A n E bloods over every other.. Analysis usually takes upto an hour, some tests are quicker too. So if you suspect a cardiac event even A n E can do on the spot tests, but these are always confirmed by Blood Sciences Department. Hope you feeling better and find out what's happening soon.

[Fynndog]

thank you everyone for your replies. It’s a great comfort knowing you are all here with advice.

We almost a little family.

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to Fynndog]

I agree with you Fynndog - this site is almost like a little family and so very helpful. Everyone's so kind and I've read answers to questions that I hadn't even thought to ask! 😀

[Puffin1963]

I too had a first class visit to A and E just before Christmas - I was told never to apologise for coming in when suspected heart activity - after a lengthy evening I was told I had costochondritus, after adjusting my exercise routine for a few weeks it went .

[ETHEL103]

Well done to your hospital.Unfortunately our local hospital is over run 24/7 with friends I know whose parter has heart issues pain,pallor etc got to hospital by car as no ambulances available then a 10 wait on a hard chair starting ar 4am.

[Green1964]

sometimes arm pain can originate from the neck or the shoulder joint I had the same pains even after my stent fitted it turned out to be my neck muscles that was tight causing pain to refer town to my shoulder joint that made my arm ache I started having massages on my neck and shoulders and the pain felt worse after a couple of visits but once they got rid of all the knots and tension the pain went away I guess once you have a heart condition we naturally believe that any chest or arm pain is due to the heart but such a relief when we find out it’s nothing but muscular pain hope you get to the root cause of it

[Fynndog]

thanks for all your replies xxxx

[karinabrooks1980]

It's great that you have been seen and reassured.

I have complex issues with my heart (DCM, Myocarditis, LVDF, Fibrosis, Ectopics, Arrhythmias). I also get a pain in my left arm/shoulder with occasional twinge in the chest. I have reported this previously when admitted to hospital but, normally when I'm seen, it's resolved or calmed and observations and tests are clear.

It happened again on Friday, along with a numbing feeling/cold sensation in left arm.

I was first told in 2020 when diagnosed that I was at no risk of a cardiac arrest, but have since read that patients with DCM can have heart attacks. Should I be concerned?

[Fynndog in reply to karinabrooks1980]

If you feel concerned about those symptoms then I think you should act upon it. As the Hearties all advised me to do , go and get it checked out.

[Tos92]

Hi Fynndog.

Have you been diagnosed with angina? It is not uncommon to experience arm pain, back pain, shoulder pain and chest pain with angina. I experience this sometimes on a daily. I have unstable angina, also known as vasospasm. Unfortunately, I haven’t found anything yet that makes it better however, I am aware some people take their GTN spray for it, and it can provide some temporary relief.

[Fynndog in reply to Tos92]

thank you for your reply. Very interesting. They could find no reason for my arm ache so I’ll bear what you gave written in mind