Could this be heart related?

[Sherbet4]

Hello,

If I give a little information could someone please give me some advice? 3 weeks ago I had a very scary episode of chest and back pain (severe pain) It started slow but built quickly until it was unbearable and I couldn’t breathe or move. Called an ambulance but by the time they arrived the pain had gone. They did an ecg which they said was normal. No follow up required but they weren’t sure what it was.

Yesterday the same happened again but this time I had nausea and the pain was worse and lasted longer. After about 20 minutes and whilst on the phone to 999 I was sick and then the pain disappeared again. An ambulance came and they took an egg which was normal. They did get me checked out at the hospital this time where another ecg was normal as was the blood tests they did.

The hospital have sent me back to my gp for a heart monitor so I will follow up.

I have been under the gp for a while for fatigue and dizzy spells too (I also have low iron and high cholesterol but have been eating wfpb for the last 2 months and have lost a little weight) I also suffer with anxiety after a breakdown last year so they tend to fob me off because of this. As you can imagine my anxiety is now through the roof waiting for this pain to come back especially as the second episode was worse and I know it wasn’t just a one off now.

Should I be worried? Would the ecg only pick something up if it was actually happening at the same time? I have an Apple Watch which I haven’t worn for a while but wondered if that might pick anything up.

[honeybubs]

Hi Sherbet 4

The same symptoms happened to me that you described but for years I knew something was wrong. Last September was the worse so my Gp sent me to A&E very concerned.

They did ECG (I was given a copy by a nurse) I was told I had very low blood pressure and they put me on a drip for it then said there was nothing wrong with my heart it must be anxiety attacks!

I appreciate people do suffer with anxiety but I know ‘my body’ and I was determined to prove my heart wasn’t right. The only anxiety I was suffering from was the fact no one would do anything or believe me

A few weeks after A&E I had paid to see a private Cardiologist and had an Echocardiogram and was diagnosed with 35% pumping function of my heart and Left Bundle Branch Block which was also written on the ECG from the hospital.

Please don’t give up if you think you have a heart problem you know your own body so ask for an Echo and/or heart MRI

I’m now on lots of tablets but still get some dizzy spells

Good luck and hope you get somewhere soon with answers

J. x

[Sherbet4 in reply to honeybubs]

Hi J,

Thanks for your reply. I can really relate. I’ve felt for a long time something wasn’t right and have over the years been looking for answers. I definitely have anxiety around my health but I really do feel there is something wrong that needs investigating - these attacks were like nothing I’ve ever felt and I genuinely thought my number was up!

I’ve booked an echocardiogram for next week so I just need to keep myself as calm as possible until then, I’m so scared it will happen again.

I’m glad you found some answers, have the tablets stopped any attacks or symptoms for you?

[honeybubs in reply to Sherbet4]

hi yes I feel better now I’m on the tablets and something is being done at last. I still have palpitations even in the evening at rest watching tv. I’m due another echo next month so hopefully the pumping rate will have increased as it was at 35%.

I have a bit of dizziness sometimes but nothing like before where I had pre syncope episodes with feeling sick, shaky, stomach and shoulder pain, etc.

Hope everything goes alright for you but I don’t think they will tell you any results until you see your cardiologist as it takes a long time to assess the scan. Ask the person about ‘the sniff test’ when having the echo scan as that tells them a lot about how the blood is pumping.

I looked it up all about the echo before I went and read about it and I didn’t say anything but she actually asked me to sniff at a certain point and I’ve had echos in the past and never been asked that before.

Anyway good luck and let me know how you get on.

Joy x

[Yumz199725]

Hi sherbet4

Just read your post and I really feel for you that sounds awful I hope you have been refered to a cardiologist by your gp. I hear what your saying about the anxiety cause I been having what I thought was heart related issues so I contacted my specialist hospital and they said that it's unlikely to be heart related and it's more likely to be asthma related 🙄. And I know my asthma is fine so it's not that so I had to really think about the way was feeling turned out mine was anxiety so I had to go doctors and get a prescription for anxiety and depression. I was so convinced it was heart related because the pain kept moving to my arm, back, jaw and must of been a massive anxiety attack 💔😢. Hope you get some help yours definitely doesn't sound like anxiety!

[Sherbet4 in reply to Yumz199725]

Hi Yums,

Thanks for replying. I’m sorry you’ve felt so anxious. That sounds like a scary experience. Anxiety is awful so I feel for you. I have been suffering with anxiety but I have also been really turning some corners in the last few months so I would be surprised if mine was anxiety with that amount of pain. I’ve had many panic attacks and this was nothing like that.

I’ve booked an echocardiogram for next week though and am hoping for some answers one way or another. My anxiety is definitely through the roof atm though.

[Tos92]

Hi Sherbet4

I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling unwell.

I would ask your GP to refer you to either a local cardiologist at your hospital, or carry out some testing themselves. I can see you have a holter monitor scheduled, that can pick up any abnormal heart rhythms you may be having.

I had an ECG straight after having an NSTEMI last year and it was normal. So it is possible to miss an abnormal cardiac episode on an ECG. However, that doesn’t always mean it’s heart related, there are other factors to consider.

Start keeping a log of when these episodes happen. Also note down any triggers. It may be a good idea to start using your Apple Watch again just as an indicator for your heart rhythm when these episodes do happen.

Let us know how you get on.

Tos x

[Sherbet4 in reply to Tos92]

Hi Tos,

Thanks for your reply.

I’ve booked an echocardiogram for next week and I also have a 24hr holter booked too so hopefully between the two I will get some answers.

How did you find out that you had had the NSTEMI after the ecg didn’t show anything and what treatment do you have? Did you have any other symptoms?

I’m really hoping it’s not heart related but when I read up and look at the symptoms I’ve had over the years (even swollen ankles that started before I was so overweight) it does seem to point to it. Especially after the two attacks I’ve had. It’s scary stuff!

Both times I was just sitting down so not over exerting myself. About 30mins or so after breakfast. I’ll keep a log but Im really hoping it doesn’t happen again.