Worried

[Chloev1977]

Been having chest pain, shoulders pain and left arm pain. Also I have 5 blackout episodes yesterday . 3 of them I fell and bang my head. Went to A&E. They did ecg . Told I will have to wait 8 hours to be see by doctor. They didn't even do bloods. So left and went home . Didn't offer me any painkillers. Didn't check my head.

[Tos92]

I would be seeking medical attention straight away. I appreciate the wait at A&E is long but sometimes it’s the lesser of the two evils, especially if you are passing out.

How are you feeling today?

Could you give 111 a call and explain what’s been happening to you? If you feel you can manage until tomorrow morning, then you should contact your GP at the first instance to make an appointment to see them.

If things get worse, please don’t hesitate to call 999.

All the best.

Tos

[BeKind28-]

Hello

If you are feeling no better as much as you may not want to go back up to A&E it does not sound like they were to bothered last night from what you said but this should not be happening and they will have changed over staff who hopefully will look into this alot better

If you feel you can wait to speak with your Doctor then by all means do but please do not be afraid to go back if not

Let us know how you get on x

[Chloev1977 in reply to BeKind28-]

I've been lucky this morning. I have had two more blackout episodes but I have been in bed.

[BeKind28- in reply to Chloev1977]

Hello

I really do not think this should be happening even though I am glad you were in bed when they did

I would think of calling 999 or if you feel safe to go up to the hospital then I would

Please think about it as to me it does not sound like you should wait for your Doctor tomorrow it needs investigating now

Let us know how you get on x

[Chloev1977 in reply to BeKind28-]

Hi . Been asleep. But still having the pains. Had a few more blackout today. Just make me really tired.

[BeKind28- in reply to Chloev1977]

Hello

I am sorry to hear this I really wished you would think about phoning 999 or 111 or even going back up to the hospital as this is not normal and you really need to find what is going of

Let me know when you have some answers x

[Chloev1977 in reply to BeKind28-]

Hi. Had to have a 24 hr ecg fit today. They sent me to A&E . To have blood test for the chest pain. The test came back. Told I could go home didn't even check my head. Or why I am having blackout regular and hanging my head. Still having chest pain and arm pain and shoulder pain. Take my gtn spray works for half hour then wears off. It driving out of control.

[BeKind28- in reply to Chloev1977]

Hello

If the blood tests came back fine then that is a good sign you have not had a heart attack

It sounds crazy and I want you to be in bed but it would be good if you had a black out while you had that monitor on to see if something shows up but it never happens when you need it to !

Did you not ask all these questions as to why these things are happening at the next opportunity make a list and make sure you ask them and keep asking till they give you an answer

I know it can be hard for some to be assertive but sometimes we have to I hope you will

Let me know how you get on x

[Chloev1977 in reply to BeKind28-]

Before they thought I have Microvasular Angina. Which don't show in bloods or ecg.

[BeKind28- in reply to Chloev1977]

You could do with seeing a specialist that deals with this

I really hope you get some answers x

[Chloev1977 in reply to BeKind28-]

Hi. I had a 24 hours ecg on Monday. Then I was told to go A&E . They did ecg and bloods. All came clear. The doctor told to take amlodipine been take it. But I suffering with really bad chest pains . Don't know what to do.

[BeKind28- in reply to Chloev1977]

Hello

It is good news your tests were all clear but not so good news you are still getting chest pains

It has only been a couple of days since you started the amlodipine I wonder if they have had chance to work or if it will take a while longer

No one knows their own body or I always think better than themselves so if you feel things are not how they should be it would have to be A&E

I know you would maybe feel that is a waste of time but just keep it in mind if needed

You could also give the BHF Nurses a ring if you have not done already they are so good in giving advice and medically trained I am not sure if you have ever rung them but maybe give them a ring

Let us know how you get on x

Heart Helpline team on 0300 330 3311 Mon-Fri 9-5pm

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Chloev1977]

Hello,

I live with vasospastic angina which with microvascular angina are types of angina when your coronary arteries are not obstructed.

I have had arrthymias as a result of my coronary vasospasms. I have fainted a few times. Even fallen over and broken my ribs. I ended up in hospital with unstable angina soon afterwards.

Microvascular angina can be diagnosed by a cardiac perfusion MRI.

Have you been offered a stress echocardiogram?

My vasospastic angina was diagnosed by a specialised angiogram.

I would encourage you to ring 111 or 999 if you keep having these episodes.

Perhaps give the BHF helpline a call and speak to one of the cardiac nurses?

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Hrty]

Personally, I would be calling 111 at the very least. Blackouts don't sound good and a bang on the head ought to be investigated. 111 may even send an ambulance if they deem it necessary which may get you seen quicker at A&E. I knkw it can be a long wait. I was all for going home last November after being there for several hours and I felt ok. Glad I didn't as I was subsequently told I was having an "ongoing heart attack",albeit as it turned out a "mild" one

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Personally I would have waited the eight hours to be seen by a doctor. I would have been frustrated and disappointed at having to wait that long but at least I would have been seen and a cause for my problems would have been identified or start to be investigated. Anyway you are now in limbo and there is obviously something amiss or you would not be continuing to have blackouts. My suggestion is to go back to A&E soonest and pick up where you left off yesterday, although you did effectively discharge yourself.

[Carercmb]

it’s simply a 999 even if you ring your GP it’s 999 emergency.

Doesn’t sound right in AE and they didn’t advise you to wait for further tests

[Deejay62]

Hi Chloev I don’t think you should of left. They tell you that but more often they prioritise and you probably would of been seen quicker. At least contact your Gp because you shouldn’t be blacking out like that and you did hit your head, plus it could be your heart. Please take care and let us know how you’re doing. All the best Diane.

[JoGz]

Unfortunately 8 hr wait at a&e is usual. I was there for 7 hrs on Sat and 1 lady i talked to had been there for much longer. Please either go back and wait or call 999. Personally i find 111 pretty useless.

[Neph71]

Sorry to hear you're not having a good time of things. My cardiac event started out with shoulder, arm and neck pains, blacking out and nausea, sound familiar? I had low troponin levels however an angiogram showed I have severe disease in one artery which was stented and I feel much better now physically.

It sounds to me like you do need medical attention, you may have to be pushy with the NHS sadly, I can't vouch got how good the services are in your area, luckily in mine they are pretty good (even during the junior doctors strike!)

[DWizza]

I had what I thought was trapped wind , then thought better of it as my was calling 111 for advice the chest pain intensified. Ambulance crew hooked me up to ECG and said my heart was normal but they insisted I went to hospital with them to get my tropinin level chrcked which would confirm if I had a heart attack. I arrived cat 1pm and spent most of the time in the busy corridor of A& E at Maidstone hospital . Two blood tests as the doctor thought the first one might be rogue… I was finally told at 11:15 pm that I had indeed had a heart attack and I was kept in HDU and the procedures started that led to me being transferred to St Thomas’ for quadruple bypass surgery 12 days later.

If I hadn’t gone with the ambulance crew I’d definitely had a much worse outcome. If I’d have left the hospital, my wife made me stay , I would definitely had a much worse outcome.

Call an ambulance and sit it out. It’s one day out of your life potentially to get many more years of life.

[devonian186 in reply to DWizza]

Wise words. Its a day out of Worrieds life. Get seen urgently

[Qualipop]

NO matter what the wait time is you need to get back. Ring 999 and at least get an ECG. Two months ago I was taken in by ambulance and despite having had a previous heart attack, I still waited 9 hours before bloods were done; 12 hours before I saw a doctor and 16 hours before I was admitted. A&E especially on weekends is horrific but you must wait it out.

[wischo]

My sister in law is in Australia hoping to get a permanent visa to be with her son and grandchildren and took ill with bad tummy pain yesterday, went to the local hospital and had a series of tests, CT scans blood tests etc and is due more today after been kept in last night. What has happened to the NHS and as I live in Ireland our public health system is just as bad. How many people die because the health systems appear unable to cope or unwilling. Anywhere else in Europe and this would never have happened and top class care would have been the norm. This is so frustrating as proper health care must be a priorty for both our governments but they seem to bury their heads in the sand on this issue. I personally have private health insurance so not really a big problem for me and the other 50% of Irish people who pay for medical insurance and to be honest I think thats the way the UK is heading. Such a shame.

[devonian186 in reply to wischo]

We are very much in the middle of the pack as regards our health expenditure and the number of medics we have.

So I must assume it is the way we organise the health service, not helped by strikes nor the generally poor way we look after ourselves

[wischo in reply to devonian186]

Same in Ireland and I can assure you none of the government ministers or upper management rely on the NHS. We are generally fine in Ireland and I suspect in the UK regarding looking after ourselves, diet is quite good and more people exercising by running, walking, gym membership etc. The fact that it was a very good health system both in Ireland and the UK until recently and has now gone into severe decline is really worrying. If you have a heart attack yes they will rush you to A&E and fit stents or whatever but like yourselves the aftercare or the preventative pre care is missing or non existant. I think the private route is the best system as it gets you almost instant access to scans. tests and specialist consultants and is fully tax deductable on purchase. Also once in our private system they can not load you for any claims you may have no matter their nature or number so peace of mind all round. Over 50% of the population subscribe to this so it frees up the public health system for those that can not afford it. Its a win win situation really.

[theonethatgotaway1]

That's the state of the NHS for you. I was in AnE for 2 hours in a corridor. Was told I was having a heart attack at 2 hours so thought 'Great stuff' I can now get seen to. NOPE!! They shot me back inside the ambulance to drive me 30 minutes to the next hospital as they had space!

I tell you. Anyone with money that stays in the UK is bonkers!! If I had property and a lump of cash, I'd be out of this country a long time ago. Its crumbling faster than ever before.

[MustyK]

This is a case of 999 call. Even if you have to wait for 8hr at least you are in the right place; and should you have a black out episode, your case will be escalated. A&E are constantly under stress; so, sometimes (sadly) the clinical staff have to make a quick decision in the face of the waiting list and lack of beds. At least they should keep you for 24 hours under observation with the right monitoring equipment. This will capture your vitals stats (if and) when you have issues : this would give the clinical staff data that would help them witha better diagnosis

[Winter4519]

I agree with all the comments you need to get it checked out. Yes it is a long waiting. Wen I have problems with similar systoms as yours I have to go to A&E. Although I am ssen a little quicker because I have potential heart failure. However once you have been checked out and there is no underline issues you will have peace of mind.