Need urgent advice

[Andy500]

Hello everyone,

Note - I am not asking for advice as a substitute to medical professionals.

Due to my thread being closed, I am urgently and truly unsure what to do.

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post....

Long Story Short

- Been having unbearable chest pain I.e. like someone is standing on my chest for the last 2 weeks.

- Been having symptoms- walking up the road and I am out of breath. Even at rest I am out of breath frequently.

- Been taking Aspirin (300mg) everyday for 2 weeks. As pain is truly unbearable and without it I feel like I'm going to collapse or going to have a heart attack.

- Went to Accident and Emergency - they did an Electrocardiogram which flagged some abnormalities as shown on previous thread. Had blood tests and they told me everything's fine. Saw a doctor there and he told me it could be a nerve.

- Went home, severe symptoms continued.

- Visited GP, she has scheduled an echocardiogram for 3 weeks away - 14/02/2025. And she advised to take paracetamol instead.

- Took paracetamol 500mg and pain still continued. 1 hour later took another 500mg paracetamol. Barely any effect. At this point I felt like 2 people standing on my chest and immediately took 300mg Aspirin. Pain subsided.

- Called GP yesterday morning and they told me to go to the hospital for any chest pains.

- Been taking Aspirin (300mg) every night, took is last night, however had to take it again this morning for the first time.

- Symptoms worsening and no chance I can even last 3 more days, let alone 3 more weeks for scheduled echocardiogram.

- Want to go to hospital, but I am sure they will repeat Electrocardiogram and send me away.

- Feel like a heart attack is coming and unsure what to do for the hospital to take me seriously.

[Hidden]

Andy, your post is still available to view and you’ve had some good advice. By all means take a small dose of aspirin if you think it helps your heart, but for pain relief other pills might be better as in the posts to you. Such as paracetamol.

[Bluecat223]

Andy if you really feel like you are having a heart attack dial 999 I thought I had indigestion when I had mine 4 weeks ago I am so glad I did then a week later I thought I was having another one it turns out I was very anxious and had a massive panic attack which presents like a heart attack but please if you feel that unwell phone an ambulance I really hope you are OK x

[Lowerfield_no_more]

You have previously had good advice on here, and now you tell us your GP has suggested that you should go to hospital if you have chest pains. Why don't you just follow your GPs advice rather than making assumptions about what will happen when you get there. At least if you do that you will know one way or another that you are going to be treated seriously which you have said is one of your concerns, and perhaps more importantly, they might tell you whether there is anything wrong or not.

[EndyII]

hello Andy500

If you are having unbearable pain you should be going to an AE. Each time I did the nurses and doctors at the AE continued to tell me I did the right thing, regardless of the results of the last visit. It is not worth the risk. I went 4 times in a 4-5 month period, until my cardiologist , gp and I were confident what were the causes. It can be super stressful till you get to this state of knowledge. Also call you GP/cardiologist and explain the issue, see if they can work on getting your appointment pulled up.

[Crowortak]

I won’t repeat all the good advice already given.

After my event I had similar symptoms which turned out to be Pericarditis which was treated with medication. I then had Costochondritis which was treated with cocodamol. The Costochondritis was very similar to your experience and was not diagnosed until a third visit to A&E with HA type symptoms.

[Andy500]

Thanks everyone for the advice, highly appreciated!

I will go to the hospital today.

One final question - as stated I have been referred by my GP to an echocardiogram which is 3 weeks away. Is there any test I should push for while in hospital to rule out anything sinister or is the echocardiogram sufficient?

Many Thanks

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Andy500]

I suggest you ask the cardiology team to consider whether microvascular or vasospastic angina as possible causes of your symptoms.

Microvascular and vasospastic angina is not well known about, even by cardiologists, let alone an A&E or general medicine doctor.

When you are in A&E asked to be reviewed by a member the Cardiology team.

Perhaps ask your GP to refer you to a hospital with large specialist heart centre.

[AngedeLac]

Hi Andy, you don’t mention whether you already have any heart conditions. Angina can also feel like a heart attack. There are tests they can do to diagnose this. nhs.uk/conditions/angina/di...

[Andy500 in reply to AngedeLac]

Hi AngedeLac,

I have never had/have any heart conditions or major health issues. (With the exception of life threatening allergies for many food+medications)

[Bluecat223 in reply to Andy500]

Andy let us know how you get on best of luck x

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to AngedeLac]

The NHS information you posted unfortunately doesn't mention, angina with non obstructive coronary arteries ANOCA, microvascular and vasospastic angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[richard_jw]

Can you get GTN.? You spray it under the tongue If it's angina, it can open up blood vessels and help relieve the pain. You can buy it OTC in the UK from a pharmacy.

This may relieve the symptoms, but will NOT fix the problem. As such it also can help a doctor with the diagnosis.

Your GP is right, go to A&E.

[Andy500]

Hi guys,

Just a quick update - I had the severe chest + dizziness/faintish feeling this morning.

Before it got worse I took aspirin and went straight to the hospital.

As last week they did and ECG+blood tests and I spoke to a doctor (general practitioner) there.

She basically told me both tests were normal and if it was a heart condition causing these symptoms then it would 100% have shown on the ECG. I then went back home.

At this point, I'm unsure what to do. 300mg Aspirin per day is alot and risky to take. So, the next time the pain comes on, shall I just wait and see what will happen? That's my only option I think.

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to Andy500]

In my opinion, as a you have now been to hospital and they have told told you that you do not have a heart condition, at least one that has not shown up during your investigation this morning including the ECG, I would stop self medicating by taking the aspirin (did you tell them what you had been doing, and if so what did they say). As I may have said elsewhere long term use of high strength NSAIDs, like aspirin and ibuprofen do more harm than good to your insides. Finally the more you worry about what is going to happen to you, the more it is likely you will wind yourself up, and with that possibly brings stress induced problems, so I suggest you start to chill and try to get on with your life, and when and if something serious happens go back to the hospital and let them deal with it, and don't delay.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Andy500]

I don't always have ECG changes. It's difficult to catch a transient constriction of a coronary vasospasm in action.

It's not uncommon for people, not to have ECG changes, even when having a heart attack.

If you have chest pain, until you have had the appropriate tests, that rule out all possible causes of myocardial ischaemia, including obstructive coronary artery disease and angina with non obstructive coronary arteries, then go to hospital.

[Hidden]

Andy, I’ve been following your posts and am glad you got to hospital and hope that the doc there reassured you.

[Jaybbb]

I had chest pains for weeks before it got so bad I went to the hospital. They fitted me with a stent. But before I went to the hospital, I would take for chest pain— two aspirin (325mg x2) but never on an empty stomach. I alternated it with generic Tylenol (2 pills 500 mg each). But limited myself to not less than 8 hours before redosing. Check that your other Rx are not contra-indicated with this. Another test that I am going to take is a TEE Test. That is a look more closely at the heart. In my case it is prescribed because I still get chest pains that cannot be explained by any other test. Good luck. And—- find a hospital with excellent Cardiac Unit next time going on emergency basis.

[JH6419]

Hi Andy - how are you doing?