On and off chest pain

[BelugarWhale]

Hi I need an advice please. I’m Asian female 44 year old. Been having on and off chest pain since November 2024. The location is quite specific it’s high on the top above breasts slightly the to left side of my chest behind the ribcage. The pain is not intense but it’s hard to ignore and I can’t find any triggers it just comes on and off at random time day and night. Usually there’s no shortness of breath when the pain is there but I find high intensity cardio activity like running to catch a train difficult and the shortness of breath from doing that almost made me pass out.

I had an ECG done in a hospital in Thailand in November and they say there is an abnormality (pic attached) but I didn’t have time to stay for more investigation. When I’m back to UK I’ve been to the GP and they ordered a series of blood tests, gave me omeprazole capsules to try to rule out heartburn and 24 hours ECG but they didn’t find anything worth a referral.

I’m thinking of getting in touch with my GP again and ask if I can get a referral to a cardiologist I hope to get an echo test but I really don’t want to pest them. Guess I want an advice to whether I should get an echo test done privately for peace of mind or shall I contact my GP and see if they can refer me though I may not meet a lot of their criteria. Thank you for reading!

[Happyrosie]

in this forum we can’t comments on ecg’s. We are not medical people, simply people who have cardiovascular issues or care for them that do. Nor can we diagnose.

A Private consultation to a cardiologist costs around £250 and any tests offered would be on top of this.

You know your own body best, so whether you think it’s worth going back to the gp is up to you.

[theonethatgotaway1]

I would definitely push for further tests whether private or through GP. Get it done. Always better be safe than sorry. But also in the mean time try not to stress and take things easy until tests. If pains get worse though I would go straight to Ane and you'll get on a fast track. Your heart isn't something that is as forgiving as other organs and tissues. I learnt the hard way and ignored warning signs. Some signs were nothing at first and were fobbed off, so I ignored the rest and most important ones. My life has been cut very short because of this. Don't ignore! Get seen tests done in good time.

[Donny64]

I think the main focus here is you know your own body and what is normal for you. With my experience, I knew something was seriously wrong and luckily I acted accordingly and that saved my life. If you have the feeling that all is not quite right, don't hold back, do something about it and quickly. I hope this helps you and good luck with everything..

[Harvist]

I know contacting your GP or any medical professional in the NHS, now involves effort. Sometimes it all seems too much. But if you have continuing worries and pains it really is the best thing to do. I wish you all the best and hope you get some answers.

[Darkandlong]

Good morning, please go back to your GP and request a referral to a cardiologist. Depending on the time it will take to get one and if you can afford it, ask your GP to refer you for a private consultation.

I first went to my GP in November 2023, had a telephone consultation with an NHS cardiologist nearly five months later (I never actually had a face to face appointment with him), spent several months after that having a battery of tests and was discharged from this particular doctor’s ’care’ (!?!) towards the end of last year because he told my GP that my heart function and arteries were good and that perhaps I should be referred to an electrophysiologist.

Before receiving this discharge letter and because I was becoming more anxious and my symptoms were getting worse, I paid to see a cardiologist privately (a specialist in electrophysiology).

Very long story short, I had a pacemaker implant five weeks ago. It took 15 months to get to that stage.

I wish you well and hope you get diagnosed and treated soon. My very best wishes to you.

[pasigal]

I would say get the private tests done. If you can afford it, even a few thousand pounds is worth the peace of mind. I've always pushed for extra tests; even if my cardiologist won't do them for cost reasons, at least I feel like I've advocated for myself.

[Richie34]

I wouldn't think there's any harm in getting a more up to date ECG done,I can't comment on the graph at all only in the respect that I was told by a paramedic when questioning the information at the top left, which said in my case (from an ecg 2monnths prior) "inferior infarct maybe historical" the paramedic basically dismissed that saying the machines do produce some spurious printed information. In terms of random chest pains,I don't know but after my HA all i do know is I'm alert to every little thing now every little twinge,pang and I understand it's not exactly helpful or calming for you. I'm still on that journey of acceptance and reassurance,it's a long one....

[JTJH]

Hi. I was having bad chest pains at the end of last year and went to my GP. They did not do any heart tests even though my brother has left ventricular hyper cardiomyopathy but instead put me on omeprazole. I was also on propranolol but decided to taper off that. I don’t know if it was coming off the propanolol or taking omeprazole, but my chest pains have gone. I’m no longer on any medication.