Ok, so that may be a little dramatic but tonight's run included a horrendous experience.
Picked a route that included a new hill, always a challenge to cycle up so thought I'd try running it. Being a short run I stepped up the pace and it was going so well, but just as I approached the start of the ascent I had this overwhelming pain appear from nowhere across my chest, and left arm. At first I just thought "oh no, a stitch", but it just continued to get worse.
I slowed right down, got my hands on my head, and took in as much oxygen as I could.
It soon went away and I was back to my usual form and got up the hill without any problems, but for those few minutes I did start to think the worse but I guess it was just a stitch afterall.
Still, that's another week done. Here's hoping Saturday's Parkrun is a little less painful.
Written by
Bike_and_Run
Graduate10
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Oh my goodness that sounds like my worst nightmare - please don’t ever do that to yourself again. Also, you were meant to be running for me so needed to take care 😞. I’m concerned for you now. Go careful and look after yourself so you are there to look after your family.
Oh, sorry, I thought I saw you had managed to get for a run this week so figured you didn't need my miles.
Tuesdays 7K was much less eventful so I'll let you have that one instead 😜
I'm ok. A few years back I might have just ignored the pain and pushed through, but I slowed it down, took it easy, and things eased off. Feel perfectly fine now.
Cautionary tale time. May not apply to you but worth sharing. About five years ago I began to experience chest/upper abdominal pain on exercise. GP unsure of cause referred me to rapid access chest pain clinic. It wasn’t just stitch or heartburn. Five days later I had a coronary bypass. If you’re getting recurrent chest/upper abdominal pain on exertion might be worth a word with the GP.
Hope that’s not too alarming, if I had taken early warning signs more seriously I may have been treated less invasively earlier. A glance at my bio will show that I’ve been extremely fortunate!
I don't think an ordinary stitch would affect you down your left arm. I think it would be wise to go and tell the GP what happened and get it checked. Better safe than sorry.
I don't want to worry you, but I would always advise getting that type of pain checked out, If for no other reason than to exclude something cardiac, chest pain isn't normal for you, chest pain radiating down left arm should not be ignored.
I thought stitches were only down on the side and not across the chest & down the left arm, don't hesitate to see your GP if that happens again, but maybe a wellman's checkup wouldn't go amiss now anyway.
Thanks everyone. I'm pretty sure it's nothing but having read all your comments and done a bit of googling (I really shouldn't have done any googling ☠️) I've taken your advice and booked an appointment with the quack.
Earliest they could see me was 12th December mind, but if it happens again I might push for something a little more urgent.
Now the hardest bit... Telling the Mrs. I tend not to share to much of my health concerns with her as she has a habit of going straight into worst case scenario panic mode and probably try dialling 999 🙈 she certainly won't let me Parkrun tomorrow!
Bikey.... maybe miss the park run until after GP appointment, and I find it inexplicable /appalling, that a chest pain issue is not seen until 12th December.
Ring again, ask to speak to practice manager. I an prepared to bet that you will be seen sooner ( you should have been given an appointment for today)
Ok, but if you didn't tell them you think it's a little urgent then they will have you wait until the next available appointment with your doc, now if you insisted it was a matter of urgency they would probably get you in the next day... I know we don't like to make a song and dance about things but sometimes we must, so push them..
There is also the 111 phone number you could use if concerned.
Yes, best not to get people too worried, may be try and keep it low key at this time..
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