Newbie: Undiagnosed with 3 Months Chest Pain

[Lavender-Flowers]

Hi,

I’m new here and wanted to ask for advice about 3 months of chest pain and if anyone could offer advice - what would you do? Sorry for the long post but here’s my story...

I was referred to a rheumatologist for my various pain issues and as a part if the process was sent for a chest x ray. One doctor (not my rheumatologist) thought there was something questionable about the apex/pancoast of my right lung and so 2 months later I was given a lordotic chest x ray in addition to front and side but I never received the follow up results.

Before I even knew of the question over my chest x ray I started experiencing pain in the middle of my chest which over days has moved upwards. Now I have persistent pain that is like having an arrow through my chest from my shoulder blade out through to the top of my chest. The pain varies from day to day from quite mild to slightly moderate but there are not really days when I don’t have some kind of pain. If I take aspirin it takes the edge off for a few hours but I’m fed up of taking them.

I’ve unfortunately had to move to London and so I’ve explained the situation to my new GP and was sent for another chest x ray at a local hospital within a week. However it was carried out in a different way from the hospital before and it came back as normal. Yet I also have had pooling of dark blood in my hands and inflammation markers above normal in my blood test results.

I’m worried that the new GP is going to use the ‘normal’ reported on my recent chest x ray as an excuse to not follow up the cause of pain. I am particularly worried because I understand that the lung apex is not easy to see changes in. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it’s, hopefully, only inflammation but I can imagine being partly in denial myself and go along with any statement of the GP that its nothing to be concerned with.

What’s a good way to protect my health in the face of GP pressures to not refer patients for follow up? How bad do symptoms have to get before something can be done and would it be too late at that point for treatment?

Kind regards

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear lavender-Flowers

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about not having any answer to your symptoms. There are a few things you may wish to consider to assist you in getting a clear diagnosis.

1. Ask your GP to obtain your lordotic chest xray results.

2. Ask your GP to be referred to a Respiratory specialist, but also perhaps have a MRI scan of your chest.

3. You are entitled to a second opinion by another GP at the practice, or change your practice.

4. Ensure your inflammatory markers, and discoloration of your hands are being followed up, if not this needs to be attended to.

5. Discuss with your GP pain relief for your symptoms.

6. Any symptoms should be followed up if they are new and persistent.

7. The earlier for any diagnosis the better the treatment options.

8. Any inflammation of anywhere in the body would need monitoring or treatment.

9. If you are financially able to , you could ask for a private Consultant appointment. There are some private Consultants, of whom you do not need a referral from a GP. this link takes you to a chest clinic, where you can make your own appointment in London:

chest-clinic.co.uk/

If you wish to discuss anything you can call us on our free nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200

All the best

The Roy Castle Support Team

[LaurelandCallum]

Dear Lavender Flowers,

Do talk with your GP regarding your concerns.

Do not let the GP undermine your gut instinct, you know your body better than anyone.

My mum had a heart attack last year ( she had 3 stents fitted), after feeling a bit better for a couple of months she started to feel unwell again. She kept saying to her GP she knew it wasn’t her heart as it felt different but every time they sent her to the hospital to get her heart checked out and then sent her home again. This continued for some months.

Unfortunately the heart was a red herring and it was Lumg Cancer. By the time she was finally diagnosed, 10 months later, it was Stage 4 Lung Cancer. She is now receiving palliative care.

My aim is certainly not to scare you but please insist the GP listens and if you do not think they are then please ask for a second opinion.

Try not to worry.

The very best of luck with all this, I hope it is nothing and that you are worrying needlessly.

Thinking of you,

Sx

[janeg4]

Hi Lavenderflowers

I agree with Laurelandcallum you know your own body and i would insist on more investigations of the chest pain . I like you was initially being treated for rheumatology symptoms , i had sore stiff knees which turned out to be lung cancer. A ct scan was eventually carried out and found a 6.5cm tumour in my right lung ,which was successfuly removed . I also had consistantly raised inflammatory markers despite treatment for what was thought to be some form of arthritis and this eventually prompted the rheumatologist to order the scan . I would push for a ct scan and cancer dosent always show up on a chest x-ray . I wish you the best keep us informed .

Jane