Leg pain/chest tightness

[PhilSwagielka]

I have fibromyalgia, and I've had flu since mid-December. Basically, I've been more tired than usual - a walk around a local park made me so exhausted I crawled into bed when I got home - and my legs have been really painful. Walking hurts. It's been particularly bad since the end of December.

I saw the doctor last week as I had pain in my chest and it feels very tight. I can't do any tuba practice at the moment as it hurts when I play. The doctor said I have varicose veins (which run in the family, my mum has them), measured my legs and the right one was bigger than the other, so he sent me to the hospital to have blood tests in case I had a PE/DVT. ECG, x-ray and bloods came back negative but it's a week on and the chest and leg pain is still here. I take painkillers to help me sleep and I am trying to tough it out but it fucking hurts. Is it worth going back?

[Maryfloppins]

Yes, please do go back. I work in a G.P practice and I would absolutely want to see you again

[endofthelinefinally]

Yes definitely go back.
Xray is no good for diagnosing dvt or pe. You need a scan.
If you don't go back your gp will assume you are better.

[PhilSwagielka]

Thanks. My auntie had a PE last year and she said paramedics didn't pick up on it.

[PhilSwagielka]

btw can DVT kill you?

[Emptyspacex]

If it travels to your lungs yes. Only a ct scan can rule one out completely.

[endofthelinefinally]

If you have a blood relative who has had a pe you need to be checked again even more urgently. Does your gp know your family history?

[endofthelinefinally]

Looking at your risk factors:
Fibromyalgia
Flu
Family history
Varicose veins
And your signs and symptoms:
Chest and leg pain
Tiredness
Shortness of breath
Increased calf measurement
I think you should be assessed again and definitely have a scan.

[Greybeardy]

@OP if you’re still concerned you should see your GP again. There are good risk assessment tools for both DVT and PE and your GP will be aware of them (and from what you’ve described they, along with the hospital doctors you saw, will almost certainly have used them already). There are lots of things that can cause the symptoms you describe. The clinical ‘obviousness’ of things can change with time so possibly something that wasn’t apparent when you saw them first time may be now. Hope you’re feeling better soon.

@endofthelinefinally your posts are rather alarmist and not 100% accurate.

[girlofthenorth]

I hope you went back as other posters suggested ?

[PhilSwagielka]

Going the GP in a bit.

[PhilSwagielka]

OK, here we go.

• All my bloods were negative, D-dimer included.
  
• The doctor squeezed my calves and said they were soft - if I had a blood clot they'd be rock hard. Right leg is still bigger than left though.
  
• Chest was OK.
  
• Doctor thinks it's viral, which tbh I figured anyway. She said to keep active and keep moving - I play Pokemon Go so I do walk a lot, but it fucking HURTS. Last night I was crying in pain because my legs hurt so much, and unlike fibro pain, it won't go away.
  
• I'm due for an ultrasound.
  
  I think we can say it isn't DVT or a blood clot.

[PhilSwagielka]

Update: I had an ultrasound, but not of my legs, my abdomen and pelvis. I had to sit in the bloody waiting area for an hour before the receptionist remembered I was there, and I was desperate for a piss. I asked why they were doing my abdomen/pelvis and the radiologist said they had to check that 'something wasn't pressing down' and I think she got the impression I'd had a scan of my legs. I said I hadn't. She said they'd probably thought I hadn't needed one as my bloods came back negative.

This has been going on since mid-December and my legs are still painful as hell at times, plus my chest is still tight. Mum reckons it might be lymphodema but I'm not too sure, as I talked to a mate who does have it and she said it's unlikely I do.

It's so frustrating. I know it's real, it's definitely not in my head.