Would you get this checked?

[Vvmevvme]

Need you to tell me I’m being daft!

I’ve been fine all day, travelling for work so a little overtired but that’s it.

In the last hour I’m suddenly in pain all down my left shoulder and arm. I can’t get comfortable and it’s like a radiating pain alwaysa aching but gets worse then better then worse.

My arm feel different from the other, sort of numb and pins and needles. I’ve also got a little lower back pain and down my left leg but not so bad as the arm.

I’m breathing fine but do feel a little tight, though I have asthma so I recognise that as a symptom of focusing on your breathing too much when it’s actually fine (those with asthma will understand the feeling).

Home alone with 3 kids so don’t want to call the OOO.

I’m being daft right and should just sleep and if it’s bad in the morning go get checked? It’s probably a muscle thing exacerbated by “middle of the night” and “Dr Google” syndrome.

Left side? A&E for me or 111 at the very least.

In fact as you’re on your own, 999. I know what you mean about being asthmatic but what you have said is concerning me. Please call someone.

I really don’t want to concern you, but heart attacks in women present differently to men. Taken from a website:

If you have any of these signs, call 999 and get to a hospital right away.

Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort.

But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

Hmmmm that was the knowledge that was concerning me. I’ve got out of bed as I can’t settle and think if I sit a little downstairs maybe if it’s positional it will go. Got to be honest though it’s hurting to type this with my left hand.

FFS it’s orobably nothing and who am I am going to disturb this time of night to have the kids because I get paranoid and take myself off to A&E for no reason.

It’s just I’ve been absolutely fine, not I’ll, no back pain nothing then this all of a sudden.

Its obviously concerned you enough to post on here..
personally i would get it checked out.
That'd be a textbook case for calling 999; it could be several things, not least of all cardiac in nature

You really should ring 111. Yes it’s probably nothing but better to get checked out.

Wouldn’t you rather be sure though?

At the very least let someone more qualified than you or I decide what’s best Would you ring 111 and let them make the decision?

It’s hurting you to type with your left hand. That’s not normal my lovely.

So this is a tricky one. It could be absolutley nothing serious or it could be a big problem that will get really bad really fast. One way you can analyse is by comparing if there is a positive outcome or if there is a negative outcome

Positives
Its just a muscle spasm pinching a nerve and a good nights sleep will sort it out
Its a warning sign of an impending heart attack but it holds off for another 24 hours and you go to a doctor in the morning and they sort it out (being purposefully upbeat)

Negatives
Its a muscle spasm pinching a nerve, you spend the night in agony and have to go to the doctor in the morning for muscle relaxants to sprt it
It is a heart attack and you are dead before morning

Because the risk of it being a life threatening problem is realistic, you must talk to a doctor right away. It might be nothing, but it is simply not worth the risk of it being deadly.

Just seen your update. If its come on all of a sudden with no reason for muscle strain etc. its even more serious. PLEASE talk to a doctor. Anyone would be happy to watch your kids so that their mother could be sure she was healthy. Dont be too British to look after yourself, you are the most important thing your kids have.

Ok you freaked me out enough to call out of hours, they want an ambulance which I’ve turned down I’m not that bad (though have now stopped using left hand) dr calling me back instead and I’m going to have to wake my cousin or someone up if they answer. Fuck.

Get on the phone right now and call someone to look after the dc. Stop fighting the medical professionals and let them do their job. You DO NOT know better than them (on this at any rate!). If this was your DD in this situation, what would you want her to do?

They wanted to send you an ambulance because you might need one. Please call them back and get the ambulance out. If the paramedics don't think it's anything they will not take you in.

You need that ambulance, it could be something else but why take the risk?

Chances are the doctor is going to recommend an ambulance

As a frontline ambulance worker, i would rather be called out, check you over and not be needed, than the other (worst case) option - called out as you've been found unresponsive by a family member.

Difficult to assess online, as much as it is over the phone; hence wanting that face to face assessment done by an ambulance

I really hope it is nothing to be concerned about OP, but health is something you shouldn't take overt risks with.

Dr called and said I have to go in. I’m now in fucking tears as my cousin is busy in the morning so can’t come over and my mum is coming but is so pissed off with me, just big sighs and “what tonight”.

I feel like shit bothering people, I hate doing this all alone.

I’m sure your mum is probably just grumpy as she’s been woken up. She’s coming, and you are doing the right thing. I’m sure you will be fine and back home in no time .

That's a bit shit of her, but she probably isn't thinking right. It's the middle of the night and she maybe hasn't realised this could potentially be very serious. I hope she is right to be annoyed for coming over for nothing, the alternative is much worse x

Good luck OP - chin up and ignore your mum... got to put yourself and your health first 👍🏻

You've done everything right. Please come back and tell us how you are tomorrow.

You absolutely have to get checked out tonight. You have 3 kids. They need you not to collapse with a heart attack.

You’re not alone we are here. So pleased you called them. Please do go in.

Ahh OP do not feel shit they wouldn't be offering an ambulance and telling you to go in for no reason! Hope that you get seen to quickly.

Good that you're getting checked out. Hopefully your mum is just worried and expressing it badly. Fingers crossed that it's something harmless. All the best

Six months ago I had a pain in my shoulder whenever I breathed in, didn't think anything of it and turned out to be a pulmonary embolism that if I hadn't had checked, would've killed me. You've done the right think my seeking medical care straight away and I'm sure it's nothing to be concerned about, but always please never be too careful!!

Some people are just rubbish in a crisis OP.
I hope you're OK, good that you're getting it looked into.