Chest, jaw and tooth pain - do we think it's definitely heart related?

[CleanQueen123]

Merry Christmas one and all!

I'm currently sat here with sharp chest pain that radiates out, accompanied by pain in lower jaw and bottom front teeth.

It's been going on for over half an hour and I would say is happening on a fairly regular basis now. Not daily but regularly.

Google tells me this is heart related, possibly symptoms of a heart attack or angina.

I did see my GP about it a few months ago, who asked if it happens when I'm exercising, which it doesn't.

The GP suggested it might be anxiety related as I do have a fairly stressful job, but I've been keeping an eye on it and it doesn't appear to be happening at times of stress. I'm certainly not stressed right now.

She seemed unconcerned and said that the blood thinners I've been taking since 2022 are a higher dosage than would be prescribed for someone who had had a heart attack, so the chances of me having heart issues was very slim.

For completeness, I'm F, 33, 12st (so do have a bit of weight to lose).

Obviously I'm going back to the GP once Christmas is done but are there any medical people who could provide some insight/reassurance?

Call the NHS now. No point in taking chances here. Best wishes that it resolves quickly and turns out to be something not too serious.

Hi.

Stay calm.i would get it checked right away. Can anyone take you to A&E. Sorry you are going through this today of all days. Don't take chances with chest pain!

This is silly OP.

111 is the contact you need, not Mumsnet.

I hope everything goes ok and you feel better soon.

I mean, you could flip a coin to decide whether to call. It's not as if we're ever going to know if you die over the Brussels Sprouts.

Or just call 999, get checked out and then post to say it really was nothing.

You say it happens regularly and you've had it looked into, so it's not like this is the first time and you're thinking you're having a heart attack - is that right? Just trying to understand if you're feeling worried and want to go to A&E or if it's something you're fairly used to and expect it to pass as it always has? If your GP didn't reassure you then it's hard for anyone here to really. People here would say call the NHS as that's the expert take rather than internet randoms, so either do that or wait to see you GP and press for further tests.

Why are you on blood thinners? Highly unusual for someone your age…111 is going to be far more use than us as you can give them your full history

Yes, the GP wasn't overly reassuring or concerned and I can't decide whether that makes me feel better or worse.

I'm expecting it to pass. It usually just fades away eventually, although it does seem to be taking longer to do that.

Given that it does go away I'm really reluctant to ruin Christmas day by disappearing to A&E for what would most likely be the rest of the day.

I'll be on the phone to the GP on the 27th and asking for tests. I was sort of hoping someone might pop up and say they'd had similar symptoms and it was something totally innocent.

Bilateral PEs at the end of 2022. Cause still unknown despite many blood tests and no family history. Suspected it was COVID at the time but haematologist says not.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chest-pain/ Official advice as none of us can reassure you it’s nothing . Whatever your decision today,with your history I would be asking for further opinion and testing at some point as many people have ended up with persistent cardio vascular symptoms post Covid. But equally anxiety is a very well known contributor to chest pain presentation. ( as is Christmas itself ,relatives, too much indulgence in alcohol,sprouts and Christmas pudding etc etc!)

You need to get an ECG

Thank you. I didn't know about the cardio issues post-Covid. I had right side heart damage at the time but had follow up echos etc and was told everything was healed.

I'm really not sure about it being anxiety linked. I'm more relaxed today than I have been for weeks. This pain seems to appear for no reason, and equally goes without any treatment. I'd be more convinced if it happened when I was feeling stressed or upset but it doesn't.

It's gone now, which is partly the concern I've had about going to A&E. By the time I've gotten there and been seen the pain will have gone so I'd feel like I was wasting everyone's time.

You are having heart attack symptoms.Please go and get checked out. A quick Ecg and blood test will show whether there is damage to the heart. Doesn't matter if pain has gone. Anyone with chest pain should get it checked out immediately.

Pleas get yourself checked out now OP. I had exactly that plus a bit of minor "indigestion" in August. My lovely boss insisted on calling 111 who sent an ambulance straight away. Within 90 minutes of the paramedics arriving I was in the cath lab getting a stent fitted. I was told mine were classic symptoms of a heart attack in women, so get off here and get to a&e.

With your history, the medication you are on and the red flag symptoms you are experiencing you need to seek medical attention immediately. A and E is most appropriate in the circumstances please get yourself looked after and checked by a doctor

Heart attack survivor. Call 999, they will be able to do an ecg PDQ and you will whiz straight through to PPCI if it is. Don’t wait in an A and E, you will sit there for hours.

Paramedics will also start giving you the drugs you need immediately and have a defib.

I had similar symptoms coming and going for days and days before too. Dr Google said cardiac and by the time I cottoned on I was peri-arrest.

Get seen.

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/long-covid#:~:text=Some%20people%20with%20long%20Covid,abnormal%20heart%20rhythm%20(arrhythmia). If you’ve not seen a cardiac specialist in a good while, they really do need to know if you are experiencing an increase in symptom regularity. Are you keeping a symptom diary? Have you had any increase in symptoms when you have got other illnesses since that PE episode? Not that it has to be linked to Covid but this has some links that explain why some people have persistent cardiac symptoms post Covid infection. Did they exclude all other causes of PE eg. taking the pill/ obesity/ smoking /flight history ?

I've not seen a cardiac specialist since early 2023 after they gave me the all clear for any cardiac issues.

I haven't kept a diary but I will start making a note of it now. I don't seem to suffer any more than I usually would when I've been unwell since 2022.

That being said, I did have a cold that I suspect probably was Covid and thinking about it the chest pain has maybe increased in frequency since then.

@CleanQueen123 that’s what I was wondering..if further infections are causing further inflammation or symptoms. I know there’s a mum on here that writes about her sons ongoing troubles and trouble getting healthcare, since getting myocarditis after Covid ,sometimes when you aren’t in the main risk groups due to age , co morbidities and sex, you can get overlooked….women have historically received poorer care for cardiac issues .

Have you got gaviscon or similar. It it goes down straight away then it was acid.

Thank you. I was quite surprised by how unbothered my GP was about it, especially considering she was the one that diagnosed the PEs which a more Senior GP at the surgery had dismissed as anxiety related symptoms 🤨.

I'll go back and push for more tests because clearly these symptoms aren't going anywhere and are increasing in regularity and length.

I was taking Omeprazole for acid reflux but these "events" were still happening which makes me think the two aren't connected. Although I could be wrong.

Do the symptoms come on more in the cold?

Not that I've noticed. They seem to come out of the blue with no obvious trigger.

It sounds like it could be angina (not enough oxygen getting to your heart - comes on as re-occuring attacks, even at rest) and you should definitely go to A&E because left untreated it can lead to a full scale heart attack. The fact that you say it's increasing in frequency and length is really concerning as it's basically an indicator of deterioration. Please go to A&E and get an ECG immediately.

Any difficulty opening your mouth? , I had most of your symptoms, in fact the walk in centre saw me immediately, it was temporomandibular jaw disorder . Worth looking up, . very painful.