Talk me down, I'm not having a heart attack am I?

[WhatTheFuckIsThisNow]

Went for a wee this morning about 7am, reached over to get the loo roll and felt a sudden 'pinging' sort of sensation in my chest. About level with the underside of my left boob, if that makes sense. Definitely felt like I'd done something muscular when I reached over. Not a crushing/severe pain, more of a pinching pain (not very good at describing pain, sorry!). It feels like it's sort of under the skin rather than deep inside, if that makes sense. Feels slightly sorer when I press on the area.

I have HA and immediately started panicking that it was my heart. I'm 52, about 2st overweight (but lost about three stone last year and now Christmas is out of the way will lose the rest), have rheumatoid arthritis and well managed high BP (I check it regularly and it's always fine, has been for years). However there's no history of heart issues with me or in my family - I had a ECG and blood tests when I was diagnosed with high BP two years ago and was told me heart was (I quote) 'in rude health'. My BP and heart rate are both fine this morning.

I'd already taken 30mg of codeine this morning for the RA as my joints are really playing up with the cold, and that seems to have dulled the pain. It only really hurts when I breathe in deeply or stretch out my ribcage, iyswim. It's virtually unnoticeable when sitting still. No other symptoms at all, no sickness/numbness/clamminess or anything. In fact I had a really good night's sleep last night and feel quite refreshed!

I've just gone to wake DH and he's unconcerned - he had something similar recently and spent the day in hospital to be told it was muscular and he was fine. We're going on holiday early tomorrow so neither of us want to sit in a&e all day unnecessarily.

I know you can't diagnose me but I also know this is probably nothing and my HA is working overtime. And I'm panicking because the holiday we've saved and looked forward to for ages is in jeopardy if we go to a&e all day and it's nothing, which it almost certainly is.

If it were a heart attack I'd be feeling lousy wouldn't I? And have other symptoms? And my heart rate would be all over the place? And it would still hurt even when I was sitting still, and not just when I stretched the middle of my chest?

Aaaargghhh!

The pain is sort of where my boob connects to my chest, if that makes sense!

Call 111. Don't ask here, not worth risking your health.

It sounds like a pulled muscle, I would expect other symptoms if it was a heart attack. Especially as you feel well.

www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/heart-attack/signs-and-symptoms-of-heart-attacks-in-women

Definitely doesn't sound like a heart attack to me op.

I once took myself to A&E over chest pain...left hand side, started out of the blue and hurt when I breathed. Totally panicked me. I can remember the Dr telling me that pain that's heart related is far more constant and can't be eased by stretching an arm or holding your breath...if those things ease it, it's more than likely muscular.

Have you tried a few different stretches op? Can you find a way to bend your arm up or behind you or whatever that makes the pain stop?

I agree, call 111. I know everyone will say they'll send you to a&e but I used to work for the service and at times like this when the waiting times are crazy, they would try their best to not send people unnecessarily.
I do think you're right btw, it absolutely sounds muscular but I'm not medically trained. 111 could get you a call back from a nurse who can do a thorough assessment over the phone.

Thank you for your replies 💐

@AlertCat I saw that page on the BHF website earlier (I have googled extensively this morning!) and it calmed me down a bit as I have absolutely no other symptoms. Apart from my joints which have been hellish for the past couple of weeks because of the cold, I feel really well this morning (when you have RA a 'well' morning is both noteworthy and a thing of beauty 😁). I haven't had any of those symptoms previously either.

@SweedieLie just breathed in deeply and held my breath - and the pain went. Stretched my arm over my head - pain eased, but hurt briefly a bit more when I relaxed it. And there definitely seems to be a 'pulling' sensation when I stretch my arm.

The pain is fairly constant but pretty much unnoticeable when I'm sitting still (or holding my breath, apparently!).

When we called 111 for DH when he had pretty much the exact same thing (he was reaching for the loo roll too when it came on - we really must move the loo roll), they sent an ambulance and after ECGs at home told him to make his own way in if he wanted reassurance, but they could find no evidence of heart attack. That was a quiet weekday afternoon in August though, not a freezing cold winter Sunday morning after a Saturday night (we live in a renowned party city and a&e is always bonkers on Saturday night/Sunday morning). So yes, I'd imagine they'd only tell me to come in if they were really worried.

I'll give them a ring.

Op, google “pre cordial catch syndrome” does it sound anything like that?
I’ve had this a few times and each time thought my number was up 😂

But if it doesn’t sound like that, and the pain is still there, please take above advice and phone 111. They’ll assess you

If you call 111 with chest pain they will very likely send an ambulance. Ambulance will do ECG. Assuming ECG shows no signs of heart attack they will still advise hospital for troponin bloods. This will involve hanging around in A&E.

It doesn’t sound classically cardiac.

Apart from the only lasting a few minutes bit that's exactly what it feels like, and that's the exact area it's in too (one of the sites had a diagram).

The pain is now almost completely gone - probably be the codeine I took two hours ago, which does rather suggest muscular rather than heart doesn't it. No further symptoms still. The codeine has also relaxed me nicely! BP etc still fine.

On hold to 111, wait times are long apparently (unsurprisingly!).

This is what happened to DH. He was in his 30s at the time, is very slim and healthy, has absolutely no health issues at all. But they still said he should go in for blood tests to put his mind at rest. T

They said he would've been fine to drive if we drove (we don't), so they said he'd be ok to go on the bus, which we did. That's how unconcerned they were!

I actually feel pretty much fine now. I think talking on here has calmed me down. I'm fairly sure if I was having a heart attack I'd feel a lot crapper! Eating a crumpet too which doesn't sound like something I'd want to do mid heart attack.

Still on hold!

I am not medically trained but I think given that the pain has come on from a particular movement and you have no other signs - ie dizziness, sweating, etc- personally I’d just put it down to a muscle thing.

You should certainly get advice from 111 but I can say that I get a similar pain quite often. I think it’s a little muscle spasm in the ribs. Good luck.

It's your heart, your life, don't put it in the hands of randoms on the internet seek medical abscond advice.

I got through to 111 after an hour and a half - they are clearly snowed under and I did feel like a bit of a fraud giving them even more to do, especially as by the time I got through the pain was pretty much gone. The lady was lovely and said a clinician would call me back in the next few hours.

The codeine has worn off (I can tell because my hands and feet are killing again) but the pain in my chest hasn't increased, in fact it's now barely noticeable whatever I do. Just a bit achy when I breathe in deeply. Still absolutely no other symptoms, still feel well (better than usual after a good night's sleep actually, a rarity when my RA is active). I often get weird muscle aches and random sprainy things when it is, actually - I wonder if this is what this was?

I've had crumpets and the last two ferrero rocher of Christmas so there's definitely nothing wrong with my appetite.

Thank you all for being so supportive, at this point I'm 99.99999% sure I'm not having a heart attack and have calmed the fuck down massively. In no small part thanks to you lot!

Will update if there's anything to update but hopefully all today will bring is packing and getting excited for my holiday. Have a lovely Sunday all 💐

Have a read of this. Might explain it

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/costochondritis/

I've had a heart attack. It's painful. Certainly didn't fancy a crumpet!
It sounds like chostchrondritis

Hmmm... DD was diagnosed with costochondritis a few years ago. They asked if she or anyone in her family had a history of inflammatory arthritis, because it's more common in those who do. I wonder...

The pain is all but gone, just mild twinge when I move a certain way. I'm going to take more painkillers shortly so that'll hopefully sort it.

@notnorman oooh nasty. I'm glad you're still here to tell the tale (and eat crumpets!)

I often get weird muscle aches and random sprainy things when it is, actually - I wonder if this is what this was?

Is RA anxiety? I definitely have a link between physical pain and emotional pain or stress. It’s not uncommon and is quite understandable if you think that when worrying you are more likely to be holding tension and your muscles will be less pliant and more prone to injury; also less ready for sudden movement like turning. And physical pain can be easier to deal with than emotional so our bodies can give us some of that to think about as a distraction from whatever is going on mentally.

The whole thing is terrifying though so please ring 999 if you're in doubt. I didn't mean to come across so dismissive.

But honestly mine felt like I was being sat on by an elephant and was so awful I was crying with pain xx

Trapped wind on the move? Bending/twisting is good for getting the digestive system working. It can be surprisingly painful.

I have Costochondritis and it’s a bugger.

No, Rheumatoid Arthritis isn't anxiety. It's an autoimmune disease that attacks multiple systems in the body along with the joints. It can also cause premature death due to cardiac issues - which, although it appears is not the cause of the OP's pain, is an illustration of how it is not a MH condition.

Oh sorry. I wasn’t sure what the abbreviation stood for- I know a little about rheumatoid arthritis and agree that it’s nothing to do with mental health. (I think OP used ‘HA’ as an abbreviation for ‘health anxiety’, at least that was how I interpreted it, which is why I drew that conclusion.) Thanks for clarifying.

A no-update update, in that 111 still haven't got back to me so they clearly weren't that concerned! Which is reassuring.

Still fine, still the slightest residual sore spot when I move in a certain way, have felt completely well today, exercised, eaten, etc. So I think it's safe to say it wasn't a heart attack! Just finished packing for tomorrow.

@AlertCat aye it's rheumatoid arthritis, mentioned here because as @NeverDropYourMooncup points out it can affect the heart (among just about every bastard thing else in the body too, it's a complete tit). I did an NHS heart age calculator earlier when I was trying to work out if I was dying looking for info - because of the RA my heart age is 62. When I took it off the calculator thingie it was 53 - not bad given I'm 52 and a half! Stupid RA 🙄