To request emergency GP appointment today?

[sailorcherries]

Last night I woke up at midnight with horrible chest pains. It felt like someone had put each side of my chest, just under my breasts, in a vice and tightened it. There was a horrible pressure spreading through to my back, I felt sick and could hardly catch my breath. Sitting down made it worse and talking was in short bursts.

My DP and I were about to phone my parents to watch the kids and head to a&e when it stopped. By this point it had been half an hour, if not slightly over.

Obviously the worst rubs through your head at this point: heart attack. However, I also thought about other heart related issues (I have a heart murmur diagnosed at birth, no issues since) and things like a panic attack. I've never experienced anything like it but became too scared to sleep properly afterwards.

Going by the NHS website I should have called an ambulane last night and it does say go and see a gp if things aren't as severe. DP works through the week and I'm terrified of being left alone with the kids and it happening again.
Wibu to request an emergency appointment today, to get to the bottom of it, or wait and see if it happens again? I hate the thought of wasting NHS time.

If you get it again, please get it checked out. I had a heart attack at 40, so it does happen.

Meant to say, you should get checked out anyway, but definitely go if you feel it again. Did it feel like a heavy weight, crushing feeling?

Agree it sounds similar to a gallstone attack. Especially the sudden stop.

I went and they ssid it was probably stress related, apparently stress/general anxiety attacks can happen when you sleep, who knew!?

Thank you everyone for your concern. It felt more like a vice crushing as opposed to a weight pressing, and then it just stopped.

Another saying ask to be scanned for possible gallstones. Horrible agonising pain that went from my chest straight through to my back. I was convinced I was having a heart attack it was so severe. Then, it gradually faded away, & I was left thinking, "Was it really that bad?"
Does the pain come on after you've had greasy, fatty food? Is it eased, very slightly, by leaning forwards?

I sometimes wake up thinking I can't breathe with my heart pounding, and it's 'just' panic. It's scary at the time but once I realise what's happening I'm ok.
It certainly happens more when I've got anything stressful going on. Glad you know what it is Op meditation has helped no end.

Sorry - cross post. Hope it doesn't recur, & that you stay healthy. Best wishes.

I can't tell you how glad I am you went to get it checked out. Glad it's nothing too serious.
I swear I'm completely obsessed now, anytime anyone mentions chest pain I start yelling hospital!! Heart attacks feel different for women too, so it's always best to get checked out.

That sounds v much like gallstones to me, especially the stopping suddenly (happens when the stone moves or passes and is no longer blocking the bile duct). I'd go to GP and ask to be referred for ultrasound. Waits can be long and you don't want to be having many more attacks like that.

I had severe central chest pain, sweating and light headedness. I genuinely thought I was dying of a heart attack. I was in so much pain, I could not ring 999. Anyway, it wore off after about 20 minutes. I went to the GP, who told me to ring 999 next time, because they could test for an enzyme, indicating a heart attack. Next time, DH did ring 999. A & E found no sign of a heart attack.

Found out eventually, it was nutcracker oesophagus (spasms which cause severe central chest pain) and drinking cold water makes it stop - it runs in the family!

My mum gets panic attacks that wake her up from sleeping. Gp said it happens a lot.

Are you still have pain op?

Could it have been oesophageal spasm caused by stomach acid? I had this at night recently and it's just like you described? I too should have called an ambulance at the time but didn't.

How are you doing now OP?

Hmm.. I had anxiety attacks about 25 years ago, doesn't sound like the ones I had at all, but they can manifest differently in different people. I wouldn't say pain was an issue at all.

Did your heart feel like it was racing? Did you have pins and needles in your hands and feet? Did you feel faint?

This has happened to me, twice.

Each time my GP has insisted that I went to the hospital to get checked. There was nothing wrong (i.e. no heart problem) and I felt like a time-waster, but both times both the hospital and my doctor said if it happens again call an ambulance (like you, I didn't want to take up emergency hospital time if I didn't need to).

Ask to see your GP.

Could it be costochodritis/Tietzes syndrome? Both DD1 and I suffer from this and the crushing chest pain is terrible
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Tietzes-syndrome/pages/introduction.aspx

This happened to me not long ago and after a while it calmed down and I managed to return to sleep. I was ready to call an ambulance but didn't. Now you've said stress that sounds like it could have been the reason. Hope you feel better soon xx