To not know what caused this (medical)

[Porkchop21]

I'm a long time lurker but first time poster. I'm 20F and at uni too.

Last night, around 1:30am I suddenly had an awful stabbing pain coming from my left armpit, chest and radiating to my back. It was horrible for around 20 mins and increased with deep breathing and stretching, so I was huddled over trying to make it better, my boyfriend was with me so I wasn't alone - meant I wasn't that worried about needing an ambulance.

I practiced my breathing and got it to a point where I could lay down, still uncomfortable but not having the stabbing pain, and then was able to fall asleep about 45 mins later with just a tight chest (by this point was about 3am so was pretty tired)

This morning I've got a tight chest but no pains and I'm really unsure what to do. I've googled lots and nothings really matching, something abut Precordial Catch Syndrome (fairly harmless condition literally a trapped nerve in chest) but it was spread over my left chest area. Theres tightness in my back too so I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

There is a slight history of heart conditions in the family, but none of my relatives who had one were affected at a young age so I don't know if this is just a coincidence.

Just looking for advice, the nearby hospital is a 25 minute drive away but obviously with everything going on I'm not looking at just going in casually, and as the tightness isn't that painful I'm unsure about to do.

I would call 111.

Go to the hospital OP or at least call your GP

All new chest pain should be investigated, it might be nothing but it also might be something - it’s better to know.

Chest pains aren’t generally something you wait and see with.

Stop googling and get a professional to look at you.

Agree with Pp any chest pain needs to be checked out. Could be nothing but you are better going to GP be sure

Ok, I'm going to see if I can get an urgent appt today

You need to call your gp. You could use the online 111 assessment as well

Definitely call for advice.

I get this when my anxiety is worse and I've also got dodgy intercostal muscles which can cause chest pain, so it isn't necessarily anything sinister, but I still would check - I have spoken to 111 a number of times (although 99.9% of the time I'm able to absolutely identify that it's anxiety/a panic attack) and they still say they'd rather I called than not.

managed to get an telephone appt soon - partners mum is a paramedic and they urged GP too

It could be a muscle strain or it could be a mild lung collapse, which could resolve on its own. Better to get it checked though.

Costochondritis

www.nhs.uk/conditions/costochondritis/

Please get it checked out OP. I was 20 and had chest pain and turned out to be a blood clot in my lung. Ended up having to take blood thinning medication for 6 months but I’m glad they caught it!