To wait to see the doctor about chest pains rather than go to the hospital

[BlueEyesWhiteDragon]

For the last 3/4 days I have been having a sort of pain / tightness in my chest (well under the bottom of my left boob). It's not horrifically painful - sort of similar to a stitch pain. When it happens I feel hot and lightheaded and get a short sharp pain down my arm (it's been my right arm but just now my left). It lasts a few minutes and then goes. It's happened but whilst I've being doing stuff and also whilst sitting watching TV.

I have just sort of shrugged it off really and carried on keeping meaning to call the GP but just haven't got round to it.

I've been on a zoom call with a friend this morning and had an episode and she's got all stressy saying it could be a heart attack and sent me a WhatsApp pic of 111 advice about calling 999.

My original though was it can't possibly be a heart attack as it's gone on for days but I have resolved to call the GP first thing Tuesday. I then foolishly did the 111 thing and got call myself which is clearly overly dramatic but I am now wondering whether to go to the hospital rather than wait for the GP next week?

The downside with the hospital is my DF(ather) is completely paranoid about covid and will likely fall apart at the idea of me going in and possibly catching it there. I've only just had my first vaccination before Xmas.

I've told friend I'll go the GP on Tuesday but she's texting me every hour to check I'm still alive. She is also on here (waves) so I said we'd let you guys decide ...

So ..
YABU - go to the hospital
YANBU - ring GP Tuesday.

Go to the hospital. Just go.

You're not going to get sound medical advice in MN. What you will get is a load of people saying you're fine, this is a total waste if valuable NHS time and you're what's crippling the health service alongside a load of other people demanding you phone 999 NOW and remember to keep us all updated every step of the way because drama is life, in amongst this you'll get a handful of sensible answers.

Why don't you ring 111 yourself and get teiaged over the phone? Then a medical professional will advise you over whether to go or wait.

Hospital. Now.

*triaged

The reality is your gp might just send you to hospital. Gps and 111 tend to automatically divert chest pain because the things like ecgs and blood tests that help reassure them its not a heart attack are usually hospital based. 111 for example can't diagnose anything chest related remotely, and I imagine your gp will do a virtual appointment initially which is the same.

@Hospedia she has called 111

Hospital

She hasn't rang, she's done the online questions. If she rings they can arrange a call back from a doctor or nurse.

A&E. Chest pain is one of the things A&Es are designed for. And yes, it could be a heart attack.

@Hospedia
As sorry I misread that!

Go - if it's nothing you'll know. If its serious you'll be treated! I know on here people always complain about people using A&E but in all honesty if you turn up to hospital genuinely worried for your health and it turns out to be minor nobody will judge you, chest pain can be serious & you can't be sure until you have tests done. Head on in. Hope you are feeling better soon.

No one here can diagnose you. It would be irresponsible to suggest anything other than seeking immediate help.

The GP/111 Will send you to get checked out.....

Ring 111 and let them decide whether you should wait or not.

Well, she would get 'stressy', wouldn't she?

There are all manner of heart issues that can occur over days instead of instantly - worst case scenario, the type that don't feel too bad until the person is dead by the time they hit the floor.

There are also non cardiac causes - but there's no way of telling just on 'oh, it doesn't seem that bad'.

How old are you? I think if you really felt it needed urgent attention you wouldn't be posting on here on a aibu poll.

I haven't rang 111 because in all honesty I don't want them to send an ambulance out for me. If it does recommend 999 would they actually arrange a call back for me instead of sending an ambulance straight out / allowing me to get there under my own steam?

No one here can diagnose you. It would be irresponsible to suggest anything other than seeking immediate help

That is an utterly fair point. I suppose I just want to sound it out without the doom and gloom and this is a DISASTER from friends.

Stop being an idiot and just ring 999.

You have chest pain. 111 would call you an ambulance. So either call 999 or go to A&E. Because chest pain is serious stuff.

I work in a gp surgery. My receptionists would tell you to ring 999 if you ask for a doctor appointment with those symptoms. 111 will send an ambulance.

No-one can tell you for certain. What I can say is that heart attacks in women don’t always present in the same way as they do in men, which is why heart attacks in women are often missed.

Do you have someone who can drive you to a&e? With chest pain you would be prioritised in a&e even if you don’t come in by ambulance

If it’s nothing to worry about then they will send you home.

If there is something wrong then they can spot it for you. Added to which, if it is an issue with your heart e.g. a blockage, then the longer you leave it, the worse the damage to your heart could be.

@RedHelenB

How old are you? I think if you really felt it needed urgent attention you wouldn't be posting on here on a aibu poll.

And that means absolutely nothing.

Loads of people arrive at the hospital having no idea they've had a heart attack. Others die before they can get help.

The average person is not a medical expert.

I'm 39 (and horrifically obese). Its true I don't feel it needs urgent attention hence why I was planning the GP. Its worrying whilst it happens and I did think first time oh fuck am I having heart attack but it faded quickly and its been easy to shelve it for later. I'm big into procrastination. It's only A that has sort of made me think should I but (and no offence to her reading) she's prone to worse case thinking and sometimes hysterics ....

I suffer from an ongoing condition that gives you severe chest pain when you get a flare up (Costochondritis) and I was told by my GP to always phone 999 or go straight into A & E. 111/999 will nearly always insist on an ambulance though so I usually get DH or one of DC to drop me in.

They're really good whenever I've gone in, they take you through for an ECG then take bloods/give you pain relief. Then I'm booted back to the waiting room for 6 hours while they wait for bloods to come back. I've never once been made to feel a fraud or nuisance, as you just can't tell what's going on until you've had bloods. Just make sure you take supplies and a fully charged phone as the blood tests do take a horribly long time.

I contacted my doctors about chest pains and they told me to go to the hospital!