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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

82 replies

BlueEyesWhiteDragon · 01/01/2022 12:40

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.

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 01/01/2022 13:14

I avoid hospitals like the plague (doctors too) but I'd go in for chest pains. It's one of those 'it could be' and waiting won't help !

Original poster
BlueEyesWhiteDragon · 01/01/2022 13:15

I don't feel confident leaving it unseen so if the GP and / or 111 will just be referring me to 999 then I may as well just trundle up to the hospital once the family get in and can take me rather than faff about.

OP posts:
ThackeryBinks · 01/01/2022 13:17

Just to be on the safe side lovely why don't you just phone 111? Be best to get checked out.

ultrablue · 01/01/2022 13:18

If your GP is like mine they'll refer you straight to A & E anyway, so I would just go straight there if I were you.

Pre COVID if you went to my GP with chest pain/episodes like yours, they'd immediately call an ambulance and start treating you as if you were having a heart attack... Aspirin etc...

Does your DF need to know that you are going to A&E? Personally I wouldn't tell him if it's going to be an issue..

Good Luck OP Flowers

Clymene · 01/01/2022 13:19

Just go to A&E. If you're an adult, I just wouldn't tell your dad

Soontobe60 · 01/01/2022 13:20

@Hospedia

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.

And yet 94% of the votes think she should go to hospital!
Isis1981uk · 01/01/2022 13:21

I had to reply as I had EXACTLY the same symptoms over Christmas. I finally called 999 because I coughed up a little blood in mucus, and I went into hospital where it turned out after 4 hours of tests that I had Bronchitis. Antibiotics for 5 days and I'm right as rain (just a little breathless still), so definitely get it checked out.

Xmassprout · 01/01/2022 13:22

If you phone 111 with chest pain, they will most likely direct you straight to hospital.

Are you female? If so, heart attacks can present quite differently than what is normally considered

Briarshollow · 01/01/2022 13:22

How heavy is ‘horrifically obese’?

Any chest pain, especially that with radiating arm pain and lightheadedness needs investigating.

You can’t not go because it’s a ‘faff’ and your dad is scared of Covid.

I can’t stand threads like this. Why do I look at them? The OPs are often infuriating. Sorry.

Heyduggeeeee · 01/01/2022 13:22

I had chest pains on Monday. I went along to our local urgent care to get checked. They did the ecg there and I was fine. Like you I didn't want to call 111 cos I didn't want an ambulance and the nearest a and e is miles away so I thought I'd try urgent care first. I know not all areas have them anymore but If there's one near you it might be a kind of middle option between waiting for a gp and a and e?

TurkeyRoastvBubbleandSqueek · 01/01/2022 13:22

If you don't want an ambulance then please take yourself to your nearest A&E department now, and take a small bag of essentials with you, as they will probably do a blood test that they have to repeat about 10 to 12 hours later, and they strongly advise you to not leave the hospital in the mean time. Some heart attacks start out as low grade and can go on for several days, sometimes people go in with symptoms of a heart attack, and the medics find out that the patient has scarring on their heart from a heart attack they hadn't realised was one (they often put it down to indigestion). Please go now if you won't ring 111, and please do not drive yourself.

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/01/2022 13:30

Gp will automatically send you to a+e. Their not going to offer you an appointment.

Original poster
BlueEyesWhiteDragon · 01/01/2022 13:30

@Briarshollow my BMI is in the 40s. I think 41.4 last time I weighed myself accurately. I've lost a little bit of weight since. I know its ridiculous and I'm annoying myself to be honest. I'll go. It's just arrghhh. Many reasons. None of which will matter if I have an actual heart attack!

@Xmassprout yes I'm female.

@Clymene DF lives with me so there is going to be days of drama about this but it is what it is. I've messaged DM and asked her to come give me a lift when she gets in from her walking group. Am going to charge up my phone and download some books on the kindle app whilst I'm waiting then go.

OP posts:
jamsandwich1 · 01/01/2022 13:33

Your GP will most likely send you to ED for further investigations. 111 would send you to ED too. Don’t waste time and just go now. Hopefully it’s nothing but at the hospital they can investigate further and give you a diagnosis. Hope all is well.

StationaryMagpie · 01/01/2022 13:35

41? you're lower bmi than me...

anyway, to the point, you're better off calling 111 and getting an ambulance, they can do an ECG and then you can decide if you want to go to hospital dependent on the results.

Or if you have a triage system at A&E (which ours does) go there and let them decide what to do with you.

SwedishEdith · 01/01/2022 13:35

A GP will tell you to go to A&E. I had same as you describe and I was rushed through for monitoring and testing. All ok in the end but it will be taken seriously. How old are you?

Purplewithred · 01/01/2022 13:40

At some stage you are going to end up in hospital. The GP will tell you to call an ambulance, 111 will call you an ambulance, 999 will send an ambulance. The ambulance will do an ECG but even if it's clear will advise hospital for bloods/further checks. If you think an ambulance is not necessary then I'd just cut to the chase, pack myself a good book and a phone charger, and trundle up there. Your choice.

More importantly - you are letting your father, your friend and a bunch of strangers with unknown medical knowledge make your healthcare decisions for you. Can I respectfully suggest you think about why this might be?

Bagelsandbrie · 01/01/2022 13:43

An ecg and the blood tests needed to exclude heart issues are very quick and they should see you urgently as you have chest pain so hopefully you won’t be there very long. Better to be safe than sorry.

Briarshollow · 01/01/2022 14:01

I know its ridiculous and I'm annoying myself to be honest. I'll go. It's just arrghhh. Many reasons. None of which will matter if I have an actual heart attack!

Well, my comment was exasperated and verging on rude, but you took it well. I do just get so annoyed with posters who post and then dilly-dally. Just go get checked out and hopefully it’s nothing and you can put it behind you. Good luck.

Briarshollow · 01/01/2022 14:02

Also I have experience with heart attacks and things change suddenly. They’ll do a trace or two on your heart and take a blood test to look for a specific enzyme released when your heart in under duress. Easy.

Frazzledfiona · 01/01/2022 14:12

For those symptoms as soon as you speak to your doctor they will either send you straight up to the hospital or ring you an ambulance

LibrariesGiveUsPower · 01/01/2022 14:23

Hospital now.

I went to gp with chest pains and no other symptoms a few years ago and they just sent me straight to hospital. They’ll do the same with you with shooting arm pains and dizziness. GP can’t diagnose you go this, ECGs have to be run.

MrPoppysParka · 01/01/2022 14:28

My mum had the exact same feelings, down to the arm pains. 4 days after getting them on and off, she had a huge heart attack (recovered now, thank goodness). Please go.

Ireolu · 01/01/2022 14:47

GP will tell you to go to hospital. Not just a heart attack causes chest pain. Other things that need ruling out also cause pain. May be absolutely nothing but there is a chance it is something.

Inthesameboatatmo · 01/01/2022 14:57

Get to the hospital ASAP. I had a massive cardiac arrest at age just 40 ,died numerous times on way to hospital in a coma for 6 weeks. Do not take the chance.

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