To Go A&E

[Seekingguidance22]

Been dealing with chest ache now for 4-5 days, going into my arm but not pain more of an ache/tingle. I suffer with major anxiety but been under a lot of stress - close family member had a stroke and it's been down to me to contact everyone and keep an eye on everything at the hospital and with family member themselves.

DP has said it's probably stress and my panic thinking it's something that's making me fixate on it and making it worse.

We also had a mysterious illness around 2 weeks ago - we was out of it but DD (2) was absolutely fine. We was just tired,chest pains/ache. Come to think we might have had covid but never tested for it, just stayed in the house.

Im going to call GP tomorrow morning but don't know if it'd be extreme to go A&E, purely because it's not pain it's an ache but can't think as to how I'd of pulled a muscle in that area. Has anyone experienced this? With anxiety and panic too? If im busy I don't notice it and it's not affecting sleep, if anything im more tired which again put down to stress.

AIBU to want to go to A&E?

knowing I’ve had it 5 days, there’s been a lot of stress, and my DP has said he’s had this too recently.

(IM 21)

Maybe call 111 first?

No point ringing 111. If you say chest pain they either tell you to go to A&E, or send an ambulance. Go to A&E.

Urgent care centre rather than a&e.

If you call 111 it would be pretty surprising if they didn't send an ambulance, they tend to be triggered for any variant of chest ache/pain etc whatever the background. So don't be surprised if that happens if you do dial 111.

Tingling down / in your arm and chest pain - definitely a and e.

Yes, it’s more ache than pain but as I said not affecting sleep or anything, it’s just there and when I think about it heart starts to race then intensifies a bit.

I have this at the moment and it's my hay fever, always feels like that. Is that a possibility with you?

It’s not tingling per se, my arm just feels slightly numb off that make a sense, and the ache is under my boob, I don’t have any other symptoms just panic, which I do suffer with anxiety and OCD. I’m calling 111 now.

Can a heart attack go on for 4 or 5 days?

Look up pericarditis. My DH gets this frequently after a cold or similar bug.

Potentially, yes - if you have a blockage. A heart attack is very different to a sudden cardiac arrest.

I would say 111 too as it’s usually my first point of call. They DO NOT advice A&E or send an ambulance for all chest pain.
they will assess your symptoms over the phone and decide what they think is best from there.

however I would also say listen to your body. If your gut is telling you something is wrong it usually is!

I phoned 111 for chest pain that gradually increased over the course of a day, they told me to go buy gavescon (I had already ate about a packet of rennies). The gavescon didn’t work, the pain got worse and worse so I had my partner at the time phone for an ambulance, even with me screaming in pain in the background they send to just have more gavescon.
in the end, I got a taxi to a&e and was seen really quickly as it was obvious something was really wrong, turned out I had a really nasty infection on my gallbladder. Had to spend a week on IV antibiotics and have surgery to have it removed.

Called 111, waiting for callback off out of hours, I don’t want to rush to A&E and be there for hours, it’s not affecting me to sleep or anything. It’s just panicking me a lot.

I have stress and migraines, I Get chest pains arm tingles and lose feeling in my fingers. For me it's stress.

Even if you have to wait please go to A and E. anyone with chest pains is seen as a major concern and you won't be waiting much.

@Balanced12 That exactly how I feel, my arm feels number, and my fingers feel weak. The chest pain is in the middle of my left under boob, and lasts around a second, just a mild grabbing sensation. But that only happens when my heart is racing

My GP would have had the nurse do an ECG for this, but I would have gone as soon as chest symptoms began. Definitely call 111 this evening

Is it an accident?
Is it an emergency?

If not then no. Call 111 or speak with your GP (or pharmacist can do blood pressure etc).

If its been like it for DAYS I suspect it isn't sinister though I can see why you are concerned about it.

That said, physiological symptoms of anxiety can be disabling and one should never underestimate how painful and terrifying they can be. Do have a chat with your doctor though!

Feel better.

@Seekingguidance22 sounds very similar, do you have any calming strategies in place. Maybe ask your gp about anxiety mediation, they will do a general questionnaire with you to see if your symptoms are explained by stress. It's amazing the physical effects stress can have. Do speak to your GP, I left things and even started losing hair !

I’ll also add another note, family members was a smoker ( as am I ) and I think that’s played a massive panic on me now because I expect the same to happen to me, writing this all out it does sound just like it’s my anxiety and panicking intensifying it, as I’ve been highly stressed out and non stop, it’s not affecting me with any activities I’ve still gone out and done the same as usual, when I bath that helps but the moment I think of it it starts up again. I’m waiting for a call back now - good sign they didn’t send an ambulance I’m guessing?

You need to drop the fags ASAP, @Seekingguidance22 will increase anxiety and mess with your blood pressure.

Sorry that sounded rather bossy, I have been where you are, quiting smoking is an important thing to do for yourself to help with the stress and anxiety it feels like it helps but it makes things 10 times worse

Just go to A&E op. They’ll do a blood test and ECG which will hopefully reassure you. You might be waiting around for a few hours but it’s the only way you can rule out a cardiac cause (I work in A&E and this is a very common reason for attendance!)

I had chest pain for weeks after covid, could be that but I do think you should get checked out. Better safe than sorry etc

Ok so 111 called back and they’re just telling me to book with the OOH GP, so now I’m unsure wether to rush out tonight or just get an appointment tomorrow morning. The hospital closest to me is always several hours wait that’s the only issue and unless I’m taken by an ambulance I really can’t see anything being rushed tonight. Especially since it’s not pain.