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)

Even if you were taken by ambulance you wouldn't be prioritised because it's based on symptoms, not arrival method. They have told you what to do, why won't you do it?

Only you know how you feel so if it warrants A&E take yourself off.
Hope you feel better soon.

I'm not a doctor but could it be possible you've pulled muscles coughing?

I would book OOH if they're offering. That way you'll defo get seen tonight. I couldn't even begin to guess how long you'd have to wait to see a GP in my town atm.

If the GP does say it's "just anxiety related" don't let them fob you off and send you home to cope by yourself. If you have known anxiety issues, and you're spiralling, then this is something you need help with.

You're 21?
A clinician will be able to adequately risk assess your chest pain. It is staggeringly unlikely that this is a heart attack (unless there is something you're not saying).

It doesn't sound like you need to be seen urgently. Or attended by an ambulance. OOH is good suggestion.

Based on what you're saying and assuming that you're a reasonably young female I'd wager more likely innocent than not. However, i wouldn't bet your life on it so I think you're best just to go to your OOH appointment. The thing with chest pain or palpitations as well is it can be a lot easier to diagnose if you do ecg and bloods at the time you're experiencing it. If you wait and see your GP then that's by no means unreasonable but chances are the pain jas settled leaving you with a much bigger mystery to solve. PS your GP's time is valuable as well and they are very much a finite resource :-) I hope it gets sorted either way xx

No, definitely told everyone everything. - Angina runs in the family, but nobody under 40 has it.

OOH is offering a GP appointment, which I could easily go to my own GP tomorrow who understands the anxiety, i know as soon as I mention anxiety I’ll be fobbed off. - Past experiences.

Does seemed to have calmed a bit though, currently having cuddles with my little one - ECG on Apple Watch was normal too, 90 BPM which is around average for me. - Not using it as a diagnosis, not sure did calm me knowing that was normal - ( FDA approved, not a toy )

Could possibly have pulled a muscle even by lifting DD, as it’s in my shoulder and upper back too. It’s mainly the arm pissing me off, but hand feels more normal now too.

And also - OOH Said they will NOT be doing an ECG, so seems a waste of time, I might go into A&E after my little one is settled.

Why? That's the opposite of what they told you to do. Are you always so opposed?

@jubileetrain No not at all, but my worry is something affecting my heart- now why would I spend hours waiting for OOH when I could spend those hours in A&E and actually have the ECG preformed?

I had Costochrondritis recently which can mimic heart attack symptoms - severe left sided chest and breast pain with pain radiating down my arm. It could be that but you should follow medical advice.

I am not a medic.

It sounds like anxiety /
Panic.

I had to call 111 at Christmas, I knew I had a chest infection, they wanted to send me an ambulance because they can't deviate from the script. I just needed to know where I could get antibiotics over Christmas.

They might not do an ECG though as it might not warrant it. Just follow the advice you have been given by 111

Yes I was diagnosed with costocondritis years back, but I don’t think that lasts years, and since the diagnoses I’ve never had any issues with that after it stopped.

They won't do an ECG at A&E if they don't think you need one. You have been told the best course of action, please take it.

It's piss easy to do an ECG in hospital and costs basically nothing so I think you'd have to see a very brave/stupid physician indeed for them to not just do it if you're having chest pains...

There was literally fuck all point in seeking medical advice from the NHS if you’re going to ignore and do whatever you want.

If you dial 111 their logarithms will send a 999 ambulance but I think you know that might not be appropriate at this point. Urgent care/minor injuries unit is probably better, they can listen to your chest and do all the required obs, and prescribe pain killers / give advice as needed.

Sounds like anxiety

My 15 year old had central chest pain recently, was pericarditis. They did an ECG in A and E and a troponin test to check it wasn't myocarditis which is more serious.we had to wait for troponin results and we're then discharged for home remedy and follow up at children's hospital a couple of weeks later.

I work for the NHS and it's exactly why I really don't think 111 is fit for purpose any more. It's jist an unecessary and confusing and expensive hurdle. If you call them they'll either send you to ED or a walkin centre which you could've done yourself. Yes it might be a waste of time but either of the above would triage you anyway and see you based on urgency. Alternatively they'll tell you to speak to your GP because they don't have the guts to tell you that you just have a cold or that you can see the pharmacist for that fungal nail. Either way they're not actually removing much burden from either GPs or ED which is literally their purpose. All they're doing is adding another layer of risk.

Any genuine chest pain whether you’ve had it two hours, two days or two weeks will not be looked upon as time wasting in A and E.

I spoke to OOH a last night, they said if I’d of gone in and was having the pains they’d of sent me straight to A&E they asked if I had the pains right now which I didn’t, my hand felt like it had more feeling and my arm seemed to have felt better too. I’ve woke up this morning and no pain, - but it was never pin it was an ache/feeling different

@Seekingguidance22 if you have a family history of ischaemic heart disease - which angina is a sign of - you need to stop smoking. You have age on your side now but that won’t always be the case and stopping smoking may not be easy but is something incredibly positive you can do to reduce your risk of developing it (along with many other things!). Any medic will tell you exactly the same thing

@countbackfromten

No completely agree I have a vape on the way, with XLow Nicotine in, to try and come away from cigarettes, and also a CBD vape with no nicotine in to try and help with the anxiety ( I used the oil and it was brilliant )

Hopefully that will come today, and then can bite the habit in the arse, I know vaping isn’t safe, but it’s sure safer than cigarettes.