To ask you if this is muscular?

[Breastbonepainleft]

I've decided to ask on here as after 2 days of trying to get a GP appt and getting a recorded message saying there are no appointments and to ring 999 if it's an emergency, I can't tell what this is...

So I was a heavy smoker when younger, from 14. Am now 43 and have cut back to 5 a day but still go heavy when on a night out (maybe 1 night a month, will smoke 40).

Last week I did a long haul flight of 16.5hrs and had a sharp pain in left breast bone when we got back. I had to do all of the driving and a lot of heavy bag lifting so I put it down to that. However as the evening went on I realised I was feeling it very sharply whenever I breathe in. It lasted another day but when I googled it there seemed to be a clear consensus that if it hurts specifically when breathing in it is muscular. So I have rested it.

However a week later and it's back. I've not done any heavy lifting and it's back worse than before. When I breathe in it pulls painfully along the clavical of the breast bone on the left, under and behind the left breast (feels like a cupping shape behind the breast) and also down the left hand side of my spine with what feels like a nerve. It's been constant for about 4 hours now. I'm not having any obvious signs of stroke btw (I think the left hand side worried me initially) - can smile on both sides.

I've just tried to log in online after trying to call twice for an appointment today and the online booking system says no GP appt's for 16 weeks, so I would wait and check with an actual doctor, but clearly that doesn't seem to be an option!

Can anyone help?

Go to A&E immediately it could be a pulmonary embolus

I think if I couldn’t get a GP appointment, I’d be calling 111 but expect a long wait for a call back.

The flight would concern me, tbh.

Just seen it’s constant now. I think I’d seek quite urgent advice.

Are either of you trained in any way? Just don't want to panic myself or waste anyone's time. I'm thinking I can wait until the morning and go to the walk-in first thing as I suspect A&E is busier at night? It's uncomfortable but I think I could sleep through it - I managed after a C-section!

I’m not trained no. But chest pain after a long flight sent alarm bells ringing for me. I’d at least call 111, it’s literally what they are there for.

Phone NHS111. Go with what they advise.

Phone 111 by all means. They will tell you to go to A&E

I'm thinking I can wait until the morning and go to the walk-in first thing as I suspect A&E is busier at night?. No if it's a potential "E" then you need to go now!

My uncle died after a long flight of a pulmonary embolism. Also a lifelong smoker. Go to emergency.

Also I hope this encourages you to quit smoking.
My stepsister died at 42 in front of her kids. She was obese and a smoker and was having chest pain and ignored it. She died of a massive heart attack a few days after the pain started.

I went to minor injuries with similar pain and I have slipped a rib (popped a rib?), essential one rib and sticking up in the wrong place.

Lots of drugs later it healed

The only thing that either a GP or 111 will do is send you to A&E.

Don't waste your time and go yourself, and go now. It's possibly nothing but possibly something very bad and it's not worth the risk.

It's new and unexplained chest pain. Go to A&E now.

Go to A and E . I am a medic

A+ E now

Decided to walk to my drop in at the hospital. So glad I did. Waited for a few hrs but my d-dimer test came back at 3.69 so they've told me to drive to the nearest A &E with suspected clot on the lung. Will report back when I come home again! Thanks for the advice that I'm not wasting people's time!

I'm so glad you are ok OP!
Let us know how it all goes. 💖

Take care op. And do try to stop smoking!

Sounds like it might be costochondritis. Have you had that before? It feels like your being stabbed every time you breathe. It is not life threatening, and there is nothing much to do other than avoid heavy lifting and take painkillers. It's common in people who smoke/ have asthma and if you did heavy lifting recently. It's an inflamation of the lining of the chest, I used to get it all the time. It can also be caused by ill fitting bras.

So sorry, didn't see your last update. Wishing you well x

Gosh OP. Have they admitted you?

I'm home but in a fair amount of pain.
Drove to the A&E and after a wait had ECT which was normal but the pain was so bad I was trying to hold back tears. Had bloods and another D-dimer done. Sent to have an X-ray about 4am. Was given blood thinners and oral morphine and BP done (BP normal, but low as I usually am). Moved to another area around 5am and saw a Dr at 7ish who said he was sending me home with Apixaban. He hadn't had the results from the D-dimer at 3:30/4am (in the walk in it took 15mins) and said the Xray would only show up air pockets so I need to go back in for a CT at some point in the week - they will let me know. So I drove back and got home around 9am and took the first 2 pills. Managed an hour's sleep but am wide awake with the pain. Feeling conflicted about whether to go back in or try to rest and maybe have a bath. Luckily some good friends are helping with the dog who is used to a long walk by now! Bit worried that I have zero appetite despite not having eaten since 6ish yesterday. Have made hot Bovril as I read the pills can bring on aneamia which I already suffer from, which is possibly why I want to rest!

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Hope you're ok, op!

I'm at home, which is better than on a chair for a day in A&E! Pain is still bad. Called GP to see if they had news on CT appointment and had a call back after 30mins from the receptionist who said they've had nothing in at all about it. I was hoping for the bloods or Xray result, or even the updated D-Dimer test result as I can't imagine it's better than when I went in and it was 3.69!
If I don't walk about I am Ok but it is worrying how much breathlessness I get just making a tea downstairs and how the deep breathing hurts. I don't know whether to think it's still suspected clot on the lungs or what, but do they send patients home with clots for a few days with high D-dimer scores? I don't know even now what to think it is.

All sounds a bit odd. If your pain is worse and your breathing is worse you should go back in.

I finally managed to get my discharge notes as I've heard nothing all day. The Specialist in the ER referred me to RAT at 4:30am but I was next seen at 8am by a Trust Grade Dr who discharged me with suspected costochondritis - he was more interested I had no pain in my legs and that the ECT hadn't picked up anything abnormal. Nothing on discharge notes about the CT he said I'd get later in the week. So I guess this is what I have, although I don't fully understand why it's making my breathing so bad. The pain is more sparodic now at least, and seems to have moved to a more manageable central position when it comes, so I will try to do the dog walk tomorrow although even going to the kitchen has me panting!