Is a&e appropriate for this?

[buffoon56]

Chest pain that has been going on for a week or more? More like a tight ache than a stabbing pain. On the left hand side in the heart area. Slight breathlessness at times but no other symptoms. Online it says chest pain that has been going on for a week is unlikely to be an emergency which makes me think a&e is not the right place. Equally it's a nightmare to try and get a GP appointment and they may send me to a&e anyway.

I will get seen but just wondering the right course of action. I'm 90% sure it's a muscular injury and it's not debilitating at all but I feel like you have to be careful with these things.

You could call 111 for advice?

111 or GP.

I'd call 111.

Depends.
I had that with costochondritis which was a GP job.
I also had it when my magnesium levels were on the floor and I needed an emergency infusion at a hospital 150 miles away (we were on holiday when I was rung by my hosp with results).

My experience with 111 is that they will tell me to go to a&e and probably even try to send an ambulance. It's a box ticking exercise and chest pain is one of those immediate red flags I think.

I know something isn't quite right however.

Chest pain and breathlessness.
Go to a and e

All I had was shortage of breath, not drastic but enough to call 111. They sent me to A & E. I was there 10 hours and I nearly went home. It’s a good job I stayed as blood tests and a CT scan showed multiple blood clots in both lungs. I was admitted for treatment. That was on the 1st July. I’m still not fully recovered and I’m injecting blood thinners every day.

My advice is to go to A & E and get checked.

I understand what you mean about triggering an emergency response.

It sounds like you need an out of hours appointment. If you call your GP surgery now, they might have a message with a number for a local out of hours service you could call.

Otherwise I'd either call 111 and see if they'll book one or even go to the A&E desk and see if they will book you one. My local A&E can book emergency appointments with a GP.

How's your temperature and your heart rate?

Both fine. Been working and doing daily life as normal it's just a background niggle.

I’d go to A&E for chest pain and breathlessness tbh. Yes you could have pulled a muscle but you could have a PE which needs to be ruled out. Have you had any soreness or swelling in either calf recently?

You're 100% on the money there. If you're worried enough to have to ask someone then there's absolutely no chance of someone over the phone telling you it's fine/no need to be seen. It's just not worth the tiny chance that it's 'something'/not defensible after the fact.

Essentially it's your health, if you want it checking then goto A&E.

They will tell you to do to A&E.
Could it be anxiety?
I had NO idea the chest pain I was feeling was a consequence of the massive stress I was under at the time.
I never realised I could feel it so physically.
I went to GP, hopefully just to be reassured. I know now that he had to send anyone presenting with chest pains to A&E. Off I went. I did get reassured and am now more aware of my own body's reaction to stress. I also spoke to a lovely consultant who took me aside and showed such great kindness and compassion at a very difficult time. He just talked to me. I will always be thankful for the time he took.

I hope you feel better soon OP.

Background niggle
Still working
Otherwise well

It's not an accident, and if it was an emergency your wouldn't have been ignoring it for a week and working.

I'd try to get a gp appointment on Monday or go to our if hours. A-E isn't an alternative to the GP just because it feels more convenient right now.

I'd have thought it wasn't an infection then.

Hm. I see your dilemma here. Definitely sounds like a GP job rather than an emergency.

Unfortunately, if you use the magic words "chest pain" 111 is fairly likely to call an ambulance and the GP is going to say go to A&E. May as well just pack up a book, phone and charger and something comfy to lean against and get yourself to A&E before the afternoon/evening rush.

Background niggle sounds like watch and wait. If you are noticably short of breath you need ED to exclude a PE.

I went to a gp with this on Tuesday, got bp done and was given inhaler (she thinks asthma) then Thursday bloods and ecg. BUT I have no idea what distinguishes for them (I’ve a burning/ heavy sensation).

There was a woman on the radio the other day saying heart attacks in women are up but not looked for as much as we associate it with a male dominated illness. After hearing that I wondered should I have gone to an and e!! So no help but Best of luck op x

chestnutlovers
no, but she said it could be the start of it, that they present similarly in women of my age (40s)

I realise it isn't an accident or an emergency but as pp have said, there are limited things a GP can test for in surgery and if they are going to send me there anyway I don't know if it's best just bypass GP.

Anyway I can't do either today so I'll sleep on it and see how I feel tomorrow.

I do think it's probably muscular but only in the absence of other symptoms. And I can't really diagnose myself.