Crushing pressure around chest - what is it?

[bytheMoonlight]

The night before last I had a crushing pain around my chest, was really intense. Felt as if someone was pulling an elastic band around me tighter and tighter, at times I felt as if I couldn't breathe. It lasted about half hour, I took neurofen and some Rennies, not sure if they made it stop or it went away by itself.

I had this twice when I was pregnant (gave birth 2 wks ago) but thought it was just the baby turning round and getting stuck, seems not as I have now exprienced it again.

I was fine yesterday but today I have a really uncomftable feeling just under my breasts and my asthma has been really bad the last couple of days, my inhalers do not stop me being breathless and I have to cough to catch my breath at times.

Any ideas?

I could go back tomorrow if there is a different doctor on

Sweetheart I understand. I'm the same sometimes. I come out feeling like it was a complete waste of time.

Is there any way you could get someone to have the kids for a couple of hours tomorrow, or come with you, and just go to A&E or even the maternity unit?

You're in a vulnerable risk group for PE and you have been having breathlessness, coughing and pain.

To me this is serious and at the very least you need some kind of proper testing - the GP will have had very little equipment and therefore should have sent you to the hospital.

I'm really worried about you. It's OK to present at A&E with chest pain/tightness like a rubber band, (classis cardiac symptom!) and breathing problems. Totally what you're supposed to do.

If you want reassurance that it's Ok to turn up there, ring NHS direct and they will tell you to go to A&E, I imagine. They are serious symptoms.

I really hope you are ok and it's just something minor but please, please can you try and go there tomorrow - even look at the NHS direct website and do the diagnosis thing. They take chest pain VERY seriously, nobody will laugh at you or be annoyed.

Good luck. And if you have any trouble at all overnight, call 999 Ok?

Here you go, pet - give it a try.

I wouldn't take your GP at what he says because he didn't have the tools to check what needed checking iyswim.

I'm going to clinic in the morning to have baby weighed so I could speak to my health visitor, would that be worthwhile?

If I get that bad pain again I will ring 999, wish I had done that last time tbh.

If you follow that questionnaire it takes you to calling 999 within the first 3 questions - crushing chest pain is serious.

Really it is.

How is it tonight - are you breathing any better?

No, your HV won't be able to help but hopefully will say what we have all said.

You really need to be seen, the next time you get the crushing pain it might be too late.

So sorry, I know it is hard to self-advocate in these situations. Is there a husband or partner or even a friend or family member around who would take you there?

I'd not hesitate to go to the hospital, really, honestly - could you ring your maternity unit tonight? they will tell you to come and get checked out I think. There's always someone around on a labour ward and you're still technically under their care.

I did the symptom check and it said I needed a call back from an advisor. I didn't give my number though

I would definitely go to a & e. they would see you straight away with those symptoms and the fact you have a newborn. i'm sure just listening to your chest for a couple of seconds wouldn't rule anything out, you need to have an ecg. my friend was having palpitations and the hospital fitted an ecg monitor thing onto her and she kept it on for 24 hours. think you're being a bit too blase about it, I would have been at the hospital within seconds of having those symptoms. have you got anyone to look after toddler and you can take baby?

That'll be because you didn't say you had chest pain. Even if it's gone now, it's recurrent and so it's relevant.

You really don't want to be ringing an ambulance at 2am because it's really bad, do you?

Please ring them and have a chat, tell them what's been happening and ask what you should do. At least it's a second opinion.

PLEASE PLEASE GO get it checked i had chest pain that had ignored then ended up in hospital where was confirmed i had a minor hear attack home after 4 days but then back in a shad chest pains again and did not mess around this time and had another one but thankfully in right place.

oh and the ambulance guys were laid back first time thinking maybe chest infection think they was almost as shocked as me when ecg confirmed was changes in my heart as was the hospital dr when they did one .Im 37 so not exactley old or prie candiate for one but it happened

Can you ring the maternity unit and speak to a midwife? They will remember you from when you gave birth.

Please don't wait - get a second opinion. You are too precious - what would your children do if something was to happen to you?

If it is nothing, just a cold or something then fine. It is never a waste of a doctor's time if a life could be saved.

have you had a recent chest infection

Many many women with ante or post natal PE have no symptoms of DVT.

I agree with all the people who said A&E.

bytheMoonlight - how are you ?
Have you managed to get to A&E ,back to GP ,midwife or HV ?
Let us know how you're doing ?