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General health

could anyone try and diagnose me please! shoulder/arm/chest pain on one side.

43 replies

piratecat · 22/08/2013 18:07

It hurts to breathe deeply, right under my breast on the left

It started 3 days ago.
I have been stressed with my depression, but have never had this before.
I might have been a little constipated as not eaten as healthily as usual this week, and have been reading that wind can cause pain like this.
It's really painful, and as i don't feel able to breathe in properly it's making me a little anxious.

thanks

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valiumredhead · 22/08/2013 22:42

Take aspirin?

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purplewithred · 22/08/2013 22:48

I am not a medic, but there is a reason why all central chest pains get an ambulance in double quick time. They can do an assessment and an ECG on the spot and will be delighted to leave you at home if that's the right thing to do. There are lots of reasons of chest pains, you could be boiling up an infection or have torn a muscle. Do please do something.

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purplewithred · 22/08/2013 22:50

Aspirin improves the prognosis of someone having a heart attack but is no substitute for full assessment and treatment, and it's not as good at pain relief as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

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Badvoc · 23/08/2013 07:36

Hope op is ok

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ChestyNut · 23/08/2013 10:35

How are you this morning?

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hellymelly · 23/08/2013 11:24

Hope you are ok OP. Worrying about you this morning.

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 23/08/2013 11:27

Hope you got checked out.

My uncle has had two heart attacks. .first time he thought he had hurt shoulder and second he thought it was indigestion

He kept going for days through it

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hellymelly · 23/08/2013 17:57

Hope the OP got checked and is ok.

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SuperiorCat · 23/08/2013 18:23

Late to this but hoping you're ok pc

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piratecat · 23/08/2013 21:21

hello.

sorry i didn't come back, i was at the doctors for 9 and then had to arrange to go to hospital, which took a long time both getting there and waiting.

Had ecg, xray and bloods. All fine, doc was lovely as was nurse, and it's either Pericarditis and/or Costochondritis. The first inflammation around the heart, the second inflammation of the bits that attach your ribs to the front of the sternum.

Both painful, and both to be treated with Ibuprofen and rest. He wasn't sure how i got it, but as long as my heart is ok that's ok by me. Could be virus, or trauma, but i cannot remember injuring myself.

thanks everyone for your concern, and to those who i worried xxx

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Badvoc · 23/08/2013 21:24

Thank god for that!
Sorry you have such a painful condition, but very pleased its nothing dangerous x

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Notmorelego · 23/08/2013 21:40

PC - didn't want to alarm you it's just I wasn't too bothered about my pain initially. After the first awareness I had of it, it went away within a few hours but I could still feel it over the next week if I breathed in deeply. I the ignored it for a few months (during which time I ran a half marathon with no ill effects) but it came and went and I just put it down to indigestion. Finally went to GP in July and was shocked when ECG suggested heart disease.

I'm 41. Not often in pain (just occasional shooting pains that last about a minute). I haven't yet been diagnosed as having an illness, it may well turn out to be nothing. My appointment is next week. I hope your pains turn out to be nothing but please don't ignore them like I did. x

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Notmorelego · 23/08/2013 21:42

Sorry - missed your update. So pleased to hear your news. What a relief! x

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piratecat · 23/08/2013 21:51

thankyou. i hope your appointment goes ok.

i am 44, and can understand you ignoring it, or putting it down to a muscle or whatever. With the history in my family i was a little worried.

let me know how you get on with the cardiologist, they can do so much for you. x

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hellymelly · 23/08/2013 23:01

Pirate, sorry you have inflammation but so glad you aren't in any danger. I was in A+E myself with chest pain a few months ago- in my case they thought the pain was referred from my stomach. It is very scary (I was alone in a strange city with my two small dds, as DH was at a conference and we had gone along to enjoy the city!).
Notmorelego, please let us know how you get on- hope it is nothing.

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hashtagwhatever · 23/08/2013 23:17

costochondritis is so painful, I have bouts of it and usually a good way to tell is if you can inducee the pain by pressing on the little ridges between ribs (which really hurts).
it is usually costochondritis.

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piratecat · 24/08/2013 07:35

hashtag. isn't it just. Sad
lying down is the worst. laughing and coughing. as i seem to be developing one due to the virus. taking a deeper breath kills.
how long have you had it. i know it can come back.
how did yours being. x?

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hashtagwhatever · 24/08/2013 10:48

hey pirate.

mine started after I broke my collar bone twice, so my shoulder neck and chest feel bruised and beat up quite often.

alongside this I get bouts of costochondritis. can be as simple as laying wrong In my sleep.

I find ibuprofen jel is better for me than actually taking tablets. and a hot water bottle can sometimes help.

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