Chest pain

[SuperLoveFuzz]

For the last 2 or 3 days I've been having some pains that are really worrying me.

When I'm doing things that require a bit of exertion (tbh that's most things for me :( ) I've started to get throbbing pain on the left side of my chest. I can also feel my heart beating really hard at times. This is accompanied by an almost constant throbbing pain in my left wrist. I've also had intermittent pains in the same place as my chest as well as my upper arm. The chest pain also comes on randomly when I'm doing nothing.

I've searched my symptoms and angina keeps coming up.

I'm only 23 but I'm obese and lead an unhealthy lifestyle. I've always been overweight since I was about 13 with my weight going up and down. Over the last 3-4 years I've put on about 7 stone and I'm about 20 stone now.

I have huge issues with food and secret eating. I have an almost six month old DD and have probably put on about 2 stone since she's been born. I find it hard to even leave the house most days so I do no exercise and only the bare minimum which is looking after DD. I spend most of the rest of my time in bed or watching TV.

I have smoked on and off for the past 10 years (stopped now) and tend to drink to excess every couple of weeks.

I had similar pains about 2 or 3 years ago and went to the doctor. They were not as bad as they are now and the doctor basically laughed me out of there since I was so young.

I'm really panicking about this but feel stupid going back to the doctors. I feel certain there is something wrong but also feel ashamed because it is obviously my own fault for abusing my body like this.

Just some more info which might be relevant - I have historically had low blood pressure (not worryingly so). This changed when I was pregnant and went a little high but just over the high side of normal. I had an EMCS and lost 2 litres of blood but didn't get a transfusion. While I was in hospital after my BP was on the high side of normal but my pulse rate was very high.

For the last 3 months I've been taking 10mg of paroxetine to combat my anxiety and depression. This has helped me a bit mentally, but my habits are now so ingrained I feel unable to stop binge eating or motivate myself.

Sorry this is a bit rambling and sounds very 'woe is me'. I'm panicking and would really appreciate any advice.

P.s. I have a doctors appointment on Thursday morning.

I've also had intermittent pains in my back in the same place as my chest as well as my upper arm.*

Go to A and E and they will do an ECG.

With chest pain you cannot take chances.

The youngest person I have ever met who had a heart attack was late 20s and she represented one of the forces internationally.

It is incredibly rare but it happens.

It is probably nothing or it is muscle pain or your bra is too tight - but you cannot take the chance.

No one in A and E will think you have not done the right thing, you will probably be seen and on your way in 10 mins, but you must go and get an ECG done.

Please don't feel ashamed. You have just as much right to good healthcare as anybody else. Please go to A &E. Any chest pain should be investigated urgently. Let us know how you get on.

Agree with other posters go to a&e, my DD had to call out paramedics few weeks back as had bad chest pains struggling to breath etc, turns out i was hyper ventilating and having some sort of panic attack, he had to do ecg, I felt a right twat but he told me DD done right thing calling. I did decline to go to A&e with him but was told if chest pains happened again i was to go straight to A&E.

I don't have any way of getting to A&E at the moment. I live in a rural area about 2 hours from the hospital and don't have a car or anyone who could take me.

I will call the doctor in the morning and ask for an emergency appointment tomorrow.

Will let you know how it goes. Thanks for replying.

I agree that you should phone an ambulance. DH phoned on for me a couple of years ago, I had tight pains around my chest and was struggling to breath.
It turned out toebe pleurisy but the paramedics were great. They did a heart trace etc. in the house. Good luck.

Thanks Fab.

I'm not sure I would have the confidence to ring an ambulance because I would feel I was wasting time. Maybe if my family and DP took me seriously it would make it easier. They see me as a bit of a hypochondriac because in the past I've lied about or exaggerated illnesses in order to avoid leaving the house when I've been feeling very depressed.

I am sure there is something wrong, I can feel it is actually my heart rather than muscular. I hope I am right in thinking a heart attack isn't imminent.

If I have damaged my heart jn some way (e.g. Angina) is this reversible/manageable with a change in lifestyle?

I know I can discuss this with the doctor but I'd just like to put my mind at ease.

I really hope the doctor takes me seriously.

Thanks again all.

Super , the paramedics, wont think you are wasting their time. .Please ring if you still have pain.

Call an ambulance, or ring the NHSdirect number. Seriously they won't think you are wasting their time.

I have had similar pains, a few years ago I took myself to A&E and was seen immediately on an exceptionally busy cup final Saturday.

Mine turned out to be something else entirely. But the sense of relief when they told me I wasn't having a heart attack...!

Call and put your mind at rest. The paramedics carry an ECG machine, it takes 10 seconds to do the test. If it is nothing then you don't even have to go to hospital. They would far rather catch you now and diagnose and treat than have you wheeled in having had a massive heart attack or something. Far far easier and cheaper to treat!

If the ECG is negative in the presence of a history suggestive of heart disease that does not exclude heart disease. This is a common misconception and is very very dangerous. Changes on an ECG only occur if damage is being done to the heart and you can have angina and no heart damage. Paramedics who reassure on the basis of a normal ECG but a suggestive history are wrong.

Rant over but

OP had this been going on for 2 years I would have said unlikely to be heart pain but as it is new and you have a lot of risk factors then hospital is the way to go. I saw a 24 year old healthy thin guy have a heart attack 30 years ago.

You need bloods and ECG to exclude heart attack and then possibly an excersise ECG to see how your heart works under strain.

The pain sounds unusual but I would want to have you assessed.

You have risk factors but all are modifiable. You need someone to take you under their wing and try and get things moving in the right direction for you. Call your GP first and discuss, they will advise but if the pain is persistent get to A&E yourself.