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Original poster

GP has told me to go to A&E but I feel a bit fobbed off.

133 replies

Sunshinesandice · 09/08/2021 16:25

longtime anxiety sufferer...

so I called my GP this morning, as I cannot shift my anxious feelings - it all started around 2 weeks ago when I had a sharp chest pain, followed by lightheadedness , fear, dizziness, but then it subsided and I felt normal the next day . but since then, I have had on and off days of feeling so anxious - but mainly physical symptoms. .

No more chest pains but I have been getting:

racing heart
palpitations
extreme worry that something terrible is wrong with me
every ache pain or niggle I think I am going to die
dizziness
heavy chest like a nervous feeling all the time

Hence my phone call this morning, in the hope he would call me in , do some bloods check me over .

But he didnt, he listened to around 5 seconds of my symptoms, and said just go to A&E bye, and hung up.

I mean, I am sat here now at home I am not unwell, I feel fine - working, up and about , eating, drinking etc , but I am still well aware of my anxious feelings.

What shall I do ? I don't want to waste A&E time if it is literally just panic and anxiety

OP posts:
GrrRightBackAtYou · 09/08/2021 16:54

@SheWhoRemains

GPs aren't doing anything at the moment. Go to A&E and tell them exactly why you are there. They need to be held accountable.
GP’s are still seeing patients but, even in non Covid times would send a patient with chest pains, palpitations and sense of worry to A &E. An impending sense of doom is common in women having heart problems. Not all surgery’s do ECG’s and blood results for heat issues would be back a lot quicker when taken at A&E.
JustaBurnerName · 09/08/2021 16:54

racing heart
palpitations
extreme worry that something terrible is wrong with me
every ache pain or niggle I think I am going to die
dizziness
heavy chest like a nervous feeling all the time

All possible symptoms of a heart attack as well as anxiety. Your GP is being extremely sensible in advocating A+E, however if you aren't going to go whilst experiencing the symptoms - there isn't much point in going.

And you probably shouldn't drive yourself in either. Can't you get a taxi and him pick you up?

privateandnhsgp · 09/08/2021 16:54

Anyone who thinks that this doesn't need an initial ED assessment is brave or foolish.

Yes, it's most likely anxiety but that's a diagnosis that should be made in retrospect. An acute cardiac event (and maybe PE need to be excluded)

This needs an urgent ECG, same day bloods (not 2-5 day GP bloods) and probably a chest XRay. These are not tests that the GP can arrange in a suitable timescale and so ED is appropriate.

It's fine to label it as anxiety if those are normal. Ignore the self advice above.

DOI: NHS and Private GP, previous ED middle grade.

YoBeaches · 09/08/2021 16:55

Doing bloods doesn't diagnose mental health issues inc anxiety. But they do need to rule out anything of a physical nature first given you are describing conditions like a heart attack, angina, pulmonary embolism etc.

Do as the Gp said, get checked out at A&E and share your anxiety concerns with them too.

You have to help yourself too.

Seasonschange · 09/08/2021 16:56

Op I think your chest pains and sense of doom have triggered the heart attack boxes for the GP.

olidora63 · 09/08/2021 16:58

Because you said you had chest pain the GP has sent you to AE to cover him/herself!

suggestionsplease1 · 09/08/2021 16:59

GPs can't take any chances when they hear of symptoms that could equally be present during a cardiac event or anxiety, even when they have a very good idea it's to do with anxiety. Imagine the trouble they'd be in if they made the wrong call.

storminasnowglobe · 09/08/2021 17:01

Chest pain, racing heart, sense of impending doom can also be symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism. I know this because our GP picked up on these symptoms in my DD last week and saved her life sending her swiftly to A&E.

9 time out of 10 I'm sure things are fine but there are certain symptoms and combinations of symptoms that raise red flags and need to be thoroughly investigated.

storminasnowglobe · 09/08/2021 17:02

Just to add, my DD also suffers from extreme anxiety and health anxiety for which she takes a fairly high dose of Sertraline but thank god the GP didn't dismiss her symptoms as "just anxiety"

ittakes2 · 09/08/2021 17:03

If you are having chest issues you need an ECG and a blood test to check if you have had damage to your heart. And maybe an echo. GPs never see people for chest issues like your's. You are self diagnosing yourself with anxiety - a GP can't do that because even if you have anxiety it doesn't mean you don't have physical chest pains. The blood test they do is to see if you have heart damage and in A&E they can get the results of this in an hour or two which your GP can't do. And if the results are positive than you would be admitted to hospital.
You should go to A&E to get checked out and also it might put your anxiety at rest.
But you should also speak to the GP about therapy / anti depressants. I resisted anti depressants but they have a role in calming you down and allowing you to put some healthy behaviour in place and then come off them.

anon12345678901 · 09/08/2021 17:07

@SheWhoRemains

GPs aren't doing anything at the moment. Go to A&E and tell them exactly why you are there. They need to be held accountable.
Of course they are. The symptoms OP listed needs to be checked out by A&E. my GP has been fantastic throughout this pandemic, like normal.
PlanDeRaccordement · 09/08/2021 17:12

Go to A&E! Now! Call a taxi.
It’s not being fobbed off. If you’d gone to GP, they’d be sending you to A&E. Your symptoms indicate could be very serious heart situation....agree with prior posters in this. Don’t self diagnose it as anxiety. You don’t know for sure. Go and get checked out. A&E is there for you, don’t feel like you’re a time waster, you are not. Your GP has sent you there.

privateandnhsgp · 09/08/2021 17:24

@SheWhoRemains

GPs aren't doing anything at the moment. Go to A&E and tell them exactly why you are there. They need to be held accountable.
Held accountable for giving exactly the correct advice..... Is that a box of chocolates? Or maybe Thank you card?

On the other hand you should be held accountable for being an idiot.

TheOrigRights · 09/08/2021 17:30

I once had similar symptoms OP. The logical side of me knew it was caused by the level of stress I was under at that time.

In order to reassure myself that my heart was fine I went to see the practise nurse. She did an EGC which was fine, but then (because it was a heart thing) said she had to tell the GP. He then packed me straight off to A&E saying that while it was very unlikely to be a heart issue, he had a duty of care to rule it out. I had no idea he had to do that - I thought I'd be told all was fine and sent back home.

Wasn't allowed to drive, had to sit in A&E for hours - it was all very inconvenient (I'm not complaining, it's just not what I expected), BUT I did get seen by the lovely staff, reassured that stress can cause very real and scary physical symptoms. I was fully checked over.
I will never forget the kindness of the consultant who took me to a more quiet area and really listened to me and validated how I was feeling.

So in the end I am very glad I did get checked. It really helped me manage the feelings when they happened again.

Potatoy · 09/08/2021 17:33

It could be anxiety. It could be something wrong with your heart. They want to rule that out first. It is possible to have both.

CheeseCrackersAndChutney · 09/08/2021 18:03

But surely if you have anxiety like that your GP should prescribe anxiety medication of some sort? ring them back and ask to speak to a different doctor!

CheeseCrackersAndChutney · 09/08/2021 18:03

Provided your heart is ok of course ☺️

Bluntness100 · 09/08/2021 18:05

Oh dear,I think some people are just trying to make it worse for the op.

omgthepain · 09/08/2021 18:42

If you have palpitations why wouldn't you just have gone straight to A&E anyway??
GP surgeries wouldn't have cardiologists on call and heart monitors

They've given you sensible advice I'd take it to make sure your ok

Health anxiety is a terrible thing @Sunshinesandice I appreciate that but it's best to get checked out to be sure your ok

Original poster
Sunshinesandice · 09/08/2021 18:59

Sat in A&E this could be a long night!

OP posts:
KaleJuicer · 09/08/2021 19:02

Have you been triaged yet? HR and BP ok? You may well be there 4-5 hours (obvs depending where you are: that would be a London hospital a&e wait if not life threatening)

Totallydefeated · 09/08/2021 19:13

Anxiety as a cause of your symptoms should be a diagnosis of exclusion, given the seriousness if it were eg a cardiac issue. At your age and with your history it very likely is anxiety, but they have to be sure for your sake.

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 09/08/2021 19:14

@olidora63

Because you said you had chest pain the GP has sent you to AE to cover him/herself!
Well, no, the GP has advised her to go to A&E as OP mentioned symptoms which could indicate a cardiac event.
CovidCorvid · 09/08/2021 19:17

Hope you get seen soon. Once you've been seen if it isn't cardiac related then you can ring the GP back and say you have the symptoms, it's not cardiac as you've been checked so you'd like to talk about your anxiety. Hopefully they should then be able to help.

helpfulperson · 09/08/2021 19:18

The sense of doom is a common heart attack symptom and I suspect the one that triggered the decision to send you to A&E.