It hurts to breath

[KevinTheKoala]

I woke up this morning with awful pains around my ribs and back, I took some ibuprofen and it eased a little but then came back with a vengeance, i took some more ibuprofen but this time it isn't easing, it hurts when I move or breath in. It feels like I can't breath in fully like its too heavy almost. I have heart palpitations on and off but I have anxiety so it could be that - although it's lasted all day and I haven't injured myself in anyway. The pain is making me feel sick, is there anything other than ibuprofen I could try? I don't have a cough or a temperature so I don't think its an infection - more likely to be my anxiety but it just really hurts.

Ring 111.

It could be pleurisy you need to see a GP.
Heat and lying on the sore side will help if it is pleurisy, I get it often and the shallow breathing gives me palpatations.

Have you had a Covid jab recently? I had horrible rib pain since I had mine last Tue!

Chest pain should always be checked out so I'd give 111 a ring or head to urgent care.

I haven't had the covid jab recently, it's on both sides so I can't lie on one side unfortunately. I think 111 usually advise A&E for chest pains as they have done before and it felt very embarrassing to waste the doctors time.

You need expert medical advice,

I had similar a couple of years ago, rang 111 who sent me to the hospital. I got seen in out of hours who diagnosed a bacterial chest infection. Painkillers hadn’t really touched it but the pain improved within hours of starting the antibiotics. You really need to get checked out. I also had costochondritis which caused pain similar to what you’re describing.

Where I live now they have an “urgent care” centre next to A&E and the nurse decides on arrival if it’s A&E or urgent care who will see you, if that reassures you that they might not send you into A&E but you need to be seen, don’t just leave it.

@KevinTheKoala

I haven't had the covid jab recently, it's on both sides so I can't lie on one side unfortunately. I think 111 usually advise A&E for chest pains as they have done before and it felt very embarrassing to waste the doctors time.

I ended up in urgent care on Friday with rib/chest pain and was only treated with kindness.

Better that than potentially getting worse and being scraped off the floor by a paramedic!

You are not wasting anyone's time. It's their job to treat you, and you need to be seen.