Ongoing centre chest pains, breathleness, upper back pain, been to A&E 3 times in 1 month

[Bighugs88]

Hi 👋
I have spoken to my gp for medical advice. I am just hoping for reassurance, support and if anyone else has or is going through the same thing. I will try to keep this short but a lot has been going on.

Background: 33 yrs female, no high bp, normal cholesterol levels, never smoked, never taken recreational drugs, bmi of 20, active and work part-time as a Midday Assistant. No previous or known heart conditions. Both parents are in their 60s and high high bp, high cholesterol and are on medication (blood thinners). My mum recently has been suffering from breathlessness and chest pain so is under going tests through the NHS relating to Angina.

So from Feb to April I had random pain in my upper left arm which went after a week, then randomly I had a sharp pain right in the centre where my heart is and this pain travelled across my right chest to my shoulder. I couldn't move and had to sit down then after 4 mins the pain went and I was completely fine. This then happened again numerous times after 3 weeks gap. I only started to take this as a serious health concern when on 30/5/2022 in the evening the pain happened again, terrified in quickly went to local A&E they did an ecg which was normal and then said I could go home and a doctor will call u tomorrow. I didn't ask for further testing as I felt fine, but on the same day at night when I was sleeping 10:45pm I wanted to turn and then then pain started again but this time my right shoulder up to my elbow was hurting. Went back to A&E in the car as the ambulance didn't come. They kept me in and did ecg, chest x ray & blood test for inflammation, viruses & tropnin, the results all came back fine. The doctor was surprised I was having these pains since Feb, said it might be costochondritis eventhough my ribs and sternum were not tender or sore. Since 31/5/2022 I have been having continuous dull ache in the centre of my chest (feels like my heart is injured or bruised 😞) I get random sharp chest pains for a few seconds on my left and right side. Having fluttering of the heart which feels like in my throat, breathlessness & upper back pain. When breathing in or laughing my chest hurts at the centre. I was back in A&E 2 days ago and again chest x ray is clear (no inflammation & no swelling of heart), blood tests normal, ecg fine. The doctor tested for blood clotting, haemoglobin & d dimer for clotting all the results are fine so ruled out anaemia & doesn't think clot in lungs.

My anxiety levels have been really high, thinking the worse that I am having an impending heart attack, swelling of heart, blood clot in lungs . I have a 5 years old daughter who has autism and she is my world. Due to hig levels of anxiety I have loss my appetite and have now a sensation that there is a lump in my food pipe and finding it hard to swallow.

My gp finally has referred me to a cardiologist as the rapid access chest clinic do not take female patients under 40 yrs if there is any abnormal result (high bp, abnormal test results from A&E). She has referred me for 24 has ecg and also an ultrasound scan of my abdomen to rule out problems with gall bladder. This might take weeks, but the doctor said if I feel very unwell or unable to keep down liquids then I need to go back to A&E.
I am just so worried that I am going to drop dead, that there is something seriously wrong with my heart. Even typing this now I am getting weird palpitations. Seriously I am not disregarding pain, but if the pain was somewhere else I wouldn't be so worried but as it is my chest area right in the centre I am thinking the worst is going to happen even though 2 different doctors at A&E have reassured me there is no instant danger. Please anyone there for support

All these symptoms sound like an adverse reaction from the Covid vaccine. Pericarditis or myocarditis. Have you you been vaccinated?

@PortMac the risk of pericarditis and myocarditis is much higher from having covid than from the mRNA vaccines - if she's been vaccinated, her risk is actually lower.

Just spoke to the gp the h.pylori stool test is negative.
I had covid in Dec 2020 my symptoms were:
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Change of smell
High bp(never had high bp before this)
Vomiting on empty stomach every 2 hours passing acid and bile

Was in A&E via ambulance with these symptoms but they subsidised within 1 week.
Had 1st Pfizer vaccine in may 2021
Then second dose in sept 2021.
Didn't have any side effects apart from mild fever and body ache which went after 1 week.

However, I did have mild fever, dry cough, tiredness and runny nose which lasted for 2 weeks in march 2022 and then again the same symptoms in may 2022. The chest pain started around feb-march 2022.
I don't know if I had covid again as I didn't test.

Also someone mentioned about inflammation of chest wall & heart. I already have had 3 chest x rays and 3 blood tests the inflammatory markers where very low and size of heart and lungs are normal. Surely if there was inflammation or pleurisy this would have been picked up by now.

I am just heading to my gp surgery in walthamstow london, as I asked the gp when she called me 10 mins ago about not having received the appointment for the ecg 24 hr referral, the referral was made on 23/6/2022 (have text message saved on phone from gp who made the referral). The doctor said to speak to medical secretary 🙄as she can see a referral was made by by different gp at the surgery but doesn't know how long it will take. So I am just going to attend the surgery and ask.

One thought OP; around here waiting list for a 24 hour ecg goes into months and can be even longer if organised at the hospital.Do you know anyone who can lend you the sort of smart watch that can pick up heart rhythms? Is so I would borrow and have a look.There are devices on Amazon made by alivecor that although not cheap are a lot cheaper than private cardiology appointments and can give you information that you can discuss with your GP

@yikesanotherbooboo
I was able to contact the private diagnostic company where my referral for ecg has been sent. She said after taking my details we have received your referral but may take another 1 to 2 weeks as the referral is not classified as urgent by your gp😣i explained her everything that I was back in A&E 2 days ago, but said u need to wait we will contact you.
I am going to order the kardia 6l device it states that it is able to detect various rhythms not just Atrial fibrillation. At least I will be able to take ecg when I feel the palpitations. A separate referral has been made to cardiology, just want to rule out I don't have any heart issues, a lot of people have said that gastric/ digestion issues with anxitey can have a drastic knock on effect on heart rhythm and chest/back pains.
So if my heart which I know will be fine then I can relax and focus on the digestion issues. I do have an abdominal& pelvic ultrasound scan booked on 23/7/2022 at whipps Cross hospital.

Best of luck.

Might want to look at jab injuries on Instagram. Hundreds of people same symptoms but hey no one wants to hear.
I wish you good luck with your health in the future.

Fully agree with that. Before I had the jabs I was fine. Since then I’ve been ill with my heart and lungs. Coincidence with covid who knows but I won’t be taking more then the 2 jabs I had. There’s loads out there with the same symptoms.

I've just read your full thread OP and see that a couple of people have already mentioned getting your Vitamin D tested... did this ever happen? Low Vit D can cause all sorts of issues, including those you mention, so I really think it's worth testing

Have you also had your Vits B12 and Folate tested? These aren't included in standard FBCs so it would only be tested if GP added them on. You need to be free from any B12 supplements for a few months before testing though, to rule out a falsely high result

Just to add, both Vitamin D and B12 are thought to be impacted by Covid infection and possible causes of Long Covid

@kingsleysbootlicker
Thanks for your message no all the blood tests I had done are at A&E. The gp surgery (spoken to different doctors) are not willing to do routine blood tests even though they can see my history for the past couple of months.
I am looking through and will get a private blood test done to check vitamins, ferrtin, folate etc.
Does anyone know private blood test with gp in london?
Any recommendation? Please do let me know

I agree with the previous posters re covid jabs. I'm wondering if you've had them? I had a seizure following my booster and for the next 10 weeks I had the exact same palpitation feeling. It was at the top of my throat and it was like it would miss a beat and then add another quick one in.

I've also had the head rush/dizziness and also the feeling that I'm on a boat or that the floor is uneven. These are all anxiety symptoms. I still get them from time to time and I find deep breathing helps, as does knowing that it's not serious and just getting on with things rather than dwelling unit, as it seems to make my heart race.

I hope you get some answers soon.

Don’t be pushed around by people saying it’s anxiety.
The emergency rooms were/are full of people with the same symptoms and being fobbed off saying they have anxiety.
Get a naturopath and detox your body, why people are blind to these adverse reactions is beyond me.

@BorisJohnsonsHair
Since calming myself down for the past 2 days or so the palpitations are hardly there during the day and are sutle now. First time in 3 weeks I was able to sleep on my sides with the pillow not so high up (as the back of my head and neck were beginning to get stiff). However, the dizzy spells are continuous throughout the day, it's like a sudden rush of dizziness, like the ground is moving (like a lift moving up and down) and getting wobbly knees. You are right though if I think and worry the sensation is more dramatic and my heart rate will increase. It's like when one set of symptoms slightly calm down then something new and scary pops up. I know it is good to get yourself checked out which I am currently waiting for my referrals but I am very anxious especially to do with health. If I read up any symptoms and about anyone dying from cancer or HA I freak out. I am getting very restless and snappy. It's like I make my body believe that I suffering from a serious alignment which is causing me to have a brain fog and finding it hard to concentrate.

My husband does have the samsung galaxy watch which records ecg, but to be honest it clearly states on samsung galaxy website that the watch detects only normal and atrial fibrillation any other forms of rhythms come up as inconclusive.
More so you cannot take the reading whilst standing. Their website clearly says u have to be seated and your forearm resting on a flat surface.
To be honest I will give it another 1 week and then directly call the number for the ecg 24 hr referral, she said we have received referral but you need to wait. The constant dizziness and weird heart fluttering usually happen when I am walking, so most likely the 24 hr monitor is the best option here as it will record heart rhythm whilst u are doing all your normal routine. Anyway I have attached my ecg recording earlier in the morning today.

The heart fluttering that I have happen only a few seconds and then stop, so by the time I start any ecg on the watch it doesn't detect anything and shows normal rhythm. To be honest I think the kardia device would be the same experience and apparently there are hidden and extra cost with the kardia service.

What age are you, op? The head rush and palpitations are also very present in peri-menopause.

AF is way, way worse than what you’re describing, not just a few flutters, you feel proper big sick.

I was sitting in the car and I started to feel suttle fluttering in my chest where my heart like my heart was beating fast for a few seconds and then back to normal. The car was stationary and there was no background noise. I got this ecg and I am very worried. I have saved it and will speak to gp or call 111. But does anyone know what this means or what is happening?
I can see a normal rhythm but why is the trace up and down is that representing my heart rate?
Please anyone?
Palpitations are making me cough

OP, kindly meant but I really think you need to stop searching and mumsneting. Your anxiety is really coming across. People will try to be helpful by making suggestions that I fear you use to fixate and then become more anxious over. I think you need to discuss the pain but additionally your anxiety.

@Bighugs88 have you had a 24hour holter monitor??? That will show any “flutters” tachycardias etc!!

@Apprenticedeg
I am still waiting for the 24 hr ecg monitor I have been referred as th organisation who received my referral said they have it but it's not urgent so will take 1 to 2 more weeks it's been 2 weeks already.
It's just that I took this ecg on my Samsung galaxy watch when I felt slight flutters and this was came up.
I dont know what this means as I can see regular rhythm but it's very shaky trace like a tremor

If you don’t understand it then don’t monitor it. Maybe just wrote it down on a note pad.

@Bighugs88 the movement on the ecg could be because you physically moved your hand