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

Sorry @Bighugs88 not to have replied sooner. I had to nip out for a couple of hours. Yes I had abdominal pain and cold sweats If you look at the range of symptoms on the NHS website rapid heart beat can also be a symptom.

I had an ultrasound but no sizeable stones were found. The Doctor said that the bile duct can become blocked and small stones passed. I had a couple of weeks on and off of pain and symptoms and nothing since then I am pleased to say. I mainly stick to a low fat diet though.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gallstones/symptoms/

I hope you manage to get a diagnosis soon and some relief.

I'm not a doctor, but has anyone mentioned pericarditis? That could give you an intermittent sharp pain and palpitations.

@Mistymountain
Thanks for your message, A&E doctors haven't mentioned percarditis because they were basing this on chest x rays and blood tests but my inflammatory markers were low. However, I did have a private echocardiogram done 2 weeks ago in August and the cardio physiologist said heart chambers and valves are fine in terms of size and structure. There was trivial MR but that would not be causing the symptoms that I am having unless there is moderate to severe MR.

Didn't opt for cardiac mri privately as my nhs appointment has come through for this month and so will wait for the tests.
A&e doctor and my gp think it might be some sort of angina as symptoms happen at rest and when doing mild exertion, come on suddenly for a few seconds to 1 minute but I don't have a tight pain it's very sharp pain right where my heart is and feels very intense pain I can feel a great sense of fear when this happens. Let's see what happens when I have my appointment, I am taking each day as it comes but feel very on edge as the pain is very scary and feeling your heart beat irregular in your chest is horrible. I have tried meditation and taking time out for myself but it's not helping.

Hi again OP. As others have said, it may well be anxiety, particularly the being on a boat feeling. I often feel like I'm going to pass out, which then leads me to panic more and feel worse.

Gastric issues often feel very similar to heart problems so it could be you have the slight heart issue, which causes you to be anxious, combined with digestive problems which feel like heart issues too.

My anxiety symptoms used to come out of nowhere so it could be when you're quite relaxed that they creep up on you. Hope you find some answers soon.

I had many similar symptoms with myocarditis. I am a patient, not a doctor, so am sharing only my experience. It showed strongly in bloodwork and the echo in the first few weeks. After that, it was only visible in the MRI and with a specialist cardiologist. Main symptoms have been burning pain in the centre of the chest (early in the course of this), like heartburn, occasional neck and jaw pain, as well as occasional pain in the side of my chest. Also, breathlessness, occasional dizziness and intermittent palpitations.

If I may chime in with my experience, maybe it will help

I have severe heart health phobia/anxiety due to suffering random and persistent chest pain since 2016. It worsened when my dad had a heart attack the following year. I'm 42 ( was 36 when it started), and a bit overweight but had no other risk factors All my ECGS and blood tests have always been normal.

I was already suffering with health anxiety about something else which I had literally just recovered from but this I just can't get over.

Anyway, I was told at first my pain was just anxiety being that I already suffered with it. Then told costochindritis.I always have sore ribs to touch and aching chest and upper back pains as well as real genuine attacks of central chest pain. Anyway turns out I have had gallstones all this time and since removal at the weekend my chest pain has not returned although my ribs still hurt if I poke them.

It could very well be gastric rather than cardiac.

I just wanted to chip in as I understand that overwhemling anxiety that something really bad is wrong and often that fear can be worse then what the actual problem is.

I hope you get some answers. X

@Evilpixie41
Thank you for your message, hope you are feeling better. My gp did send me for an ultrasound scan of the abdomen in late July 2022 whilst I been having all these symtpoms. I have a copy of the report and gallbladder was fine nothing unusual they could see, said pancreas, liver and aorta are all fine. So gp decided to rule out gallstones, I think as far as I know ultrasound scan of the abdomen is the diagnostic test for gallstones

For all those who have followed this thread, just wanted to let u know that after waiting for my cardiology appointment for 3.5 months I had the telephone consultation today at 9.30am and I am absolutely disappointed and can't believe this is the nhs, we pay ate taxes for this sort of service. The cardiologist himself was so dismissive said upfront don't think it's cardiac pain and will discharge me back to gp, I asked him politely that I have been to A&E many times and my gp has done all basic blood tests and ultrasound scan of the abdomen and everything has come back ok. So said she is referring me to cardiology for a heart check-up so I can be reassured that my heart is fine and A&E could see the referral on the system and said that cardiology will do the relevant tests.
The cardiologist actually said the following words: young females like yourself don't get cardiac problems in their 30s and so u are very low risk. So bases upon my 24hr ecg monitor I had via gp and blood tests and private echocardiogram (which I paid in august) he said no need for further tests but because u are being so adamant we will request for another 24hr ecg monitor. Said if u have sharp or any chest pain go to A&E and I said to him that what I have been doing since may 2022. I did say to him that I am very disappointed I waited for more than 3 months for this referral to see a cardiologist and u are discharging me back to gp jus after 1 consultation. He said to keep taking painkillers lol but the pain which is sharp is so random can happen when I am standing or resting and I feel such impending fear it takes my breath away and after 3 mins it wears off and leaves a dull ache in my chest right in the middle so how can I take painkillers the pain comes after 2 weeks or 6 weeks. I have no spare time that I sit in A&E for 6 hours but when I have the chest pain I always go. After doing the cardiac tests if everything is normal then if you said shazma everything is normal we ate discharging u back to gp then I would be reassured knowing my heart is fine.

I have called my gp surgery and made an appointment with the doctor who referred me to cardiology, I will let the dr know what happened today and would like a cardiology referral somewhere else I don't want to go back to the local hospital as they were so dismissive can't believe he said females who are under 40 don't have cardiac problems. Will follow up with my gp and see if I ca get referred to another hospital.

Oh that's so disappointing! That Dr sounds awful - not even listening properly and dismissing you due to your age! Definitely go back to your GP and ask for a re-referral somewhere else.

@Ishacoco
Thanks for your message, that is exactly what I am going to do. How can you discharge a patient on their first consultation and he could see on my file that I have been to A&E many times and my gp has done all the basic blood tests to rule out other conditions. I went to get a private echo done which was normal and stated trivial MR but I was told by the clinical cardiac physiologist that this is a normal finding as the valves themselves are healthy. He did say to me that this is a private clinic and u can pay for the packages and the results can be sent to gp if something is found but as u have been referred to cardiology NHS and u have an appointment next month just wait till then.

Then the nhs cardiologist today was so dismissive instead he was asking if I could send the private echo report as that means a test has already been done. I shouldn't have to go private anif we pay for our taxes we should have a right to get referred and seen/checked properly. I mean my referral was sent as non urgent anyway and this is the outcome I received. I am so angry is an underestimate

I don't blame you in the slightest. I've been in a similar position where I was desperate for medical intervention, it was an ongoing saga, the day came for my long-awaited GP appointment and he looked at me, listened to me and then said "Well what do you want me to do about it?" !!!!!!! For context it was mental health related. I was so angry and upset that I just walked out. And was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, thanks to a different GP who was absolutely amazing.

@Zapabc
Having an MRI scan via nhs would be a milestone for me. The cardiologist today which was my first consultation via telephone, for which I waited for 3.5 months said to me he is discharging me back to gp as he doesn't think it's heart related, no tests what soever. The private echocardiogram I had done at harley street in london was oit of desperation I don't have a lot of money but was willing to pay for this echocardiogram scan. The cardiac mri is around £2000 in london. The private clinic were really nice and said if u are able to afford then u can get the scan done and there are packages but I did mention to the private clinic that I have been referred via gp to cardiology nhs
The private clinic said wait and see the nhs hopefully they will do your tests then.
Instead the dismissive attitude of the cardiologist was horrendous he had the cheek to then ask me for the private echocardiogram report so meaning no further action needed as already had basic tests done. No I paid for that test it wasn't done on the nhs. He said to me your irregular heartbeat is not life threatening just live with it and speak to gp. However, my gp clearly said to me the last time I had an appointment on the 1st sept that the cardiology should do relevant tests and then will hopefully reassure you as a gp I can't directly order cardiac tests. So well the lovely cardiologist today after many months of waiting said all fine and now goodbye 👋.

Apparently men get cardiac problems so they are more likely to get checked than females. We females are just anxious, over stressed wtf???!!! Are u kidding me, do you think I enjoy taking time off from work, chasing my gp, keep going into A&E and then gp back to square one again. Even the rapid access chest clinic they saw my mum because she is 58 yrs old her symptoms started when she was 56, they refuses my referral from gp as for rapid access clinic for females you have to be at least 40yrs and for men 30yrs old. If you don't smoke, don't take drugs, not overweight they don't want to know u, I am sorry those are risk factors and anyone can have a heart problem and at any age.

I’m a cardiac patient and what you describe doesn’t sound cardiac

angina doesn’t generally start at rest
angina/cardiac pain is generalised not pinpointed to an area
if it were angina, over this amount of time, it would have progressed

unless they do an invasive procedure such as an angiogram, with associated risks, an MRI will not diagnose anything not already apparent.

I speak as having had angina, unstable angina and a STEMI heart attack. Valve damage and arrhythmias. And talking to lots of other cardiac patients.

@Bunnyfuller
Thank for Bunnyfuller for your message, I know u have responded to my thread a couple of times and have reassured me. You have gone through a lot, sending you well wishes and hugs. What I had in my mind for this cardiology consultation was a completely different outcome as I had waited many months (like may other people in the uk) for this referral. It's ok thank u for your support x

One of the A&E doctors said to me in June: oh relax enjoy life and go for a holiday, take time off from work (only work 2 hours each weekday as a midday assistant) any stress at homelol that is the solution for my physical problems 🤔😡

You've had a zillion tests that show your heart is fine, OP.
Whatever is causing your pain OP, it isn't your heart. A cardiologist can't fix it.

@Bighugs88 how are you now? I’ve been experiencing similar symptoms so just wondered if you got to the bottom of yours? Thanks x

@Willowmum2

Hello, I am sorry that you are having similar symptoms as it's very frightening

@Willowmum2

After getting an echocardiogram done in August 2022 and I had another 24 hr ecg monitor in Oct 2022. The structure of my heart is normal (have a copy of the report for my records) and the ecg showed ectopic beats (PAC) no dangerous arrythmia. Overtime, my symptoms eased off the nausea, vomiting etc I think I was very anxious which was making me have physical symptoms. However, I still do have ectopic heartbeat daily which I can feel as thuds and fluttering especially when resting and lying down. I never had this before cardiologist has reassured me that my heart is fine and most likely due to over time being anxious and having high levels of stress can cause an irregular rhythm. Looking back now I did go through a very hard time I had 2 consecutive miscarriages before the start of my symptoms in may 2022. I have been taking magnesium citrate tablets 1 daily which has helped with the ectopic beats. Hope you feel better soon and just make sure you get tests to rule out your physical symptoms x