Chest pain…. Getting worse

[Mumof2boysxz]

Hi all. I’ve posted previously about this issue, but it seems to be getting worse and I don’t know what I want. Some advice, some support, to know I’m not alone or for people to assure me I’m not dying….

I have what are classified as heart attacks symptoms, but every day. I have pain, crushing, pressure and tightness in the chest; pain in the arms, upper back and shoulders; feeling breathless, lightheaded, dizzy, extremely fatigued and generally unwell.

I have felt like this every day since December, only the pain seems to be becoming worse. I have had countless GP appointments, my last being yesterday, and 2 trips to a&e, this year alone. My blood test results and ECGs have been clear at the hospital each time, and the doctors at a&e didn’t seem concerned about my heart. However, as symptoms have persisted, I went back to the GP to see what I can do next. He rang me yesterday and after explaining my symptoms he just said to go to a&e if it persists and that it sounds like classic cardiac pain. He also gave me a referral for a chest x ray to check for physical injury, and offered anti anxiety medication, which I declined as I’ve had them before and they made me much much worse.

I then rang my dad in floods of tears and panic after what the doc told me. My dad thinks the doctor is covering his own back and has to tell me to go to a&e with chest pain. He told me that him, his own father and his grandfather all suffered from terrible trapped gas, and he thinks I have it. He said it pushes the stomach as it fills with air and can cause chest pain. I haven’t mentioned this to the doctor.

I haven’t had any colds or coughs. I haven’t had COVID at any point that I know about, and my chest is clear with no signs of asthma. My blood pressure, oxygen, and cholesterol levels are all normal. My thyroid is fine, and I have low iron.

I am 25 with 2 children. I have no family history of heart issues - my grandfather had one in his 40s but was an alcoholic and overweight. I drink on very rare occasion, quit smoking over a year ago, never taken illegal drugs, and have no diagnosed health conditions. I go out to walk on a daily basis.

i am writing this in tears and wondering what is the point, as my chest is crushing me and I’m sat at home with 2 small children as DP is on a night shift. I just keep thinking I’m going to drop dead. I’ve tried beta blockers but was then taken off them. I was took off anti depressants after getting much much worse when I started them. I have had therapy, and meditate often.

it feels like there is nothing left to be done. I am terrified I am going to have a heart attack. I want the pain to go away and the worry to go with it. How can I have heart attack symptoms all day every day? How is any of this possible?

please don’t be too tough on me in the comments. I’m struggling enough already and wondering what the hell is the point in my life anymore.

Is that that powdery stuff in a tub? I may have to try this out as I never have

Your health anxiety is still causing this pain.
You know your doctor has recommended anti anxiety medication but you refuse to try it.

Yes! Have a small glass of water ready and stir in a teaspoon full then drinking it all down in one while it fizzes. It works quite for me quickly to relieve the pain.

I highly doubt that when it’s extremely painful and physical especially when it’s possible it could be digestive issues. I haven’t refused to try anything, I tried a set of anti depressants and couldn’t function on them as I was having multiple panic attacks per day and I have a baby to take care of and can’t keep doing that. Nevertheless you can’t take anti anxiety medication forever so they are a temporary fix to a permanent problem so they aren’t actually “fixing” anything. I wouldn’t wish this pain on anybody and have done everything they asked of me to try and sort this out - The doctor said himself “I cannot just tell you that it is only anxiety when it may not be that”.

Look at the most common causes of trapped wind - do any of them apply to you? Chewing gum, smoking, drinking with straws, chewing on pen lids - things which introduction more air to the stomach than normal.

Do you have IBS? Any food intolerances? Any long term health conditions? Any medication you take?

I had horrific heartburn when I first took antidepressants, as I dry swallowed as I got into bed. It turned out I needed to drink it with a pint of water and stay upright for at least 30mins to avoid what was absolutely hours of awful pain every night!

Maybe ask your father what he used to take, what worked for him may help you, there's lots of different medications.

i use an e-cigarette as it’s helped me to quit smoking, and no to the other things. I never experience symptoms of heartburn or acid. My partner has Omeprazole as he has terrible stomach acid and bouts of heartburn and his symptoms are completely different to mine - more burning sensation than crushing or pressure, and he hiccups a lot etc when it’s happening.

What have you tried for the pain so far?

Omeprazole isn't any good for me but lansoprazole twice a day does the trick. I also have indigestion tablets from boots. The pain can be agony.

I think you need monitoring over a few days. I used to work in cardiology and we used to have regulars with chest pain of no known cause. It hurts the same whether the cause is known or not. What are they saying it is at A&E when your ECG etc come back normal?

This is reflux. It is the most common reason people present at A and E thinking they are having a heart attack. It can cause crushing squeezing severe long lasting pain.

l have it. Mine’s caused by eosophagul spasms. The pain is indescribable. Crushing squeezing pain that’s just unreal. Several times. Presented at A and E twice.

lm still here!

A&e told me they didn’t know what the cause of it was, but the test results were all clear on both occasions and as the tests was clear (including blood work), they weren’t concerned for my heart, even though I sat with DR and explained every symptom I’ve put in the post. He said as well as test results, they also categorise you based on risk factors - from low risk, moderate risk or high risk for heart attack/cardiac issues. He said I’m classified as lowest risk due to: young age, no health conditions, non smoker, no family history and no drug misuse. These factors combined with clear test results gave them the impression I have no logical reason to suffer a heart attack. Other than this, they said there were no other tests to offer.

He said - “nothing. You just learn to live with it. It’s just the way our stomach is wired”.

I had awful trapped wind after my c section and the pain in my shoulder and back was worse than my c section pain! Such a horrible pain. They gave me peppermint water which did bugger all. I don’t know what you can try but trapped wind does sound likely- it can be agony

Thanks so much for this response - I’m sorry you had to go through this of course - but it’s comforting to read this, and know I’m not going crazy.

Ouch! Thanks so much! This response really helped reassure me a bit more!

I'd expect better than just an ECG and chest X-ray. You need monitoring over a few days through a referral to cardiology. You could also try a different PPI like lansoprazole and a different medication for your anxiety. You need to see a different GP if the usual one isn't helping.

I don’t think anxiety is what’s causing it. I’ve tried everything I can recommended for anxiety and the pain is still there, otherwise I wouldn’t have gone back to GP. I was referred to cardiology and after contacting the clinic prior to the appointment they told me it was just a 10 second ECG the same as a&e, which I’d already had done, so it was a waste of my time.

It's not a waste of time because it gets you under the cardiology team and from that ecg they can do other tests.

In the meantime you need to take your GP's advice and go back to a&e. Sometimes a different doctor might have other ideas of what would be wrong and what would help. Do they give you pain relief in a&e? have they ever admitted you to a cardiology ward?

have you completely ruled out panic attacks?

you are young and have 2 small children that you are growing more and more scared about dying. This is totally normal. Most mums feel overwhelmed with the responsibility of kids. You love them so much then worry no one could ever replace you. I totally get it.

The chest X-ray will give you peace of mind and if it’s all clear then you need to read up on health anxiety it will really help to calm your mind

I’ve already been to a&e and they don’t think anything is wrong with my heart. They said all they can offer is ECG and bloods and no further testing than that. They can offer paracetomal and that’s what I have at home anyway. I have this pain all day every day. So you suggest I go back to a&e on a daily basis with 2 children for 8 hours per day and no way to feed my baby in there, to be told I don’t have heart problems at 25 and discharged? I’m not sure where your going with this - If I was having a heart attack since December, I’m sure I’d be dead already?

I’ve done everything recommended to help combat anxiety, and the pain is very physical. I’ve gone down every route possible. A panic attack can last up to 1 hour - you can’t have a panic attack for 6 months, 24 hours a day. I’m not convinced.

What do you think is causing this constant pain op?

Did they do a d-dimer and rule out blood clots in your lungs? I know it’s very unlikely and far more likely to be reflux but it can happen. Dd had very similar symptoms over a prolonged period and was told it was anxiety, told it was chostochronditis, told it was reflux, prescribed omeprazole and it turned out to be multiple pulmonary embolisms. I would like to think a&e would have rules this out but it took 3x a&e visits for Dd to be correctly diagnosed.

I've never know paracetamol be offered for chest pain. It's always morphine. There is more to cardiac problems than just a heart attack so it sounds like they aren't taking you seriously. As I see it you have 3 choices here:

1. Take your GPs advice and go to A&E and your husband looks after the dc
2. See your GP again or another GP
3. Continue as you are

You appear to be putting barriers up to whatever anyone suggests and I'm not sure what you want from this thread.

Reference shoulder pain is common in gallbladder issues and also trapped wind. I used to work in a surgical setting and when people had certain operations where gas is used to expand the stomach for a key hole surgery we used to pre warn them about the shoulder pain. It really does feel like a heart pain. I only truly believed it once I had my own surgery and was even with the knowledge worried about the pain.

So I would think gall bladder or refresh gas pain. We always recommend peppermint tea.