Anxiety, chest infection or heart problem?

[xxmumof2]

Hi,

For a long time I suffered with chest pain; pressure and tightness, alongside other symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness, pain and heaviness in the left arm and etc

i have been to a&e 3 times, once via ambulance when I started also getting jaw tightness. Each time I have had blood pressure, temperature, ECG and blood test. My tests all came back normal and my BP is normal.

I have started CBT therapy and I am taking antidepressants for anxiety. I was also referred to cardiology for precaution. I attended the clinic just over a month ago where I had an ECG done and spoke to a cardiac specialist. She told me based off results plus previous a&e results, my age (I’m 25), non smoker non drinker etc that I was low risk for cardiovascular disease and not to worry too much about heart attacks right now as it seems unlikely. She booked me for further investigation nevertheless, which is a 24 hour ECG (not yet had it done) and an echocardiogram (to be done this Thursday).

All was fine until yesterday morning when I woke up with pressure and tightness in the centre of the chest, accompanied with shortness of breath. Both the pain and the struggling of breath have been almost constant since yesterday morning. I have coughed a few times but I wouldn’t call it a consistent cough. A few days ago my chest would rattle when I coughed but this has stopped.

Due to the fact I’m short of breath and have chest pressure, I’m now in a frenzy I’m having a heart attack. My partner seems to think it’s a panic attack (a 2 days panic attack?) and that I don’t need to go to a&e.

AIBU to think this is a sign I’m having a heart attack or about to have one any minute? Or could this be something else?

I don’t want to call my GP as every time I have chest pain they send me to a&e straight away without doing any further investigation. Chest pain>a&e instantly is how it works there.

Im sat here in a separate room to my partner and child, wondering what the hell is going on.

thanks.

Each time I have had blood pressure, temperature, ECG and blood test. My tests all came back normal and my BP is normal.

If this, along with a discussion with the cardiologist, hasn’t reassured you at all that you are not having a heart attack, I don’t think anyone here will be able to. The GP won’t do investigations if you have chest pain, no matter how unlikely a heart attack is, because they don’t really have more than limited equipment and so have to send you to A&E, just in case. They are responding to your reported symptoms.

If you’ve had a cough and are now suffering chest tightness and shortness of breath, have you done a covid test at all?

I haven’t had a COVID test no, but chest infection or something to do with the lungs/respiratory system has crossed my mind. My 1YO has had a terrible cough for some time, which I took him to the GP for and she said she wasn’t concerned and sent him on his way. I’m not sure if it’s related to, as I haven’t been coughing non stop in the way he has.

When I have had chest infections, cold, flu or anything similar previously, I have had a consistent, chesty cough. I haven’t been coughing on a constant basis with this, which is why I’m reluctant about anything like that.

I seriously doubt you are having or are eminently going to experience a heart attack going by your post.
Perhaps you have a respiratory infection of some sorts and that has exasperated or caused a panic attack?
Can you contact your CBT therapist or look through any work sheets they have given you to regulate yourself?
It also wouldn't hurt to do a covid test just incase.

Sounds like panic attacks (coming from someone with 2 heart conditions and I'm in my 20s)