CHEST DISCOMFORT & SHORTNESS OF BREATH. . . . . . .

[mortica]

Hi all, just after bit of advice.

I have been having shortness of breath on and off for a few weeks now. No cold or flu. I have also been having intermitant chest/back/shoulders/rib cage discomfort (i say discomfort because its not pain as such)like aching twinges. I have never suffered with indigestion but it sounds a similar kind of pain. My chest feels like someone is sitting on me very restricting and i feel the need to cough and take deep breath to try and ease it. It has become sort of constant over the past few days.

I have just been referred to a rheumatologist for suspected lupus so it could just be another symptom in my muscles.

I do have a fever and i am not bed ridden, i am at work so i dont think it justifies a trip to A & E as i dont look unwell.

Sorry for long essay.

Anyone else suffer with this?

My dh had something similar, he spoke to NHS Direct who wanted to send an ambulance to his work for him. He declined and went to A & E himself, turned out to be stress.

I would get yourself checked out just to be on the safe side though.

I also had chest pain and a & e could not find anything wrong, they thought I might have had gastritis (sp)

Sorry thats i DO NOT have a fever.

Gastritis.

The Dr at A & E told me to stop drinking fresh orange juice!

you need to be seen I'm afraid, and have someone listen to your chest and have an ECG (heart tracing) done.

there are many causes of chest pain, including stress, musculoskeltal pain (ie strained muscle) BUT you need to rule out the more serious (and life threatening) causes, as no-one can diagnose chest pain over the internet or phone.

heart attacks/angina can seem like indigestion or a stitch so you need an ECG. I'm not saying it is that but you need to be checked out.

So off to A+E I'm afraid. if you go now it won't be tooooo busy - gets worse from about 4pm

(i'm a doctor)

Err thats looks gross. Makes sense though, because of all the muscular pain i am having i have been taking nsaid most days for a couple months.

Mortica, I don't want to frighten you but it sounds very like how my brother described what turned out to be angina. Especially if it happens when you move from sitting down, or start exercise. DB was at risk of a sudden serious heart attack, but now he's been treated and is right as rain. However, if you are being checked for lupus, heart issues should already have been ruled out, but I've heard that wonen's heart symptoms are often misdiagnosed, whereas the same symptoms in men would immediately be suggesting heart issues.

Mortica I don't want to frighten you either but I was admitted to hospital before Christmas with a feeling I described as someone sitting on my chest and I was found to have blood clots on my lungs.

Please get yourself checked out at A&E

Hi Blissa other than the weight on the chest did you feel okay. I just feel a bit pathetic.

mortcia

to put it bluntly - stop fannying around and go to A+E

or at least call NHS direct

no-one can help you over the internet - different conditions feel different in different people, and so whatever someone says it is not going to change the outcome. even a doctor cannot diagnose chest pain over phone/internet.

it will probably turn out to be nothing serious BUT it could be and therefore youneed to have your observations - pulse/oxygen sats/BP done and an ECG.

so go, and don't be an idiot

(Sorry)

I agree with LuvaDuck.

It may well be indegestion or a pulled muscle. But - especially with chest symptoms - there are a range of more serious conditions which are life threatenting which need to be ruled out - and those can only be ruled out by Dr examining you.

Please get checked.

No it started on the Monday and by the Thursday I was so panicky and anxious as if my body was trying to tell me something was wrong. I'm not saying that you have clots but it NEEDS investigating. They do blood tests and ECGs and go from there, with your symptoms you will be seen very quickly. As luvaduck says go to A&E

Okay i get the message. I will go and get myself sorted. Post back later

Thanks all x

Any news?

Sorry all meant to post back last night but fell asleep. Didnt go hosp, was going but one thing led to another (dd's) so im off to docs now so wish me luck.

Hi guys, just been to docs. He did bp listened to heart/lungs etc said I havent got infection and it not my heart. I got to go for ecg on Monday just so that the results can be forwarded to the rhematologist who will want one done anyway. In the meatime the doc said he thinks its inflammation in my chest and probably all part of Lupus.

Thanks for all advice guys.