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Calling Dr. Essoh
Except for my intro post, I think this is the first time I've started one. Yikes, I feel like an idiot, though. I swear I'm going to call my doctor on Monday, but I wanted a non-hypochondriac opinion, too.
In the last six months, probably three or four times I've had these really mild, but definitely noticeable chest pains (I should mention I'm post-menopausal and 55 years old) that start out feeling almost like a mild muscle cramp in my back, around my rib cage, and sort of radiate out towards the front until a good part of my chest is uncomfortable. Maybe a 5 to 7 on a scale of 1-10. Definitey centered in the middle (read: heart). This has happened while I'm walking around (e.g., grocery shopping, not doing anything strenuous) but the last one (night before last) woke me from sleep. The actual pain (reminder, mild-but-noticeable) goes away after about 10-15 minutes, but a general chest discomfort (more like a 2 to 3 on the ten-scale) lasts about 1-6 hours. Then I'm back to completely normal.
I have become a bit of a hypochondriac since my husband died, and I really try to rein this in because my doctor does take my concerns seriously, but I'm afraid if I become the crazy widow calling him because every hangnail might be cancer, that will stop.
So of course I googled my symptoms, and it sounds like "mild heart attack".
Please, someone, talk me in off the ledge ...
Re: Calling Dr. Essoh
Pretty much any type of chest pain at any age, I say go to the doctor NOW. There's no messing around with that stuff!
You really think so? I feel fine now. I'll call the doctor's service and see what the weekend doctor there says. But I think they'd just laugh me out of the emergency room near my house (a hospital I wouldn't be caught dead in ... pun intended). Not a place I've had a good experience.
So hopefully if they want me to go somewhere they'll send me into a Boston hospital. I mean, one of the reasons people live here is awesome medical care, right? Sure as heck isn't the weather!
I'll keep you posted!
3/12 5 mi -- 49:22 Pace: 9:52
5/1 Half Marathon -- 2:11:22 Pace: 10:01
5/22 10k -- 56:29 Pace: 9:00
5/24 3.6 -- 29:03 Pace: 8:18
7/10 15k -- 1:44:46 injured Pace: 11:14
10/29 5k -- 28:24 Pace: 9:04
See your Dr. There could be any number of issues going on and it's something you dont want to mess around with. GO!
Well, I called and talked to the pa on duty. Since I don't have a history and I'm feeling fine now, I'm to "take two aspirins and call them in the morning". I don't think I'm supposed to just call to check in though; I think she's setting up a cardiogram or stress test or something for me. I was a teeny bit freaked when I was talking to them, so I'm not 100% clear on everything. I should have written it down.
They definitely are taking me seriously, but since I don't have a family history, and I DO have a history of heartburn and I've had a couple of panic attacks (one of which was very similar to how I felt the other night) I think they're not bringing me in as an emergency. Thanks, everybody!
Speaking as a paramedic, this is a serious condition. You may have angina which could be treated if done so quickly but if you leave it, like you have, then it could become much worse.
If you are still waiting until monday to call your doctor please put the phone beside your bed so you can call 911 in the middle of the night if needed. Make sure there is some way the medics can get into your house if you need them as you will not want to use any energy getting out of bed once the chest pain comes back, as this could make things much worse.
As above PP have said please let us know how you are doing tomorrow.
Totally not a doctor but I have had some experience with my BF and his issues. First of all, get checked ASAP. Sounds to me like it may be pleurisy, which I have had multiple times and hurts like a mo-fo, but that usually is brought on by bronchitis or pneumonia. My BF has had some heart infections and he recently had pericarditis, which is dangerous and extremely painful. So you never know, go check it out. Any doctor you call and say "chest pain" to, they will immediately send you to the ER.
Good luck!