interesting day....

[Bogwoppit]

Before I begin I am 38 ,11 stone and more than capable of doing a 10k run. I haven't smoked in 4 years and I drink around 6 pints a week top whack. I have quietly worried on and off previously about the aches and pains I have had but I ignored them as it was easier than getting them checked out.

It all began on Thursday really. Got up early, jumped on the train for my weekly commute into London and Ohh Ahh thats a pain around my heart. Eeek shooting pains down my left arm and pins and needles.. Umm best I ignore that and hope it goes away. It didn't go away.. I reasoned that I'm too young for a heart attack and I have way to much to do to be sick.

The pain remained with me all day although it was mild. It felt like a pressure and I was very aware of my heart pumping which is something you generally aren’t. Filed it under ignore with the excuse that I will go to the doctor in the morning if it's still there.

Got up yesterday thought to myself ahh still there I shall ignore it for a bit longer see what happens. Mean while sensible mode began to kick in and I started to worry.. I remembered all the little niggles and pains I have had over the last year. Thought about my smoking and families lumps that they grow and really got worried.

I made myself a appointment with the GP (Lazy git wont be interested I thought) and off I went.

Ahaha Locam she'll know nothing..

Actually it was now my turn to wake up.

The Dr was great, took me seriously and listened to what I said.. Told me I was doing the right thing and not wasting there time. Booked me in for a ECG and told me to bugger off for a bit.


I came back later and it took around 5 minutes.. Ho HO my heart was beating much faster than it should be for my age and as I am at rest. Now I began to panic a bit.. Blimey I really could be having heart attack or I may really have Angina. But the
most worrying thing was that I became convinced that I won't be able to dive and that was far worse than dying! bizzare!

The Dr said that I should come back later and talk to another Dr and start things like Aspirin etc.

It then got worse as I had another phone call when I got home and they'd decided to contact the Cardiac Registrar and I should make my way to A&E Asap..

Brown Trousers time. I get into A&E and they rush me through the waiting room onto the treatment room. ECG and Oxygen and now I am really worrying.

ECG proved inconclusive and then nothing 3.5 hours on O2 and boredom. People walk past, people get seen I get ignored. I begin to consider walking out or making a nuisance of myself. I think better of it as I am convinced that I am 2 steps away from keeling over.

Anyway.. eventually a really nice Dr approaches and begins to explain that I am not dying, she’s very interested in my diving and lets me know that she thinks it’s a blood clot on my lungs!.. Great I am now not facing a heart attack I’ve swapped it for a possible Stroke.. Damn anyone want to buy my Twins?

Blood tests rule out a Heart attack and off for a chest X- ray. I get wheeled back to my cubical (Not allowed to stand in case I keel over FFS)
Okay now they move me off to the ward and I am told they want me to stay in over night and I still don’t know what’s going on. I also don’t want to stay in.

Ahh not a happy Bunny I now feel fine and a little sheepish.. There is all these ill people around I am quite okay.

Dr visits and I am in the clear they have no idea what’s going on they suspect it might be mild Angina but that’s unlikely.. it’s most likely muscle damage or back problems possibly caused by my Twins and I am booked into tests next week to confirm or deny.

So why have I written this? Well I have quietly worried for years about this ache and that ache. I finally got of my butt and got myself checked out. I am pretty much in the clear. I am very relieved and feel stupid because I should have done this sometime before. If your doing the same go sort it.. It’s probably just your imagination! But you never know….

[Rebecca]

Glad to hear you are in the clear. Hope the tests go well.

[Jim Shaw]

hope all goes well mate and your goes on beating strongly

[Janos]

Well done for posting. In my experience if you have a genuine concern Doctors are much happier for you to come in and get it checked out.

Janos

[keith_henson]

aye - good one for not ignoring it. I hope the test are all clear - get well soon matey (and get diving quick)


Keith

[Bogwoppit]

Cheers for the thoughts all, I am pretty much okay to be honest and theres no pain anymore. Once the further Tests are complete I should be back with it.. Or at least ready for the M2 and Slasette next month:-)

[hopper]

Originally Posted by Bogwoppit

Cheers for the thoughts all, I am pretty much okay to be honest and theres no pain anymore. Once the further Tests are complete I should be back with it.. Or at least ready for the M2 and Slasette next month:-)

Great to hear all's apparently well. Simular thing happened to me, (but unlike you I am overweight, drank and smoked.) I got a tingleing feeling on my tongue whilst doing some heavy DIY in the garden 4 years ago.

I ignored it and put it down to too much heavy work and over exertion. When it happened again the next day after resting I thought I should do something about it. I got an appointment with the GP who took my BP. She called her husband to make sure she had not made a mistake, he said it was a Practise record and go straight to hosptal, do not pass go, do not collect £200, which was quite a shock as I was 50m from the hospital and 100m from work where my things were. NO go straight to hospital!

Cut a long story short, 1 week later BP stabalised and I'm on 3 tablets a day for the rest of my life. Never had another cig since, still overweight and drinking but not as much.

The GP saw me on my release from the hospital, she said that at the age of 37, I had a 1 in 4 chance of having a heart attack in the next 10 years with my BP and smoking etc. Post hospital not smoking and on medication the chances were 1 in 10, I prefer these odds much better.

Moral - get it checked out, be it a lump, bump or pain or tingle. If it makes you stop and think, consult an expert after all thats what they are there for.

Ps I got a letter from the GP regarding my medication and ability to dive just to cover myself when I'm away on holidays etc.

[wilbo]

good to hear you're ok Ian.. don't want any buddy of mine keeling over now!!

Had a very similar experience: (lifted from a previous post)

RTA (on m/c) about 8 years ago. No real problems from it except that about 4 years ago I started getting pains in my chest. The symptoms were tingling in my hands, up my left arm, up the left sideon my neck and my face, sweaty hands and moderate pain across my chest. So of course I drew conclusions and after much agonising, rang the NHS helpline (don't like to be a drain on resources). After asking lots of questions, they ruled out a heart attack, but suggested I go to the doctors as soon as. Of course I did. The doctors prognosis was that I had strained the intercostal muscles that interlace in between the ribs. Apparently a large group of nerves also run through these muscles, which control sensation, blood flow and heat down that side on my body. The muscles were pressing on the nerves, causing intermittant signals to those parts, body then tried to compensate. Probable cause was lifting or twisting, which agrevated the old injury (probably from the RTA). I still get it every now and again - and a small bit of my brain (now considering the amount of my brain I use already is small, think on..) does wonder if its still the old complaint..

Keep us up to date with how it goes.. Its obviously not affecting the CS:S..

[Crisspy Fiver]

Hope your tests come back ok.

Im seeing the specialist Thursday about my issues. Hopefully I will be posting some good news to.

I have been seeing the docs for a while and just like you I kinda worry more about them saying I cant dive no more.

All the best

Jamie

[SoggyFox]

thanks for posting.

So denial isn't limited to getting bent, something for us all to think about.