Hypochondriac needs advice...........

[wolf63]

I have been suffering from chest pains for a few weeks now. I first thought that it was indigestion but now I am not so sure.

The pain/discomfort is over the top of my chest - above the top of my boobs. It is more a tight feeling. I did mentioned it to the doctor but at the time of my appointment the pain had been gone for a couple of days - now its back.

I also have bunged up and painful sinuses - could it be related? I feel as if somebody is suffocating me.

I know that I should probably see a doctor - but as a recovering hypochondriac I try and avoid him as often as possible.

I did think that it could be due to fluid retention - I take Lithium and this screws up my fluid balance.

Any ideas?

[Ethel]

If you feel ill as well it could be a chest infection - do you think this is possible?

If it is aggravated by exercise and exertion and eases on resting it could be angina.

Could be stress.

Back to the GP.

[Louisa 69]

Hi wolf, try contacting NHS 24 for advise. They would be better qualified to help.

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

Hope your ok soon

[daffy654]

NHS direct would be a waste of time unless you want to spend your evening in A&E,they are trained to send all callers with chest pain to hospital. I would go to your GP again on monday and explain to him/her what the pain is like.It could be a number of things but all require further investigation.

[Louisa 69]

well maybe that would be a good thing Daffy, he would get the medical opinion that he needs. It's better to be safe when it comes to your health.

[wolf63]

Thanks folks. I think that I will see the doctor.

I don't feel ill, but it could be the start of a chest infection. My sinuses have been really bad lately and I have been feeling run down.

I don't like using NHS24 as it is, I feel, an emergency system. And, as Daffy says, mention the word 'chest pain' people think 'heart attack'.

Susan

[daffy654]

If the pain has been there for several weeks Louisa then it isn't a medical emergency and if the A&E is anything like most i've seen then it will be full of drunks with it being Saturday night. If wolf63 is very concerned then definitely a trip to hospital is on the cards.I suppose you do have to be careful with chest pain but as a sufferer myself I know there are many reasons for it and not all are connected to the heart.It could be a chest infection like Ethel said,it could be indigestion,acid reflux,anxiety,collapsed lung,pulled muscles or any number of other things.
If you're worried wolf63 then phone NHS direct ,as Louisa said better to be safe than sorry.

[Louisa 69]

oops sorry your a woman, i refered to you as a he :)) sorry.
You know yourself how your feeling. Take care.

[I.Don No]

as this problem does seem to linger my advice is

GO TO THE DOCTOR ASAP!

[wolf63]

Louisa - yep, I am a girl. I inherited a cat called Merlin, she is a girl too, we call her Princess Merlin.

I am not at all worried, I am more curious. I feel a bit run down, but certainly not ill or at deaths door.

I thought that it could be indigestion or reflux. I suffer from bipolar disorder and have to visit the doctor regularly due to this. I try and avoid him for other problems.

I will make an appointment on Monday for Monday.

Thanks everybody - anybody know how to cure tinnitus?

:-)

[daffy654]

wolf63 if you have tinnitus you most definitely need to see your doc to get a Lithium toxicity test,ringing in the ears is a symptom of this.Don't stop taking the Lithium though just get an emergency appointment on monday...Good luck.xx

[wolf63]

Daffy - that was why I was at the doctor the other day. My usual Lithium levels are about 0.6 and they were 0.8. I am getting them checked again in a couple of weeks.

My tinnitus is a long standing problem but I did not know that Lithium could cause it.

Thanks.

[cruella]

Hi wolf
Sorry to hear you are not feeling so good.
Any chest pain ought to be investigated, so it would be advisable as other abers said to go see you GP.
IN actual fact, my Son was admitted to hospital with similar symptoms and they diagnosed it as Costochrondritist. In other words, pain that often appears between the breast bone and rib cage due to a sinus problem.
I mimics the same pain as a heart attack but it not serious.
Hope you feel better soon but if in doubt, see your GP ASAP.
Take care. xx

[blu3wave]

Must be gas.... stop being so dramatic about it, just see a doc and stop bothering us about your stupid health problems. Do you see a doctor in the house??? Exactly.

[curiosity]

You've inherited a cat? are you allergic or mildly asthmatic?

[wolf63]

curiosity - I have been tested for cat allergy. I have a lot of sinus problems. My mother was asthmatic and died of emphysema. It could be asthma - most of the females in y mothers side of the family have it.

It feels like I have somebody sitting on the top of my chest - just under my throat. It is uncomfortable. I presumed that it was either indigestion of gunge from my sinuses sitting around waiting to move down or be coughed up.

I will go and see the doctor - I am just curious as to what it could be.

I am not allergic to cats - just their habit of turning into furry alarm clocks when I want to sleep. :-)