So...I've been having some chest pain the past week or so, nothing super severe, but noticeable. Everyone told me to go to the doctor, and I kept putting it off, hoping everyday it would just "vanish"...and never return. ha... Well I decided to make an appointment for Wed., called and made a mistake (well, not really. I'm sure it was for the best) but I told them I was having chest pains, and immediately the receptionist said I needed to just go to the ER and have tests run, that they didn't have the proper equipment there....and I was telling her I really didn't think I was having a heart attack.... but she said she would have the doctor call me. Well, the nurse called me, by then I was freaking out, crying, and letting them know I did NOT want to go to the hospital...and so she went to get the doctor on the phone, who advised me I needed to!... Scared me to death! So I told her I would go to an Urgent Care instead, so she agreed to that (otherwise I think she would have called 911 and had an ambulance sent to my house!) I was crying, my daughter called a friend who came to get me (because my doctor told me not to drive myself!)....so we went to Urgent Care, my sister and husband also came later. They did an EKG, blood work, a chest x-ray, took my blood pressure many times within 3 hours... and after all that,,,I was able to finally go back home with a cardiologist appointment next week for further testing. I was SO glad I didn't have to go on to the hospital - that just freaks me out for some reason. I know many of you go to the ER, but do you have to wait hours when you are having chest pains? They told me if I needed to go to the hospital, they would send me in an ambulance or give me a "fast pass" if I rode in our own vehicle. I was SO not expecting this at all yesterday! In the end, my blood pressure finally went down to 175/85 - evidently it was VERY high when I first got there. I explained I have been so anxious the past few weeks with lots of stuff going on, being hormonal on top of all that.... and I think the doctor believes it may be anxiety, but still....wants me to go see a cardiologist and my regular doctor often, and to take my blood pressure 2-3 times a week. He didn't really think I needed bp meds right yet until we found out more. And....I have been taking my blood pressure and praise the Lord, it is down! and my chest doesn't hurt as badly today either. I think the STRESS of not knowing (even though it's my own fault for procrastinating to go to the doctor and have tests) was making it hurt worse. I am still extremely anxious and nervous - I can almost feel the adrenaline just flowing rapidly through my body, my stomach, etc... and I hate that feeling. So the doctor prescribed some Xanax (although he didn't really want to - but I specifically asked for it, because I know I can't seem to relieve my anxiety and stress right now in natural ways)...and I took a 1/2 of one and am feeling calmer already. I am nervous about my cardiology appointment next week though - what if there are blockages? Yikes - I will be freaked out once again!

Anyway...just wanted to share my story. Oh yea - my blood work was normal, my EKG was normal, and so was my chest x-ray. It was mainly my blood pressure skyrocketing... My Dad thinks they were checking for the wrong diagnosis - thinks it is acid reflux. My oldest daughter thinks I need to drink LOTS of water instead of taking xanax.....everyone has opinions, but I do appreciate the support. :-)

Wow, what an episode, hey..

Sounds like everything pretty good though, at the least, your test have come back good...

As for the Xanax, hon if you need it, then you take it.

And not to be another w/an opinion, but.... do you take Omega 3 supplements. Many, many doctors are even saying this stuff works great. I have notice that pressure has been doing really good lately, I take 1,000 to 2,000 mg per day. It also helps w/my nerves (so they say); I guess it could be worse, right.... Another good one is C0Q-10, been alot of good stuff about that.

Basically, when you go to the cardio, ask if there are any supplements that may help. Also look into Magnesium w/Calcium.

I just tell you this, cuz I feel if you can deal w/naturally, hopefully you wont have to go on the meds, and you can control naturally.

Don't get yourself too worked up, cuz at least you know that your test came back okay... So the next thing will be just trying to take steps to help your blood pressure...

Best of luck, and many many blessings on ya...

Beck..

Generally speaking, if you're having chest pains they do not (and should not!) keep you waiting in the ER.

DH went up there a few times with acid reflux related chest pain (didn't know it was a/r at the time of course) and each time they took him right in.

I'm glad you were checked out and glad you're following up. Best of luck and health to you!

sscmack46, you poor thing! That sure was a way to send a person into a panic attack!

Sounds like what happened to me a couple of months ago> went to my doctor with left leg pain and he said I had to go to the hospital right away to rule out a blood clot!
My leg had hurt for 2 weeks?????
He stood at the receptionist desk while she called the hospital> by than even I was scare!

Good to have your pain check out!!!

Just remember > doctors practice cover their b*tt medicine!

I too am glad that you are back home and feeling better. I had a similar situation a few years back and it was determined it was anxiety. I agree with Becca, xanax is there if you need it, and believe me I know when I need it - I really need it.

Hi there Emergency rooms are never supposed to make you wait if you go there with chest pains! The triage nurse will usually just rush you right in to be examined.

Yes, you might have reflux but reflux symptoms are sometimes quite the same as cardiac symptoms. I went to the ER years ago thinking I had reflux and it turned out to be that I had a heart attack (at 47 years old)! Of course yours most likely is not that, but it is ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry. I also have reflux, and sometimes the pains are hard to distinguish from cardiac,,,I try to trust my own judgment. The only way to know definitely if you have any blockages is through an angiogram. Some other tests can show them, but sometimes they don't. If you need to take the xanax to calm down, definitely do that! I take them also sometimes,,,as long as you don't overdo them, you will be fine

Just have everything checked out and make sure everything is ok. Do whatever tests they want to perform! I will keep you in my prayers and will be thinking about you and hoping all your tests come out good!

Take care!

You did the right thing by calling your doctor and going to urgent care- no ifs, ands or buts. I experienced many of the same symptoms you had, and my doctor also said to go to ER and I did. The nurses were wonderful, and said I had made the right decision, and were very supportive of me. Of course all of the tests were normal, and I had a case of anxiety and severe reflux/esophagitis, stress. In the last year I have learned to recognize my reflux symptoms, which trigger high blood pressure and palpitations, along with gas related chest pain. Xanax works for me as well. Don't ever hesitate to seek care for chest pain, it is the right thing to do. Hope you are feeling much better!

The same thing happened to me last fall. I called my doctor after having pains in my left arm off and on for a couple days. The nurse got on the phone and told me to go to the ER right this minute. Even though I had no other symptoms, no shortness of breath, no chest pain, nothing but a pain in my arm.
I got all paniced of course and drove myself over to the hospital. I was there for 2 hours, they ran every test and I was just fine. But of course then the anxiety had hit big time and I ended up with weeks of palpitations.
I finally did my see my normal doctor and they did X-rays and found out the pain was caused by some arthritis in my neck.
She did schedule me for a stress test, which was normal. And I did see a cardiologist a few weeks later and all he suggested was a beta blocker if the palps got too bad.
The anxiety from that whole situation put me back into the whole worry myself sick cycle for months.
I have been working with one of the Master healers from Spring Forest Qi Gong in Minneapolis, and am feeling better all the time. I have been palp free for a whole 10 days now. That doesn't sound like long, but after months of them every day, it's a huge relief.
Try not to let them freak you out, but do pay attention to any symptoms. I know that it's always better safe then sorry.

Thanks so much to all of you for your encouraging words, info, advice, and definitely your support! I had a better day yesterday, without a lot of chest pain, but I'm still having such nervousness and adrenaline flowing through my body, that I took another 1/2 xanax this morning. It helped for about an hour, but right now I'm starting to feel a little panicky already with a bit of chest pain. My Daddy says I need acid reflux meds, my daughter says drink more water, I'm struggling with major anxiety and can't seem to always calm down with self-talk like I wish I could. I'm so glad my blood work came back normal (although I'm not sure if ALL the blood work has returned). I am WAY too scared to ever have an angiogram.I don't think I will mind the treadmill test but I am nervous about the whole cardiologists appointment next week. I'm trying to "stay above" depression, but fighting it a bit too. I'm going with my oldest daughter to the doctor (same doctor as me) today for her first pap smear, and I'm embarassed to see the nurses today since I was such a basket case on the phone with them on Monday. I want to tell them..."thanks for scaring me so much the other day that I went to Urgent Care with extremely high blood pressure." Of course I love them and know they were doing what they knew was best for me. I wish I didn't have this health anxiety - that every time I feel a pain in my chest or back, I'm now thinking " blockage"...and "heart attack or stroke"... which makes my anxiety worse, then my chest hurts worse. I want to RELAX,and am trying. At this moment I'm feeling pretty well. So tired of all this nervousness though. I try to tell myself, "Whatever, Lord", "what will be, will be", "this too shall pass", "everything will be okay" All will be well"...and other affirmations. Sometimes it works, sometimes it just does NOT work. I'm trying to "give it to the Lord", and asking for His peace. Sometimes I have it, sometimes not.

Thanks again for your support - I really need it at this time. I will probably be venting and releasing my fears for the next few days until my appointment. I hope you don't get sick of me. Thanks so much!!!

Sandy

Sounds like the exact same scenario as I went through recently!

I presented to the docs with chest pain and he sent me straight up to the hospital, they did blood tests ECG etc etc and kept me in overnight. I was allowed to go home the next day after a stress test, couldn't have the stress test because I'm on workers comp for a knee injury. So they said I would need a MIBI scan, this is a nuclear scan that detects heart blockages.

To say I was stressed out about the prospect of that is an understatement!!

Well I had a major "supposed" panic attack in the shopping centre a week before these scans were due to be done, I ended up back up the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack!! More bloods,more ECG'S etc etc chest Xrays they came back and said just wait for the MIBI scan, you can go home!

So I had the scans done and to my relief they were all o.k. by the way this included a stress test done on an exercise bike, I passed that as well which surprises me considering I weigh twice as much as I should!

So now I'm trying to wind down after all this upheaval, initially I refused to go out of the house and I was SO anxious. But bit by bit I'm making progress.

So hang in there sister and I hope you get through this o.k. (((hugs)))

....Deb in OZ

Thanks Deb! I know - I just hate this anxiety! I had a pretty good day on Tuesday, and not as good Wed or yesterday with my chest pains. I have definitely been taking 1/2 xanax when I need it. I woke up this morning about 1...and my shoulders and arms and chest were hurting, so of course....I kind of panicked, got up, took my blood pressure and it was a bit high, so I took a xanax, listened to some music on my Ipod, and finally relaxed and went back to sleep. Today I feel a lot better. I had talked to my sister-in-law who had chest pain months ago, and went to a doctor who gave her Prevacid or (something for heartburn)...her esophagus was inflamed and that's why she had chest pain. That may be what is going on with me since I do tend to have acid reflux at times, and have been eating all the wrong foods this summer. I am staying away from tomatoes, chocolate...today...and I do feel like my chest is not hurting so much...so I'm praying it's an acid reflux situation and not clogged arteries. Still scared to go have a stress test done next Tuesday though - very nervous about it. Trying to stay calm and relaxed, but with my basic anxious temperament and peri hormonal stress....not doing as well as I would like. I'm thankful I do feel a bit better today though. I'm nervous about going to a wedding tomorrow night. I'm glad your tests came back normal....thanks for your support and encouragement!
Sandy (oh yea, I figured one reason my left arm was hurting is because I've been taking my blood pressure about 30 times a day, which I should NOT be doing, but I feel so much better mentally when I see it is normal) :-)