Have you ever checked yourself into the doctors office for chest pain?

I went to the ER twice within a month of each other for chest pains. It felt like a sumo wrestler was sitting on my chest both times.

The first time they did a EKG and CAT scan. And what they inject you with does make you feel like you pissed yourself when you get a CAT scan. Panic attack was the diagnosis. I was given some really good drugs via IV and felt better.

Second time they just did a EKG and more drugs.

These were the only time I have had this happen. I assume it was related to living in my sisters basement and hearing her scream at her kids all day. I was pissing in snapple bottles so I wouldn’t have to go upstairs when people were home.

As for payment. I just never opened the bills. My credit is already shit.

edit: And I have insurance now that I pay into.. Thank you ObamaCare.

Yes, in my late teens I went in twice for chest pain, and they decided that I was having panic attacks. They were right.

Never. 68 and counting.

No, but I’m glad you didn’t ignore the symptoms but went and got them checked out. Hopefully like @johnpowell and @DigitalBlue you are having panic attacks. Not a great thing, but better than a heart condition. Perhaps look into some relaxation techniques you can use? Is there a reason you are so stressed? Maybe you can ask another question and get some help with that. A problem shared is a problem halved and all that.

Yes, a couple of times. The first time was panic attacks. Years later, it wasn’t chest pain but this terrible pain radiating down my left arm that made me think I was having a heart attack. That one turned out to be a slipped/bulging disc in my neck. Hope you are ok!

I’ve had to do it twice a few years ago. The first one started off slowly, difficulty breathing and a little chest pressure and I called my Dr and got right in. But when I left the office to drive to their office things started getting back to normal and they didn’t find anything. The second time was worse. Huge weight on the chest and I was having to tell myself when to inhale. My body wasn’t doing it on it’s own. They told me to go to the ER. I walked over to get the car, it was with my S/O, and I didn’t want to scare her by calling. Things started easing a little when I got outside but it was still bad. The diagnosis: Allergies.

Yes, but it was panic attacks.

I have almost done so but don’t have insurance. It’s been when I am driving, and I just think oh I hope this is nothing. A couple times it’s been really bad.

I do think if you are suffering from chest pain, you should get someone else to drive you to the doctors. If you were having a heart attack – you could cause grief for a lot of other people if you drive. Call an ambulance, a cab, a friend – someone else to drive you to a Dr.

@Bellatrix Yeah, I got that lecture. :)

I went into my doctor in my late thirties with chest pains. No shortness of breath, or dizziness. We talked a bit about what was going on in my life, and he said he thought I had what a lot of people in my age group and situation were getting.

“What?” I asked.

“Chest pains.”

OK, from someone who knows. I have had heart trouble in the past. I have a pacemaker and I have an arterial stent.
This weekend I felt twinges in my chest and an annoying burning in the middle of my chest. I have Nitroglycerine in my pocket at all times but never had used it. Never felt that bad.

Yesterday at work, I felt strong palpitations in my chest. I broke out in cold sweats, I felt uncomfortable sitting down, pressure. My left arm hurt. All classic signs of heart trouble.

I work at a hospital and went to Emergency around 2 with no hesitation. No driving home, no waiting it out. When you are 63 and walk into ER intake and say pain in left arm you are on a monitor in three minutes. EKG, blood counts, blood pressure every five minutes, aspirins, head CT (to watch out for a stroke). Listen to my heart.
The ER doctor wants to admiit me but he gets ahold of my cardiologist who says let him go home, we’just did a stress test two weeks ago.
This morning cardiologist runs tests and says your arteries are clear. it is something else but not your heart right now.

So I cost myself some money by going to the ER. I worried my wife. I made myself nuts. and nothing seems to be wrongs
Next time I feel this way , I will do the same exact thing. Chest pain is deceptive. It is best not to ignore it. The best feeling in the world is to be told ” it’s not your heart”.
Don’t hesitate, get it checked out. No matter what the cost, it is not worth jeopardizing your life.
if you are in your 30’s and not highly likely to have a heart incident then getting reassurance it is something else is still the best thing to do.

SRM

@Bellatrix I have the presence of mind to pull over. If I die in my car then I do. I’m not gonna be sued by some hospital- I’m trying to get outta here back to socialised health care before something happens lol

I was having chest pain a couple years ago. It started in the winter time when I ws walking in the cold. I would feel a pain in my chest and have to cover my mouth with my scarf and slow my pace. I walked up the stairs and when I lay down in bed I felt a sharp pain. I told myself not to over react. I had no known risk factors. Never smoked. No early onset heart disease in family, etc. I may have had high blood pressure but didn’t know it. I almost did not believe that it was anything other than stress but I decided to make an appointment with the doctor. A day or two before I was due to go in I started to feel a little nauseous at lunchtime. I knew that women often have atypical symptoms when they have heart problems and it scared me. I went home early and ended up going to the emergency room. I was admitted and needed to get a stent the next day. I thank God that I didn’t wait! I was told that I had a 99% blockage in one of my arteries! Now I am fine. This all took me by absolute surprise. I found out that it is common that they are finding former cancer patients treated with radiation to have heart problems later in life. I’m not even that old, and I take good care of myself so it was a shocker. Shit, second time modern medicine saved my ass. (of course, it may have caused the problem to begin with, but in the name of saving my life I have no choice but to be eternally grateful!)

With all due respect @trailsillustrated, I would prefer people having a heart attack (or who suspect they are having a heart attack or similar) were not on the road with me or my loved ones. I would rather not have to rely on your presence of mind to pull over. People who are having chest pains and are seeking medical attention should not be driving a car. You dying in your car isn’t my issue, it’s the people you take with you.

@Bellatrix thankyou, I will keep in mind. po