Terrible evening

I think you should make an appt with your GP so he can take bloods etc and see if you may have had a heart attack. Needs doing today really. I would not ignore this - it may be nothing serious of course, but not something to be glossed over.

Which would be worse, going to the GP, having blood tested and finding that it was "just" indigestion, in spite of seeming like a heart attack, or ignoring it because it has now gone away, not seeing the GP, and having a massive heart attack a few days/weeks later that is so bad you can't even phone for help?

You’re right, ladies. I’m going to ring my GP. I’m a ‘terrible head in the sand’ person regarding my health, believing that nature will sort it out. Thank you.

Nature might sort it out in a way you might not wish! - I never trust nature!!! Hope your GP is able to help. Let us know how you get on.

Don’t let “nature sort it out” in a final way.
You may well have had a minor heart attack - if not, nothing lost, but insist on being seen today.
When I had a gastric “attack” earlier in the year my neighbour rang 111 and was told that if a woman in her late sixtie has chest pains, either get her to A&E or call an ambulance - no argument!
Good luck!

I’ve phoned the GP and the doctor is going to call me. I know you are all right. Thank you.

As Maw suggested, if in doubt call 111, that is what they are there for. Often people don't want to 'bother' their GP when they are not sure if their problem is serious or not so call 111.

Had exactly the same some time ago. Turned out to be oesophageal spasm. Not nice

With chest pain the right procedure is to dial 999. This could be an emergency and they can find out PDQ what the correct procedure should be.

Oh i do hope you saw your GP this morning or at least have an appointment pending. Better to be safe than sorry, imagine how your family would feel knowing you did nothing. Please let us all know how you get on.

When we get into our 60's the idea that nature will sort it out is a bit short sighted. Your symptoms are those of a heart attack - see your doctor and get tested . Next time Nature might have a different outcome for you.

Unfortunately us women don't take pains in the chest seriously enough thinking it's only men that get heart attacks while if it were our men we would dial 999 double quick. Hopefully you have been seen and at least given a ECG.

How frightening for you, the nights can be so long when you are in pain and on your own. Fingers crossed everything went ok with your GP

Pain radiating into your jaw from your chest is a sign of a heart attack OP so it’s quite possible that’s what it was.
Not something to be taken lightly.

I'd be a fine one to give advice because I'm the same though your pain does/did sound hearty and needs attention. An ECG done at the surgery should have been your first port of call and they would then have decided on further tests by ringing for an ambulance should the need arise.

The GP rang this afternoon. He agreed with me that it sounded like my stomach problem has been exacerbated. He has changed my tablets and I have to make an appointment with the nurse (which I will do in the morning) to get bloods and blood pressure looked at and take it from there. Thank you all for taking the time to give me advice. It is much appreciated.

Relieved for you Mande and glad to hear that you're being checked out. I was going to suggest having aspirin in your medicine cupboard but with a stomach problem it's a bit dodgy.

A few years ago I had similar symptoms in the night and living on my own I went online to the NHS website. I typed in my symptoms and got the message "dial 999 for an ambulance" I then had another go, downplaying some of the symptoms and got the same message. So I went and had a shower as I could not see a doctor if not clean and put on some pyjamas, I then phoned 999. After a paramedic gave me an ecg test, an ambulance was called quickly and at 6 am I was whisked into A&E.

I still cannot believe I had a shower before phoning for an ambulance!

I was kept in all day for lots of tests and I was diagnosed with gastric flu but at no time did any nurse or doctor make me feel I had wasted their time.

At tea time I was discharged and rather than bother my daughter (lived 40 miles away) or my sister at work, I went home, still wearing my dressing gown and pyjamas, in a taxi. After I paid him, I was so embarrassed at being seen by my neighbours that I ran across the front lawn, tripped on the porch step and broke my little toe!

Not a good day really!

I had similar symptoms some few years ago : cramp in the chest & back radiating through the neck into the jaw. Really horrible and frightening. I saw a cardiologist who pronounced my heart A1 and was sent down the corridor to another consultant who diagnosed a hiatus hernia. I still occasionally get these feelings and have discovered that swallowing cold water slowly alleviates the symptoms

On the positive side Woman s heart attacks don’t usually mimic the classic pains that men get women get much more ‘silent’ signs but glad you got checked out My friend didn’t even know she’d had a an heart attack till years after when she was asked by a consultant ‘ when did you gave your heart attack’ and she said ‘I ve never had one’ and he said ‘oh yes you have’
I m the same as you Mande and tend to let most pains go in the expectation that it will ( as my Nan always said) go when it’s ready
Good luck

Teacheranne, oh dear, how awful! I think we women are used to being carers so find it harder to be cared for.

I had similar symptoms 2 years ago although no chest pain. I then started experiencing palpitations so went to the doctors a couple of weeks later who diagnosed atrial fibrillation after an ECG and put me on meds. I think we women are the worlds worst when it comes to our own health - I still don't know if I had a heart attack that day but with hindsight should probably have rung 111 to make sure.

Having an atrial fibrillation " attack " is nearly as bad as having a heart attack in that although the heart is pumping the blood stops circulating and instead it pools in the atrium before it flows out when the risk of throwing a clot out at the same time is always there either to the heart or brain. I've had this for 28 years so it proves that the medication works though I had a TIA last year but not as bad as it would have been without the right medication.

I suffer from stomach problems that cause these kind of symptoms.
I know it sounds very simple and I'm not trying to minimise what you went through in any way, but try drinking water as hot as you can bear it.
All I can say is it works for me at times when I would otherwise worry that I had heart problems.