Terrible evening

It is an " age thing " when we won't bother the emergency services as we just take it that we expect all these odd things going on with our bodies as par for the course.

Oh my goodness Brupen you are so lucky to be here!

Some years ago I had really bad chest pains. I was on my own so lay on the sofa until it eventually subsided. Quite honestly the pain was so bad I would have called 999 if I could have reached the phone.
Move forward 4 or 5 years and I had a heart attack in the night,my husband Calle 999 and I was hospitalized.
When I then had angiogram and angioplasty they told me I'd had a previous heart attack! Obviously the time I'd ignored it!
Like other people I hadn't thought of heart attack as I assumed they were only for old men! I was approximately 45 and 50 when my attacks occurred.

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Its not nice being older and worried about symptoms. And we hate being a nuisance.
TeacherAnne you did make me laugh. If I feel really ill I tidy the bedroom.

GrandmaMoira I understand where you are coming from. I love having my own space but occasionally feel a bit vulnerable. I have taught myself to hope for the best and think whatever’s to be will be! Lemongrove I’m glad the tablets have worked for you, I get some relief with them and for that I try to be grateful. ?

Mande earlier this year I had the same sort of night as you did, DH was all ready to phone an ambulance.I couldn’t lie down but discovered I could sit up if I stayed still.
The upshot was that I went to the GP soon after, who said an ambulance should always be called in those circumstances, as a heart attack could well be the cause OR excess stomach acid causing problems, they mimic one another.
After doing an ECG he said my heart was fine and healthy but prescribed Omazeprole tablets.I take one every day and they are amazing! No more heartburn and I can eat/ drink anything at all, result!

As I live on my own, I do wonder how people manage when having an episode which might need an ambulance. If you feel really ill, it would be hard to make a phone call. Whilst the call may be possible, if you are upstairs in bed, how do you let the paramedic in? Some years ago I had a "funny turn" and would have been quite unable to do anything.

Good luck mande. Hope yr better soon

I can almost guarantee that if mande had dialled the 111 help-line and described the symptoms she had, combined with her age, they would have almost certainly sent an ambulance. If you worry about wasting their time, if 111 send them it is their decision not yours. My DD, who is a paramedic, is amazed at the number of older people who won't call an ambulance because they don't want to be a bother.

Well you made me laugh Jaxie!

I'm a hypochondriac and quite frequently think I'm having a heart attack. I jump to my feet and have a good burp ( gross I know) but the cause is usually spicy food. Sorry if I seem to treat the subject too lightly.

Definitely get it checked!

I have had four episodes like this in the last few weeks. I have had ECGs and blood tests and am awaiting another echocardiogram. The ECGs don't show anything alarming but I have been off my BP meds for almost three years and my BP has started to climb again.
I have crackles in my lungs too.

We were driving to England in June and had stopped at a hotel in Soain when I felt unwell like that. Next mirning the oain was worse so my DH saud we were going to return to Portugal. I knew I could sit in a car for 800km feeling like that so said I was going to a hospital before anything. I asked the hotel receptionist for a taxi to the hospital. Within 5 minutes of arrival I was on an ECG machine. Luckily no heart attack but chest x rays and blood tests were done. The doctor decided it was costochondritis and strong painkillers given. I have just had my 3rd attack since then and the doctors think it is being brought on by stress.

Thank you GabriellaG,for an interesting and informative post. I am sorry this happened in your family. Let's all take heed.

Aw teacherann how awful for you again shows how resilient us women are but please don't wait too long before getting help another time.

It's so easy to ignore these 'funny turns,' thinking that they are nothing. I must hold up my hands to being like that. A few years ago I had a pain in my abdomen, which I thought was just a pulled muscle. After a few days, with it getting gradually worse, my son insisted on taking me to see my GP. He shunted me straight off to A & E. It turned out that I had a cyst on my bowel, which was on the point of bursting through. This would have resulted in peritonitis, septicaemia and, possibly, the end of me! Luckily 5 days in hospital and lots of antibiotics cleared it up.

Although I still don't like being a fusspot over aches and pains I won't be as casual about being checked over in future.

Hulahoop. My sister had a hiatus hernia and, like you, suffered dreadfully. She has had an operation to repair it and is now pain free. She cannot bring up trapped air in her stomach or vomit but she says it has been well worth the operation.

I ended up at hospital a few years ago with same type of pain after investigations found to have hiatus hernia I still get violent pain from time to time even though I am stomach meds I find tonic water sipped works for me .

Women’s heart attacks show themselves differently to men. One of the symptoms is upper body sharp pains, into the jaw
Stop being so lax about your health and get to the Dr sharpish or ring 101 and check out your symptoms

Thank you all, ladies, for your advice and your experiences. I was at the surgery today and was checked over. Nothing seems to be amiss. Just an exacerbation of stomach problem it seems. But I will keep a good eye on myself and try to be more forthright in my care! ?

Pain just in the shoulderblades too can sometimes indicate a heart problem and is easily mistaken for muscle pain and not always the heart muscle.
My late SiL had this and was given pain relief for " something which was muscular " as told by a quack ". On her death certificate it was a myocardial infarction. Poor woman was billed because of being private. I begrudged it having been paid. A year before she'd have drawn her pension.

Good advice VictoriaM, never worry about calling 999 its better to be safe than sorry. In fact these posts have prompted me to go to the Dr on Monday.

I woke up about 3 am one morning feeling terrible. I wanted a wee but couldn't stand up. Had pains in my back and shoulders and right arm. I was sweating so bad. I didn't like to dial 999....how stupid are we?

I thought it might be meningitis or something bad so phoned my doctors and then the locum number on their answerphone.
Doctor instructed me to phone 999 straight away which I did.

Within 5 minutes I had 6 medical people around me and they told me I was having a heart attack. I was ambulanced into hospital and given a stent immediately.

I could have died. And that's scary. I didn't have any chest pains at all but was told that more people have my symptoms than the usual chest pain scenario.
My advice since had been phone 999. They won't shout at you..