Hi all,
I'm still here in Oregon visiting my family and I had something troubling happen to me. Last Saturday while I was driving by myself on highway 26, I suddenly got the absolute worst heartburn type pain in my chest I've ever had. I've had slight heartburn over the last couple of years and I've been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia but, I havent' had to take medication for it in about a year. Anyway, I hadn't had anything to eat or drink all morning when this pain started. It moved up to my jaw and I felt a little sick and dizzy and knew I had to get off the highway before I killed somebody. I pulled over and got something to eat and after about 30 minutes it went away.
A few days later I googled jaw pain and heart pain and called the local ER and they told me I needed to get checked. I had an ekg and some blood work done and it only showed my liver enzymes were elevated. The doctor who saw me had no idea what was going on except bad heartburn. I could maybe understand if I'd eaten something that didn't agree with me but, my stomach was empty. I'm a little bit scared because heart disease and strokes are in both sides of my family. Then today on tv there was a program talking about women and jaw pain and heart attacks. I don't get home for another 3 weeks and then I'll be able to see my primary care.
Oh, one more thing. I'd called the urgent care clinic first and the female Dr. there told me that women my age (52) tend to get ignored when it comes to heart attacks.
Am I just being paranoid? Or do I have a genuine reason to pursue this? Wondering if anyone has had some experience with this. Thanks for reading my long letter.
That IS freaky. Wish you were here because anyone going into ER with chest
I have chest pain like this at times and checked out okay. My dr. said it is from inflammation. I have never had the jaw pain though. If it happens again I'd get to an ER to be sure.
Laker
Hm. I'm not against you getting it checked out - quite the opposite. I think you need to pursue this. BUT I wonder if you panicked. My panic attacks used to start without me even realizing it, and one of the most common things for me was jaw pain, and my face tingling. It's been so bad that I was sure at 19 I was having a full out heart attack. That of course turned out not to be the case, but I had no idea that a panic attack can hit you like that. It's just something to think about. If you were worried that your chest pain could be a heart problem, maybe it caused a mini attack. Either way it's not safe to sit around and guess! Def get yourself checked out. :) Hope its not as serious as it could be. Miles - I really feel for you, as you are describing some of the excruciating pain I have had, and its scares the krap out of you. Suddenly bubbling up from deep inside you with no warning and makes your heart feel like it will explode, and then its gone. No reason, no help, no explanation. A tough place to be, hang in there, because I truly believe mine is heart-related, but the tests keep coming back normal. Which doesn't explain what's wrong, nor relieves your mind when you know something isn't right, and no one will pursue it after a couple of cursury guesses. Keep us informed.Miles...
Did they check your troponin levels? I would definately follow up with your doctor once you get back home OR if it continues, go back to the ER. Demand that they do further testing...cardiac catherization, EKG, Echo, etc.
Keep us informed!
Phats
Miles I agree that you should definately look into it further. Especially with your personal health history and family history. It could be nothing but nonetheless, shouldn't be ignored. Try to relax and take deep breaths so that you don't totally freak yourself out.
Like Katie, I too ended up in the ER one time with one hell of an axiety attack. I seriously thought I was having a heart attack and everyone else around me did too. I have no idea what brought on such powerful attack but it was frightening.
Take care of yourself and if you need to go to ER....just go. Keep us posted as to how you're doing.
Peace & Love...Neasy
Panic attacks tend to start out very strong like that, simply because 9 times out of 10 people don't realize that that's what it is. Once you realize it, you learn to pinpoint them and they get to be less and less like a heart attack.Thank you everyone, for your reply's. I guess it could've been an anxiety attack since I was traveling on one of the most dangerous roads in Oregon. In fact 4 people died on that same highway not far from where I was, on that very same morning although I didn't know it at the time. The pain in my jaw is what got me scared. And I read too much. I don't want to be one of those people who are told the EKG was fine and then a week later they're dead. And I'm holding "Button" all the time and thinking "If I have a heart attack I'm gonna drop this baby" So anyway, thanks for the reassurances. I'll definitely see my Dr. as soon as I get home and I'll make sure I get all the tests I need.
Phats, they did and it was in the normal range. You all take of yourselves!
Could have but you don't know. BE CAREFUL!!!!!!!!!!!! Get yourself checked out. We love ya, you know. ;-)Get yourself checked out!
The symptoms that you mentioned could also possibly be GERD. One morning many years ago my husband woke up and told me he thought he had a heart attack at work the previous day. Chest pain radiating up the left arm into his jaw, the sweating, the whole 9 yards. I immediately called our doc who said get your butt into my office. He did an EKG...we had a stress test...bloodwork...etc. Turns out to be GERD. What happens when you get like an "attack" of reflux it can mimic a heart attack because of the vagal nerve getting inflamed from the attack.
When you said you have had some frequent heartburn this came to mind. Hopefully it is just this or panic attacks.
Take care. Call PCP now so you have an appt set already when you get back.
Miles- I hope you are feeling better, definetly get this checked when you get home. I have been in ER with the same, pain in my jaw and a heavy chest, sweating and feeling nauseaus. Mine was acid reflux but it had me really worried.
Take care
You all don't know how much I depend on you. And Katie, I love you too. I really do. Everyone one of you. I always know someone is here for me and that is priceless. I wish we could all meet someday and just have one big group hug. I am feeling better all the time and that I've blown it out of proportion. I'll still see my Dr. but I feel better already. I value all your advice tremendously. Take care all of you, my dear friends.