Chest pains and feeling confused and light headed
Chest pains and feeling confused and light headed
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Stupeo

Original Poster:

1,343 posts

222 months

Monday 4th March 2013
quotequote all
I am just looking for a bit of PH advice. I’ll keep it short.

On Thursday, I was asked to pop my head in to a meeting – I literally jumped up off my desk and walked about 20 steps to the meeting room. Whilst in the meeting room (I was stood up with my arms folded) I could feel my heart beating really fast and strongly like it was going to pop out of my chest. This lasted for about 5-10 minutes.

For the remainder of the day on Thursday, I had pain in my chest (under my left nipple) and it felt sore to touch. I also kept feeling quite light headed and had occasional ‘confused’ spells. I decided to call NHS Direct who told me to get up to A&E ASAP (they wanted to call me an ambulance but I didn’t think it was required).

Anyway, I spent 5 hours at A&E – I had an ECG, Blood test and X-Ray. They couldn’t find anything wrong with me. At first they suspected Pneumothorax but the X-Ray didn’t show anything so they put it down to muscular pain. I thought fair enough.

Over the course of Friday and Saturday I felt really weird – light headed/dizzy and really confused. I just couldn’t think straight. I had an early night on Saturday and felt a bit better yesterday but still not 100%.

Today, back at work the pain across the top of my chest and it’s also sore to touch under my right ‘moob’/nipple. I feel quite confused and can’t think straight. I also can’t seem to easily focus on things. I kind of feel drunk but not. I also think my sense of touch is not as strong as it should be – but this can be all in my head.

I’ve been under a great deal of stress lately, changing jobs, money worries etc. Could this be caused by anxiety or stress?

Should I get back up to A&E this evening if things don’t improve? My GP has not appointments left! Anyone had anything similar?

I am only 25 yrs old. I'm not ultra fit but up until about 3 weeks ago I was training 2-3 times a week.

Thanks.

TheD

3,142 posts

228 months

Monday 4th March 2013
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I had similar and it was put down to being anxious and stressed. Even though we don't realise it, situations arise where these kick in. I thought I was easy going and never really got stressed but it seems my brain thinks different.

vescaegg

30,116 posts

196 months

Monday 4th March 2013
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If say yes most definitely go and probably before this evening too. People on pistonheads will have no idea what is wrong with you as none of us are you. If you are concerned go see someone who knows what they are talking about.

SebastienClement

1,952 posts

169 months

Monday 4th March 2013
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Your symptoms certainly do fit with anxiety. I've had a long battle with it,m and it absolutely CAN convince you you're dying - quite literally.

However, dismissing it as anxiety without proper and full investigation wouldn't be good.

goldblum

10,272 posts

196 months

Monday 4th March 2013
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My guess is you strained a bit of your chest standing up quickly, and the lightheadedness is epinephrine (adrenaline) brought on by stress.

simonspider

1,327 posts

278 months

Monday 4th March 2013
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Had almost identical story. Also went to A&E with the same clear results. Am still getting dizzy spells weeks on and all over muscular pains as well as back pain and chest pains. Doc now doing blood tests for viral infection (I had a bad dose of flu over Christmas).Never had anxiety attacks till now but as a previous poster put then I simply convince myself I'm dying.
Havent been ill in 15 years apart from the flu at Christmas. Like the OP I've been up to my neck in stress too so fingers crossed its that or viral

muon

814 posts

169 months

Monday 4th March 2013
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Yeah it sounds like stress/anxiety. I hope you feel better soon.

jonah35

3,940 posts

186 months

Monday 4th March 2013
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This sounds like anxiety.

Do not read up on it too much as it could make you more anxious.

Did you have a heavy drinking session up to a week before you felt like that. Could be alcohol withdrawal induced.

Also, caffeine/caffeine withdrawal wont help.

Stupeo

Original Poster:

1,343 posts

222 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
quotequote all
Thanks all.

I went back to the hospital last night as the chest pains was getting worse. A lot worse.

It turns out, I am suffering from anxiety. The A&E doctor said that from the moment he saw me he could tell I had a lot of stress and apparently I look drained and tired. Anyway, another ECG and Chest X-Ray confirmed i was physically OK.

I honestly can't believe it. I feel like an idiot for wasting the time of the people at A&E (twice!) and for not noticing the signs earlier. I have obviously overdone it lately so need to take some time out before I start my new job in three weeks.

Thanks everyone.

mad4amanda

2,410 posts

193 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
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Whats your caffiene intake like?
tea
coffee
coke
red bull
others?
switch to drinking water or green tea for a while and see if it makes a difference , it does for me !

Stupeo

Original Poster:

1,343 posts

222 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
quotequote all
mad4amanda said:
Whats your caffiene intake like?
tea
coffee
coke
red bull
others?
switch to drinking water or green tea for a while and see if it makes a difference , it does for me !
I normally have 2 cups of coffee a day (both before lunch) and a cup of tea around 14:00. That's been the same for years.

I'll give it a shot though at cutting back. Thanks.

SebastienClement

1,952 posts

169 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
quotequote all
Stupeo said:
Thanks all.

I went back to the hospital last night as the chest pains was getting worse. A lot worse.

It turns out, I am suffering from anxiety. The A&E doctor said that from the moment he saw me he could tell I had a lot of stress and apparently I look drained and tired. Anyway, another ECG and Chest X-Ray confirmed i was physically OK.

I honestly can't believe it. I feel like an idiot for wasting the time of the people at A&E (twice!) and for not noticing the signs earlier. I have obviously overdone it lately so need to take some time out before I start my new job in three weeks.

Thanks everyone.
At least your mind is comparatively at rest though. Anxiety is incredible. When I was growing up I had a "it's all in the mind" attitude to Anxiety and didn't see why people made such a fuss over it. 4 years ago I ended up having continuous panic attacks - How's that for karma?!

As I said previously you have my absolute sympathy - they can make you feel horrible. I can remember being on the floor absolutely convinced I was dying. Nothing more than anxiety.

If there's any way I can help, ping me a PM through my profile - otherwise you have my best wishes!

BlackVanDyke

9,932 posts

240 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
quotequote all
Stupeo said:
Thanks all.

I went back to the hospital last night as the chest pains was getting worse. A lot worse.

It turns out, I am suffering from anxiety. The A&E doctor said that from the moment he saw me he could tell I had a lot of stress and apparently I look drained and tired. Anyway, another ECG and Chest X-Ray confirmed i was physically OK.

I honestly can't believe it. I feel like an idiot for wasting the time of the people at A&E (twice!) and for not noticing the signs earlier. I have obviously overdone it lately so need to take some time out before I start my new job in three weeks.

Thanks everyone.
It's definitely not a waste of time at A&E - you and they both need to establish that there's nothing else going on. Please don't feel bad on that account. Like most of the UK's adult population I'd bet you aren't really getting enough sleep and happily that's a relatively easy one to improve for most people - try allowing yourself an extra couple of hours a night, chances are you'll feel better than you have in years!

Stupeo

Original Poster:

1,343 posts

222 months

Wednesday 17th July 2013
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Just a quick update for all the people who posted in this thread.

I started a new job on the 2nd April - and literally on that day I started feeling much much better. I've put all the anxiety down to the stress of leaving a stable job etc to join a new start-up company.

Three months on, I've not had any of the symptoms since!

I am amazed at what the brain can do and I'll never judge people who say they suffer from anxiety ever again!