Chest pains...
 

posted 3rd October 2004 19:18
This may seem an odd request but...

Someone close to me is suffering the following signs and symptoms, I have offered my professional opinion on the potential diagnosis and risks but they chose to ignore my advise and refuse to have any tests/investigation due to fear of hospitals/doctors.... so asking for independent and non biased replies.

-24 yrs old female.
-history of overdose of various medications in past.
-fits, mostly tonic clonic type which are now mostly controlled by medication but occasion fits during night and fairly regular 'twitches' of limbs.
-almost continous chest pain - won't specify where it is or what type, but is severe at times and fairly constant, getting worse over time.
-pain increased on exercise/stress.
-some shortness of breath.
-dizzyness.
-nausea.
-fainting.
-pulse rates of between 46 and 149.
-refuses to allow BP to be taken but radial pulse often not paltable.
-sometimes pale and sweaty.
-extreme tiredness.
-mood swings.
-apparently NAD on ecg/mri/eeg.

Suggestions please so I can print and show her the thread and encourage her to seek help...

PW

Not sure if my professional opinion is any more convincing than yours but it would be to go and see a doctor.

the sweating and dizziness suggest that it is heart related. Get it seen to by a doctor ASAP.

This probably isn't the answer due to the age situation. However.. it might help someone.. My wife, who has always been rock-stable and never known anxiety suddenly went down with scary symptoms - bad chest pain which extended up her neck, trouble breathing, ashen skin... and extreme terror. Paramedics were called and rushed her to A&E. ECG and blood tests revealed no heart problem and it was put down to a panic attack, which she had never had in her life. The attacks occurred several times more, accompanied by severe depression, but we were able to deal with them knowing that they were not life-threatening, but still scary. After various blood tests over a period of several months it was eventually established that she had a hormone deficiency.

A change to her HRT dose totally cured the problem. Please get help - it might be something which can be sorted quite easily.

Sounds like it could be angina, despite apparent youth. I'm not overweight or a heavy drinker/smoker but suffered a heart attack three years ago, aged 36. I'm only here today thanks to having a mate who is a paramedic and who was on duty conveniently close at the time. I was 'dead' for three minutes and so, so lucky. Looking back it was obvious I had suffered angina for weeks previously but it never entered my mind at the time - because of my age I just presumed I'd become unfit . Hopefully this is summat else but please do make sure she gets it checked out. She's nowt to lose but a couple of minutes with the doc.

Look, I understand about fear of doctors and hospitals. Getting scared of what's wrong isn't going to help her overcome that. If you really want to help, can't you find a friend who's a doctor, or somehow arrange for her to see someone in a non-threatening situation, ie NOT a doctor's surgery or a hospital!!!!

Pilotwolf, not one for the internet I'm afraid.

Already your getting different opinions, which could actually make your friend more anxious about her symptoms.

Prodding and poking, blood tests etc can be frightening, but It sounds like your friend may be helped by a friendly doc exploring her idea's and concerns, and ruling out problems, rather than finding them.

Use all your persuasive influence !

Thanks everyone for input so far.

All of the things suggested here I have already considered and cannot rule out without futher in hospital tests - this is what she will NOT do no matter what I or anyone else say. Any mention of it results in an argument or the subject being changed.

I accept she is scared of what may be found out , I am too - despite 15 yrs as a paramedic I still hate needles....

She had to attend GP yesterday for chest infection and GP refused to accept that there is anything wrong despite her barely being able to walk up the stairs to the surgery and having a pulse rate of around 140 before going in and still having chest pain. Was given antibiotics following GP listening to chest, no BP, no ECG, no follow up.

Despite the fact that I consider this is potentially negligent she won't complain about GP as i think they have told her so many times that theres nothing wrong she is starting to believe it. I tried making a fuss and simple got told that as I wasn't the patient it was open for discussion. It is difficult for me to do anything without causing her more problems.

PW

Pilotwolf, what's your diagnosis and differentials? Why is the GP wrong? I think I picked up elsewhere you are a paramedic, so your skillset is going to be excellent for certain types of patient, and I'm thinking she has a problem you might not manage that often.

PS, you might think twice about showing your friend this thread, there has already been one diagnosis of dubious merit, and you don't want to make her worse!