Chest pains

[Aurora63]

Thank you all for your kind words. No, I do not want to ignore it, DH is convinced it is nothing, and won't go to the ER...he says it is not bad (which makes me think, why would he bring it up? Trying to make me worry more? ). He isn't having any other symptoms, at least. Anyway, he's taking a nap now (this is normal at this time of night for him) but I am keeping a close eye. I'll force him to go if he complains again.

 

[poohandwendy]

I'll force him to go if he complains again.

Please do, even if you have to call an ambulance to force him to take this seriously.

I am not trying to be alarmist, but 'incapacitated' is very often too late. Don't wait until it turns into that. Seriously.

I also wanted to add that it would not hurt for him to take an aspirin, just in case. (unless he has any known bleeding disorders) That can be helpful if it is heart related.

Again, sending good thoughts your way, I hope he feels better.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

I don't think anybody is snapping - it is just that at the first sign of chest pain, one should be on their way to the ER. The sooner you get to the ER, the less damage to the heart muscle if it is cardiac related.

Be that as it may, if you're not a doctor you shouldn't be giving advice (and if you were a doctor you wouldn't be giving advice on a message forum for fear of liability), and even if doctors were posting, she shouldn't be taking their advice over her DH's own doctor. I'm betting/hoping she was just looking for some supportive words and would not follow forum advice over their family physician's. I'm sure you all have the best of intentions, but realize that everybody's situation is different.

Personally, I started having chest pains after DH quit his job, and since we have no insurance now, there is no way I'm going to the hospital. The bills would make us homeless. Even before, an emergency room visit had a $500 co-pay. No one is going to run to the hospital every time they have a pain at that price! I don't know anyone who can afford that. It's easy to shoot off advice and imaginarily spend other people's money, but reality is different.

 

[poohandwendy]

Be that as it may, if you're not a doctor you shouldn't be giving advice (and if you were a doctor you wouldn't be giving advice on a message forum for fear of liability), and even if doctors were posting, she shouldn't be taking their advice over her DH's own doctor. I'm betting/hoping she was just looking for some supportive words and would not follow forum advice over their family physician's. I'm sure you all have the best of intentions, but realize that everybody's situation is different.

Personally, I started having chest pains after DH quit his job, and since we have no insurance now, there is no way I'm going to the hospital. The bills would make us homeless. Even before, an emergency room visit had a $500 co-pay. No one is going to run to the hospital every time they have a pain at that price! I don't know anyone who can afford that. It's easy to shoot off advice and imaginarily spend other people's money, but reality is different.

I don't know any doctors who would object to anyone suggesting to get chest pains evaluated. And there is no liability in telling someone to be checked by a doctor.

As far as the cost of an ER visit, well...IMHO, much less costly than a trip to the funeral home. And that is the bottom line with chest pain. It cannot be diagnosed at home.

At any rate, the OP never said that money or lack of insurance was an issue. Even if it were, the advice of everyone here...and most medical professions I know is to go to the ER to be evaluated because time is of the essence, if it is a serious problem...and only doctors can tell.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I don't know any doctors who would object to anyone suggesting to get chest pains evaluated. And there is no liability in telling someone to be seen by a doctor.

As far as the cost of an ER visit, well...IMHO, much less costly than a trip to the funeral home. And that is the bottom line with chest pain. It cannot be diagnosed at home.

Exactly! I can tell you as a member of the medical field......I would say to go to the ER and I believe most Doctors would also.

 

[nativetxn]

My husband thought he had indigestion and it was a heart attack. He refused an ambulance and it took all of my strength to get him to a convenience clinic where they did an EKG and diagnosed myocardial infarction.

It is in your husband's best interest to be checked out NOW. If he is having a heart attack he is damaging his heart more by not getting checked out.

My husband waited too long and now has a damaged heart muscle. The physicians also told me that he had apparently had another heart attack that had not been treated. There is nothing that can be done to reverse this damage, now.

I hope that your husband is alright. Please keep us posted and let us know what the doctors say.

Katholyn

 

[Nana Annie]

Be that as it may, if you're not a doctor you shouldn't be giving advice (and if you were a doctor you wouldn't be giving advice on a message forum for fear of liability), and even if doctors were posting, she shouldn't be taking their advice over her DH's own doctor. I'm betting/hoping she was just looking for some supportive words and would not follow forum advice over their family physician's. I'm sure you all have the best of intentions, but realize that everybody's situation is different.

Personally, I started having chest pains after DH quit his job, and since we have no insurance now, there is no way I'm going to the hospital. The bills would make us homeless. Even before, an emergency room visit had a $500 co-pay. No one is going to run to the hospital every time they have a pain at that price! I don't know anyone who can afford that. It's easy to shoot off advice and imaginarily spend other people's money, but reality is different.

Since you directly quoted me, I feel I need to respond.

Nobody here is dispensing medical information. Everybody is saying - see a doctor to determine what it is. I resent your tone that I even attempted to override the OP's physician. In fact, if you actually read all the posts, you would see that the OP has not yet contacted their physcian. Which is why most everybody here has suggested that they do so. To get a medical opinion on what may be happening.

As for going to the poorhouse to check out a problem that could potentially be fatal - I don't know where you live, but in our area there is a major hospital that takes uninsured people on a sliding scale. Other hospitals in our area will work with somebody on a sliding scale. I am sorry you are living with chest pains, but perhaps there are free clinics in your area that somebody in your position could visit to make sure they are not experiencing cardiac problems. I know they exist in our area. There are options out there if you look for them.

I am not spending other people's money. And the reality is that chest pain can lead to death. Not always, but enough times to make one be proactive about it.

Again - the only advice that is being given here is to seek medical advice. Nobody has said the OP's husband is actually having a heart attack. Nobody is dispensing medical advice. They are suggesting the seeking of medical advice. Completely different!

Enough Said.

Edited to add:
Did a google search on Free Clinics for Sonoma County and came up with this:

Berkeley Free Clinic
2339 Durant Avenue
Berkeley, California 94704
Telephone
510-548-2570 or 800-625-4642

Pixie Dust - if you really are having chest pains, the same advice goes for you too - please, please check it out. It is not something to ignore. And just think - if you find out it is stress, then it will be one less thing to worry about!

 

[Nana Annie]

And if anybody doubts that the advice here to seek medical attention quickly is erronous - this is directly from the American Heart Association website:

Act in Time
The American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute have launched a new "Act in Time" campaign to increase people's awareness of heart attack and the importance of calling 9-1-1 immediately at the onset of heart attack symptoms. Find the links here.


Dial 9-1-1 Fast
Heart attack and stroke are life-and-death emergencies -- every second counts. If you see or have any of the listed symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1. Not all these signs occur in every heart attack or stroke. Sometimes they go away and return. If some occur, get help fast! Today heart attack and stroke victims can benefit from new medications and treatments unavailable to patients in years past. For example, clot-busting drugs can stop some heart attacks and strokes in progress, reducing disability and saving lives. But to be effective, these drugs must be given relatively quickly after heart attack or stroke symptoms first appear. So again, don't delay -- get help right away!


Statistics
Coronary heart disease is America's No. 1 killer. Stroke is No. 3 and a leading cause of serious disability. That's why it's so important to reduce your risk factors, know the warning signs, and know how to respond quickly and properly if warning signs occur.

Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

If you or someone you're with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don't wait longer than a few minutes (no more than 5) before calling for help. Call 9-1-1... Get to a hospital right away.

Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services staff can begin treatment when they arrive -- up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. The staff are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too.

If you can't access the emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away. If you're the one having symptoms, don't drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option.



www.americanheart.org

 

[2BigKIdz]

IMO- if he won't go to the hospital tonight atleast get him to call his private physician in the morning and discuss this. Knowing men, if he was bothered by it enough to mention it then he is concerned.

As to financial- I know both hospitals in this area (state funded and private) allow for payments on hospital bills, and you are not expected to pay anything up front, always bill insurance and if not insurance then a bill is sent to your home and you make arrangements with them how you will pay.

Sorry if this offends anyone, but when it's a choice between life or death, I choose life and will deal with the price however I have to.

 

[poohandwendy]

Bumping for an update? Hoping everything is ok with your DH.

 

[Nana Annie]

Another bump

Please let us know how your husband is doing this morning

Prayers that everything is ok!

 

[poohandwendy]

Btw, NanaAnnie...thank you for posting all of the heart related information. If it only saves one life...

 

[Snow Dog Mom]

I'll add to this.

I hope your DH is ok. At the age of 30 I was having chest pains and didn't know why. I didn't want to go to the ER since I worked there! I ended up having a problem with the electrical part of my heart that required a pacemaker. I would go to your regular doctor and get it checked out.

Kim

 

[goofy!]

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