Well I just had the scare of my life.  I had chest pains off and on for 3 days.  I called my dr and made an apt for 4:20 to look into it and get testing done.  I went to the church and I get a phone call on my cell telling me I need to talk to my dr asap.  She says I am describing classic symtoms of a heart attack.  Doubts that it is since it has been going on for 3 days but wants me to go by ambulance to er and get checked out asap.  Talk about embarasing.  So I go tell my pastor what is up.  Get prayed for and then call 911.  The ambulance came and got me and hooked me all up.  The ER did chest xrays, ekg, stress test, etc and no sign of a heart attack.  YEAH!!  I was given nitroglicerin to stop the chest pain which it did.  The stess test imitated or instigated the chest pains that felt just like I had been feeling all along.  So, then kept me over night for a couple days and sent me home on a heart healthy diet and told me to followup with my dr.  Which I have an apt on Mon. at noon.  I am hoping to get a script for nitro and have an angioplasty scheduled.  We shall see what is done.  I am still feeling the chest pains and heavyness off and on today.  Hopefully it will stop soon.  I get to pick up my son Christopher the Marine at the airport at 4:20 today and am so excited.  

Karla,

I hope you get to the bottom of that pain.  I'm glad you are home but wish you were feeling better.  Keep us posted and know that I will be thinking of you!  Hug your son for me , please!  And thank him for me too!  My son also wants to be a Marine!

Jeannie

Sorry to hear that Karla.  I was given Nitro last month when I was admitted for chest pain, and I learned that Nitro is an awesome, almost perfect trigger for my CH.  Did it do anything to your head?

Karla, that IS a scare!  Hope you can get to the bottom of that pain!!!!! Sending vibes the nitro won't be a problem for the clusters.

And give that marine a hug and a big thanks from me too.  

(((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))

Laurie

What matters most is that you are alive...

Keeping you in my best of thoughts.  

Keep us posted Karla.

I think it's Jimi that has nitro stories . . .or is it Chuck?

Karla - take care and let us know if you need anything.

We'll pray for your health.

Take care of yourself, Karla.
Let us know how you're doing.

Jackie

Karla, sorry to hear about the scare, I hope everything turns out for the best!

hugs,
mel

Hope all will turn out good.

Keep up on it and take care of yourself, Karla.  Happy homecoming for Chris and your family.

Karla, what a scare! You must find out what caused this. Keep us up to speed, ok?

 Barry :)

Glad you got checked out!   Hoping all goes well.

Kelly

Not a great way to spend your day, Karla!  Hope you're feeling better now.  Take good care.


Carol

My goodness!  I hope everything turns out okay!  

Carolyn

Rats Karla. I feel for ya and am glad you're taking care of yourself. I've been scared a couple times but I'm still here with my sickingly sweet disposition... :o

Bet some pills are on the way though..... :-?

Charlie

glad to hear it wasn't an attack!  We'll be praying for you.

Give Christopher a big hug and thank you from  me.

Jerry

Karla, that sounds scary! I hope that you'll soon find out what it's all about. Prayers are on their way...

Sanna

Well I am still having chest pains.  I called my dr and asked for some nitro.  I was told after they looked into my hosptial chart that the dr said I had GERD or an Ulcer. I told them that I had a bleeding ulcer for years in my younger days from drinking and smoking to much.  No way was it an ulcer.  Besides I took tums several times by the handfull and it did nothing for me.   I looked up GERD and no way does that describe what I am feeling.  They prescribed me a medicine to take for it which I will take for 4 days only to tell the dr it didn't help.  The dr also said they thought it was my gallbladder.  Well I explained that my gallbladder had been removed so I knew it wasn't that.  Drs can be so dumb.  I am hoping and praying for more answers and tests to be done on Monday.  Hope your all doing well.  

I’m sorry Karla, gallbladders causing chest pain!!! You might as well be on the ER film set with doc’s like that…

I hope they figure it out without the nitro (if it triggers you) and get ya squared away…

Best, Roland. :-*

Give them a hard time Karla. About every other time I go to an appointment, I have to straighten out my twerp doctors. They're all half my age which means they are too young to have experienced pain. It's hell getting old.

Charlie

Karla - have them check out acid reflux. I spent an afternoon in ER and a night in the hospital wired up to all kinds of monitors with what they thought might be a heart attack (certainly seemed like one when I went to ER), but it turned out to be acid reflux and Tums didn't help. I had to go on some purrdy little purple pills for a while. But my heart was fine (and yes Chuck - I have pictures to PROVE I have one!)

Seriously - that was my first thought when you described your symptoms.

Hope you're all better soon.

Hugs BD

wrote on Dec 14^th, 2008 at 12:25am:

I’m sorry Karla, gallbladders causing chest pain!!! You might as well be on the ER film set with doc’s like that…

Actually Roland, they do.  At least, it did for me.  I had radiated chest pain with mine, it had felt like my lungs collapsed.  Went to the ER and I had a gallstone the size of a grapefruit.  They wanted to do emergency surgery right there to take my gallbladder out, but I told them I wanted to do it the next morning.  I won.;)

Karla, sorry they haven't gotten to the bottom of it yet.  Sometimes these things are a lot of trial and error.  Did they say anything about bad angina?

Sorry to read about what you went through Karla.  Glad it wasn't a heart attack.  Take care.

I followed up with my dr today.  She really thinks it is acid reflux.  Although everything I read on the internet about it convinces me even more that isn't it.  Oh well.  They prescribed me a knew pill to take and said give it a few months and see if it gets better with time.  Ok I will.  I am just so glad it is not my heart.  Yeah!  My Grandmother and sister both have acid reflux so it looks like I am in good company at least.  lol  Thanks guys for all your support.

Karla,

GERD can cause a bunch of strange symptoms including chest pain.

I hope the med that your doctor prescribed will help calm your pain but if it doesn't, promise me that you will get your butt back to the doctor or emergency department.

You mentioned that you are scheduled for an angioplasty.  Has this been canceled since you received the diagnosis of GERD?

And I hope you don't mind me asking but did the doc order blood gas tests for you while you were in the hospital?

yes the angioplasty fell through and was cancelled.  They took tons of blood and even at timed intervals.  What they did with it all I am not sure but I was assured that I did not have a heart attack.  My chloresteral was fine.  And other levels were fine.

I am glad it was not a heart attack, I am glad you are home now.

Sorry it took me so long to post.
Big Hug