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Did you know it's possible to have a heart attack without feeling ill? Neither did I. My heart attack was very strange, and I want to share the story because I so nearly DIDN'T go to the doctor!

Yes, I had a pain in the middle of my chest - but i thought it was in my gullet, maybe a syptom of acid reflux or a bit of heartburn - although I'd not had either before. But it came and went for several days - maybe a week. I took some indigestion remedy, maybe it helped, maybe it didn't.
Then on Friday it came and it didn't go away. So I went shopping, as you do, and bought some Gaviscon. At home I looked at the Gaviscon and thought no, this is silly, I can't keep on taking random stuff in the hope that it will help.

So I googled chest pain, found an NHS site with a questionnaire which I completed - it said "Dial 999" - and I thought, that's just ridiculous! So I phoned the surgery to see if they could fit me in, went to see my GP, and it was clear that my blood pressure was ridiculously high and my pulse was racing so he sent me straight to the assessment ward at Poole. I still didn't really believe it could be a heart attack!

They did an ECG and took blood, and told me I'd be seen by the doctor when the blood tests were back. We were waiting so long, and everyone else had been moved to a ward or gone home, I asked if I'd been forgotten! The nurse explained that the most serious cases had to be dealt with first - fair enough, I understand that. But if I wasn't serious, maybe I should go home and come back for the results tomorrow? (Yes, seriously, Mike and I discussed that as an option!)

The nurse went to get a more senior nurse who said in very strong terms that I really SHOULD NOT go home as the results showed that I really needed to be in hospital! She probably told me more than she should have but she probably saved my life or at least saved me from a serious collapse! I still didn't feel ill !

The moral of this story is - if you have unexplained, persistent symptoms, don't mess about! Call 999 - paramedics can check you out - they won't take you to hospital if you don't need to go, so it's NOT a waste of peoples' time!
And do this questionnaire, and if it says DIAL 999 - just DO IT!

https://www.nhs.uk/symptomcheckers/page ... ndBackPain

There's some more info here about heart attack symptoms in women - which can differ greatly from those in men, and be more difficult to diagnose, although men too can have very few symptoms - one friend tells me he only had a pain in his jaw!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17116820

Good grief, BG; scary indeed! Thanks for sharing your experience. I've let my wife read your post too. I hope that you're recovering well and that all symptoms are now under control.

Another thanks, BG. That made me sit up and take notice...

Thank you for sharing this valuable first hand knowledge.

Good to hear you're on the mend, also.

Top girl BG glad you're back

Glad you are ok Bobbi.

Thanks for the heads up

Hi Bobbi,

Thanks for the insight. As a hypochondriac, no doubt next time I feel a little chest pain i'll think i'm having a heart attack! :P

Seriously though, glad to hear that you are OK and on the mend :)

Dale

Much better to think you are having a heart attack when you're not, than to think you're not when actually, you are!

Cheers BG

I did follow your link to the website for the symptoms checker .... seemed really slow. Then I noticed a link on the page to an app for your phone or tablet.

That strikes me as a great idea - you can then have it available and ready to go whenever needed ..... without having to trek back to wherever your PC is and then find a link to the website.

I guess we all should download the app:
http://apps.nhs.uk/app/nhs-health-and-symptom-checkers/

Wow! That's some situation to find yourself in. Glad you're on the mend.

It is good to hear you are good BG,
I think you may have kicked a bit of ass there girl, good wake up call

Downloaded the app before I'd finished reading the while thing so want to know what I've got so far ?.... Actually looks quite good hope you don't need it again !

Glad you're up and about Bobbi.

My Granddad ignored the warning signs, too much of a hard case to be ill. Then he had a massive heart attack and died on the way to work. I'm all for getting stuff checked.

I'm having a lot of trouble getting my head round recent events - it's really weird to discover you've been seriously ill without ever feeling ill at all!

Thanks for sharing that Bobbi. Good advice for everyone. Glad you are on the mend. We say it a lot on this forum and there are so many people in my life at the moment who are suffering from serious illness that we really should count our blessings and live in the moment.

Look after yourself and look forward to seeing you later in the year.