Jst been to the Doctor with Chest Pain and a numbing Left arm...

T

TheWho

New member
I have a pain in my chest (upper left hand near my heart) and my left arm has pins and needles especially my hand. He listened to my hear and breathing then asked if it worstens at any particular time. I said yes, it got worse after lunch. He then perscribed me a stomach acid suppressant and sent me for an x-ray but said that it wont be a heart problem as I am 26....

My gripe is these seem to be symptoms of heart problems. My dad died last year and he had 2 blocked ventricals and hardened arteries. The doctor did not ask anything about my diet/excersie/drug use etc.

Am I over reacting? I now don't have a clue what is wrong with me and have to wait a week for the x-ray results.
 
Let me give another example. After this example, I will run out of ER examples because in my whole life I only went to the ER twice. :)

This example shows how tests or X-rays cannot always be counted on to take the place of or improve on experience. This was another Sunday event. I went to the ER because I found a suspicious lump on my lower ankle/foot. I thought it might be cancer. The doctor at the ER took countless X-rays. In other worRAB, from many different angles. After looking at the X-rays he said it didn't look like cancer but it would be a good idea to remove it just to play it safe. He told me he could do it and gave me his card.

Still worried about it, I made an appointment to see a general practicioner in a private practice. The doctor turned out to be an older doctor who was close to retirement. Needless to say he had a (working) lifetime of experience. He took one look at it and said, "that's a pseudotumer. It looks like a tumor, feels like a tumor, but it's not a tumor. If you will wait about one week, it will go away by itself." Of course I was doubtful because it sounded too good to be true. I asked him how he could possibly know that just by looking at it and he said, "experience". And sure enough, I went home and the tumor disappeared within a few days. The bill was $25 dollars which I paid in cash.

I don't remeraber the exact amount of the ER bill but it was about $200 or $250. So more testing does not always yield better results. It's the doctor's experience that counts.

As a matter of fact, the old doctor told me that an operation on my foot could have done more harm than good because there are a lot of very small delicate bones in that area.
 
Here's one more story! It's a true story and you might even remeraber reading about it or seeing it in the news. It was almost a year ago that Rush Lirabaugh went to the emergency room because of chest pains. They quickly checked him over and said that they didn't think he was having a heart attack. But then, to play it safe, they suggested that he stay overnight for observation and testing (MRI?) the next day.

After giving him every possible test they could think of, they said there was no sign of heart disease. They think it might have been an artery spasm.

He later said that it only cost him about the price of a new car. Did he mean the price of a new luxury sedan? I don't know but it sounRAB like it must have cost him a lot of money.

I think the hospital saw him coming, recognized him, and saw dollar signs.
 
I don't think you're overreacting, no. I'm actually surprised your doctor didn't take it more seriously. Did you go to the ER or to your normal doctor? The reason I ask is the ER will typically take a heart issue VERY seriously. I had what seemed to be heart attack symptoms in Septeraber and they did an EKG, Cat Scan, Chest x-ray, Blood tests and urine tests on me. At the very minimum I would probably request the blood work and the EKG, which should tell them if you've had a heart attack. Your age is irrelevant if you've got symptoms and are in a high risk category due to family history.
 
If I had Rush Lirabaugh's money, I'd have asked for every possible test to ease my mind. It is possible they ran all those tests because he asked them to do every test to rule out a heart problem. He's overweight, he smokes, he's had a drug problem in the past, he suffered from chronic pain and he has a stressful job. When you add all that up, a potential heart problem wasn't unlikely.
 
I totally agree with Eagle. No matter what your age an EKG, maybe an Echo and blood work at least should have been done. If it persists, go to the ER.

Four weeks ago my husband had on and off indigestion for 3 days and slight pressure in his chest. I asked if he wanted to get it checked out, he said no he would take some antacid pills and rest, that was on a saturday. When I got up sunday he was sitting on the end of the bed as he said he felt better sitting up. I then proceeded to tell him to get dressed we were going to the VA ER. While there he also admitted he had some jaw pain, never told me that!!

After tests were done they said he would be admitted for observation. Well monday they said he needed 2 arteries cleaned out as he had blockage, so they did it and put in 2 stents. Dr. told me he had a very mild heart attack and God forbid he ever complains like that again, do NOT listen to him to wait, just call 911 and get him to the VA PRONTO!!

No he isn't 26 but anything that feels like it is heart related should be checked out thoroughly to rule it out. I hope yours is only acid related but do NOT let it go if you don't feel any better. Good luck...JJ
 
i'm a little surprised that the doctor didn't at least take an EKG, which is usually done in the office. did he know about your family history (your dad)?

hopefully it is just acid/reflux, and the acid suppressant will do the trick

edited to add - i just noticed the date of your post was dec 10th. what did the x-ray reveal?
 
Doctors often observe more than we realize but they don't have the time to explain everything in detail. For example, a nurse probably took your blood pressure before the doctor came in to examine you. She probably checked your weight too. He used a stethoscope to listen to your heart and breathing. Did he shine a light to examine your eyes? And he noted that your problem gets worse after lunch. Your age was just one thing out of many. I think he probably had all the information he needed and the x-ray was just an added precaution.

About 30 years ago, I went to the emergency room on Sunday because I was having a chest pain and it seemed to be radiating up into my neck. I was convinced I was having a heart attack. Well, when I saw the doctor, he asked me a few simple questions and said, "you're not having a heart attack".
There was no x-ray, no tests at all and he didn't recommend that I take anything. It took him no more than about 3 minutes to figure this out.

So what did I do? I went home happy to know that I wasn't having a heart attack. I never ever had a heart attack and I'm healthier now than I have ever been. :)

If you insist on worrying, check your diet and make sure you're not overeating. Make sure you're not eating those fooRAB that are high in saturated fat. Get rid of anything that contains added sugar, salt or refined white flour. Eat lots of healthy whole fooRAB like fruits and vegetables.
 
I'm glad you said that was 30 years ago because that kind of treatment in an ER today would be totally unacceptable.
 
And this is how patients contribute to the high cost of healthcare. We like to blame everything on the greedy insurance companies, the greedy physicians, the greedy drug companies, but patients are also accountable for this mess.

The cost of unnecessary, uncalled for diagnostic testing is part of what's put healthcare in the US out of reach for many. Physicians know that MRI is NOT the best diagnostic tool for every condition and for others, routine xrays are just as good and cost 75% less. But patients walk into treatment centers, doctors offices and emergency rooms insisting that they know they need an MRI. Really?

They accuse the physician or facility of substandard care if they don't get one and then they complain about the high cost of healthcare.
 
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