Chest pain - wwyd? **Update post #10**

[Artichokie]

Background:

Thursday of last week I had one day of elevated blood pressure (130/87) and dizziness and I went into my midwives and they did a bunch of blood work and everything was normal. They said to just take it easy and that worked pretty well over the weekend. The midwives told me that if anything got worse, to see my GP or go to urgent care.

Yesterday morning when I got out of bed in the morning I discovered that I had a horrible stabbing pain in my chest on the left side. It hurt the most when I took a deep breath or laid on my right side. The only way to make it stop hurting was to lie on my left side with my body curled in. I spent all day yesterday in this position as much as possible and all night long. This morning I was prepared to go into urgent care (I don't have a GP) and the chest pains are gone. I have a little bit of a cough (tickle in my throat) and when I take a deep breath it still a little hurts, but otherwise I feel fine.

So the question is, WWYD? I really don't want to go into urgent care - I don't even want to think about all the germs I would be exposed to there. Plus, I really don't want xrays, etc. Yuck! And I feel pretty much back to normal now - still slightly dizzy but I am 29 week pregnant being slightly dizzy isn't too uncommon. OTOH, yesterday and last night were truly awful. It hurt so much and while I want to assume it is just baby positioning and smooshing of organs, I can't help but worry a little about what COULD be causing the pain.

Do I go to urgent care or wait and see?

[WifeofAnt]

Are you sure its not heartburn? I got totally embarrassed a few years back by freaking out about chest pain that was actually just the first time I had heartburn.

[Artichokie]

Originally Posted by WifeofAnt

Are you sure its not heartburn? I got totally embarrassed a few years back by freaking out about chest pain that was actually just the first time I had heartburn.

Nope! Not sure at all. The only heart burn I've ever had involved a burning in my throat and was no where near my heart. This felt like someone was stabbing me all the way through the left breast and into my back and twisting the knife (or so I imagine). But now it is gone. In fact it doesn't even hurt with a deep breath now. Dr. Google says it could also be my gall bladder although I can't imagine why it would be hanging out under my left breast.

FWIW the baby is high and was transverse last I checked. I imagine she's using my left lung as a pillow, frankly.

I just don't want to ignore something horrible and rare like a blood clot or, idk, an enlarged heart or something. That would put a serious crimp in my holiday plans.

[Bethusila]

A few days before I found out I was pregnant, I went to the ER for severe chest pain. I'd been having it in the evenings for a few days. Turns out it was heartburn, and also I was having quite a bit of anxiety over it which didn't help. I had a chest xray, EKG, the works. I did tell them there was a possibility I was preg, and they put the apron thing over my belly.

I still get the pain every once in a while but taking a couple Tums usually does the trick.

I can't say that what you're experiencing is what I experienced, because I had the worst problems when I was laying down, which is a big heartburn indicator. IMO, it's always better to be safe than sorry. If it happens again, I'd get it checked out.

[Tumble Bumbles]

I just don't want to ignore something horrible and rare like a blood clot or, idk, an enlarged heart or something. That would put a serious crimp in my holiday plans.

Love your sense of humor about it!

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it unless it occured again, then I would do something in fairly short order. How in tune are you with your body/instincts? I think I'm well in tune with mine so if I felt everything was okay and instinctively felt it was baby's positioning/freak heartburn, that's what I'd do. I tend to be a Pollyanna though, so take it for what it's worth.

[Artichokie]

Originally Posted by Bethusila

A few days before I found out I was pregnant, I went to the ER for severe chest pain. I'd been having it in the evenings for a few days. Turns out it was heartburn, and also I was having quite a bit of anxiety over it which didn't help. I had a chest xray, EKG, the works. I did tell them there was a possibility I was preg, and they put the apron thing over my belly.

I still get the pain every once in a while but taking a couple Tums usually does the trick.

I can't say that what you're experiencing is what I experienced, because I had the worst problems when I was laying down, which is a big heartburn indicator. IMO, it's always better to be safe than sorry. If it happens again, I'd get it checked out.

Thank you for this! I think I will go in if it comes back but not go in w/me feeling okay right now.

Originally Posted by Tumble Bumbles

Love your sense of humor about it!

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it unless it occured again, then I would do something in fairly short order. How in tune are you with your body/instincts? I think I'm well in tune with mine so if I felt everything was okay and instinctively felt it was baby's positioning/freak heartburn, that's what I'd do. I tend to be a Pollyanna though, so take it for what it's worth.

I am very in tune with my instincts. Normally the correct answer is to the do opposite of what my brain is screaming at me to do. I'm traditionally a worrier. I'm trying very hard to have a low key pregnancy, though, and am trying to learn to trust that all will be okay. I guess I don't want to overcorrect and ignore something serious.

[annettemarie]

OMGosh, I was actually in the ER for this last night! I knew it wasn't a heart attack, but I've had elevated blood pressure, low iron, and low potassium. So I went in. I was not having a heart attack, but an ER is a crappy place to get a diagnosis. As far as I can tell it was either (a) some sort of weird residual gall bladder pain even though I had mine out in '02, (b) somehow related to the low iron or (c) an anxiety attack. It happened a few more times today and I noticed it often immediately followed a back spasm.

[2goingon2]

I had pain like this several years ago (wasn't pregnant at the time) that landed me in the ER. Turns out it was reflux which according to the staff, can mimic heart attacks. They told me better safe than sorry because I too was embarrassed but let me tell you...that was some wicked pain.

With this pregnancy I have had some similar chest pains though not as severe as the first go 'round. They eventually pass but maybe like another poster said, Tums would help. I take a generic pepcid-type pill twice a day. It helps some but yesterday I was bothered and I think it's because what I ate for breakfast just sat on my stomach which is oh...about 5 inches below my mouth at 32 weeks pregnant.

It is miserable and scary but perhaps you should get it checked out if it happens again or sit up instead of lying down. I think you should also consider your gall bladder. I had a gall bladder attack in 2006 that was another trip to the ER and after an u/s...found it was chock full of stones. I had it removed and haven't had pain like that since.

Good luck whatever you decide. Hope you don't have any more 'attacks' of any type!

[Artichokie]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

OMGosh, I was actually in the ER for this last night! I knew it wasn't a heart attack, but I've had elevated blood pressure, low iron, and low potassium. So I went in. I was not having a heart attack, but an ER is a crappy place to get a diagnosis. As far as I can tell it was either (a) some sort of weird residual gall bladder pain even though I had mine out in '02, (b) somehow related to the low iron or (c) an anxiety attack. It happened a few more times today and I noticed it often immediately followed a back spasm.

Hugs! I'm sorry you had to go through that and still don't have answers. Maybe my update will be of some help to you, too.

Originally Posted by 2goingon2

I had pain like this several years ago (wasn't pregnant at the time) that landed me in the ER. Turns out it was reflux which according to the staff, can mimic heart attacks. They told me better safe than sorry because I too was embarrassed but let me tell you...that was some wicked pain.

With this pregnancy I have had some similar chest pains though not as severe as the first go 'round. They eventually pass but maybe like another poster said, Tums would help. I take a generic pepcid-type pill twice a day. It helps some but yesterday I was bothered and I think it's because what I ate for breakfast just sat on my stomach which is oh...about 5 inches below my mouth at 32 weeks pregnant.

It is miserable and scary but perhaps you should get it checked out if it happens again or sit up instead of lying down. I think you should also consider your gall bladder. I had a gall bladder attack in 2006 that was another trip to the ER and after an u/s...found it was chock full of stones. I had it removed and haven't had pain like that since.

Good luck whatever you decide. Hope you don't have any more 'attacks' of any type!

I had gall bladder issues w/my last pregnancy so this could be a contributing factor for sure. Has anyone tried homeopathic remedies for this? My midwife suggested papaya enzyme I think?

[Artichokie]

**UPDATE**

So, the pain came back. I had a chiro appointment and I mentioned the pain to him and he did some poking and some prodding and said something about a rib and a vertebrae being out of whack. He adjusted me in a new way and the pain has now been gone for more than 24 hours! My chest is a little sore where he used some sort of weird metal tool on my ribs, but the stabbing pain is GONE. I am so relieved! Thank you to everyone who chimed in with suggestions/opinions. I really appreciate it.

[2goingon2]

So glad you are feeling better! My chiro used that weird metal thing on me too once. Can't think of what it's called at the moment but at any rate - hurray for you!