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NFT: Anyone Get tightness in the chest? I went to the ER ..

DennyInDenville : 3/6/2018 9:16 pm
I was having Chest Tightness and a little dizzyness , severe anxiety (brought on by the tightness) some mild heartburn and I had light intermittent pains in my back

Google freaked me the fuck out when I googled the chest tightness and kind of made me discover the dizyness and back pain. (Anxiety?)

Anyways , I drive myself to the ER and say my chest has tightness but I'm
Not sure I wanna be seen etc etc it might be nothing

Bam they say nope please allow us, I get VIP status treatment, get an EKG.. wait like 25 mins and the doctor says I'm
All good skin looks good, face looks fine no swelling in neck and says to stop smoking cigarettes and that they caused the pains through the lungs.. really? Wouldn't I know If it was lungs? . no blood work or anything.

Is that normal to not get the blood work done? I did have the ekg. My chest is still tight btw but not bad nor was it ever super bad ...

Anyways if I die tonight you'll know why.

Any doctors here concur? Anyone else go through this scare?

I'm quitting smoking this week. That's it.
Also I recently started working out cardio and lifting weights  
DennyInDenville : 3/6/2018 9:18 pm : link
Idk if maybe the lifting can cause the tightness feeling
.  
arcarsenal : 3/6/2018 9:23 pm : link
I dealt with something similar - I had been feeling tightness like that for a while and I was getting worried, so I went to the doc.

EKG was fine, my BP is normal, nothing came up in my bloodwork.

I've actually had it again recently but nothing suggests it's a heart issue or something to be too concerned with.

I'm pretty sure it's just muscular. My neck and back are also really tight - it's the way I sleep and the way I sit while I'm working.

I've been foam rolling a lot lately and it's helped to loosen things up a bit.

I'd definitely quit smoking and get regular exercise, but you're probably alright.
RE: Also I recently started working out cardio and lifting weights  
arcarsenal : 3/6/2018 9:24 pm : link
In comment 13852734 DennyInDenville said:
Quote:
Idk if maybe the lifting can cause the tightness feeling


This is probably it - you may have just not stretched enough and tweaked something. There are a ton of small muscles in that area. Could just be a really mild pull or strain.
Listen carefully  
BocaGene : 3/6/2018 9:26 pm : link
Ask around for a good cardiologist and go see him/her. EKGs are OK but, it sounds like you may need a stress test.

No, I am not a MD but I just had an abnormal EKG as a cardio clearance for a thumb operation.

This year I will be 70 years old. I hike, I ride my recumbent bike 5x a week...today for two hours. I saw a cardiologist once in my life four years ago. The guy ordered a calcium imaging test and said I will probably never see him again. He said here take a lowest dose statin for shits & giggles.

Last week I had a stress echo ultrasound. I got my BP up to 200/160 and my HR to 200. Tomorrow, I see the cardiologist for a followup. The abnormal EKG indicated a possible ischemic event even though I did not have any symtoms (like you did) of a heart attack. I look forward to tomorrow to see what he says.

Thanks Arc , thanks for sharing  
DennyInDenville : 3/6/2018 9:26 pm : link
It's good to read of similar stories and situations

Google forced heart attack down my throat and made me believe I might be having one and my panic attack sky rocketed , the things you mentioned I know, but it really is great to read it again and see others talk about it and their stories with it surviving 100%.

I definitely concur. Thanks again for sharing
This  
Rolyrock : 3/6/2018 9:28 pm : link
Scare should single its time to try to quite smoking. I'm a ex smoker and every time I have a cough, chest cold I think this could be on set of a terrible lung disease. Smoking also causes heart attacks, and be the cause of the tightness. Any way I'm glad the doctor said your OK. I have a physical done every year, it gives you a piece of mind.
.  
arcarsenal : 3/6/2018 9:29 pm : link
Yeah, don't google symptoms - sites like WebMD basically get you from a head cold to cancer in 2 clicks.

If it persists for a while longer, I'd probably follow up with my GP. Try to spend a little more time warming up and stretching before lifting.

Stretching first thing in the morning is a great way to get your circulation moving as well.

Good luck.
BocaGene, thank you for sharing that info  
DennyInDenville : 3/6/2018 9:31 pm : link
I like your thinking and I'm certainly going to do that for peace of mind very soon, might as well clear my conscience of it.

Arc- I sure hope so man. If it's just right from the weights that would be amazing.

Stop smoking NOW!  
Giant John : 3/6/2018 9:31 pm : link
It will best the best gift you ever gave yourself. One hour at a time. Hard candies may help. Good luck...
You have a GREAT cardiologist in Mt Arlington  
Giant John : 3/6/2018 9:34 pm : link
Dr Barry Lowell. 973-770-7899
I  
AcidTest : 3/6/2018 9:36 pm : link
hope you and everyone else is OK. Best wishes.
RE: You have a GREAT cardiologist in Mt Arlington  
DennyInDenville : 3/6/2018 9:38 pm : link
In comment 13852749 Giant John said:
Quote:
Dr Barry Lowell. 973-770-7899

Thank you for sharing that. I'll be scheduling a full checkup and stress test for absolute peace of mind.

Big lifestyle changes coming, no smoking. More cardio, and much better foods.

Thanks everyone for the great responses , makes me feel better
Prayers  
uconngiant : 3/6/2018 9:39 pm : link
I hope things get better for you as those episodes are scary as heck
Has happened to me - want to pay 1000$ for an MRI?  
mattlawson : 3/6/2018 9:56 pm : link
Could be anxiety, stress induced particularly if you changed to working out differently or more. I got an ocular migraine a couple years ago and freaked out. Lost vision in one eye briefly. Posted on here.

High blood pressure meds, needed to get an updated glasses prescription and wear them all the time, lost weight, cut out drinking for a bit.

Doing much better now on a very low dose bp med. trying to keep the weight off. Watch excessive alcohol.
The see a cardiologist  
UESBLUE : 3/6/2018 9:57 pm : link
advice is the best you can get. And stay away from Google/WebMd etc. Reading those symptoms would give anyone a heart attack.
RE: You have a GREAT cardiologist in Mt Arlington  
giantsFC : 3/7/2018 12:45 am : link
In comment 13852749 Giant John said:
Quote:
Dr Barry Lowell. 973-770-7899


I also suggest seeing this cardiologist or at the LEAST your primary care physician as a follow up. ECG may not show everything & ER exams often lead to misdiagnoses. ER great for saving you but nit the best for evaluations of ailments,

It’s prob nothing serious but if you are this worried it’s time to get checked p. I’m not a physician but am an Athletic Trainer, just my 2 cents.
If you just started lifting  
Vanzetti : 3/7/2018 1:52 am : link
it could easily be your chest muscles that are making your chest feel tight. See if you get the tightness the two days after you work chest.

Also, if you shift position and the tightness goes away, probably muscular.

Weird that they did not do a blood test to see if you had had a heart attack. But sounds like the doctor was fairly certain you didn't.

You probably just freaked yourself out by googling chest tightness. Shortness of breath is the big symptom that you want to call 911. Also pain under the arm, especially if it is pulsing.

But it is also good to err on the safe side. You did the right thing going to the hospital.
I've had this happen and went to the ER for it one time......  
Tom [Giants fan] : 3/7/2018 6:28 am : link
turns out it was a very bad case of acid reflux.
I would say  
mdthedream : 3/7/2018 6:38 am : link
a panic attack makes you feel like your having a heart attack. So stress might be a big issue. For me a sneeze triggered it when I was driving and my heart started racing and I couldn't calm it down.
Smart to go to ER.  
AnnapolisMike : 3/7/2018 7:06 am : link
Next time call an ambulance. If you really are having an incident..you won't kill anyone on the way to the hospital and they get you right in.

sounds like a stress induced issue...I have had the same, blood pressure spiked to 180/120 and I called an ambulance. If you have a family history...don't fuck around.
Had similar happen twice,  
section125 : 3/7/2018 7:30 am : link
8 or so years apart. Both times ER, blood work was fine (the talltail enzyme was non existent). Sent to cardiologist for stress test with the irradiated dye. No cold spots. Doc even said "what are you here for?" during the treadmill.
I figured out I get infrequent palpitations, which cause some anxiety along with an elevated rate (normal is 56 for me). Now I just let it pass and it usually gone in minutes.

Like others said, get it checked by a cardiologist, but likely combination of new workout discipline and your smoking. Stop smoking, keep working out. You are probably no longer a spring chicken, so it takes a few weeks to loosen up your body after starting a weightlifting regimen.
Went to the ER once with chest tightness.  
SFGFNCGiantsFan : 3/7/2018 8:27 am : link
It was my first ever panic attack. I thought I was having a heart attack & that it was game over. They did blood tests & everything was fine.

Best of luck.
For those who have a sense of humor about it....  
Milton : 3/7/2018 8:43 am : link
Eggs Benedict
I'll add to the myriad of potential ills with similar symptoms  
GiantsLaw : 3/7/2018 8:56 am : link
I had some gallbladder attacks that felt like I was having a heart attack. I went in for EKGs etc and they couldn't diagnose it. Typically when it's the gallbladder they can tell by pressing on it IIRC, but not in my case. It wasn't until I was scanned that they found out the problem. Had it removed and no problems since.
A few years ago I had a similar thing. Chest tightness,  
Beezer : 3/7/2018 9:16 am : link
which directly brought on a bit of a panic sensation. Was at work so they said go immediately to the ER.

Never smoked. Drink moderately. Could lose a few. Very to moderately active, fitness-wise (week depending).

They literally told me I needed a vacation. I ad told them it was a stressful time at work with tons going on. They also scheduled me for a stress test with a cardiologist just to see what he said. Guy hooked me up with about 12-15 sensors (it seemed like that many), put me on a treadmill and let er rip. After a while he was at his most difficult level, he said, and I was just warming up. I left a little clammy from the fast-walking/jogging, but he told me I was "healthy as a horse" and he added, "do you have any vacation time coming up?"

So, quit smoking and take a vacation, man!

And ...  
Beezer : 3/7/2018 9:17 am : link
... I hope you're feeling better soon, Denny!
By the way ...  
Beezer : 3/7/2018 9:18 am : link
... it cannot be overstated just how critical stress level is to your physical well being. Stress can wreck your shit.
Also  
mdthedream : 3/7/2018 9:20 am : link
I was on a particular med that was causing the issue when I got a panic attack doctor changed it and never happened again. So if your on anything check its side affects. I was feeling my heart race during workouts and seemed to get dizzy.
On a Fri afternoon two years ago I started having chest tightness  
baadbill : 3/7/2018 9:33 am : link
sometime around 2:00PM. I was working from home. Alone. Got worse so I took a shower (duh, like that would help). By 4:30 it felt as though I had lockjaw. Terrible jaw pain. By 8:30 PM I knew I had been having a heart attack, but stayed home.

The next morning my wife and daughters were insisting I go to the ER. I agreed but insisted upon waiting until 4:00 because our cable was out (had been out for over 2 weeks) and the Rangers were playing Sat night and I wanted to be able to watch the game at the hospital.

So, I went to the ER at 4. They did blood work and confirmed ... heart attack. Had two stents put in. Got to see the Rangers though.
btw ... the nurses told me my story was very typical ... men delay  
baadbill : 3/7/2018 9:36 am : link
going to ER for heart attacks ... they think it's gas or are too embarrassed to call an ambulance out of fear it is nothing, so they delay ... but delay is bad, not only because you may die, but the additional damage to the heart muscle from the delay
Getting old sucks  
Ron from Ninerland : 3/7/2018 1:31 pm : link
About a year ago I was driving home after getting drilled by a Dentist, which was stressful enough. About a mile from my house I started feeling chest pains and tightness. It scared me enough to want to go to the hospital, but the rush hour Bay Area traffic was so bad, it was going to take me 45 minutes to an hour to get to the hospital. Do I call 911 or do I go home and hope it was nothing ? I went home, lied down and hoped I'd wake up the next morning. I did, went to the Doctor who did blood tests. Apparently, when you have a heart attack a certain enzyme is released that will still be present the next day. My test was negative, and the Doctor decided I had a gastro-intestinal episode.
Just wanna genuinely thank everyone who commented  
DennyInDenville : 3/12/2018 12:32 pm : link
All your comments made me feel much better.

I think I was having some rebound anxiety and chest pain appears to be my newest symptom. Also think I had some strained muscles.

For those who said see a Cardiologist, I will indeed still see one! Going to make my appointment in the next couple days as I catch up on things.



Just waned to come back to this thread and say thank you all so much before it's gone into NFT abyss. One love
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