Had a real tightness of my left side of chest today right underneath my breast bone. It lasted about 3 minutes of wincing squeezing pain. Then, my left arm was limp and numb and tingly....I'm 21...what could this be? blaaar. I don't even have medical benefits to get an EKG =\

you won't need medical benefits if you're dead.
Go to your local firehouse and ask the Med tech there to check you out.
Explain that you don't have insurance and they get a chance to practice in a controlled situation. They might do an EKG for you on the spot.
And if you happen to have a grabber while you are there you couldn't be in a better place!

On your way there buy some St. Joseph's BABY aspirin and take one or two of those. If you can't afford those...the EMT's have them on hand always!


GO NOW!

Go to a doctor. If you can not get a doctor to see you, go to the emergency room of the hospital. Unless it is a private hospital they will not turn you away even if you have no money.

Me :D



Had a real tightness of my left side of chest today right underneath my breast bone. It lasted about 3 minutes of wincing squeezing pain. Then, my left arm was limp and numb and tingly....I'm 21...what could this be? blaaar. I don't even have medical benefits to get an EKG =\

Had a real tightness of my left side of chest today right underneath my breast bone. It lasted about 3 minutes of wincing squeezing pain. Then, my left arm was limp and numb and tingly....I'm 21...what could this be? blaaar. I don't even have medical benefits to get an EKG =\
I hope you are still around somehwere, but the hospital is the place to be. Worry about the bill later and go. That could be anything from heart problems to an anxiety attack, and the most likely thing they'll do is give you an EKG.

I had the same thing happen about 15 years ago (I'm 38) and thought I was going to die from a heart attack, and it was from being under quite a bit of stress. I wouldn't chance it if unsure, have someone give you a ride there and find out.

No fooling around dearie, march yourself to your doc ASAP, and I don't mean when you get around to it.

Chest pain is NEVER anything to fool around with. It maybe stress or it maybe something more, but the not knowing could kill you.

Let us know what your doc/hospital says.

(yeah I'm being sneaky and asking you to report back)

cs

Had a real tightness of my left side of chest today right underneath my breast bone. It lasted about 3 minutes of wincing squeezing pain. Then, my left arm was limp and numb and tingly....I'm 21...what could this be? blaaar. I don't even have medical benefits to get an EKG =\
Have you gone yet girl? If you have, great, we want a report. If you haven't go now, then we still want a report.

I just want to say what everyone else is saying -- being young is no guarantee that it's not a heart attack. I hope you've already gotten yourself to the doctor. The pain in your left arm is not a good sign. Take that aspirin and please see a doctor is you haven't already done so. Time is tissue and the sooner the better. If it's an anxiety attack -- wonderful. There might be some appropriate medication needed for that too. Don't take a chance with your life. Love to hear back how you're doing.

Scattered

Have you gone yet??????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????

How about now?

Most def.I agree with everyone.Call someone first in case something happens while driving.Ive made that mistake a couple of times.Its not fun sitting on the side of the highway thinking your dying.Your heart dosnt need any more stress.

I know that where I live if you go in to the ER with chest pains, they automatically keep you for 24 hours at least so maybe,,, hopefully,,, she went.

Thanks guys. I went after the first reply lol I went to the ER right away. I don't know what the bill is going to be but I'm glad I went..for peace of mind anyways...they told me that I was fine? I don't know why they would do blood work, urine test, chest xray, and ekg if i am fine, but that's what they said....all my symptoms were of a mild heart attack...so I'm not sure, but I am going to start eating healthier and cut down on my smoking and such...idk...what it was...thank you for being so concerned *hugs and <3* to you all :D

Jami

Maybe you need to reduce your stress levels too. Please take care of yourself. We would like to keep you around a little longer.

My guess is that a b complex taken once in a while will help you to tolerate stress a little better

I can not say it enough: See your doctor.

Me :D

thank you Jami Lea for your lovely report back.

Please do cut back on bad food and smoking...especially smoking.

Take it as a wake up call, so be good to your temple!

cs

Oh if anyone feels they need to take an aspirin for heart, chew it don't swallow it. You want the chemicals in the bloodstream asap, no time to digest pills.

I just want to say I am glad your ok!

Well geeesh! I didn't think those types of things could happen to a 21-year-old. I'm starting to realize that I'm not as invincible anymore lol:D:o

What is a b complex? I'm not unusually under any more stress than I normally am. I only felt these pains one other time when I was 18, but I didn't think anything of it. You know how we like to think we are super WOMAN! lol

B complex is a vitamin often sold as B-25 or B-50 or B-100

I take a b-50 twice a day to help reduce the physical wear and tear of my naturally high stress levels.


Me :D

I hope you'll follow up with your own doctor and really nail down what's going on and what you should be doing to take care of yourself health wise.

Scattered

oh I have those already. I'll start taking them again. Thanks guys! Much appreciated. My mom is the one who suggested B-12s in the first place. I took them for awhile, got lazy, and then just forgot I had them:D

I don't know what they told you to do but I would definetly follow up with a heart specialist. A "mild" heart attack may not be so mild next time. 21 is very young for heart problems. Whatever happens glad to see you posted again, I was wondering.. (That bill will probably be outrageous, pay what you can when you can)

I agree with Dave. Call it a long term investment.



ps i take B50 myself, feels pretty good.

yah, that's the thing. They did all those tests and then told me that I was fine. They told me it was typical chest pains. How is this typical? Oy!

what the *&^**$%# are "typical" chest pains? Typical of WHAT????

Stress? Mild heart attack? Indigestion? WHat???

I know right? Seems to me they just wanted to rack up my medical bill imho. I still don't know the cause of it.

uh..except that its' "typical"

oh that's useful!

OH, I know!

Get your regular doc to take a look at the test results, and he/she can fill you in.

Yah, they told me to follow up with my primary care doctor and I was like WTF?!? I told you guys I didn't have one....and the lady that was showing me the papers was like "I know right?" She gave me advice to go get cobra from my last employer so it's not as expensive...I'm just like "what is going on here?"

Jami Lea, I remember reading not too long ago that the type of heart attacks women frequently have are different than those typically experienced by men. Frequently women's are caused by a spasm of the arteries leading to the heart (which can be caused by stress) causing a blockage of the blood flow, instead of just a build up of plaque. I would definately and quickly follow up and find a primary care physician and keep asking those questions until you get an answer -- you're entitled to understandable information. Are you familiar with how COBRA works?

Scattered

Jamie Lee , I'm not a Dr. but my educated guess would be that the chest pain your experiancing is stress related. I have high blood pressurealong with other heart problems, however with the close (regular monitoring of myblood pressure and pulse rate acommpanied with blood pressure pills I'm able to take 75mgs of Aderrall a day with no problems at all.With regular communication between my GM, Cardiologist and Phyciatrist, I'm able to take the aderrall with no apparnt reprocutions as of yet. When you get insured ....hopefully real soon, have your Dr. order an ekg and or stress test ...treadmilltype and that will tell alot about your heart.

chris m.

yah, i don't have one though. I get benefits here at this new job soon, so I'll just reciprocate off of that..

that sounds like a good plan, Jami Lee.

cs

Jami Lea? lol