General Medical Question - Urgent - Chest Pains

[Automatik Teknicolour]

I was born with a congenital heart condition (Patent Ductus Arteriosus also known as a heart murmur) and when I was little I underwent a couple of operations, one of which saw a metal coil inserted to stunt the blood flow. Another operation later, they found out it was a success, its been working well over the years and on my last check up at the hospital in February the Doctor was pleased to say that it is almost unnoticeable, she only knew by looking at my notes.
It's never bothered me before or caused me chest pains before, however, recently I've been getting shooting pains to the left of my chest, sometimes on the right but not as often. They are agonising if I'm honest, even though they only last a few seconds. The worst part is there's times where they leave me breathless and panicky.
Any help would be much appreciated, thank you in advance xxx

Edit; Parent's have dismissed them as being "something of nothing" and "not to worry"... a little difficult when I get panicky and lightheaded, I think you'll agree.

[Detour. Derail]

*HUGS YOU TIIIIGHT*
Dont leave me... :]

Hope you get answers/suggestions...you know what I've said hun :]
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Animad]

Any chest pains should be checked. They may be nothing and the majority are panic attack related/ spasming intercostal muscles but if they are something affecting your lungs/heart they need to be checked ASAP and can be life-threatening.

With the history of your heart especially it is best if you get it checked out as it could be a problem with the coil or something. Aswell as this, the problems you've had in the past might have put stress on your heart and causing a bit of scarring which can affect the ability of the heart to contract and may not be enough to be visibly noticeable. Stress on your heart can also cause the muscle to become bigger but I'd expect the doctor to have recognised and told you this.

Though your parents say it's nothing to worry about, it is best to see a doctor even if this is without their knowledge at first. It may just be a panic attack s you say you feel panicky and lightheaded and they might all come around the same time so it is hard for you to distinguish which comes first (a chincken/egg scenario). Next time it happens it is best to sit down with a drink and stay as calm as possible and yeah, I'd advise seeing a doctor especially it being your chest, you're worried and the extent of the pain when it comes.

[Automatik Teknicolour]

Got a Doctors appointment on Thursday
Dread >.<

[Animad]

Good luck with it. I know it's scary but it's definately the best thing to do. It may be nothing but it's always better to make sure.

Hope it goes well

[Automatik Teknicolour]

Anxiety, though she wanted me to go to hospital due to a very irregular heart beat :/

[Detour. Derail]

I'm really proud of you hun *hugs*

[Automatik Teknicolour]

Having been and told her the pain was on the left, it's not on the right and won't go away

:/

[Animad]

Is it the same kind of pain? Like feels the same just on the opposite side?

If it is try and keep yourself calm and do something that will help distract yourself from the pain. If its still hese after a while it might be worth going back to the doctors but it could just be that you felt it and because it was in a slightly different place and because of that you became more anxious so it got worse...

[Automatik Teknicolour]

Yeah, same kind of pain... It's eased for the moment
She didn't even explain anything, she really was a top class doctor (n)

[Animad]

If it's the same pain then it is likely just to be anxiety. Next time you get the pain what you should do is try to keep yourself calm which can be really difficult if you still have chest pain. Try and talk to someone, sit down with a glass of water or something and get out of whatever situation is making you anxious if at all posisble (say you're in a crowd and you're anxious then try to get somewhere quiet). Breathe in and out deeply (like breathe in for four seconds and out for the same) and slowly and concentrate on that rather than anything else. Try not to think about the pain and whatever is making you anxious (often once you get the pain it will start being that that keeps you being anxious), which can be the hardest thing in the world, but try to focus your mind on something else whether its the TV, music, a game an hopefully that will help it ease

[Automatik Teknicolour]

I was just about to ask for any tips on staying calm, thank you

[Automatik Teknicolour]

I am anything but calm >.<
Been feeling like this all day

[Animad]

Is there anything that triggers you to be anxious which you can try and keep out of the situation

[Automatik Teknicolour]

I don't know what it is
It'll just come over me and then I can't shake it

[Automatik Teknicolour]

Update;

I spoke to my personal tutor today who was very understanding, she has people within her family that has dealt with / deals with anxiety so she told me to go to her if I'm panicking over anything, no matter what's going on. (Alexx - it was Jonny that was less than supportive here)
So we went to the exams office; they've put me in a separate room that's only got 4 or 5 other people in it oppose to a very full exam hall, however for them to contact the exam board for some form of special circumstances it means getting a doctors note - bear in mind the doctor was about as much use a moth in a fire, but it does mean I would be able to see if she could prescribe something this time, as I've been getting really anxious recently...

Thoughts?

[Detour. Derail]

:/...I wanna be in a specail room...although..we'll see...I'm seeing my tutor tomorrow.

Erm....I'd still suggest asing to see another doctor :P
If not....go in...grab her by the collar and say "listen lady!! gimme a doctors not and meds please ^_^"
Go in and explain that college need a doctors note to take to the exam board..explain its getting worse and ask if she can put you on anything.
Then...when you get out....
Text your BFF

Btw... What did Jonny say/do? (PM me or MSN me if you want )

[Automatik Teknicolour]

MSN-ed Ideally? I'd like to get something for it but that means going back and hyperventilating all over again :/

[Detour. Derail]

:/...maybe if you went to see another doctor?
Is there a doctor you trust/feel ok around?

[Automatik Teknicolour]

Not really, I think it would be the same will all of them to be honest :/