Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

MaureenM618 Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:09 PM

Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Is anyone a doctor or a nurse here? I just wanted to ask a question. My FH has been having chest pain on the left side for the past 2 days. He says it is getting worse and that it is hard to breath because he can't take deep breaths because it hurts more. He thinks it might be gas trapped and refused to go to the doctor today thinking it would pass but it seems to be getting worse. If anyone can tell me what it may be or what he can do to make it better please let me know! Oh I don't know if this is important but he has asthsma. He doesn't get attacks only wheezes once in a while. He says he doesn't think this has anything to do with astsma though, that it feels different. Thanks!!!!!

Suzannebride Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:10 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Could you go to an emergency room to get it checked out? Doesn't sound like tsomething you should wait on. Even if it turns out to be nothing at least you don't have to worry about it anymore. Good lukc; hope he feels better!

milana Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:11 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

FM EverlovingEv shell be able to help you! Hope he feels better!

MaureenM618 Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:17 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

I would love to take him to an emergency room but he refuses to go. I nagged him all day to go to the doctor but he's gotta be one of those macho men that won't go to the doctor unless they're literally dying.

EverlovingEv Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:17 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Hey girly,
It could be several things, some more serious than others.
Angina, MI, Pneumonia, Pleurodynia, Chostochondritis, Peptic Ulcer, GERD, Pulmonary embolus etc...

These are all the things I can come up with right now but what you need to do is get him to the ER ASAP. He needs and EKG to make sure it's not his heart and then the doctors will take it from there.

Is there any significant medical/ family history? Recent history of trauma? Infections? Colds? Any other symptoms? Anything make it better? Worse?

I don't want to freak you out, but this could be serious. Get him to the ER, sweetie.

milana Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:24 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

There she is!! Always here to help

MaureenM618 Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:25 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Thanks you so much!!! I just begged him to go to the ER but he won't. He works in a hospital and says he will go to the ER tomorrow at work. AAAARGGGHHH! Why don't men listen! The only history is he has asthma(spelling??). The only thing I can think of is that we came back from Cancun Mexico Saturday...I'm not sure if it's related. He said if doesn't hurt as much if he's sitting up, like when he was driving home. He said it hurts more if he lies down, tries to lift things or makes sudden movements. He also said he can't sleep on that side.

MaureenM618 Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:26 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Oh yeah and he complains quite often about acid indigestion.

EverlovingEv Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:34 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Why didn't he go to the ER today if he works in a hosp???
Anyway, it's possible that he picked up something in cancun but without the proper test, I can't say any more about that.
As far as his symptoms - they're classic for Constrictive Pericarditis. This is thickening of the lining around the heart. Most causes are unknown and some are due to viral infections or open heart surgery.
Most patients complain of difficulty breathing on exerction due to limited output of blood from the heart. He might have edema, right upper side tenderness and abdominal swelling. The veins on his neck on the right side might get bigger when he takes a breath in.
He has to get a Chest CT or MRI.
No salt for him today, you don't want him retaining water.

Another possibility is Acute Pericarditis (this is more likely). Can be due to Tuberculosis, Toxoplasmosis, and lots of other things. The signs and symptoms are pretty much the same as the above except all patients feel better sitting up and worse lying down.
He's goign to need an EKG. You can give him Ibuprofen right now if you have one. Should make him better. This is the more likely situation. Good Luck!!!

Dee606 Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:42 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Wow, Ev... What type of medicine are you going into? Let me know once you open up your own practice- I'm there!!

MaureenM618 Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:43 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Thank you sooooooo much! He didn't go to the ER today because he was off from work. He promised me he would go when he gets to work tomorrow. I'll give him a couple motrin now. Thanks again for taking the time to help me. I made him read your posts too to convince him he has to see a doctor and he's not the superman he thinks he is! I'll let you know what it turns out to be when he gets home tomorrow.

EverlovingEv Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:43 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Posted by Dee606

Wow, Ev... What type of medicine are you going into? Let me know once you open up your own practice- I'm there!!

Internal medicine first and then maybe cardiology. Thanks for the compliment!!!

EverlovingEv Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:46 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Posted by MaureenM618

Thank you sooooooo much! He didn't go to the ER today because he was off from work. He promised me he would go when he gets to work tomorrow. I'll give him a couple motrin now. Thanks again for taking the time to help me. I made him read your posts too to convince him he has to see a doctor and he's not the superman he thinks he is! I'll let you know what it turns out to be when he gets home tomorrow.

You're welcome babe.
Def give him the Motrin.
Let me know if you ever want me to scare him again
Keep me posted.
But don't worry. It could be acid reflux or a hiatal hernia which are not serious at all...I'm just concerned about the pain making it hard for him to breathe. That's not typical of acid reflux or a hiatal hernia. Good Luck again!

MaureenM618 Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:52 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Thanks. I'll definately tell you how it goes tomorrow. I'm hoping it's the acid reflux and not a serious heart condition, he's only 22 years old! That's it anytime he doesn't want to listen to me I'm FMing you Got anything for the cavities he's needed to have filled for about the last 6 months???

EverlovingEv Posted: Dec 13, 2006 09:54 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Posted by MaureenM618

Thanks. I'll definately tell you how it goes tomorrow. I'm hoping it's the acid reflux and not a serious heart condition, he's only 22 years old! That's it anytime he doesn't want to listen to me I'm FMing you Got anything for the cavities he's needed to have filled for about the last 6 months???

Nope, I'm sure I have some of my own. I'm sure there's a dentist here somewhere.....

dancinmyazoff Posted: Dec 13, 2006 11:07 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Posted by MaureenM618

Is anyone a doctor or a nurse here? I just wanted to ask a question. My FH has been having chest pain on the left side for the past 2 days. He says it is getting worse and that it is hard to breath because he can't take deep breaths because it hurts more. He thinks it might be gas trapped and refused to go to the doctor today thinking it would pass but it seems to be getting worse. If anyone can tell me what it may be or what he can do to make it better please let me know! Oh I don't know if this is important but he has asthsma. He doesn't get attacks only wheezes once in a while. He says he doesn't think this has anything to do with astsma though, that it feels different. Thanks!!!!!

I can't believe you posted this. I woke up this morning with a chest pain in the EXACT same area and it's been there all day although somewhat subdued. I've had a cold for the past week so I'm guessing it's like built up grossness (my medical terminology is great right lol) in my chest.

MaureenM618 Posted: Dec 14, 2006 09:25 PM

Re: Is there a doctor or nurse in the house???

Okay I have the update. He went to the ER at his job this morning. They did an EKG, chest x-ray and blood tests. They couldn't find anything wrong. He said the noticed a weird electrical pattern in his EKG but that it was nothing to worrying about just a little different than normal. X-ray came back clean except for some scar tissue on his right lung probably due to chronic broncitis as a child. Blood tests were normal too. They just perscribed Motrin 800mg and wrote Muscloskeletal pain on his discharge diagnosis. They did tell him not to go back to work until Sunday and to come back if it persists. I wish we knew exactly what it is...