Hi doctor, I have been having chest pain like a sharp ripping, feeling dizzy, and went to the ER three weeks ago. He did not say anything about my EKG but I needed to see a cardiologist for my heart murmur, but I had to go to my doctor to get a referral. So I saw her, she heard my murmur and said it did not sound good. So, she sent me to the ER that morning. The EKG had huge mountains on it towards the bottom, but they said it was normal as well as the chest X-ray, CT scan but yet I am still having these sharp chest pain, dizziness, feeling short of breath that lasts for 20 minutes or longer, comes and goes especially during housework, and even laying down. I have been dealing with hypertension (high blood pressure for the past 17 years) and on three medicines one of which is a patch. I feel like they have given me the run around because I am a 37 years old female. Please help me. I feel like I will waste my time going back to the ER, and I have to get a referral from my doctor to see a cardiologist. What is wrong with me, Nexium does not help but baby Aspirin does.
Hello. We are here to help you. With chest pain and murmur and a history of hypertension, cardiac chest pain is the most probable diagnosis. However, acid reflux and muscular pain need to be kept in consideration. It is important to differentiate between all as the treatment course is entirely different. The muscular chest pain is dull and diffuse and any movement aggravates it. It is usually continuous and not intermittent like the cardiac chest pain. Cardiac chest pain is severe and crushing in nature. It increases on activity like walking, exercising. It often radiates to the left arm, shoulder and nape of the neck. Following ECG, for cardiac evaluation, you need echo and treadmill test (TMT). If any abnormality is found, then an angiography should be performed. Share my opinion with your doctor. Stay healthy.