Heart pain or acid reflux ...let the Dr. decide
Ok so I have been having some weird issues while walking the dogs over the past few weeks. I walk them a mile every morning and have done so for the last 6 years. I have been growing more tired and winded over the past year while doing this activity. I have also put on weight which I rationalized why I was getting more winded. Well a few weeks ago I was walking and had left arm pain that moved into my left jaw and down to my left chest. I made a cardio appt as soon as I got home for the next week. Did I stop walking the dogs … No. The next morning walk resulted in jaw pain that went down into my mid chest and included nausea and cold sweats. So did the next days walk. Now I am wondering if this is just acid reflex and maybe I should cancel that appt so I don’t look stupid. I continue to walk and the same jaw, chest, nausea pain comes sooner in each walk. (One walk included vomiting). I see the cardiologist who puts me on a treadmill immediately. I almost vomit but no jaw or arm pain. What he sees prompts him to schedule a heart cath 2 days later. I ended up with a heart stent to open a 99% blocked artery. Another small artery was blocked 90% but it was too small to stent. The other was only 25 % blocked and is still usable. Moral of the story.... Don't try to self diagnose!!!! I almost cancelled that appointment thinking it was just acid reflux.