A few years ago, I went to the ER with chest pains. They treated me ASAP. Turns out my heart was/is great, but I had a gallbladder attack of the highest order. They took it out on the same visit. Sure glad I didn't have socialized medicine like Canada, UK.
I had the same experience 10 years ago, when I was 33. As my Dad had died of a heart attack at 40, I was a bit freaked out. But my outcome was the same as yours. Gallbladder.
DITTO that, with the exception of a trip to the doctors and a quicker trip to the hospital. Half hour later I was checked in.
I had a similar situation. I thought I was having a heart attack and got a ride to the hospital. They whisked me right back there despite the fact that I was so young at the time that the odds of it being a heart attack (according to the ER doctor) were infintesimal. It turned out to be non-cardiac in origin, BUT it turned out to be something almost as bad - a quickly spreading infection that was in my lungs and bloodstream.
Some conditions that present with these symptoms are not life-threatening, and that's what trips many MI victims up. They think it's probably indigestion, their gallbladder acting up, or that they are just upright.
Let me tell you the three most commonly-said final words of a heart attack victim: "IT'S PROBABLY NOTHING."
Here's a word of advice to all of you wonderful people: of you have to tell yourself that it's probably nothing, then chances are that it probably IS something and you'd better take care of it pronto.
So what if you're not sure it's a heart attack? If you are right, you at least get a cardiac workup for future reference and your primary provider will know a lot more about you. You still win in the end.
But what if you're wrong?
Here is the bottom line, dear reader: "When in doubt, come on out." That's why we're here!
You might still be standing in line.
Bah! I'm jealous!
I went to the ER with a 103+ temp . . .shaking, major ummm how to say it . . . not delusions, but confusion. I was 33.
The triage nurse made me strip down to shorts and a tank top (pajamas with no underclothes) and made me sit in the waiting room.
Nearly 3 hours. When I got to the back the doctor yelled at her for a good 20 minutes (I could hear him) -- he was furious.
Turns out my gall bladder was very, very infected. I was really really sick. It took nearly 24 hours to break the fever.
The only "pain" symptom I had -- was my back right shoulderblade. That's why she blew me off. She decided (and notated) that she felt like I had the flu.
I spent 4 days in the hospital.
BleH! *laugh*