Glad you're OK 6guns. You did the right thing heading to the ER. I had a friend who waited a little too long and thought he just needed some good antacid. Finally went to the hospital. He never left. It was in fact his heart, a birth defect he never even knew about (sort of know how that goes). His organs died one by one, and less than a week later he was gone.

I was having pain under my ribs for weeks and they ordered an ultrasound thinking it was my gallbladder or bile duct. Test was unremarkable so he shoved a camera hose down my throat.

Nothing.

Well the CT scan sure as shit found the Duodenal ulcer I have. Seems the stress from my job has become so bad, it's affecting my health.

I get something like that around once a year or so. Symptoms exactly like yours. Informationally, I have GERD and you may also.

Doc told me to take a Zantac and if it isn't gone in 45 minutes, head to the ER.

It always goes away within 15 minutes or so of taking the Zantac.

Other than the once a year or so attacks I have no other symptoms.

Glad to read that your health is fine.

As far as retirement, think of it as a BLESSING!
You will have YOUR life to live when you retire, you earned it!
You have the rest of your life to follow your enjoyable passions.
You like to paint, go paint on your time line. You love to play music, go do that on your own schedule.
Go shoot when ever you want.
A job is a job, Fuck it!
Enjoy!

Several years ago I was in hospital for a week for a totally unrelated problem.

During the hospitalization, I developed chest pains that neither the cardiologist nor any other doctor was able to diagnose.

I described my symptoms in an email to a good friend who is a retired RN. She replied, "Tell those idiots to treat you for costochondritis."

Her remote diagnosis was correct.

Hey 6! So glad that things worked out in your favor. A few years ago I basically had similar symptoms at around 3am in the morning and not ever having any heart related problems I decided to sit in a chair and hope that all would pass and just write it off to heartburn or similar. The pain got too intense after about 15-20min and the pressure was like an elephant on my chest. I gave in and called rescue. Transported and ended up in the cath lab for a stent and a blocked valve. The pain and pressure drove me, glad that I made the call. Good luck brother with everything, job included. God Bless.

Thanks for the encouragement and additional thoughts and stories, guys!

ACTEG, that's been a long time. Hope they still bring enjoyment.

sjtill, thanks. I hoped you'd reply and glad you concur.

Lt, thanks and hope you're out of the hospital soon!

Ogie, they ran bloodwork, but I don't know about potassium.

kkina, sorry about your friend.

Mars, I too have wondered about an ulcer. The job and all the other BS we're dealing with these days as conservatives isn't relaxing!

Flash-LB, that's VERY interesting. I'll be researching that! Thanks!

armored, I will enjoy retirement and have plenty of hobbies to keep me busy. The transition could be a bit trying for me....or so I think.

V-Tail, that too is very interesting. Other stuff to keep in mind. Thanks!

Will, glad you're okay and that you made the call. I guess we all can say better safe than sorry when it comes to unusual pain.

Pain is one thing , but couple that with pressure like someone is standing on your chest ...make the call .

not sure where you are on the east coast but I know down here (Atlanta) the pollen is insane right now and could definitely affect breathing and cause tightness in your chest.

Glad to hear you are ok 6guns. If symptoms continue please continue testing until you get it figured out. Let us know if you need anything.

Good move going to the ER, there’s too many guys in the ground right now who just brushed it off as “heartburn” or “gas”.

I did the same exact thing you did a couple of years ago, I had a strange chest pain that was different than the occasional heartburn I might get, this originated in the back and radiated forward through my chest. I went right to the ER and found that as soon as you mentioned “chest pain“, it doesn’t matter how busy they are, they are taking care of you right away.

That turned out to be some sort of pulled muscle or something thankfully.

Dave, thanks for the concern. I'll let my primary doc know.

PASig, like you said, mentioning chest pain, they got me right in.

Glad to hear yours turned out okay!

CPR in progress is always number one, of course, but chest pain and stroke symptoms always get you to the front of the line. Those, and gun shot wounds. Glad you're ok, 6guns.

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
Pain is one thing , but couple that with pressure like someone is standing on your chest ...make the call .

I can’t emphasize this quote enough from my own heart attack several years ago. I had a 98% blockage in my Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery (The Widow Maker). In addition to the pain, the pressure in my chest felt like I had an elephant standing on my sternum! Fortunately for me I avoided bypass surgery as the blockage was in a straight section and the cardiologist was able do an angioplasty and place a stent in the blocked section of the artery. That was July 5, 2008. No problems since then, although I have been following a strict regimen of medication for these last 13 years.

Hey I am glad your better and it was nothing serious. You should look forward to retirement, you have a lot of interests and there is always a time to develop new ones. We need to meet up for lunch or coffee when I go on summer break. I’m glad your well.

Happy to hear you are ok.

Chest pain is nothing to fool with.

Have to say I was alarmed when I read your title. Glad it seems to have worked out. Be well brother!

Did they check you for blood clots?
Did you tell them you were driving
across the country?

Glad to hear your good news with that scare!

6guns, glad you are doing ok.