Could this be a heart attack? SCARED!

[Carey01]

Hi everyone-


Ive been having a problem with my ulcer and the Dr recently upped my Nexium to 80 mgs for 2 weeks and then I go back down to 40 mgs for 4 weeks.  My stomach pain is better but I am having waves of nausea, hot flashes  and the worst part is I have really bad pain between my shoulder blades and in the center right of my chest.  Well, I just googled that and its a sign of a heart attack so now im freaking out!! I dont know what to do.  I saw my Dr last week who always listens to my heart. He iss an internist with a specialty in cardiology.  I do trust him but I cant shake that he is missing something.  Im also breaking out in a sweat a couple hours after I take my second Nexium.  Is that normal??  Any help is so appreciated.    I dont know if this is a side effecgt of the Nexium or if its a heart issue.  i do have HBP for which I take medicine.  My BP is ok now.  I have had this between the shoulder blade pain for about 3 weeks now.  Anyway, Im rambling.  Any advice is welcome!      

[ed34]

Well the mayoclinic state that an allergic reaction is possible but very rare. Allergic reactions are possible with any foreign object in the body. I think they told you that no one reacts because they've never seen it before in all the patients they've dealt with, it is very rare.

[Carey01]

Yes, I can get my heart rate up without medicine.  I know Im allergic to the MRI dye.  I have no idea on the other.  They are telling me that No one reacts to whatever it is they are going to use.

[ed34]

MRI uses chemicals based on gadolinium, which is very different from Thallium.  I believe Thallium-201 is used in nuclear scans.

[ed34]

I know it's the same test, but they use thallium. The only way to test for allergic reaction is for a small amount to be tested on you. The thallium is quickly removed from the body, it has a short half life, and drinking lots of water will remove it even quicker.
Are you fit enough to get your heart racing on a treadmill for the scan? or will they induce heart stress through chemicals?

[Carey01]

A nuclear stress test is another name for a nuclear perfusion scan.  Same test.  Im trying to make sure Im not allergic to the injection.  

[ed34]

The substance used in a nuclear scan is injected and is usually Thallium. You can google THALLIUM and see what you think. Your Doctor has an interest in cardiology but I can't understand why he has chosen a nuclear perfusion scan at this stage? I had two blocked arteries and a nuclear scan said I was absolutely fine. My Cardiologist said "it's only really good for one thing, to see if there are any areas of dead muscle, apart from that, it's next to useless". So many nuclear scans are inconclusive. I would rather have a stress echo or angiogram.

[Carey01]

So one more question.  My Dr wants to do a nuclear stress test for precaution.  I am allergic to MRI dye.  He said the nuclear tracer they use is NOT the same thing.  I have DRANK a nuclear substance when I had a CAT scan for my ulcer.  Not in the veins but actually drank the stuff.  I did not have a reacton.  Is that the same thing you think?  

[ed34]

Just to add. If a heart attack is occurring rather than stable angina, then the pain is very different. With stable angina, the pain will subside very quickly if you stand still or sit down. With a heart attack the pain is likely to last up to 4-6 hours and if treatment isn't received in that time, the muscle is likely to start dying. In most cases the pain stops when the muscle dies, just as it would if the artery is treated and blood flow restored. It would be unlikely to get pains from heart attack for hours recurring.
Stable angina are the symptoms felt when you work your heart. As the heart works harder it needs more oxygen, but if flood flow to the muscle is restricted, it will cause symptoms. Once you relax, the heart slows down, less oxygen is needed, the heart pain stops.
Different people feel different intensities of pain with heart attack. Some feel nothing at all and only learn they've had one several years later when they have scans or ECG.
I hope this helps.

[erijon]

If you have concerns see another doctor and get a second opinion. Having said that, pain that lasts a long time i.e. intermittently over a long period is not likely to be heart related.Heart pain usually comes on with exertion and is constant and gets gradually worse leading up to a heart attack.

Again, we are not doctors so we can only give you personal opinion. You should get a second opinion or have a stress test to rule out heart disease.

Jon