Sudden Sharp Stabbing Pain On Left Chest When I Bent Over

SuiDhaaga · Jul 14, 2020

Thank you for your support and resources.

I was unable to reach my Dr --- her voicemail is full :-(

After that incident, I didn't get any chest pain. And I didn't suffer symptoms such as sweatiness, nausea, dizziness.

As soon as I reach Dr I'll let her know .... maybe she can advise other lifestyle changes.

startinganew · Jul 14, 2020

I am also concerned about your sharp pain and would also recommend trying more to get to a doctor.

If I were you:
It doesn't have to be your usual doctor I would call another doctor who also takes my insurance.
Or I would also call the closest hospital and ask for a general physician who is providing telemedicine appointments. Because of Covid restrictions - lots of doctors have early appointments available. (I tried recently and was able to get video call with a specialist within a day - they were even willing for same-day appointments)

Exact location of pain, intensity of pain, conditions before and after pain, your medical history - are all among very important info that only a doctor can ask you and possibly help with diagnosis. If doctor says lets wait and see if it happens again - it's quite different from you coming to the same conclusion.

Lifestyle changes will only be possible and helpful if you know the range of possible causes of what you faced.

Laks09 · Jul 15, 2020

SuiDhaaga said: ↑

I was unable to reach my Dr --- her voicemail is full :-(
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I think you need a new dr. Someone who isn’t accessible to leave a vm isn’t a great primary care dr to have, in my opinion.

I also think you should call any PCP taking your insurance and get a telemedicine appointment. I’m sure there are lots of Drs giving quick telemedicine appointments and accepting new patients as @startinganew has pointed out.

Laks09 · Jul 15, 2020

gknew said: ↑

When you all say call the doctor, do you mean PCP or the emergency line?
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By call your doctor, I meant the dr’s office. The reason being, when you call and tell the receptionist that you are having symptoms like a sharp stabbing chest pain, they will act right away - get you in same day or send you in to the ER.

My dr has an after hours number that can be used to call her for emergencies. An answering service usually answers it and pages the dr as required.

gknew · Jul 15, 2020

startinganew said: ↑

Hi @gknew
Two of my doctors forward their office lines to their personal phone number out of office hours IF you press a few digits to confirm that it is urgent. We as patients rarely use this unless it is truly urgent. I have only had to use this once in the many years with one of these doctors. They will help evaluate whether we wait and watch the situation (based on symptoms we describe over the phone) or head to the Urgent care/ER immediately. The one time we called, she opened her clinic just for us on a Saturday. And then after a quick evaluation at her clinic she asked us to go straight to the ER. We have come to know that this is not common - most doctors do not forward to their personal lines and have a recorded message that says after office hours please go to the ER.
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Thanks for the reply.
I have never heard of this. You are truly blessed to have a doctor like that.( is it your PCP?)
And I see that you have a doctor who own a practice. Do we need to choose the doctor like that?
I have my PCP who is in a group of physicians. Around 7 PCP available there. I usually go to the same PCP. So, it's not single owner doctor office. I won't get a chance to talk to the nurse or the doctor. The front office always tell me to go to urgent care if there is no schedule. Usually there will not be any available schedule and next available will be weeks away. So, I send her a message on the portal and go to urgent care and update her through the portal later.

gknew · Jul 15, 2020

Laks09 said: ↑

By call your doctor, I meant the dr’s office. The reason being, when you call and tell the receptionist that you are having symptoms like a sharp stabbing chest pain, they will act right away - get you in same day or send you in to the ER.

My dr has an after hours number that can be used to call her for emergencies. An answering service usually answers it and pages the dr as required.
Click to expand...

I never heard of this. My PCP told me to go to Walgreens quick care or urgent care(Piedmont) if anything after hours. She said she can see the records from that office too in the portal. I never had any number to contact after hours.
I never been to Walgreens clinic too as I see bad reviews for nearby location. I go to the urgent care.
I think I need to change my PCP.

SuiDhaaga · Jul 15, 2020

Hello everyone,

I just finished a Teledoc appointment (after you guys insisted to get it checked).

Dr says it was a "stitch". In other words, a pinched nerve. Something in chest cavity might have gotten inflamed, hence the brief 5 to 10 second pain where I screamed "ouch"

Thank you all!

SuiDhaaga · Jul 15, 2020

Laks09 said: ↑

I think you need a new dr. Someone who isn’t accessible to leave a vm isn’t a great primary care dr to have, in my opinion.

I also think you should call any PCP taking your insurance and get a telemedicine appointment. I’m sure there are lots of Drs giving quick telemedicine appointments and accepting new patients as @startinganew has pointed out.
Click to expand...

Well, at least this Dr is very close to my home. She is helpful for lot of other things. I do agree, Dr's need to be reachable somehow.