Indigestion or something else?

MayBee70 if it’s a haemorrhagic stroke taking aspirin could kill you. I can’t take aspirin because I’m at risk of haemorrhage and I have an unresolved cerebral aneurysm.

The first and most important thing to do if a stroke is suspected is to get medical help immediately. Only once the type of stroke is determined will any drugs be given.

So is it still recommended that someone takes an aspirin if they have a stroke or heart attack?

They will definitely be checking re a heart attack. If that is rulesd out they will start looking at other possibilities

Mine ended up being gall stones. I apparently have many small ones. Whilst I was being investigated for my stomach/chest pain it was also discovered I had high blood pressure. I was put on one tablet a day and thats where I have stayed for a good four or five years. I do still get the stomach/chest pain on occasion but I asked my GP if I could take pain killers and he said yes, if it gets so bad that they don't work you will know its time to take it to the next step. Fingers crossed it wont happen for a long time yet, coz it means removal of gall bladder as they don't do anything else anymore. So not all chest/stomach pains are necessarily a heart attack, however better to get it checked out jut in case.

Thanks for your concern. Giving you an idea of the picture: we live in a small village and the pharmacist knows my husband well as he dispenses his medication, BP pills, Metformin etc. He suggested letting the GP know and dispensed a pack of aspirin in case it was heart related when he would need to take one. GP informed us that its protocol in someone over 55 complaining of indigestion to be seen and checked. He examined DH and pronounced he was happy (when my husband explained the symptoms) that it was indigestion. He suggested he keeps some Gaviscon in just in case.

DH had a face to face very recently for his diabetic check up so everything was on the screen.. He also gave us info in case of a heart attack so it was definitely a worthwhile appointment.

Years ago our neighbour had several heart attacks yet he died from a heart attack that he was STILL convinced was indigestion.

I am shocked the GP didn't have your DH in for an ECG.
Not wanting to worry you unnecessarily but a good fit friend of mine went to lie down because she had severe indigestion and she died 10 minutes later.
Do you have a walk-in centre where they would do an ECG? If so just turn up.
Failing that - lie and tell your GP he has had it again.
If there is a hint of the indigestion returning ring 999.

I can understand why you are worrying. It's not knowing what is happening to your husband that can be frightening.
Obviously most of us cannot even second guess what is wrong, but you can always ring 111 and ask for advice at anytime. They always have a doctor on hand to give clinical advice who will call back if they need to.

Sometimes the side effects are worth it? I have severe heartburn too but have to take NSAIDs sometimes. I hate it but I just take it with a good solid meal when I have to. There is no alternative my doctor has told me, so I just hope for the best when I must take it. If something would help me survive a heart attack, even with heartburn pain, I'll do it and deal with the side effects later.

OP, how did you husband get on with the doctor?

Ever since I had my gall bladder removed (possibly unnecessarily as that was not the problem but h.pylori ) I am prone to severe reflux and cannot tolerate NSAID’s in any form without awful side effects, Voltarol gel is just about tolerable for back or shoulder pain, but nothing taken orally.
So I admit I was surprised at OP’s village chemist sending her DH out with a packet of aspirin! If it was heart related, I would have expected the advice to be to get to A&E ! And if a gastric episode, not aspirin.

MayBee70

But if the pharmacist thought it was a suspected heart attack surely they wouldn’t just send them off with with an aspirin. I’m sure that I read that in Sweden people always carry dispersible aspirin with them in case of a heart attack. Did the pharmacist explain to him that he needed to take the aspirin if he was having a heart attack? What if the indigestion was caused by a stomach ulcer? An aspirin would be the worst thing to take.

I get the dilemma. I have that dilemma all the time when I need to take painkillers and also know it might cause a GERD flare. I guess taking the aspirin might be the lesser evil if it was a heart attack?

I suspect the pharmacist most likely gave the aspirin and told the DH to get to the hospital. Maybe even offered to phone an ambulance. It's up to the customer if they take the advice or not.

But if the pharmacist thought it was a suspected heart attack surely they wouldn’t just send them off with with an aspirin. I’m sure that I read that in Sweden people always carry dispersible aspirin with them in case of a heart attack. Did the pharmacist explain to him that he needed to take the aspirin if he was having a heart attack? What if the indigestion was caused by a stomach ulcer? An aspirin would be the worst thing to take.

MayBee70

Good to hear. But still don’t understand why the pharmacist sent him home with aspirin .

In case it was a heart attack. I called an ambulance for a friend not long ago and, when on the phone, was told to give my friend an asprin. I didn't have any in the house though. Now I do, 'just in case'.

Good to hear. But still don’t understand why the pharmacist sent him home with aspirin .

Glad to hear it was nothing serious Kiwiqueen

Good news ?

Good morning everyone. Just a quick update. Good news! Saw GP who asked DH the symptoms and where the pain started etc and said he was entirely happy it was a case of indigestion. He also told us that when someone sees a pharmacist for indigestion remedies and is over 55 they are always advised to seek a medical opinion. We had no idea about that. Final advice as we were going out the door was to keep a bottle of Gaviscon to hand which I'm going to do.
Thanks for all your support.

I think the promptness of the appointment shows the GP is taking this seriously.

Any twinge or discomfort and straight to A&E. Please.

If his pain was just below his ribs on the right side, and radiating through to his back, its exactly the same pain I had a month ago.
I had a telephone conversation with my GP, who thought that gallstones was a distinct possibility.
I'm waiting for an appointment for a scan, but haven't heard anything yet.

But she’s not being relaxed about it. She said she was worrying about it. I think we’ve all posted from time to time for a bit of advice, reassurance

I did not intend any criticism but having made many (entirely justified ) “mercy dashes” to our local A&E or the Royal Free in London 50 miles away, to go out to lunch with a friend, forget ones mobile and so miss a text from the GP does not sound to me as if OP and her DH were too bothered! .A random packet of aspirin from the village chemist when OP’s DH had gone in for Gaviscon also strikes me as “relaxed”
From Thursday night to an appointment on Monday is a long time if anything had been amiss - believe me I speak from experience!

OP has made an appointment with the doctor, so she has done the right thing. Perhaps calling an ambulance would have been advisable but that time has passed.

I understand the anxiety. I have posted here before about my indigestion problems and feeling anxious about it being something else.

Good luck OP. Hopefully it is just indigestion, but best to make sure.

MawBe

SeriouslyOP - don’t you think consulting a doctor would be preferable to asking a group of total strangers who may or may not have any medical knowledge?
If it was a gastric episode or possibly even an ulcer , aspirin may be precisely the wrong thing to take although for a heart attack it would be exactly the opposite. That’s why you really can’t just guess.
An ECG will establish whether or not he has had a heart attack and he may be booked for a gastroscopy if it looks like an ulcer. If it was indeed reflux - and that can be terrifyingly like a heart attack - Gaviscon or Ranitidine can easy the symptoms. I swear by the latter along with drinking a pint of icy cold water and practising deep breathing.
But get it checked out first
You both seem to have been very relaxed about it and you may have been lucky. But if it had been a heart attack it could have been a very different situation.

But she’s not being relaxed about it. She said she was worrying about it. I think we’ve all posted from time to time for a bit of advice, reassurance.

My ECGS and scans showed no visible signs of heart attack. It took a very invasive angiogram, to eventually diagnose the condition, which was damage inside my heart.
Best consult a doctor and not speculate.

PS a stroke would be entirely different.

SeriouslyOP - don’t you think consulting a doctor would be preferable to asking a group of total strangers who may or may not have any medical knowledge?
If it was a gastric episode or possibly even an ulcer , aspirin may be precisely the wrong thing to take although for a heart attack it would be exactly the opposite. That’s why you really can’t just guess.
An ECG will establish whether or not he has had a heart attack and he may be booked for a gastroscopy if it looks like an ulcer. If it was indeed reflux - and that can be terrifyingly like a heart attack - Gaviscon or Ranitidine can easy the symptoms. I swear by the latter along with drinking a pint of icy cold water and practising deep breathing.
But get it checked out first
You both seem to have been very relaxed about it and you may have been lucky. But if it had been a heart attack it could have been a very different situation.