A follow-up from the ECG. Went to doc's this a.m. He reckoned the ECG was OK. We discussed the burning sensation and I described that I sometimed feel "stretched". I'm not belching after being on the machine so I'm doubtful about that. Also, burning the base of the gullet would surely give some sort of indication when swallowing? Swallowing is fine. No pain at all.
He said that the NHS takes all chest pain very seriously and if it happened again, to go to A & E. I suggested that, since my apnoea scores are now quite low (I rarely get a night when it's >3 per hour. Haven't had a 4 for weeks. Last night's was 0.3, the lowest yet) it might be worth getting Basildon hospital to turn down the maximum pressure on mu machine, which is currently set at 20 litres per second.
5.30 this evening it started again...
I've just got back from A & E. BP a bit high but not massively so. 2 ECGs, one of which showed an abnormality on one beat, the second was normal. 2 blood tests. I understand they are testing for the level of troponin. According to the doc, they are looking for a level >14 which indicates the possibility of a heart attack. Mine was 6. 2nd blood test was done, but I came home on the understanding that I would go back if it dramatically changed. I haven't been phoned.
I'm going to hear from some other dept which I think does exciting things like link me up to all sorts of gubbinses and them make me ride an exercise bike. I'll try and do 200k at WARTY speed...
All in all, a very satisfactory result, but I wish I wasn't getting the pains. The staff were excellent, as ever, although I would take issue with one of the doctors I saw who stated categorically that "chest pains aren't a side effect of CPAP machine use." I'd be OK with "There's no scientifically proven link between..."