round in circles

Made an early appointment at the doctor's practice today upon the recommendation of a friend, a friend who had experienced heart attacks in the past. He said an abundance of caution was better in a case such as this. It is a damp and rainy day, after breakfast take the car to the practice. The practice is busy, as the doctor had had a few days off, and her practice was catching up on the backlog. Wait over an hour and a half. During this time skim through a boring magazine, then start to play with the mobile 'phone. The chat program offers itself, so practice what is to be reported to the doctor, and see what the program says.

The following is the input and then the programs reply:

a burning sensation above the sternum, shortly afterwards moving down to the sternum itself. Breathing is painful. Afterwards itmoves down to below the sternum, it is painful, breathing is difficult. Then there is nausea, a glass of eater is vomited shortly after being drunk. Balance and walking become difficult. The pain moves down to the stomach. There is a strong sense of fear. what is this?

Chat GPT replied:

"The symptoms you’re describing — a burning sensation above and around the sternum, painful and difficult breathing, nausea with vomiting, difficulty with balance and walking, pain spreading to the stomach, and a strong sense of fear — could be indicative of a serious medical condition. These symptoms could align with a range of possibilities, including:

1. Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)

• A heart attack can cause chest pain that radiates down, often felt as a burning or pressure in the chest and upper abdomen. Nausea, vomiting, and a sense of impending doom or fear are common symptoms.

• Pain or discomfort may spread to areas like the stomach, shoulders, or arms.

2. Acid Reflux or GERD with Esophageal Spasms

• GERD can cause burning pain around the sternum (heartburn), but it is less likely to cause significant balance issues. However, in severe cases, acid reflux can mimic heart attack-like symptoms.

3. Panic Attack

• Panic attacks can cause chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, a strong sense of fear, and sometimes nausea. However, they don’t typically lead to vomiting or balance issues directly.

4. Gastrointestinal Issue (e.g., Gastritis, Ulcer)

• Intense gastritis or an ulcer can cause pain in the upper abdomen or chest that worsens with breathing, but this is less likely to cause severe breathing issues or balance problems.

Given the combination of these symptoms, particularly chest pain, breathing difficulty, and nausea with a sense of fear, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. A medical professional can help determine the exact cause through physical examination, blood tests, and imaging if necessary."

This was all moderately frightening, and later the doctor did the tests much as described. The result was that it was some form of  gastrointestinal issue, Nothing really serious, but there was a cyst on a kidney that would need checking on in a few months time.

Afterwards, went to the cafe at the highway roundabout, and admired the cars driving in circles.