What could sensation of being shot in the heart and subsequent bruising indicate?
Patient: My sister said while she was in bed last night, she felt like she received a shot into her heart, with the feeling of a warm fluid being injected. She awoke with a bruise this morning, and what appeared to be a red mark...like an injection site. She had a heart attack several years ago at age 38. She thinks this incident was strange, but she is not concerned. Should I alert her to call her cardiologist? What could it be? Thank You! Doctor: Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic. I can understand your concern. Bruising, red spot on chest with shooting pain are suggestive of herpes zoster (virus) infection more. But since she had heart attack in past, better to rule out heart related chest pain first. So consult cardiologist and get done ecg and 2d echo to rule out heart diseases. If both these are normal then no need to worry for heart diseases. Herpes zoster infection causes similar kind skin lesion and chest pain. So she will need acyclovir tablet and pregabalin tablet for her symptoms. So consult dermatologist and discuss all these. But first rule out heart diseases. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your sister. Thanks.