Anxiety / Hypochondriac

[dolphin8808]

So I have suffered with Anxiety for many years... that and panic attacks. I had them both under control for quite sometime but when I started having palpitations, both came back to life full blown. Meds have helped and I have been diagnosed with PVCs (a benign "premature" heart beat), and am lucky that no treatment etc is needed, just to cut out caffeine.

So around the time I started with the palps I noticed small twinges of "pain" directly behind my left breast. Over the past few months it has gotten more frequent and stronger but, I also focus on them, a lot. Both my Arrhythmia Cardiologist and my regular Cardiologist say I can be reassured it is not heart related. But I am getting really worried about it and wondering if they are right. They seem to think it maybe muscle/rib related.

I am going to see my Primary Care doctor about it soon but has anyone else noticed that anxiety will intensify your pains / make you feel things that really aren't there? I am so freaked out that it's my heart :(

[Devonlee]

I see a therapist and she reccommend seeing the psychiatrist for some as needed anti anxiety meds.I am assuming xanax or something similiar which is why I asked. I cant get in to see the dr for about 2 weeks so we shall see how it goes. Luckily I dont have anxiety or panic attacks everyday and when I do 50% of the time I can deal with the ones I do have through natural measures (deep breathing....walking etc) And whatever the dr gives me I am gonna half it at first...lol.

[dolphin8808]

Xanax can make you a bit drowsy but it does not make you feel "dopey" if you know what I mean. It helps if you are having a panic or anxiety flair up, it kicks in within an hour and helps you to just relax.  It's very nice, I wish I had this 12 years ago when I was waiting for my zoloft to kick in. It truly helps. You can always start with a smaller dose then what the doc gives you, just so you can see the effects, I would try it a couple hours before bed and I bet you sleep like a baby :)

[Devonlee]

Good luck at your Drs. I see my therapist tommorrow and she mentioned maybe going on an as needed anxiety med (I assume xanax). Does that help you with your panic attacks? How does it help? I dont want to take a medecine that just makes me so tired I dont feel so panicky know what I mean? lol. I have never been on any anxiety med before so because of my "health" anxiety trying new meds makes me very very nervous....

[Bri1121]

My anxiety definitely makes things worse and things appear that are not there. I have been dying for years from everything.

I have found meditation helps a lot!! When I am doing it almost daily I can tell a huge difference. I just listen to a recording I got online for free for about 20 minutes a day- huge help.

[dolphin8808]

Oh also, I am on Zoloft for the panic which has helped a lot. I have Xanax that I only take as needed. My BP is normally 115/70 +/-, sitting heart rate when not in a panic is normally around 85 +/-... So I guess that is why the Arrhythmia Cardiologist and my Reg. Cardiologist do not feel the Beta Blocker is needed right now.  They said in the future we can try it if the PVCs bother me too much. But, while I feel everyone of them, they do not scare me so much anymore. I don't like them but I can live with them. :)

[dolphin8808]

Devonlee, I can soooooooo relate lol. Thank you all so much for your time, I see my primary care today and will find out what she thinks. Per my talk with her yesterday, she is not concerned about those pains either... I will let you know :)

[nursegirl6572]

You've received excellent answers.  You COULD ask your doc about trying a beta blocker.  They are commonly Rx'd to people who have concurrent anxiety and benign cardiac symptoms (palpitations, PVC's).  They can be really helpful in those situations.  Sometimes the anxiety becomes exacerbated by the sensations because they feel frightening (as I sit here typing, I have the occasional PVC and I'm always aware of them when they are present).  Then, in turn, the heightened anxiety has a way of increasing the cardiac symptoms, which of course, increases the anxiety.  It's a nasty cycle!

Devonlee gave you great suggestions as well.  There are many things you can try to help reduce your anxiety about these symptoms.

Good luck and let us know how you're feeling!

[Devonlee]

YES! My anxiety makes whatevere pain or sickness I feel seem worse. I also feel things that arent there and think the worse. I then start thinking about it and cant stop. I go and get check by the dr and most times feel reassured when the diagnosis turns out good (and it almost always does) but there are times when I think "what if the dr is wrong?" LOL And on and on it goes. You are not alone in feeling this way. It is quite common in the anxiety world. What helps me if I keep busy so I dont think about it....I do yoga and have started to see a therapist. Some people use medecine but I havent tried that yet. Maybe one f these things could help....oh and walking. I wish you the best of luck and hope you feel more peace soon

[Moke64916]

You need to get on a bet-bicker medication.  A medication such as atenolol.  Beta-blockers will stop irregular heartbeats, stop chest pain, control blood pressure, and pulse.  They also help tremendously with anxiety.  Beta-blockers block adrenaline.  So it makes your fight or flight response to go away.  Some politicians and musicians will use them for stage fright.