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1688502 tn?1305696162

Anxiety with chest discomfort

I am a 31 year old female I am about 50 pounds over weight.  I stopped taking my effexor xr meds back in Jan of this year.  Well recently I have had several panic attacks also I notice this discomfort in my chest.  I went to the ER on May12 and May15 of this year they did all kinds of tests and EKG, Chest x-ray, blood work, chemistry, CBC, had me on a heart monitor both times becasue of this discomfort it feels like a knot is in my chest not really any pain but it's there and I always seem to notice it granted it is worse when I worry. I followed up with my doctor on May16 of this year and I asked about a stress test he says there is a high likelihood of false positives for women my age so we opted against it.  Why I am mentioning this is because the chest discomfort is still there and is a pain. Today I am to start an anti anxiety med Paxil 12.5mg dose to start out and I go back in 4 weeks for a check up.  My doctor tells me I am a very low risk for heart disease also I have slightly high cholesterol of 212 my LDL is 149 so I am starting Zocor 5 mg dose today also.  My father died suddenly in August 2006 my family and I don't know of what it may have been a heart attack or anything he was morbidly obese and smoked a lot and was a heavy alcohol drinker he was 54 when he died.  I just want to know why I get this discomfort it sets in my chest it doesn't radiate there isn't a problem breathing and it doesn't hurt just presses on my chest. What is this can you help me?
15 Responses
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480448 tn?1426948538
No Julie!  I just saw that!  I don't "track" threads, so sometimes I miss things!

I'm very grateful for the tips...they all sound very promising!

As far as my rapid weight gain...it was related to being very ill in the fall (looong story, still no real answers yet) and a significant and fast weight loss during that time.  I think my metabolism is just super confused.  My body thought I was starving for so long and once I began feeling better again and starting to eat...bam!  I think basically my body starting storing everything.  Of course I complicated that by gradually eating more and more and less healthy.

I will most definitely try some of your tips. I'm always open for ideas!  Thank you again!
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1255246 tn?1316345547
OOPPS sorry i put Julie instead of Jesse on that last messege!!!!
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1255246 tn?1316345547
I have ALOT of chest discomfort from this Panic disorder of mine im just now getting treatment for, and just like you i have had every heart test there is done, all came back NORMAL.. The only thing that isnt normal is my OXYGEN, when i panic it drops to like 85%. My mom slaps me on the shoulder aand says BREATH!! But anyway I seem to notice every little pain or presure in my chest and i am so in tune with my heart i can actually hear it beating, sad right?  really think now it is because of the panic attacks, cause the doctor also put me on XANAX which ive never taken before and it has helped me alot.
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968908 tn?1274871115
Hey I take it my diet advice went down like a lead balloon then......
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968908 tn?1274871115
NG - I was wondering, you say you have gained weight very quickly over a short period of time, are you taking any medication that could be the cause? Also when you diet what types of foods and how much do you eat?

You know i could give you a mountain load of advice on diet if you want it, but i'll give you some of my top tips that im very happy to share. Some may just seem ovious but they really do help in loosing weight.

1) Never skip breakfast.  Always aim to have breakfast within the first hour of waking.
2) Within each meal and snack always incorporate at least one protein.  An example of a meal i like to have that is protein packed for lunch: 1 whole baked mackeral, 1 handful of pulses such as chick peas, black eyed beans, kidney beans etc, wholegrain rice with an array of steamed veg such as broccolli, spinach, with a side of lemon to garnish.  With this meal you can go as BIG as you need to satisfy your need, as this meal has nothing but food that will nourish your body in a very positive way.
3) Cut out simple carbs, such as white bread, white pasta, white rice and replace them with complex wholegrains.  
4) incorporate lots of dark green veg into your meals as they are dence with anti-oxidents.
boiling destroys the goodness.  lightly steaming is best.  if you can, get use to eating veg close to raw as this is best.
5) Drink plenty of water each day.  Aim for 2 litres of mineral water.  This will help your Liver metabolize and burn fat.
6) Cut back on cows produce or even swap and change to goats produce.  The molecules in cows milk are too big for humans to break down and cause a great strain on our systems.  By changing to goats milk, yogurt etc... you may notice a decrease in back pain, stomach problems, better digestion, less mucus and loads more.
7) Always aim to eat 3 main meals and plenty of snacks throughout the day.  Snacks could be something like a small bowl of nuts and seeds or rice cakes with hummous.
8) If you find that you are still hungry between meals and snacks a great way to get more nourishment into your body is to start juicing your veggies.  So you may want to look into buying a juicer.  One of my favourite jucies is 2 apples, 2 clerey sticks, 2 carrotts, bit of ginger.  Juice them, stir and drink.  is really nice.  Better to start off with fairly bland or sweet friut and veg first before you juice veg like broccolli or greens as they do have a very strong flavour and experiement with falvours, it can be a lot of fun.
6) Eat in abundance, never let yourself go hungry, as that makes the body think your in starvation mode and then stops fat burning etc.... But eat where possible fresh wholesome foods.  Cut back on ready meals, sauces, tinned, fried etc... and a good oil to use for home made dressings and light baking is extra virgin olive oil.  

If i think of anything more or you need to ask anything i'd be happy to share.  

Take care
Julie

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480448 tn?1426948538
Jess...it sounds like you've had a pretty thorough work-up.  My guess is the "flutters" you feel are PVC's (premature ventricular contractions), which are common and benign cardiac events....like palpitations.  If it would make you feel better, ask for a referral to a cardiologist and see what he/she says.  There are a few more tests that could be performed, but honestly what you've already had done is pretty definitive.  Just don't allow yourself to get stuck in the rut of the futile tail chase looking for a diagnosis that isn't there.  Sometimes it is hard to imagine that anxiety could be the cause of our symptoms.  The only way to convince yourself of this sometimes is to work on the anxiety and once the anxiety improves, the symptoms will as well.

Julie...you made some awesome points.  To be honest, I haven't probably tried AS HARD as I could have.  Mostly thus far I have just tried decreasing my intake and trying to change my eating habits.  I'm so freakin hungry most times, and my portions are ridiculous.  I could eat a LOT in one sitting before I feel satisfied.  It's very hard to change those habits.  As for exercise, I haven't done a whole lot with that at all.  With the weight gain, I don't tolerate even a walk most times, my back hurts, and a ton of other symptoms that makes it harder.  Like you said...the beginning stages are rough, even with the most minimal activity.  Thing is...I know I need to do something to build up the tolerance to activity.  I figured starting with the diet first and maybe dropping a few pounds would be a great place to start.  It's just all so frustrating and I'm SOOOO disgusted at this point.  To think a few months ago I was literally being threatened with a feeding tube by my doc...to this?  It's almost a cruel turn of events!

No, I've never tried Reflexology, although I'll look into it.  I'm open to any ideas at this point!  Thanks for the info!
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1688502 tn?1305696162
I was curious cause my chest discomfort symptoms keep coming on and I do have the flutters are there any other tests that can be run?  I have had 3 doctors listent to my heart and they think everything is a ok.  I  have had the chest x ray 2 times 2 ekg's labs drawn and been on the monitor thingy 2 times all in the same week all cause of these symptoms I keep having, which are the chest discomfort on the left and right sides of my chest and in the center sometimes feels like a knot.  Today I felt some mild sensations in my neck on the left side and on the left side of my breast.  Are there any other tests that can be run the tests already ran say everthing is fine.  I don't know what else to do.
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1688502 tn?1305696162
I was curious cause my chest discomfort symptoms keep coming on and I do have the flutters are there any other tests that can be run?  I have had 3 doctors listent to my heart and they think everything is a ok.  I  have had the chest x ray 2 times 2 ekg's labs drawn and been on the monitor thingy 2 times all in the same week all cause of these symptoms I keep having, which are the chest discomfort on the left and right sides of my chest and in the center sometimes feels like a knot.  Today I felt some mild sensations in my neck on the left side and on the left side of my breast.  Are there any other tests that can be run the tests already ran say everthing is fine.  I don't know what else to do.
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968908 tn?1274871115
p.s.... she worked on the part of my foot to do with the kidney and lymphatic glands as she reckoned i had blockages there and im telling you after the first session, no lie, i peed for england that day! and lost a few pounds in the process...lol
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968908 tn?1274871115
Hiya,

Im just wondering have you tried Reflexology?  If you havent i would suggest thinking about booking a sample session, just 1 session to get a taste for it and see if you like it.  My bet is you would.  It is extremely relaxing for one thing and i keep being told that after a few sessions improvements in health is seen.  Ive had reflexology done and it amazed me that as they are working on a part of your foot you can actually feel movement inside your body, it feels like an internal massage... very strange feeling but even after the first session i came out feeling light and limber, like a ton of weight had been lifted.  
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968908 tn?1274871115
I just thought i would add that there is nothing at all wrong with Eastern medicine, it works perfectly well.  Granted it isnt everyones cup of tea but mostly people snub it because they dont understand it but China is one of the most thriving populations on this planet, so they must be doing something right.  Anyway i just used that example as an understanding of how anxiety affects the chest, i would never suggest mixing medicines due to you already being on anti-d's.

What i have found in my experience is many people both with anxiety and with weight issues can find exercise a very hard task to get their head around, even simple exercise like walking.  Yes exercise is a brill and effective way to release tension and ease anxiety  but the reason for suggesting alternatives such as relaxation, meditation, relflexology etc first is that this eases your already exhausted body into a gentle and relaxing regime, will mentally prepare you through relaxing your mind and will release energy blockages so enhancing and lifting your mood and energy levels.  Then allowing you to feel better prepared to exercise, which will create better success.......

Plus im sorry to point this out for enthuses but Nursegirl has just proved my point exactly by saying  "I wake up geared to go every day, only to go to bed a failure with diet and exercise.  It's frustrating!"  People need to ask themselves why is this a common occurance and i personally feel it has alot to do with trying too hard too soon and by not finding a routine that the person actually enjoys.  People are determined to get better, full of frustration and push their bodies even more with restrictive diet's, exercise they dont enjoy, which sets them up for failure.

My advice would be take it slowly, gentley, maybe consult (if you can) with a nutritionist, work on nutritrionally strengthening your adrenal glands and Liver, cause todays western diet being packed with additives, pesticides, preservatives etc... are all very toxic to our bodies.  The adrenal glands can easily become exhausted when suffering from anxiety and eating unhealthy food which will leave you running on empty, tired, no energy etc...  The Liver has numerous functions but one of its primary functions is to break down all the toxins in the body to flush them out and again an overload of additives etc.. can cause the Liver to work overtime and become lazy which will cause you to feel less than happy and can actually cause mental health issues such as anxiety, depression.





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Avatar universal
Nurse girl is so right.  I take Celexa and a little Klonopin chaser.  When I feel a break thru in my anxiety I head out walking with my hubby.  If it's too cold I hit the treadmill.
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480448 tn?1426948538
Welcome to MedHelp and our forum!

I couldn't agree more with the above posters.  While I'm personally a big proponent of meds as a tool to help anxiety, I think the other methods WITH medication can increase success tremendously!  

You have to remember that you've had the chest pain assessed, and were given the "a-ok".  I know it's very hard to imagine that anxiety can cause such REAL physical symptoms, but it does.  

I think you'd feel much better if you tried to slowly adopt a healthier lifestyle...some walking, dietary changes, etc.  You can ask your doc to help you with finding good choices.  MedHelp also has some great forums relating to weight loss and nutrition.

Now, I mean no offense by that advice, and I could use that myself...I've been on an extreme rollercoaster ride lately with my own weight and can tell you that putting on extra weight (although mine has been rapid) has made me feel awful.  I have NO energy, have trouble catching my breath sometimes, and am generally uncomfy in my own skin.  I can see a vast difference b/c in the fall, I was ill and had actually lost about 70 lbs in a matter of a couple months.  Once I got better, and before the weight started coming back on, I felt amazing.  I had tons of energy, was active, liked what I saw in the mirror, etc...which all did wonders for my anxiety.  Now, all the weight is back and I can't stand it...and ironically, my anxiety is much worse now.  It's ironic for me b/c as ill as I was and literally could NOT eat most days, I prayed to be able to gain weight rather than watch it fall off.  Now, I got my wish and am unhappy.  It's just a lose-lose situation for me.

Anyway, I've rambled, but I want you to understand that my advice comes from a good place, one that *I* personally relate to very much. Lifestyle changes are one of the best things for anxiety.

Now, when YOU find a way to lose some weight and get healthier....please share with us, b/c I'd love some ideas for myself.  I seem to fail with whatever I try.  I wake up geared to go every day, only to go to bed a failure with diet and exercise.  It's frustrating!

Give the Paxil at least 6-8 weeks to be able to see how it's going to work for you...it takes some time to build up where noticeable changes are apparent.  Best of luck to you..please let us know how you're doing!
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1669548 tn?1318788734
I concur with Julie's point about anxiety producing anxiety. That seems to be a very common issue among anxiety sufferers.

     I'm not a fan at all of eastern medicine, but I do believe that you need to find the treatment that best works for you, and treatment with medication is often a band-aid approach that only fixes the problem if it's of a chemical nature- otherwise, it's just a management tool. Anxiety can be purely mental, a result of your thought processes, but in most people, it's roots are found in a combination of physical and mental causes, and so the best treatments are based on targeting the problem areas.

     The treatment everyone doesn't want (including myself!) is exercise, and yet this is the absolute best and fastest way to combat anxiety- changing your lifestyle to include an exercise period (I started with a 30-minute walk every day) gives you time to relax, and the physiological processes that go on when you exercise are directly antagonistic to the stress chemicals that make anxiety do wacky stuff to your body. My doctor explained to me that if I was reluctant to start on the best course of treatment for my problem, than obviously I wasn't interested down deep in stopping my anxiety and panic attacks. Think about it...
         You've been to your doctor, and you've had medication thrown at you, which hopefully will help you soon. In the meanwhile, I would suggest you get a referral from your doctor to consult with an anxiety specialist to see if non-medical treatment will help you too- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has really saved my life- in the 9 months since I started (CBT is a program that helps you to identify, confront and manage anxiety) and started walking every day, I've lost 40 pounds and my blood pressure has gone to normal, without the need for medication. I've also stopped making my wife bonkers with my anxiety, which is also nice.
       I first sought help after a panic attack that included chest pains, too- I went to my doc, rather than the ER- my father was at the end-stage of heart failure at the time, and that was enough to put me over the edge, worrying about my family history, and being overweight myself.  Relaxation exercises, deep breathing, exercise, and CBT  (which requires a mental health professional's help to tailor the program to your needs, btb) have really helped me-   best of luck to you in your recovery, as well, and stick around here as you can, too...
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968908 tn?1274871115
Anxiety can produce vast symptoms that many people just cant believe can be connected to their emotions, esspeically if they are continous throughout the day or last for days/weeks/months etc.  You seem to of had a very thorough check up which is brilliant and is great all the tests have come back clear.  However i do understand your frustration of wanting to know what this sensation is.  

What may be happening is that you may have got yourself in a vicious cycle of anxiety producing anxiety.  You become aware of this sensation sitting in your chest, which produces a sense of worry, which produces more of the sensation...... its like a merry go round.  Plus also in Chinese Medicine they believe that worry, panic, anxiety etc all stems from and resides in the chest so they use medicine to relieve tension in this area.  Where as western medicine concentrates on the brain and thinking.

Maybe you could look into a natural alternative such as massage, meditation, yoga, etc... as all these things will help to ease your inner tension and allow your energy to flow better throughout your body.  Reflexology is fantastic for opening up and relaxing the chest area.  I have had Reflexology done before and even though work is being done on the feet you can actually feel within your body the part they are working on, it really is amazing.

Anyway hope this has helped some.  Good-luck

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