Struggling with bad chest pains

Hey everybody.  I've posted on here a few times so my background is on here but I'll give another brief overview.  I'm 25 yrs. old and have been to the hospital 3 years ago for a fast heartbeat, where I was admitted for 4 days.  They said it was SVT but they wanted to perform all these tests to make sure it wasn't a heart attack.  I was given a plethora of tests including a stress test and a cardiac cath.  Everything came back normal and they said there was no damage to my heart.  Since then I've been to the ER like 5 or 6 times worrying that it was happening again or at i thwas having a heart attack. Everyday I think I'm gonna end up in the hospital or have a heart attack.  It consumes my everyday.  I went to the ER in late Feb. again and the doctor said everthing was fine and that a cardiac cath usually lasts about 10 years with the results.  However, everyday recently I have this constant pressure in the center of my chest that doesn't go away and it really scares me.  I am constantly living in fear.  THere is not a moment that goes by that I don't feel like ****.  I feel like I am being tortured.  I don't know if there is really something wrong or if it really is anxiety, which my girlfriend firmly believes.  But it is really scary and it is being accompanied with pains in my chin and jaw, tightness in my upper abdomen, sharp pains in my stomach and chest, and sharp pains in my shoulder.  The only thing is that I am uninsured for another month and can't afford to go back to the ER.  I need help for whatever it is.  Any feedback is appreciated.

P.S.  I am on Toprol, Lipitor and Aspirin everyday.

[suzi-q]

I would call my cardiologist and have another work-up done...I know that you said that you do not have insurance, but maybe see if you can start a work-up with most important tests first and then have them continue to next month.  Maybe you can set up a payment plan with your doctor.  EVEN THOUGH I TRULY BELIEVE AND KNOW THAT IT CAN BE ALL RELATED TO ANXIETY, I wouldn't wait if you feel that it could be the heart.  It is definitely worth the money to have it checked out.  This is just my two cents!

[imcrazy2]

The true easy determination between anxiety and something else lies in a simple test.  If you take an anti-anxiety med like ativan or xanax, does it help?  If so, it's anxiety.  If not, it probably is something else.  Call your doc, and ask them to call in a script for a benzo for anxiety.  If it's a doc that knows you, you shouldn't need an appt, and the drugs are cheap in generic form.  Then, you perform a self test.  The benzos are not a long term solution, but it will tell you what you are dealing with!!  Good luck!
PS  I agree with the other poster--if the benzos don't work, and you are still worried and symptomatic, don't wait for ins.--it may ruin your credit if you can't pay, but at least you'll be healthy!

[Raine9]

I can't identify with your physical symptoms but I can identify with you emotional and mental symptoms.  I feel the same way ever since last summer when my doctor found a thickening in my lungs.  He says that it is most likely caused by a previous illness like pnemonia (pneumonia) but they don't normally see it in younger people only older people with emphasema.  He said that he's 90% sure there's nothing wrong with my lungs.  Two pulmonary specialists agree but one pulmonary specialist thinks that it could be chronic and that I need to follow-up with another chest x-ray.   It's that constant dread that you feel that there might be something wrong with you that makes living a normal happy life so hard to do sometimes.  good luck and God bless

[Raine9]

I can't identify with your physical symptoms but I can identify with you emotional and mental symptoms.  I feel the same way ever since last summer when my doctor found a thickening in my lungs.  He says that it is most likely caused by a previous illness like pnemonia (pneumonia) but they don't normally see it in younger people only older people with emphasema.  He said that he's 90% sure there's nothing wrong with my lungs.  Two pulmonary specialists agree but one pulmonary specialist thinks that it could be chronic and that I need to follow-up with another chest x-ray.   It's that constant dread that you feel that there might be something wrong with you that makes living a normal happy life so hard to do sometimes.  good luck and God bless

[tanns]

I know exactly how you feel.  My family was so supportive.....for the first 15 months or so.  Now they think I'm nuts.  That's what I feel like anyway.  I don't even mention what I'm feeling anymore because I feel like they just roll their eyes and think, "here she goes again".  I have had all the tests, I mean ALL the tests and some 2 and 3 times.  All have come back normal.  It is a relief but also very frustrating because you feel something is wrong.  I had no reason for anxiety or stress in my life before all this happened.  Now it is chest pain, daily.  One thing or another and it is so scary.  Sometimes I'll write down what I'm feeling and put it where it can be found "just in case".  I've heard some many times that anxiety can manifest itself in so many different ways and once you become hyperaware of what is happening in your body, it just snowballs from there.

My medical bills are through the roof too.  We have insurance but it isn't great so in addition to the unexplained chest pains the bills are hitting close to 7,000 for the past year and a half.   It's not fun, I know.

I wish I could accept that anxiety diagnosis, it would make everything so much easier.  But the chest pains are all too real.

I know this is jumbled and may not make much sense but I wanted to get a quick post in to let you know that others are going through some similar stuff.  

[Raine9]

I think it's okay to think postively.  You have had a lot more testing than I have.  I am terrified of getting more medical tests cuz I'm afraid of the outcome.  There probably isn't anything wrong with you since all the tests come back negative.  Have you tried talking to a therapist and medication?  My doctor gave me Xanax a couple of weeks ago.  I only take it when my anxiety symptoms (shortness of breath and chest tightness) feel bad in the morning.  The only problem is that it is highly addictive.  I heard that Klonopin is better. serves the same purpose but not addictive.  I think you mentioned that you don't have insurance.  Back in Oct I saw a therapist where they determined the fee based on income.  Basically whatever you could afford.  You talk to interns, that's why it's so cheap.  But the therapist I talked to was pretty good.  She made me realize what was causing my symptoms ( back then I had trouble swallowing).  She had a lot of facts about depression and anxiety symptoms.  If anything it was nice just to have someone to listen to me.  After awhile friends and family get tired of listening...

[Brandon K]

You're definitely right about that.  My girlfriend and I have been together for 9 years and she has been listening to me complain from the beginning of my symptoms, which started sporadically and slowly.  But as it got worse she listened to me complain everyday and she said its starting to take a toll on her too.  I don't know who else to talk to because it is kind of embarassing but it's also the way that I'm feeling and I'm extremely scared.  I just know that I can't keep going to the ER over and over again.  I am in a lot of debt and it has destroyed my credit already because I simply can't pay it all.  I try to tell myself to not worry abot it, if it happens it happens.  But each attack seems worse so I always think, it's for real this time.  I just don't know.  All I know is that I can't live like this anymore.

[Brandon K]

I have had a pretty good work up already.  Since I have been to the ER quite a few times in the past 3 years I have gotten many EKG's, chest x-rays, blood tests, etc...I was there two moths ago and was told everything was fine.  It's just that it seems to be getting worse.  Every time I tell myself its anxiety and I'll be fine the symptoms get worse like it doesn't want me to get better.  Sometimes when I drink it goes away but even that stopped working.  I just can't shake it but since it's been going on for months now and i haven't ied or had a heart attack I assume it's not going to happen.  Is that the right way to think or am I in danger?

[Ray23]

Hey, Do ur symptoms last all day long? Seems like u have a positive mind set yet all the symptoms are still they? Choking sensation, Chest Fullness or discomfort that last all day, pains come and go as they please. Shoulder pain, Back pain, leg numbness, Arm pains, u name it ive had it and what sucks is that ive had them all together! I used to work in an E.R. so i took advantage and would be in the E.R. 24/7,only to be told u have nothing Ray go home! I dont remember what feeling good feels like, because ive gotten used to feeling like ****. What makes it all worse i feel is that im 19 years old male, who before last year was the life of the party. Even though im not a drinker,smoker and hate drugs, I Always had a smile on everyones face, people loved being around me. Now im always down, feeling something diff everyday. I quit my job but luckily i have medicaid ( my family isnt wealthy ). I find myself calling the docs at the E.R. telling them new symptoms only for them to tell me, its ur panic and anxiety just relax! I cant tell u how alone you feel sometimes, but were not alone. Were just irrational. Do u feel better the day ur in the E.R. after ur results? i do until i get home. I have a friend who suffered also and even he tells me dude relax u have nothing, im like huh? Sorry for the life story but i wanted to show u where im coming from, show u ur not alone!

Ive had constant chest discomfort by my sternum for atleast a week. Not the best feelings in the world, but we are gonna get through it. Even though are irrational thoughts make it really hard. I dont take medication because ive heard way to much about rebound anxiety and even my own docs say exercise and eating right is the best way.

In response to ur post, I can 99.9% guarentee its anxiety and or panic disorder ( which is what i was diagnosed with!) Be thankful u have a positive supporting cast, i have my mom, but sometimes its harder to listen to family! EVERYTHING ur going through im going through and more. If I can recommend something is that u visit this site www.thelindenmethod.com. I just started using this program and i see alot of positives in it! and its 98% proven to work! I hope it works!

Also if anyone else recommends something i should look into let me know! i would highly appreciate it. And Brandon K any questions just ask! Goodluck to both of us!

[tysonb]

I have panic attacks and they say anxiety issues.But everymorning i wake up my chest hurts right in the middle and the lower back pain is incredible once i move around the back pain goes away but the chest pain stays all day and night.Been to see therapist and to the er and my own physician countless times and they always tell me that its anxiety and nothing else because i have had a battery of tests done that all come back good.My feeling is that why would my chest area hurt all day and night due to anxiety does not make sense to me at all if i take a kolonopin it seems to make it go away for a while but it always comes back.