anxiety and chest pains

[scaredjo]

oh my god what`s all this about? i`m 32 years old and had chest pains daily for the last 2 yrs, had ECG`S all clear been diagnosed with anxiety due to my obsession with heart attacks, has anybody had the same symptom because i really cannot believe my doctor and i`m convinced it`s something serious help????!!!!!!

[scaredjo]

your`e right we do sound EXACTLY the same strange!!!! yeah when i had a 24hr monitor on i had to press a little button everytime i had a palp apparently i`d pressed it over 1700 times-serious paranoia!! i to have been diagnosed with a non-life threataning symptom but it`s easy for a doc to say non- life threataning, to us it`s like a time limit has been put on your life which is very scary, i must admit yesterday i had a more or less chest pain free day which was ace!!! i`m sure it`s this site thats helped its fantastic to know im not alone and other people experience the same fears and pains. cheers

Joanna

[Slappy3243]

You sound so much like me that I feel like I am looking into a mirror (is that possible on the internet?). Anyway, if you read my profile quickly you will see that all of my issues started because of my heart. I had an arrhythmia (non-life threatening) that changed my life forever. No longer did I just take my heart for granted. I was constantly checking my pulse and self monitoring each heartbeat. Even though I had all of the tests done possible and my heart checked out fine, I would still do it. It wasn't until I was diagnosed with PVCs that I got some relief. You see, after my A-fib episode, I was told I would be prone to get A-fib for my whole life. But guess what? It never came back. However, I have PVCs. I didn't know what they were at first so whenever I got one I would panic because I thought I was going to die. It wasn't until I got a 30-day holter monitor and recorded these beats and showed my doctor than I was diagnosed with "benign PVCs". The occur in about 60% of the population but am one of the "lucky" ones that feels each and EVERY one.

So in essence, I know how you feel. Even though the doctors told me I was ok, I was still weary (I still have my doubts). But if your heart is structurally normal (an echo-cardiogram would prove this) and your EKGs and ECGs have come back fine, then try not to worry. I have had so many tests done of my heart that it is not even funny. I would be in my GPs office requesting to get an ECG done :). It would come back normal every time. It is a vicious cycle for sure.

-Adam

[Gold 1]

A bunch of years ago I got taken to the ER because I thought I was suffering a heart attack. Turns out it was a panic attack. One never knows what the triggers might be. To make a long story short I started spiraling downhill after that incident(major anxiety,listlessness,in a fog etc) and it took meds to finally get me back on track.

[scaredjo]

do you not find that when u look back u find a lot of stuff funny? i do i cant believe some of the extremes i bin 2 over this stupid anxiety. how does your girlfriend deal wi it? is she supportive? it can be hard work on ur partners lol my fella goes mad at me sometimes he cant believe i "die" everyday its madness!!! yeah touch wood today i`m havin a good day not had one 4 a while i reckon it helps to chat to people that understand its good that u go through the same stuff, well its not good lol but ya know wot i mean!!!!!

[wavo]

last year i had an ultra sound done,,because i couldnt breath properely,,the doctor tought my left lung was after collapsing a little..so i went 2hosiptal..and dey done an xray,and ultrea sound,,and everything showed up good...i asked the doctors why i wasnt able 2 breat..they had no answer...it was just my anxiety at the end of the day playing up!!! it was funny that day wen i look back at it now..my grilfriend was with me..and they wer rubbing a jel on my belly,,giving me an ultrasound...ud think it would b ur girlfriend getn dat done 4a baby,,ad not me..
how are u feeling 2day??

[scaredjo]

thanks for your comments, i have had these chest pains on and off for 12 years i ad the tests all came back normal, i the same as you am obsessed with my blood pressure and taking my pulse!! it`s deffo a form of hypochondria i just wish i could have an all over body scan but on the other hand would be petrified incase they found anything, does it ever get any easier?

[scaredjo]

its ok man lol

[wavo]

im sorry all along i was calling u "man" and ur female rite...sorry..lol

[sumitra19]

I have chest pains too but I am a hypochondriac with obsessional tendencies. I did get the chest pains checked out by a doctor and cardiologist recently and apparently it was pain from the rib cartilage and it can be quite painful so one has every right to be worried. Perhaps a visit to the doctor could put you at ease to rule out anything serious - just a thought. With me the chest pains were from poor posture,hyperventlation,  constant worry and obsessional blood pressure checking, poor sleep, jaw clenching and lack of relaxation.
Hope this helps.

[karynh]

I recently joined this program (http://www.womentowomen.com/) and received my materials yesterday.  Check out the website and take quiz to see where you fall.  I was severe.  I spoke to a nurse counselor on the phone and I feel very confident this is going to help me.  I believe most of my issues are from hormonal inbalances.  Plus everything they offer has a complete money back guarantee so I feel I have nothing to lose.  The site offers a bunch of testimonials which fit my situation perfectly.  I am 39 years old with my children (8 and 6) and work a full time job.  Stress to the max!

Karyn

[scaredjo]

yeah prob live to a ripe old age!!!!!!  my therapist told me the heart is a muscle so if you hold a muscle tight its gonna hurt, thing is its a vicious circle the more it hurts the more you worry the more you worry the more it hurts its crazy lol, we just need to get it in our heads its a sign of anxiety and not dangerous (easier said than done)

[wavo]

i know man,,but im glad i got talking 2u now..mabye we can convince each other,, 2 get up off our ***** and live...
step by step i soupose..and why do we think dat if we go "bowling,or cinema" dat we will die,,and not die at home...i just cant understand it...i bet we will stil b ere healthy..10years time,,,and all our worrying...

[scaredjo]

go the cinema i missed out on going bowling last week incase i died but suprise suprise i sat at home all night bored and lived, i bet if you go you will make it back home alive there`s no point sitting at home

[wavo]

hay man..
im sitting here in my bedroom now..worring about my pains! my friends are goin too the cinema later,,but im not goin,,because im afraid about my heart...we'v jus got to tell our self that we are of coure healthy..and wer going to b around for a long time man

[scaredjo]

Thanks for that you know i never thought of it bein a form of OCD i thought that was checking things etc. i`m having CBT at the moment i will mention it to my therapist

[JSGeare]

Sure, plenty of people HAVE and have HAD those symptoms -you'll meet a lot of 'em here! And not being convinced is a BIG part of the OCD -you'll be in the hunt for something MORE, something ELSE. Comes with the territory. You will probably have more tests to rule out all the other things -and at some point need to be talking with a therapist who can help you deal with the OCD. That diagnosis is NEW, apparently, and their may be secondary diagnoses. In any even, the time for therapy has come, so talk to your doc about gettting started.

Thanks for posting.