Heart, anxiety, medication or muscle

[Julesis40]

40 yr old female mother of 2 boy 6&9.   I work full time plus mandatory overtime at a computer all day and have an hour commute each way. I take vyvanse. 213 lbs. 5ft 5in. The amphetamine in the vyvanse makes me crave nicotine. So, unfortunately smoke about a pack every 3 days.  For the last couple of years I've been experiencing these symptoms. In fact, went to the er in 2012 because I thought I was having a heart attack. Ct scan okay. Echo - okay but tachycardia. My bp was high when I got their but returned to normal 120/80 after I all test run & I time to go home.  The symptoms have been prevalent the last two mornings & I am off work this week for the start of school. Took my med at 7 am
So here are the symptoms. ....
Resting hr 110-120  from about 730 until about 3pm then goes into the 90's. This am before med was 80.
Very slight shortness of breath during those hours. Not sweaty or clammy. Not sick to my stomach
But here's what gets me so anxious.. Upper body shooting pains that go as quickly as they come but are very noticeable. Happen mostly during those hrs. ,but can continue through the evening but less intense. Left side neck cramp or spasm or tightness which is pretty much all the time. Had a quick 15 min chair massage yesterday & the lady started on the left side & said it was way tight, knots & muscles wouldn't relax. I have poor posture & type with my shoulders tensed up  towards  my ear. I try to practice not doing that & relaxing. I saw a pt in summer 2013 for slight curve in neck & protruding disks.  Besides the random shooting pains, my left arm feels heavy & a little weak.  Sometimes tingles. Yesterday more shoulder & bicep today more elbow/forearm area.Left pinky & ring finger do have tingling at times. Sometime the top of my left wrist feels so weak that it's hard to type.  Chest, shoulder & upper back ... All the same very random. Not really any tightness in chest, but sometimes a weird sensation ... Maybe just palpitations from the heart rate. Anyone experience any of this? Any insight?  I get so anxious about this that the symptoms seem to intensify. Again worse in morning but seem to calm down in afternoon.  Oh yesterday at dr bp was high 140/80 but I so anxious. Usually it's norm. Dad has atrial fib. His sis died at 49 from heart attack. But had a very unhealthy lifestyle and was untreated for hbp.  I know this long & so sorry , thanks again for insight.

[Julesis40]

I've been told by mr sweet boys that I snore lightly but not as loud as their daddy or Mimi ( my mom)

[Julesis40]

I sleep well most of the time, but not enough. Just got through all the school papers etc. from today & things ready for the morn & set my alarm for 5 short hours later. When I was off last week though, I did wake up through the night two times with "insomnia" & tired the next day. But I also had a massage & have been using a foam roller to either strech my traps or loosen up trigger points or stretch my pecs. Seems to be helping some. I think the neck & back pain were causing some of the anxiety. ( & I know the stimulant & nicotine didn't help!) working to find an alternative to the vyvanse. Maybe holistic. Like essential oils.  Thanks again. You take care of yourself!

[JohnHoward]

I have two boys(men now) and those two alone were enough to send me to counseling several times. LOL!!! One of them still keeps me twisted up, but at 30 years old, he is beyond listening to his old fashioned Dad.......oh well. Grand kids keep me busy......BTW, there IS a familial connection to heart disease, both my parents having it but still doing well in their late 70's. My wife deals with tachycardia, luckily hers a benign rare form. Nonetheless she frequently has to "go lay down" when she has a bout.I have heart disease and coronary bypass surgery, so I have tried to familiarize myself with the do's and don'ts in order to try to keep MY anxiety from getting the best of me.
     Do you sleep well? I think my heart problems were brought on by undiagnosed severe sleep apnea. I would awaken in the middle of the night in almost a panic attack, heart racing, feeling like I was dying.I would awake my wife. She thought I was crazy. Got me to go to a psychiatrist who promptly turned my wallet inside out before telling me that I was not depressed but hypothyroid. Wrong. A friend suggested I might have apnea. And yes , no breathing for 25 seconds at a time........less than 4 months later, diagnosed with blockages...........Hope you find your answers, it sounds like you're stressed.

[Julesis40]

Btw, thankfully, I don't like red bull  or energy drinks & seldom drink coffee! Lol! :)

[Julesis40]

John, you are fine. When posting to a site like this one should expect all kinds of replies! I was not offended & appreciate the time you took to show your concern. All is true stuff!  Thanks again.  

[JohnHoward]

I re- read those last posts and realize that it read rude. I apologize.I should have said that it seems that you may be dealing with a lot of anxiety and that could contribute to the symptoms that you are describing. Try to slack off the Central Nervous System stimulants,eat healthy, and seek the advice of a good cardiologist. I have a good feeling that you'll be fine.Take care of those babies. God Bless.

[Julesis40]

Thanks for recommendation. I'll look it up.

[JohnHoward]

I know that cigarette part is gonna be hard...just do it...

[JohnHoward]

Do you have Kyphosis? You are a nervous,
stressed mess.Amphetamine, nicotine...how about Starbucks or Redbull to send you flying under your own power to the international space station?Let me see,what could you have? Carpal Tunnel? Heart Arythmias of various and sundry types.Hypertension. TMS........various anxiety syndromes.........Disc disease. Listen... you need to adopt a different lifestyle or you are gonna do your self harm.Start eating veggies, whole grains,lose dairy, oils,white bread, and sugar. Stop smoking.No caffeine. This will get your BMI down.Meditate or pray.....for your children's sake......Get video "Forks over Knives" or watch it on Hulu.........JUST DO IT!! Best wishes!!!

[achillea]

Do try to get a copy.  Exactness matters when it comes to medicine (and most other stuff, too).

[Julesis40]

Thank you for the reply. Yes, I'm not sure protruding was the word the pt used when trying to explain my MRI. It seems there was bulging but not minimal & another diagnosis of the curvature but I can remember the name. I need to get a copy if the report so I can advise correctly. It was something along the place of my neck that should be concave,  it is convex or vice versa and slightly.

[achillea]

'Tingling' almost always means nerve involvement, classically a nerve that is pinched or being damaged some other way.  It could be regional, since you mention that you have 'protruding' disks.  However, the description of heaviness is maybe more troubling, for there are systemic nervous disorders that can cause this.

Nothing you have written sets off alarm bells for me as far as your heart is concerned (well, apart from the weight and smoking, which will sooner or later affect your heart).

I suggest you see your doctor to find out what is causing the feeling of heaviness/weakness in your arm.