Heart attack symptoms

[True]

Im sorry to be a bother again. I suffer from chronic anxiety and panic attacks and am concerned that  I am displaying early warning signs of heart attack. For last two weeks I've beeb getting very frequent aching pain in left arm, left hand,left shoulder and under left armpit. Sometimes pain is sharp but most often dull. When I took 4mg of valium, all anxiety vanished except the pain Ive described. On different occasions I also have burning and squeezing sensation in centre of chest and on another occasion burning andsqueezing down middle of back (with accompanying arm pain). Me: 32, female, average weight, normal blood pressure, smoked for ten years but quit for two, on nicorettes for two years (2mg), mother recently diagnosed with high cholesterol (9.7) which did not respond to dietary change. Dr put her on meds as a cholesterol gene "woke up" inside her. My cholesterol unknown. I am flying on Sunday (biggest phobia). Am I safe to fly or should I postpone my travels until I had further tests(this would cause problems financially and with acomodation)? Also, can a heart attack waiting to happen in near future be detected with any tests? I am going crazy with these questions rolling around in my mind. Sorry for being a nuisance.

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi True,

It is true that panic attacks, anxiety, and heart attacks have very similar symptoms.  While it would be very atypical for a 32 year-old with the risk factor profile you describe, I cannot comment on your safty to fly.  You should talk to your primary doctor about your symptoms.  Your doctor may want to check an EKG or do nothing depending on your symptoms.

Sorry I cannot be more helpful, although my gut feeling is that this is just your anxiety acting up when you know you need to fly.

Good luck.

[nymomof5]

I too suffer anxiety symptoms that make me think i'm having a heart attack. And since I have mitral valve prolapse with moderate to severe reguritation I could really be in a situation for a heart attack but i take medicine to help with the anxiety.
Although i have read that heart attack symptoms, especially in women can be subtle and happen up to a month before the actual heart attack..some one on another website i go to for my mitral valve prolapse once said that when they had their heart attack, that there was no way you could mistake it was a heart attack. So lets hope your not really suffering a heart attack.  Anxiety can be amazing with the symptoms it can create for people.  I know that for my self i was housebound for awhile with bad anxiety that made me think i was dying. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

[Linda123]

Re Panic attacks
Forgive me if I recommend Paroxetine for the treatment of anxiety/panic attacks - but I am doing as - it has worked WONDERS for me.  I do have a genuine problem with my heart BUT after reluctantly taking paroxetine (after hesitating about taking an antidepressant for years for fears it would upset my heart - it didn't) I have never looked back.  I have regained my confidence, am having fun again, I'm going on holidays in other countries by air, by sea - you name it, I'm doing it!  The freedom is divine and I never stop being grateful for it.  I'm still having palpitations but not as much (proving how much anxiety provokes them) and I don't dwell on them as I used to.  For any perimenopausal/menopausal girls out there HRT has helped me enormously too.
I don't mean to be controversial here as I know some people feel strongly about anti depressants and HRT but I would have done anything to feel normal again, I was quite desperate, if cutting my arm or leg off would have stopped the arrythmias I'd have done it.  I try not to think of the side effects of the drugs I am taking, I reason with myself that many people have to take drugs to help them live and in my case these drugs have given me my life back.  My life before paroxetine and HRT wasn't a life, - well, it was a life, but it was a miserable life of fear which had me confined to the house as I hated having palpitations in public.
Incidentally beta blockers did nothing for me, or when I look back, as I took a lot, .. valium.
Best Wishes
Linda

[Linda123]

Re Panic attacks
Forgive me if I recommend Paroxetine for the treatment of anxiety/panic attacks - but I am doing as - it has worked WONDERS for me.  I do have a genuine problem with my heart BUT after reluctantly taking paroxetine (after hesitating about taking an antidepressant for years for fears it would upset my heart - it didn't) I have never looked back.  I have regained my confidence, am having fun again, I'm going on holidays in other countries by air, by sea - you name it, I'm doing it!  The freedom is divine and I never stop being grateful for it.  I'm still having palpitations but not as much (proving how much anxiety provokes them) and I don't dwell on them as I used to.  For any perimenopausal/menopausal girls out there HRT has helped me enormously too.
I don't mean to be controversial here as I know some people feel strongly about anti depressants and HRT but I would have done anything to feel normal again, I was quite desperate, if cutting my arm or leg off would have stopped the arrythmias I'd have done it.  I try not to think of the side effects of the drugs I am taking, I reason with myself that many people have to take drugs to help them live and in my case these drugs have given me my life back.  My life before paroxetine and HRT wasn't a life, - well, it was a life, but it was a miserable life of fear which had me confined to the house as I hated having palpitations in public.
Incidentally beta blockers did nothing for me, or when I look back, as I took a lot, .. valium.
Best Wishes
Linda

[Linda123]

Sorry - posted twice by mistake!
Best Wishes

[jojojc]

Hi, I am suffering with the same symptoms along with some stomach issues and skipped beats. I have the same chest pain and the pain in the arm and back and around the breast.  I do suffer from anxiety as well.  I had an ablation done one month ago and i have been anxious ever since.  right after that the chest pain and other pain started.  The stomach issue really flared up.
Take some comfort that you are not along.

Linda...I am curious about your heart problems, you mention you are not couping.  Can you tell me more about it.
Thanks
Joanne

[jojojc]

Sorry I meant to say you mention you are now able to deal with it. I am curious as to what your heart problem is and how you are able to live a "normal" life.  Right now i feel i will never get that back.
Joanne

[True]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to write. Seriously, it has made such a big difference to feel so supported. Sometimes it can feel quite scary and lonely to have these symptoms and its good to know that other peole are surviving them. Thank you so much. This place is brilliant.

[jkf]

Hi Linda
If you don't mind me asking are you taking synthetic drugs for your HRT or natural (bioidentical)?

[jkf]

Hi Linda
If you don't mind me asking are you taking synthetic drugs for your HRT or natural (bioidentical)?

[Linda123]

I don't mind you asking at all what HRT I'm taking - it's a nasal spray called "Aerodiol" and it contains "Estradiol hemihydrate", it's the real stuff not herbal or anything like that. At first I used HRT patches after having my hysterectomy but whilst the drug itself worked well the patches irritated my skin.
Somebody asked me what was wrong with my heart I think ... - an EP study revealed scar tissue in my right atrium which was probably caused by flu or any of the childhood illnesses.  This scar tissue is responsible for a lot of my symptoms I believe however I also think menopause opened up other focuses in my heart as I have had a lot of palpitations coming from the ventricles too.
How am I dealing with palpitations right now?  I am dealing with them because they've quietened down a whole lot. I can only believe this is thanks to HRT for giving me back some estrogen and to paroxetine for reducing my anxiety.
I am also careful with what I eat and drink, getting indigestion with our condition is to be avoided at all costs because believe me, despite what doctors may say indigestion can definitely trigger off palpitations - I avoid anything fried, greasy curries, things like that .. even things like apples or too many chunky vegetables can give me problems.  Never over eat.  I do not drink alcohol - I've had some really nasty palpitations the next day after drinking alcohol and I also avoid fizzy drinks - another trigger for me.
I have accepted that palpitations is my health problem and I have to deal with it the same way others have to deal with things like asthma and diabetes. This is my lot. My cardiologist tells me the damage to my heart should not shorten my lifespan.
If my palpitations should ever go back to how they were a couple of years ago despite taking the HRT and paroxetine then I would go the ablation route, I think we can all be hopeful by the strides the medical profession are making in this area.
I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  I HAVE NO MEDICAL EXPERIENCE.  This is just my story and thoughts and I hope to help others.  
Best Wishes, Linda

[jojojc]

Thanks so much for sharing your story!!
It helps
Joanne

[jkf]

Thanks Linda.  I have PAT (only get this about 3 times a year, but my heart rate shoots up to 220 and it is also irregular with PVC's) I hate it!  

I also get PVC's every day.  I think I am pre-menopausal.  (mood swings, bloating etc.)  I'm 43 years old.  I will find out next week when I see my doctor.  I want him to do a hormone panel blood test.  I just get worried about any drug that I might have to take that could aggrivate my condition.  That is why I asked what you were taking.  

Thanks again. Jodie

[Linda123]

From what I understand a blood test will only show if you are in menopause or not.  Blood tests I had before my hysterectomy when I was also around 43 showed me not to be in menopause - but I had a lot of the symptoms - the main ones being aching joints, feeling generally rotten and old .. and worst of all the massive increase in palpitations.  I was in the descent to menopause and losing my supplies of estrogen - I was in peri menopause.  Do you have any menopausal symptoms?  I think the average age for menopause is 51 but I was well on the way in my 40s, same as my mother.
I do worry about promoting HRT as I know only too well about the risky side effects which trouble me too.  I can only speak of my own experiences and how HRT has helped me.  There is no history of breast cancer in my family, I do not have high blood pressure, I'm not overweight, and whilst my mother and grandmother have had strokes they only had them in old age.
Every woman has to think hard before taking it.  
I only take HRT because of the help I believe it has given in reducing my palpitations.  
Best wishes,

[whelans5]

I was having some palps tonight and thought, oh not again.  When I get them I like to come to this site to read about how others get them too.  It reassures me that I am not alone and that they are common.  

While reading your post a lightbulb went off when you mentioned not over eating and greasy currie.  That's exactly what I had for supper.  Currie is the easiest way to get the kids to eat vegetables.  Unfortunately for me, it doesn't agree with me.

I hate these blasted palps.  I noticed a decrease in them since I have been seeing a psychologist, as suggested by my family doctor, who says they are my way of having panic attacks.  I hate to say it, but I think he is right.  Having said that, some of them are not anxiety.  Some are from gas or full stomach, lack of sleep, exercise, and hormones defintely play a role.  A week or so before, I get lots of them and near the end they settle down.

I really wish there was a magic cure.

Have a nice, palpitation free day.

[misskelly]

Hello,  I am so glad I came across this message board.  4 years ago after my son was born i suffered postpartum cardiomyopathy.  Even though my EF came back to normal and my heart shrunk, I have been suffering with these 'funny' feelings in my left breast area and left arm and shoulder and in my left armpit.  I seem to get these little 'pangs' that last for a split second. It is literally driving me crazy! I see a cardiologist every year and my primary care doctor says I am fine. Several times I have considered going to the ER just to put my mind at ease but I am afraid they will find something wrong and admit me.  (i have a big phobia about hospitals).
Does anyone else have these problems?

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