Heart problem or all in my head?

[ryguy1]

I'm a 26-year-old male, about 20 pounds overweight, non-smoker for most of my life but recently used marijuana quite regularly (but haven't had any for two months), and otherwise in good health. I never use tobacco or caffeine. My trouble is that I've been having chest pains for nearly two months, radiating to my back, shoulder, neck, jaw and mouth. I have heart palpitations often, and my heart races at times, (over 100 bpm at rest and at times going over 120 just standing). I often feel light-headed, have frequent headaches, muscle twitching and shooting pains all over my body, ringing ears, and a couple episodes of  blurred vision in my right eye. I’m also able to see my pulse in my neck. I've had 6 EKGs, 2 chest X-rays, 2 series of blood work, and a 24-hour monitor. Everything was normal except the 24-hour monitor showed one instance of tachycardia (102 bpm) and my good cholesterol is a little bit low (0.81 mmol/L), but my bad cholesterol is also quite low (2.09 mmol/L). I was diagnosed with depression and an anxiety and given drugs to treat them. I have an echo scheduled next week, and an exercise stress test a couple weeks later. If those tests come back normal, should I consider the issue closed?  Is it safe to say that my heart has been ruled out as the culprit? I know all my doctors have written me off as a hypochondriac, but these symptoms I'm having are not normal,and I'm having a hard time believing they're all in my head. Also, I used Vioxx and Naproxen for arthritis for years, though I haven’t needed them in more than 3 months. Could they have damaged my heart?

[Cleveland Clinic]

ryguy,

To some extent you are going to be the victim of overtesting.  At 26 the prevalence of coronary disease is very low.  If all of your test are normal, I would consider the issue relatively closed.

But, I would also strongly advise you to undergo significant lifestyle modification with exercise, diet and weight loss. Marijuana use is the equivalent of tobacco use and will carry all of the long term risk that regular smoking does.  You are overweight and this will also have long term implications.

You should also remember that even social marijuana use is associated with depression and anxiety.  Regular use even more so.  This really might be the time in your life where your use has caught up with you and total abstinence may benefit your long term health significantly.

good luck

[dquenzer]

I would concur with the doctor.

It sounds like your anti-anxiety and depression meds probably are not working.  I doubt with the doctor you have heart problems.

I had a similar thing happen to me when I was your age.  I had tachycardia, PVC's, anxiety attacks, etc.  It was largely due to being totally stressed with some life situations.  I didn't have the chest pains, but I do remember having an achy feeling over my body.

I had EKG's etc and nothing turned up.  It was a waste of money.

This is what I began to do:
1)  I began to exercise regularly (low intensity fast walking).
2)  I made it a habit to take a day to really relax, sleep, and just mellow out.

You should also go to the doctor and get put on different meds.  If anti-anxiety and depression meds have not worked after 6 weeks they probably aren't going to work.

It really sounds to me that you need to get some counseling and see a good psychiatrist to deal with some deeper issues.   Your heart problesm

[Linda123]

Hi there
I think, reading your post, that most of your problem is due to anxiety, 102 bpm isn't that bad, when I get tachycardia it's 240 bpm! - but understand fully that 102 bpm isn't at all pleasant.  My advice would be to keep on your anti-depressants and never take anything like pot - it only makes anxiety (and palpitations)much worse, as does alcohol.  I am not preaching at you on the rights and wrongs of drugs I am just thinking of it as regards the effects it has on the heart and mind.
I am being treated for anxiety and have found that my palpitations and general anxiety have greatly lessened since taking seroxat.  Apologies to all those out there who do not agree with taking anti-depressants but I feel I must try and help others by telling of my own experiences, I too was reluctant in taking them but they truly have turned my life around.  It is such a blessing to be living normally again, I never stop being grateful.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

[ryguy1]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

You guys gave some great advice, and I've already implemented most of it in my life during the past two months (like quitting marijuana, eating healthily and exercising). And I plan on going for counselling after I rule out everything physical. My doctors, family and friends all say it's anxiety-related, and I know logically that's the most probable cause, but I can't shake the feeling that there's an underlying physical condition that's a major contributing factor to my mental health.

I've only been on anti-depressants for three weeks, and I too was reluctant to start them, but I have noticed slight improvements in my emotional health.

Again, I'd like to thank you guys for taking the time to read that monstrosity and respond to me. All the best for Christmas and the New Year.

-Ryan

[hankstar]

Hi,

   You stated you had arthritis, any inflammatory condition can cause most of the symptoms you stated, I have AS(ankylosing spondylitis) with very similiar symptoms, so indeed some of your symptoms are physical, not knowing that exact cause is exacerbating the symptoms , once you find the root cause, you will find these symptoms more tolerable and less worrisome.

  Bottomline I doubt you have anything to fear.

Good luck and Happy Hoidays.

[uptowngirl]

Hi,  I just wanted to applaud you for your lifestyle changes and your honesty which came through your post.  
I also wanted to say that though my husband did cocaine (and several other more serious drugs) in his 20's and has regretted it he has made a clean break from it almost 20 years ago and never turned back.  He has very few health problems to this day and I admire individuals who show such strength.  I believe you are one of those individuals.  I'm sure the longer you are away from drugs you will see your health improve more and more.  Have a great Christmas ya'll
Uptown

[Gaspipe]

One thing I always wonder when someone has complaints typical of CAD but tests show otherwise is the possibility of some sort of coronary arterial spasm. Just wondering if this possibility was explored.

[I'mallheart]

hey i also have alot of the same things..seeing pulse in neck and abdomen..being 20 pounds over weight..palpitations tachycardia..chest pains etc. i am a 28 yr old male..i had the echo,ekg,event monitor and holtler monitor..all came back normal i guess..mild MVP..i took antidepresents, cause i also do suffer from depresion and anxiety..but stop them a few months ago because i gained all the weight back that i did loose..i now just take atenolol 25 mg every other day..somtimes everyday if really feeling palps..seems to help for the most part..do get tired though..i just trust its nothing physical..so hang in there
anything you need to talk about u may email me at
***@****
dave

[Linda123]

Re anti -depressnts and weight gain - YES!, that's the only downside I've had, I've gained a good 14lbs and so gone up a dress size since taking them. This is a nuisance, especially when you're as vain as me (!!) - but I'll take the weight gain to feel this much better.
Best Wishes

[mujereuno]

Hello all. In preparation for my second spinal surgery, I had an EKG performed which came back abnormal. It turns out that my heart is on the wrong side of my chest. My doctor assures me that while this is not normal, it certainly isn't life threatening. Thank God. My question is, what is this called? I need to know because I have several medical conditions that I'm being treated for and I need to let all of my physicians know. I feel really stupid telling them that my heart is on the wrong side. I'd feel better if I had the scientific term for this condition. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please respond to ***@****

[pushdirt]

Hello,
        Thought that i would share my experience with you.
I,like you, were having these same symptoms... went in for a complete blood work-up...results came back negative.
On August 14 2003 was sitting in a chair at my fathers...when the pain started in my right arm and slowly went to my chest,
i made a trip to the emergency room...after 3 hours with a ekg, i was told that there was nothing wrong.
I didn't believe this so i scheduled a visit with my family doctor...after all his test and a very tiring stress test. i was told that it was my nerves or stress.
Anyway to make a long story short.... the pain never came back again until 2 weeks ago. on jan 7 2005 i had the same pain but worse.....it passed so i wrote it off as a strain.....on Jan 9 2005 it hit me again but this time it brought me to my knees.
So on Monday Jan 10 2005 after ekg testing and bloodwork my doctor told me that everything seemed normal.
But on Tuesday Jan 11 at 10:25 p.m. i had a severe HEART ATTACK.
Went to the emergency room....were the diagnosed me with a severe blockage...(at least they thought that was the problem)
i was transfered to the heart center...where i suffered another heart attack while in the ambulance.
Right Coronary Artery Was Completely Blocked.

My heart specialist told me that the only way to correctly identify this type of problem was to have a Heart Catheterization done ...he said .....the ekg and the stress test were very inacurate.


I hope that my expierience will help you.
Only you know how you really feel.
If i had listened to my family doctor on this one he would have eventually killed my.
But anyway i am back at home resting and recovering.
By the way i am only 37

[veelad]

I experienced similar simptoms in my early thirties with chest pains moving into my back and neck, breathlessness, palpitations, etc, and also thought it was a heart related problem, they did the usual ECG, 24 hour tape monitor etc and found my heart was OK.

After 2 years of suffering It turned out I had gall stones which eventually caused the gall bladder to stick to my liver causing not only the above simptoms, but shocking abdominal pains that floored me.

They took out the bladder, and I never had chest pains again, although i do still suffer from palpitations from time to time.

ask the doc to check out your gall bladder and see if that is causing the chest pains.

hth