ANXIETY SNEAKING UP?

[robbeth]

Ok, here goes......  I have anxiety/panic attacks.... I have had two stress echo's done, the last being in February 2007 and both came back normal.  I am having pain in my left hand, between my pinky and ring finger up to my elbow and sometimes, but not always, up to my shoulder.  I have palpitations, skip beats, whatever they are called.  I am 37, overweight and smoke but other than that no significant problems. (I know that's enough......) I have severe health anxiety about my heart.  Every little twinge I feel I just know is a heart attack coming on.  I went to the dr. tonight to get a check up and was asking about my cholesterol, she said it was 159 which was good but my low cholesterol was borderline low.  She said my blood pressure was a little elevated, I believe she said it was 138/91. Of course, the stupid me google this and now think the pain in my left arm is really my heart and not just from typing all day at work.  She is repeating my labs tomorrow morning to check my cholesterol since my last test was February 2007.  How do I continue not knowing?????   I guess I just need reassurance.... I HATE HEART HEALTH ANXIETY!!!!!

[robbeth]

thanks for your support..... i had the bloodwork done today but have not heard any results yet.  I am sure that it is tendonitis in my arm or something because it hurts to pick things up with that arm today.  Just my crazy anxiety making me scared again.  I feel much better today, took 1/2 my Xanax and all is well..... thanks again.

[remar]

your numbers do look good. try you blood pressure at after sitting quietly for about 10 minutes. don't do it at wal mart, i agree with that. mines always a little higher there because i'm in public and can't relax. try the fish oil omega supplements or eat a handful of walnuts everyday, they are high in omega 3. try to relax, you sound pretty healthy to me. they want your totol cholesterol to be under 200, tryglicerides under 150 and hdl at 50 or above so you just need to get that up more. take care. remar

[robbeth]

Thanks for commenting.  I have my actual test results from 2007.  My total cholesterol is 159; my HDL is 35 and my LDL is 100. My triglycerides is 120 and my LDL Cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio is 4.5.  I know I have white coat syndrome but I also react when I walk by the blood pressure machine at Wal-Mart!!!!  I can feel myself getting anxious even thinking about it.  I do have a monitor at home, but again I get anxious.  I need one that auto inflates every 15 minutes or so and read it over time when I'm not thinking about it because then I think it would be normal.  But as it is, I don't feel like I can get an accurate reading.  Funny thing is I never had this fear till my first anxiety attack.  It has been a roller coaster ride ever since.  Again, thanks for replying..... My numbers look good to me except my good cholesterol is too low.... but I'm going to get some Omega 3 vitamins I read that is supposed to help increase your good cholesterol.

Thanks again.

[remar]

was that you total cholesterol reading? that sounds good but if you good cholersterol is down then the total would be down. have them explain all the readings to you and ask about triclicerides(spelling?) your blood pressure is a little high but that could be because your anxious. do you have a blood pressure monitor at home? whenever i go to the dr. mines a little high because i'm scared, when i check it at home it's fine. if you type all day that might be the problem. try not to worry to much, your numbers look good. and i bet when you calm down your blood pressure will be completely normal. take care. remar