Anxiety/panic disorder or heart problem, Please Help!

[courtney62086]

Hi my name is Courtney and I am 24 years old. I have been suffering from chest pians for a while now they are sharp and usally don't last more than a few seconds to a minute and are . they pains are sometimes under my left and right breast bone or in the middle to the right or left side. other symptoms I sometimes get are sweating but only for a minute, feel like i can't breath and a lightheaded.I have chest pain almost everyday. I have been to the er twice had 2 ekgs blood work and my heart monierd, and blood work. the only thing they siad was I have a fast heartrate due to anxity and i was a little low in potassium. So i am on metoprolol 50mg 1/2 pill twice a day. My primary doctor says it is anxity /panic disorder. I have been so stressed about my heart health it is all i think about. I also have not been sleeping well at all , waking in the middle of night and can't have trouble falling back asleep. MY heart always feels like it beats fast when i first wke up. I don't know if I am going crazy or if there is really something worng with me. Has anyone else had problems like this? Any input would be helpfull. thank you

[jul04]

Sorry that you are going through this.  What you experiencing is typical for anxiety sufferers.  I have health anxiety issues and I am always worried that I am having a heart attack and I have had every test under the sun that has come back fine.  I am trying to use that as a way to keep reminding myself that my heart is working normally.

I think you should see a therapist.  They will be able to figure out a treatment plan for you and get to the bottom of what is causing your anxiety.  Sometimes it is just nice to have someone to talk too.  

One thing I will say is try not to focus on your symptoms.  If you ignore them they will go away and you will feel much better.


Please keep us posted on how your doing.  I hope you feel better soon....

[shawsum39]

Hi there I know exactly what you are going through. I have had the same symptoms as you and more. I get pains in my chest, shortness of breath severe weightloss and feeling that I am walking in a fog all the time. Also the feelings of heart stoppage and pounding out of my chest. I got totally sick of it so I went to the ER. They decided to keep me over night. They did a heck of alot of test they had me hooked to a monitar the whole time I was there did about 6 blood tests on me 4 ekg's a nuclear stress test and a echocardiogram. Every thing they did came back normal even my thyroid was fine and my chloestorol. They checked my tropoin levels 6 times and had me on oxegyn the whole time I was there. They even would not let me out of bed. But still everything was a ok except of my blood pressure it was 170/96 when I got there and my heart rate was about 110. They put me on Metoprolol and xanax too. about an hour after taking that combo my bloodpressure dropped too 120/80. They sent me home with both meds and gave me some numbers of counsulsors to call. When I was in the hospital my appitite came back stronger then it has ever been. I can tell you that Xanax is working very very well for me and the Metroprolol is keeping my blood pressure down along with my heart rate. But Xanax is only a temp fix and you dont want to stay on it very long because it is highly addictive.  SHAWN

[compnet]

Anxiety, panic, breathlessness, and heart -- they are all connected in my opinion.  These have been attributed to a magnesium deficiency.  

Magnesium has many functions, including: calming adrenal surges; helping maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, and helps blood prsesure.  Deficiency can cause all manner of heart irregularities, and many other conditions; it would amaze you.

You said your potassium was found to be low.  Both magnesium and potassium are among the body's minerals and electrolytes.  They have a close relationship and so this sounds like a sign that it's your magnesium.

"Low magnesium commonly accompanies low potassium."
Purvis JR, Movahed A. Magnesium disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Clin Cardiol. 1992 Aug;15(8):556-68.
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2007/feb2007_report_water_01.htm

Why wasn't it picked up at the hospital?  The test they typically use is the serum test, but it isn't very effective; it is mainly an Intensive Therapy Unit test.  Only 1% of the body's magnesium is in the blood, the rest in the tissues.  And the body makes sure to keep the blood levels good, even at the cost of pulling magnesium out of the bones and tissues.

Magnesium deficiency is actually more common than realized.

Some of the best forms include: Taurate, Glycinate and Citrate (can be laxitative.)  Many forms are unsafe and/or ineffective.

The medical site "UpToDate" says that toxicity can occur with dosages of 1000mg or more, mainly with diarrhea.

[ThyroidHunter]

Metoprolol is usually used to treat patients with high blood pressure, and in combination with some other drugs to treat patients who've had a heart attack. A good description of the drug is found here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000795

Why he would prescribe this drug adn tell you you have anxiety disorder is confusing. I think it would be a good idea to ask your doctor more questions about the drug first, then his diagnosis.

You are NOT going crazy, but you can get anxiety to a great degree worrying about your health and mortality. This can affect your sleep and diet a great deal. Stress like constant worry and fear can also affect your vitamin & mineral counts ,and perhaps they should be tested and monitored.

Hyperthyroidic sufferers have many of these symptoms, but the sharp chest pain is an unusual one I have not heard much about with respect to thyroid and/or metabolic disorders. Maybe another opinon is worth going to another doctor for.

Best

[cj29]

I am sorry that you are going through this right now.  I went through this about five years ago when I had my first panic attack and thought it was heart issues.  I was in and out of ERs and despite multiple tests, I just knew they wrong and that it couldn't be anxiety.  I could feel every little pain, twinge, blip, etc...you name it I felt it.

In my opinion, we become VERY focused to what we percieve is the problem.  In my experience, I also misinterpreted any feeling that I associated with my heart as a cause for major concern.  For example if I felt a slight pain in my chest, I just knew I was having/or going to have a heart attack, when in reality it was just a pain that came and went.  I would not have given it a second thought before I had my first brush with panic.  I still have pains and aches, but I don't really pay any attention to them anymore because I realize that is what it is....anxiety.  

I know this is really scary and confusing, but you can and will get through it.  Do you have access to a therapist?  For me, learning about the anxiety and why I was panicing, gave me the knowledge to confront and deal with it....keep us posted!