Misdiagnosed ?

[r9c]

Hi,recently i was having high anxiety and very much physical symptoms such as palpitations,lightheaded,shortness of breathe and this tend to last through out the day so i decided to went to the A&E (ER) where the doctors took an ECG / EKG which shows possible left ventricle hypertropy not sure the spelling though,however the doctor were not concerned as i told him an had an echo of my heart on october last year where the cardiologist said heart is structurally fine,stresstest and 24 hour holter all normal too,so they suggestead i see a psychiatry which i did last week where i found the appointment were not much help and preety useless as the 1st thing they did were to prescribe you medications and sent you home,then he told me probably i am depressed or etc which i do not agreed at all,i live a normal life etc..good job with excellent salary and work stress are normal range too i couldnt find any stress that the psychiatry mentioned that could be causing the anxiety symptoms,all i told him is that i experienced physical symptoms and thats all my problem is,no excessive thoughts or some sort of mental illness etc..he was then like went blank and dosent knows how to answer my question.
This is so frustrating so i decided to seek a 2nd opinion on cardiology soon,as the current hospital actually lost my medical file where it contains all those echo reports and etc.so i asked them do i need to have an echo done or refer back to the old cardiologist they said probably nope,cause ur echo is just done last october and there isnt a need to repeat the test again also since all other previous ecgs,stress test and holter are normal too.The only question when i asked them is how could i suddenly have an abnormal ecg ? i admit i do have anxiety while at the A&E while they were taking the ECG,could it be the factor that produce ecg and i know that ecg are not very reliable tool to diagnosed heart muscle thickness etc..only an echo will do.

[r9c]

Yes,thats what i actually told the psychiatry when he suggestead i take anti depressant,i disagreed because i know my self very well.Instead of being depressed i am actually more frustrated with the doctors & specialist in the public health care,i know that public health care is totaly free just like in the UK and probably thats the reason why they dont bother much about patients because they too deal with alot of other patients too,if your still able to walk and talk and lets say ecg or other vital signs are normal i am sure they wont bother to investigate your symptoms further and write you off as an anxiety sufferer.I know i had most cardiac tests done which came back normal a year ago,and recently i went back to them when i still experienced those lightheadeness and palpitations,had an ecg done which show possible some left ventricle enlargement,but since i had an echo done last october the doctor said its probably nothing,since my echo is clear.When he decided to review the my old medical file,they couldnt find it and suggestead that probably it still at the cardiology department since i was there last month for a 24 hour holter testing,i was just so frustrated that i was not given a proper answer why the ecg was abnormal but i dint panic because i know ecg is not realiable to confirm the heart size ect.So they advised me to follow up with the neurologist which the appointment is on 24 june,and if test are done probably they will refer me back to the cardio again,can they see its them they create anxiety for me,giving me no answer for my symptoms and i was so mad when they told me to see a psychiatry infact.its okay if they can assure me that my symptoms related are from anxiety but without proper answer from them and asking me to see a psychiatry is like making me feel like a insane person.I then went to to see a psychiatry last month which was totaly useless,when i told him all those symptoms etc..he just oh yes,you could be depressed and try this anti d pills and probably in 6 months you will be fine which i dint want to take first because without them reassuring me that my health is totaly fine.so i have decided to seek a 2nd opinion on a private hospital soon.

[Paxiled]

A depressed person feels depressed thoughts.  One might not know what depression is, but one feels depressed.  An anxious person feels anxious thoughts, not just physiological symptoms.  Not everything is a mental illness just because doctors at first can't find the physiological source.  I'd say follow your instincts.  If you're not depressed, a psychiatrist can't help you.  So keep chasing the physiological until you've eliminated that as an option, and research depression in the meantime to see that it's more complicated than feeling sad and whether it fits you or not.  You are the best judge of you, after all.

[29sillygirl]

You will probably feel better getting tests redone, since those from a year ago are not accessible.  Make sure your insurance will cover tests done so soon after current ones.

I understand your irritability with shrink.  Think we have all felt that.  So one thing at a time.

You are in charge after all.  After you have tests done by another cardiologist, and get results, you can decide on tackling anxiety...if that is core problem.

[r9c]

Hi,the only thing that worries me is physical symptoms,lightheaded,chest discomfort etc..i do not have much obessive thoughts or depression at all.I think i would seek a 2nd opinion on cardiology rather just stick with the psychiatry who would just tell you its just anxiety and all its in your head,take this medications and you will be ok.

[MMahon]

Most people with depression will frequently deny being depressed.  I did. When first diagnosed I told the doctor he'd be depressed too if he was as sick as I was, for as long as I was.
Of course he turned out to be right because I didn't understand 'depression' then. Most of us just think of it as being sad, weepy, down, etc..  But if you are physically ill for awhile, all of those things will naturally follow, no matter what the reason for the illness.
Most people with depressive disorder go thru what you are.  Multiple tests, doctor visits, worry about severe health conditions, but totally unaware of the real health condition they have - depression.  We can't believe it's 'just depression' or 'just anxiety'.  But these are serious conditions.  Yes most people get a 'virus'....but it's not realistic to think everyone is getting the cold virus when you hear the word 'virus'.
You can go to your personal doctor for a toothache but wouldn't it make more sense to go to a dentist?   Yes you doctor can help with the pain, but is not the best for the cause.
This is why we need psychiatrists for depression and anxiety disorders.  They are the best equipped to deal with it.
Whe crippled by tooth pain, do you really want to exercise or take herbal tea as a remedy?
Yet, with depression and anxiety people do this all the time.  
Sorry for the rant...My suggestion is obviously give the psychiatrist a chance and don't fight the cure you are seeking.