Fear of heart problems

[assured]

I am a 44 yo female, 5' 4" and 130 lbs.  I have a lot of anxiety/panic.  Had a cardiac workup in the hospital exactly 2 years ago.  Included:  blood work, EKGs, 48 hr. monitor, Echo, Thallium stress test, and a cath.  Cardiologist said all was normal and that I had anxiety.  I saw the same dr. this past week for blood pressure concerns.  When I'm at the dr's office it can be 120/92 but at home it's usually 88-95/55-65.  

He did an EKG and said that the blood pressure was not dangerous.  He thinks I have an auto-immune or endocrine disease in addition to the Hashimoto's thyroiditis I've recently been diagnosed with.

I keep worrying about heart disease/attack though.  Today my left shoulder hurts (the muscle right on the top by my neck) and my left arm a bit too.  I did have a problem with my right side yesterday and the day before which was related to stress.  My muscles up there have a tendency to knot up when I get stressed.  Sometimes it moves to the other side after it starts so that could be the issue today.

I guess I really worry because of all the reports of heart disease/attacks being different in women.  I think the tests just didn't catch the problem.  I don't know whether to trust the cardiologist or pursue further testing?

Any advice appreciated,

Cindy

[assured]

gigi121,

It is amazing what we can do to ourselves by getting stressed.  I know that I really need to find a way to relax and not get so anxious.  I get a lot of back and neck pain from tensing my muscles as well.  It's weird because I really don't even know I'm doing it!

Thanks for your help,

Cindy

[gigi121]

I am no doctor but I did the same thing you did i would tense up so much that my lower back would hurt and then it would travel up to my left shoulder blade.    I was worried to death thinking am I going to have a heart attack but my doctor told me that is was me tensing my muscles so much that I do it in my sleep.  I too have anxiety and panic attacks but have learned to control them through meditation.    Can you relax to nice music for 15 minutes this also helps the stress levels.  

My doctor also said I have White Coat Fever  - you get really nervous when you go to the doctors because you think they are going to find something wrong with you so your blood pressure rises in the office but at home it goes down.