Something serious with mx heart?

[dragons23]

I am a (usually) healthy 22yo male, with no history of heart problems, but for the last year I have been feeling really bad and it is driving me crazy to not be able to live my life as I used to. In the beginning I had a few panic attack where I ended up in hospital thinking I had a heart attack, but after doing EKGs the doctors said there was nothing wrong with me. For some time after that everything was ok, but then it started again, and then my symptoms were all over the place, palpitations, chest pain, pains in my left hand, arm, armpit, left side of my neck and head. For a time I felt dizzy, couldn't breathe normally and had a feeling I would pass out but never did. Also, I felt out of place and as if my surroundings were not real, like in a movie. I did an x ray of my chest, and back, and also ultrasound of my chest and abdomen, blood tests and I went to a cardiologist. He did a color Doppler (?) test of my heart and also EKG, and said it was all right. Basically everyone said it was stress and anxiety related. I accepted that explanation, but I can't stop thinking that there is something else wrong with me. Although my symptoms really do point to anxiety, what worries me the most is that for the past month, my "heart" chest pains are getting stronger. Usually they would start late at night when I would lie down to sleep, and did not appear when I was active. For the last month, the pain is usually constant, I feel it from the moment I wake up, and it gets worse over the course of the day. At night it can be really painful. I tried taking Xanax and some pain meds, but i guess they didn't really help. The pain is located on the left side of my chest, and it goes to my armpit, neck, arm and back, and once even my jaw. So my biggest question would be if this pain really could be anxiety related, and can anxiety produce such constant and persistent pains, or do my symptoms suggest something more. Again, I have been to a lot of doctors last year, maybe 10 of them in total, and they told me I was ok, but now I am afraid again. Can you really rule out  heart problems with the tests I had? I asked if I should do a stress test, or 24 hour monitor, but the doctors said there was no need for that. I as still so worried and can't do anything, I think about it all day long.    

[jeremiah_lewis17]

Hello dragons 23 I was wondering if you are still getting these symtoms. I know it has been a few years that u haven't commented on this you last comment was on may 25 2011. I was wondering how are you doing and if they found out what's wrong or if it just went away on its own after awhile. Thanks jeremiah

[dragons23]

Thank you for your quick answer. Well, I guess I understand it now. My heart rate rises sometimes for no apparent reason, and sometimes when I am doing something (anything actually, it goes so far that it would rise when I am walking or climbing stairs). I think those medication could be helping that, since my heart rhythm is normal for these past few days. But, I am still experiencing all the other symptoms, I am constantly tired, and also I have trouble breathing when I wake up and go to bed. That is usually when I take beta blockers, so I am wondering if there is some connection between those things. Ken, you say that your heart rate is normal even with rigorous exercise because of beta blockers. I thought they would help mi in other things besides heart rate. I mean, the HR is ok now, but I can't even think about doing exercises, because I feel really dizzy and have trouble breathing even when sitting. Also, when I get up into standing position, I feel even more dizzy for a few seconds. So, should beta blockers help with that too? Or maybe they are the reason I have those other symptoms? I have only been taking them for 3 days, but I think I am feeling even worse then before.  

[kenkeith]

The beta blocker is to stabilize heart rhythm.  Too much adrenalin has to do with the sympathic nervous system.  If your adrenaline surges are occurring when you are not in a dangerous situation, or for no apparent reason at all, you may be experiencing a panic attack.

I take a beta blocker and it is difficult to raise the heart rate very high even with vigorous exercise.  My heart's high rate (without med) has to do with the cardiovascular system
and compensatory characteristics. Also, there are blood pressure implications.

For some insight, if it is not a cardiovascular compensitory phenonomon, it can be a panic attack that can be sudden or unrealized cause that has symptoms that lasts for a shorter time with more intense symptoms, in contrast to anxiety attacks having stressors that build to less severe reactions and can last for weeks or months. Symptoms are high heart rate and blood pressure issues, etc.

I hope this helps, and if you have any followup questions or comments you are welcome to respond.  Take care,

Ken

[dragons23]

I'm back with an update if anyone is interested in it. Well, the state I'm in didn't get any better, I guess it is gotten even worse. Chest pains are still a problem, and now I am feeling even more tired and dizzy. Also, I can't do almost anything, walking even short distances becomes a problem, I get high heart rate, and I fell dizzy/like I am going to pass out. I went to my cardiologist again, and after some talk, he said I should probably do a stress test. He didn't think I needed it, but just to be on the safe side. So I did it. It usually takes 9 minutes for all 3 phases, but he cut the test of after 4 minutes, in the second stage. My heart rate was 177, and BP 150/100. I got really scared, but also somewhat relived that it happened so he could see it. Well, he said that my heart seams really healthy and fine, but he thinks I have too much adrenalin in my system and that is making me fell all these things. He proscribed me some beta-blockers and in my test report it says that if that doesn't help, I should check in to a hospital and spend some time there and do a whole bunch of other tests. Now I am really scared. I don't even know what to think about this. What is this medication for anyway? Is it for my heart? Does it mean there is something serious but he wouldn't tell me? I read about that medicine, but I don't really understand it. Can someone say what it does, and does it look serious if i have to take that? Thank you in advance for your answers :)

[kenkeith]

It could be heart's microvessel's spasm; respiratory with pulmonary emboli, pulmonary artery thrombosis (clot). It may stress, anxiety and that is the usual response after doing a differential analysis...everything else is rule out.

Sorry to hear of your medical concerns and symptoms.

Ken