Scared and Worried

[WorriedMan1987]

Hello,

I am really scared and worried to the point of not being able to enjoy life.

See, i am a 27 Year old, very overweight (320 pounds. 5'10'') that has been diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder and High Blood Pressure and Obesity.

I have been dealing with chest pains and scares for the last couple of years.

in the last year i have gone to the ER 3 times for chest pains (got xray, blood work, multiples ecg and nothing was shown).

I am also have been on lexapro for the last 6 months. and Lisinopril for 4 months.

I decided to go to the cardiologist, and he did multiple ecg, and a stress echo and everything was normal. (this was 3 months ago),

That calmed me down for a second, however; i got my Cholesterol work done and It was the following


Date                Total Cholesterol LDL HDL
12/23/2014 162                 98 27


Now that a couple months of the reassuring stress echo has passed, my anxiety is increasing again, and I know my HDL number is very low.

The last couple of days have been rough With a little bit of chest and shoulder pain, and a lot of worries. I dont have a doctors appointment until March 31st.

I have been taking the blood pressure on  my monitor (approximately 10 times a day, Crazy i Know)

And it has been relatively better since I started the lisinopril (it was usually 145 over 105) and now is usually between 120-140 over 85-96.

I don't know if i should go to the ER again or wait until the doctor on the 31st.

i do not have insurance and i am overwhelmed with the previous ER bills as it is.

I guess my questions is, having such a low HDL at my age and Weight with high blood pressure something that can give me a heart attack? Doctors say is all anxiety, but i am still scared

(no family heart problem that i am aware off)

I appreciate your input.

-A Scared Person.

[kcolly32]

If all tests are negative for heart issues, your anxiety needs to be addressed. Constant worry about the situation is also going to make it worse. I would not go to the ER as this is not an emergency and since you're so young, a simple change in diet and exercise can fix your cholesterol levels. The ER won't have much to tell you at this point and you're pretty young to be put on any cholesterol medications. Exercise has been known to help with anxiety too, even if it's just a walk. You're mind is a powerful thing and if you think you have heart problems then your body can mimic symptoms but like i said if the tests are negative, which is good, try to not think about it and work on not being so stressed. Best of luck!

[CFS56]

I know how hard it is to deal with anxiety and I know what it can do to you.  I have struggled with it most of my life.  I know that this sounds impossible, but you need to stop taking your blood pressure 10 times a day and force yourself to do something you enjoy.  Something as simple as going for a walk around the block can do wonders. Read a book, watch a tv show you like.  Do something that keeps you from your constant worry.  Have you talked to a therapist?  A good therapist can help so much.  Your doctor has done all the workups needed to assure you your heart is ok and that is not what is causing your chest pain.  Believe him. Concentrate on eating healthy and getting some exercise, which in turn will help decrease your anxiety.  Good luck to you, truly hope you can get some relief.  I know firsthand just how miserable you can make yourself.

[itdood]

Sounds like you are chasing/manufacturing a bunch symptoms instead of treating the problem.  Work on the root cause of whatever is making you unhappy.