Hi. I had been in hospital from 18 Dec to Christmas Eve as I had gone to A & E not feeling right - horrible chest tightness, shortness of breath. And they did two ECGs and both were abnormal. Yet my bloods were normal. But they admitted me anyway. Angiogram showed no blockages. But on 1st January I had to phone for paramedics as I had really bad chest tightness again. They did an ECG on me, told me it was "normal" even though the print out for it said "abnormal" with weird ST and T waves and it looks like A Fib with all those little jagged bumps. Paramedics were convinced I was just having "anxiety" but I tried to tell them I wasn't anxious and they still insisted that it must be anxiety. Why are they saying this to me when my ECGs are not normal?? Anyone? Attached photos of my reading done by the paramedics.
Abnormal ECGs but it's being written ... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Abnormal ECGs but it's being written off as "anxiety"
I have just asked Dr Sanjay Gupta this question for you and he says that ECG's cant show that the cause is anxiety, though those that are anxious generally have more ectopics.
What a rude answer!
Hi Jean... I know. I cannot stand it when people reply with rude non "answers". There is no need for that. Many of us are afraid and want support and it's just not OK to come on here and be rude to people who seek support. It's easy to be brave behind a keyboard but I guarantee that person would not say that to my face. By the way thanks for your reply x
What do you mean ??
Just another troll is my guess. Fed up with these rude responses. Some people have real issues. She spelt "socialised" with a z so it's probably coming from the states. Do they think their doctors and medicine are more "socialised" because they have no NHS? If people cannot be polite on here and supportive, don't post. I think to come on here and be rude to people who have heart issues, it's pretty low.
Please don't think all of us from the U.S. are rude like that, I can guarantee you we are not the majority, regardless of the way we spell words!
I, too, had several abnormal EKG's early on by my now ex-primary doctor, he ignored them and claimed it was anxiety. Several years later, and my story condensed to save space and time, I was diagnosed with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, have since also had ventricular tachycardia, many benign arrhythmias, AFib w/RVR, and am on my 2nd defibrillator/pacemaker. That is just my personal experience in a nutshell.
I would definitely contact your doctor or medical facility with any concerns you have and keep asking until you get an answer that you are happy with.
Sometimes it can be "just" anxiety, sometimes something in between, sometimes much more concerning. You know your body, and how you feel.
It took me years of urging a doctor to take me seriously, even with family history of HCM and sudden cardiac arrest, only to be ignored or called "anxious"! I was finally blessed with a specialist that suspected, and eventually diagnosed, my HCM.
Once again just my personal heart experience in a nutshell, please consult your medical professional with your concerns.
Wishing you wellness...
I’m so sorry for what you’re going through, dani777 - it’s frustrating for one’s experiences to be dismissed by doctors as anxiety, even though it may be their own frustration that they can’t find the answer. As for the nasty non-answer, above, I seem to spend all my time apologizing on behalf of my country gone insane these days. But please do know that we’re not all monsters... 😢
Me too. It pains me so many of my countymen have lost the art of compassion. However “the emptiest tin head gongs the loudest”..more anonymous “bravery”. The “ loud bullies of the schoolyard”. Our apologies. This is where we come when fearful, and often alone. So many good hearts and helpful listeners here. Resist and ignore the others! So good to see kinder spirits. Happy New Year.
agree that was really rude of you. please do not reply if you can't be supportive.
Dani - I really feel for you. It's awful to be told it's anxiety when you feel so dreadful. Do you have a cardiologist that you could contact for advice?
I'm not much of an expert on ECG's but the one you have in another post looks like sinus rhythm with lots of artifacts - perhaps more knowledgeable ECG readers could look at it.
Are you taking Bisoprolol by any chance? I had to have an emergency appointment for chest tightness and poor breathing when I was taking 2.5mg.
I'm sorry to hear that you're going through this! ECGs should be confirmed by a cardiologist to ensure accuracy. They need to look at the p waves, etc. Sometimes what the cardiologist can spot something else besides the automatic result. Usually a hospital has cardiologists on staff confirming ECGs, but they don't necessarily tell you. You'll see it if you request to see medical records. Is there a GP or cardiologist you can try to see? If they have email, try sending them the strip.
It is possible that the abnormal ECG was caused by anxiety, but this diagnosis should be made by a cardiologist or at least a GP. Paramedics are not qualified to make this sort of judgement and should not have done so. If you still have chest tightness go to
A and E today. If the symtoms have subsidised, make a GP appointment.
Hi Dani
Exactly the same thing happened to me but 20 years ago when cardiologists weren’t as aware of Afib. Twice I was told it was anxiety and sent away.
Ask your GP to refer you to an EP (electro physiologist). These are the guys who deal with the electrics of the heart as opposed to cardiologists who deal with the plumbing. If you end up in A and E again, insist on seeing an EP not a straightforward cardiologist.
You could invest in a kardia machine. It is designed to pick up AF so then when you get an episode you could do your own mini ECG. If it is AF it would tell you and you would be armed when you get to see an EP. Unfortunately sometimes when the EP tries to catch the episodes they don't happen.
Good luck 🍀
I agree Lally 
I would suggest a Kardia for anyone with arrythmia type syptoms unable to get a diagnosis , having one would have saved me months of anxiety when my P-AF went undiagnosed. I understand some GP surgeries now have them to loan out so it is worth asking.
Halter monitors are a waste of time for many with P-AF , I had one for a week and of course had no episodes while wearing the monitor, my episodes were few and far between then .
I was told to get myself to a hospital when I had a strange episode but I am too ill to drive, I wish I had known about the Kardia then .
Dani--computer read abnormalities is definitely not the same as the specialist read findings, so it does not mean much to see "abnormal" on a computer readout. But the comment above is correct that anxiety is a diagnosis of exclusion--i.e. after most or all avenues have been explored to explain symptoms. The non-specific changes do not tell us much but the HR is a little fast for a resting ECG. Time to discuss the whole situation with your GP and ask him if you could be having periodic coronary artery spasm??? Just a thought.
And yes,,,,even if you were not anxious when the chest feelings started,,,you were bound to be anxious after recognizing something was wrong,,,you have pain or tightness,or weak or dizzy or anything beyond your norm! I am always told NOT to be anxious as an afibber,but how can that not play into it??? It’s my heart and that’s enough to know to make me anxious if,all of a sudden,,,something is different,,,,it has taken me forever to go through varied symptoms over the past 4 years with afib and I finally know the patterns and how a day or evening might go,,,,and it’s not a sore toe or an earache,,,,it’s my heart or lungs or chest,,,and so I go and have it checked out,,,,I know the drill and that helps a bit,,,just saying,,,,you are not alone,,,and your feelings and reactions are indeed genuine,,,,!
Do you have a cardiologist?
You need to see a cardiologist!
I have a irregular heartbeat wore a 30 day event monitor my cardiologist seem to think everything was fine I still think he should have had more test done but you just have to go with what they say.If I were you I would go to ER they will do another EKG they have to!
Thank you all for reporting the rude post, I have deleted that, and will be posting on the forum about our actions. We are sorry that you have been so upset by the actions of one person.
Regards, Rachel - AF Association Patient Services
Hi
Fear and anxiety are perfectly normal emotional and physiological responses to chest pain or tightness and shortness of breath. The automatic "diagnosis" generated by ECG's can be inaccurate or misleading and are no substitute for analysis by an experienced healthcare professional. I agree with other members on here that you need to be assessed by a cardiologist. I hope you get this sorted and never let anyone tell you that anxiety is abnormal or irrelevant
Kindest regards David
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