I can’t tell if I’m anxious because of my symptoms or if my symptoms are making me anxious.

[Musicman24]

Hey,

I’ve never posted on anything like this but I really need to talk to someone who might get it. Every time I think I’m doing better something freaks me out and I can’t get passed it. I’m constantly checking my heart rate. I am so overly aware of my heart it’s literally making me crazy. Over the course of the passed few weeks I’ve had 3 episodes that I’m hoping we’re just panic attacks but I don’t know! I’ve had numberous ekg’s, I’ve had a stress test and plenty of blood work done. Wore a 24 hour heart monitor and am now waiting for a 4 week monitor to come in the mail. Everything so far says I’m fine but this was all before the episodes of rapid heart rate and sweating happened. No chest pain. I have arm pain all the time because of my carpal tunnel but there’s always a part of me that thinks it’s gonna be a heart attack. Does anyone else go theough this?

[Titan4757]

Musicman,

I did have this starting out 2018. Honestly, I'm passed those symptoms and now when I look back I realize it is anxiety and hypersensitivity. For example, I had two major panic attacks in December. Didn't know what it was so thought the worst. Had all the work done like you but I check my heart rate for at least two months and sleeping was so difficult. If I slept on my left arm I could feel my heart pounding all over my body and it was scary. It took time but I slowly started walking around my neighborhood after work. Each week going farther and starting to trust myself little by little. I got so tired of worrying about my heart rate that I started doing 10-15 workout sessions using youtube videos. At first it took hours for my heart to calm down but now I can handle some serious workouts without worry. You will get to the breaking point when you're sick of living like that and you'll say, "screw it, if I have a heart attack then so be it!" Obviously, you won't. If your cardiologist and doctors have done their job and you're check clear it must be anxiety and sensitivity. If you never had heart problems before these panic attacks, it's anxiety. I wish you the best and just know that it slowly goes away.

[Musicman24 in reply to Titan4757]

Thanks so much! It’s so encouraging to hear from someone who’s gone through it. I have had plenty of tests and even an ultrasound and chest X-ray. No sign of any problem. I’m a big guy and I’m in the middle of dropping weight. My dad passed of a heart attack when I was a teenager. I think that’s why I fear it so much.

[Titan4757 in reply to Musicman24]

Sorry to hear about your dad. I know that would cause some emotional trauma especially when you're younger when it happened. These sensations and heart beat awareness will go away. I also had an echocardiogram on my heart, stress tests and more. I had major stomach issues and pain and in June had an endoscopy. Everything is fine. I'm not saying the symptoms aren't present, because they are and they can be painful. What I do know is I'm on month 8 of this year and have spent far too much money on labs and tests due to these feelings. It also eats away at your vacation time from work. It took some time to finally accept the doctors and trust the results but I'm feeling good now and you will too. I printed out my major test results and posted them around the house just to remind myself everything is ok and it's up to me to feel good. This is the only true way I've been able to start recovering. I had to trust myself, my doctors and realize just because I may not feel well some days it doesn't mean I'll feel like that all the time. Don't let it take you down. It's your sub-conscious mind that's controlling your thoughts and symptoms. Try to smile more and shake up your daily routine. Instead of running home after work, go for a walk. Instead of watching tv go work in the garage on a project. You will feel better soon!

[Musicman24 in reply to Titan4757]

really appreciate the feedback! you've been very helpful!

[Bratley]

Not trying to be silly, but what about gas? Gas can cause irregular heartbeat. Does with me...then anxiety...then faster heartbeat, etc. deep breathing and relaxation helps if you learn the proper way to do them. Medication can help mucho, however, stigma of addiction...but hey, if your heart is racing and you feel panicked??? Can’t live like that! I think I would talk to a psychiatrist to see about your condition, Xanax or another medications, and individual/group sessions.

[Musicman24 in reply to Bratley]

Thanks for your reply. I def have stomach issues. I recently got scoped and they found nothing so that might be anxiety too. :/

[Bratley in reply to Musicman24]

Do you chew sugarless gum? Has sorbitol, which has a laxative effect and causes gas. Just a thought.

[peanutbuttercup]

Titan said it very well. Trust your doctors, do not listen at all to Dr. Internet...he lies a lot and is a bit of an alarmist. The professionals you need to see are in the psych field. There is a lot of help out there, and you can get better....cheaper too than he endless medical tests.