Convinced I'm Dying

[Mouse87]

So a bit of background first:

34yo F, non smoker, don't drink (except a VERY occasional gin), been a bit of a couch potato since lockdown but reasonably active on and off before that, diet again hasn't been the best but working on getting that sorted.

Diagnosed with anxiety in 2013 which is when my palpitations started.

Since the start of 2019 so pre-pandmic I've had to deal with a lot of stress, losing 3 family members - one in quite awful circumstances, redundancy, house move, studying for a degree, changing jobs 3 times, and obviously the pandemic itself.

I'm just worried that all this stress has had some effect on my heart and I've got something that the Dr's haven't picked up.

Symptoms:

Palpitations

Chest tightness - this doesn't happen a lot

Breathlessness- can just be sitting doing nothing and BAM

Pain in left jaw

Pain in left neck

Pain left top of head

Pains down left arm

Nausea/vomiting in the mornings

Weight loss

High heart rate - resting has increased from around 76bpm to 81bpm

Pulsatile tinnitus- can hear heartbeat in ear. Mainly after going up the stairs but also just going from sitting to standing. Although not every time. This one worries me because it seems to suggest a blocked artery!

Reflux

Fatigue - sometimes can't even stop my eyes closing at work

Dizzy/light headedness

Recent tests:

Full bloods - all clear. Slightly raised RBC count but Dr didn't mention it???

Everything else fine. Lowest CRP (inflammation) reading I've ever had.

ECG: All clear

Thyroid: All clear

Also had an echo about 6 years ago and a halter monitor- all fine. So would a lot have changed since then?

Thursday was a particularly bad day for me. Nausea and vomiting acid/bile in the morning. Went to work and went really hot while sitting at my desk, also had sharp shooting pain in my left chest, sort of like all around my left boob. That subsided and kind of felt okay. After lunch, felt Breathless again, bit tight chested, heart rate was high all day! Really fatigued when I got home.

But yesterday I was fine pretty much.

These don't all happen at once and some are few and far between. But the weight loss has worried me.

I went through a bad patch a few months back, high anxiety, bad reflux, didn't eat much and dropped a lot of weight (I have another condition that make weight loss difficult so this was a shock) since then my weight has gone up and down. But seems to be sticking at one weight. Even after stuffing my face last night, i hadn't gained a pound!!!! Usually that would an instant 6lb on the scale!

I'm so scared I've got heart failure, clogged arteries or cancer or something horrible. The Dr's just do bloods and cos they're fine don't follow anything up. They just put it down to anxiety.

I take omeprazole in the morning and gaviscon before bed

I'm also on the mini pill - desogestrel.

I just don't know where to turn and feel like I'm going to drop down dead! Or they're going to discover something when it's too late

[ginabean]

So sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. I can relate! My first suggestion would be to get a referral for a gastroenterologist and have them do further bloodwork around your liver, which can cause all sorts of issues within the body but is often very treatable. I was diagnosed with an auto immune liver disease after years of complaining to the dr about how I felt.

My second suggestion would be to see a chiropractor. You may have a pulled muscle, pinched nerve, or are carrying stress in your body that is causing you unneeded pain. They can help you feel better as well.

I hope things improve for you soon. I feel the same way often so I certainly empathize with your situation

[Mouse87 in reply to ginabean]

I've had loads of liver checks and all okay but just noticed my recent Ferritin levels were very very low so wondering if that's contributed

[Dell12345]

Hey, I feel for you, I've felt like that with anxiety. It does sound like you have had a lot of stress and it has caught up with you in the form of anxiety.

This happened to me recently and although I still question what it really is, anxiety / depression medication has really helped.

Do you take any medication for anxiety?

[Mouse87 in reply to Dell12345]

No I've never taken meds for it. I never wanted to rely upon them. I've always done so well without. I get "flare ups" if you like where I'll be in an anxious state for a period then be absolutely fine. It's never constant.

I've also just looked at a recent blood test and although my RBC was okay my Ferritin is extremely low so I'm wondering if that's contributing and if never recovered after my really heavy bleeds.