Freaking out over results

[Brightfuture22]

I will preface by saying that I have EXTREME anxiety and panic disorders. I also have what is now called health anxiety. I am 33 years old, morbidly obese, and worry constantly about heart issues, though to this point, I’ve never been diagnosed with anything. I have had numerous EKG’s (all said to be “normal” for me, meaning they don’t look textbook, but haven’t changed in 15 years), and echocardiogram done in April of this year as a preventive measure because my mother had a genetic defect in one of her valves, which came back showing slight regurgitation, but read as normal, and then I just had a treadmill cardiac stress test which I was informed today was completely normal.

So here’s my question, WHYYYYY would my cardiologist say I am okay, that my treadmill cardiac stress test was normal, but when I got the results it said “Duke treadmill score of 4 indicates intermediate probability of having significant coronary artery disease”. And “nonspecific ST depression”. I am afraid to google what these things mean.

I was so nervous to get the results of my stress test that my bp was 165/112 at the beginning of my appointment this morning, then after he gave me the “good news” that my stress test was normal and my ekg was normal, I was so happy I cried and then calmed down. My bp leaving his office was 130/70!

Fast forward to 2 hours later when I read over the results paperwork it says “....intermediate probability of having significant coronary artery disease”!!! WTFFFFF!

So???? What does this mean? I do have clogged arteries? I am gonna have a heart attack? Idk what to do but I am spinning. Why would he say it’s okay and normal if it’s not?!??

💜Ash

[Dolphin14]

Have you contacted the md to review what the results were? It's up to the md to translate this for you.

[Brightfuture22 in reply to Dolphin14]

I did, I saw my cardiologist today. He’s the one who read the results and told me everything is normal/good. No problems. After my appointment I asked his MA for a copy of the results, and I looked at them later on. This is why I don’t understand, if my results indicate an issue, why did my cardiologist say there was no issue?

[Dolphin14 in reply to Brightfuture22]

Oh I see what happened. Ok.

So, you call him and say just that. You said everything was ok yet the hard copy say this. Ask him to clarify What it means.

[Bagrat]

I have in the past had anxiety and health anxiety. Mine started when my husband had a heart attack years ago.

I suspect your cardiologist is interpreting the results in the light of what he would expect would be normal for you. But certainly good to enquire.

My husband had an ECG prior to surgery on a hernia that looked like a train wreck but the anaesthetist was happy to proceed.

I suspect anyone who is as you said " morbidly obese" would have a similar result.

Have you had any support with embarking on a weight loss problem and coping witb your anxiety?

[Brightfuture22 in reply to Bagrat]

Coping with my anxiety has been incredibly hard. I do see a therapist 2x a week and I have started implementing techniques to help my life get back into order, but one bad spell of anxiety and I lose most progress made. As far as the weight goes I am down 55lbs since April, and I am working on continuing to lose more. Although when I am anxious I either do not eat because I just feel I cannot or I binge on sugar/carb loaded foods.

Thank you for your response, I appreciate it.

💜Ash

[Bagrat in reply to Brightfuture22]

Do not label yourself as anxious. This is trouble with a diagnosis of GAD.

You are your own person. Anxiety is an overwhelming feeling when it happens. BUT it is a feeling and feelings change. Even now you can still say "some things make me anxious" so there are spaces when you aren't. You can do this. 55lb wow I am in awe. Congratulations. Xx

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! The way I see it there is a possibility you have the start of coronary artery disease (CAD). You are young enough to start tackling this by making lifestyle changes - basically dietary changes and exercise. The recommended diet for heart health is the Mediterranean diet. A BMI at your level significantly increases the risk of Type II diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea and other conditions. Your doctor may be able to prescribe WW or Slimming World courses. Good luck!

[Brightfuture22 in reply to MichaelJH]

I guess my fear is that my arteries are already clogged and I am going to have a heart attack, etc. I have been working on losing weight, I am down 55lbs(4 stones) since April. But I need to do a better job and keep myself accountable. All of my numbers are good right now, cholesterol, A1C, etc, but that can change quickly and I need to recognize that. It really is my weight that is my biggest issue. My BMI is 64!! I appreciate your response, thank you for helping me.

💜Ash

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Brightfuture22]

Ash, you are already half-way there! You have admitted you have a problem, you have lost four stone and your numbers are good. It is better to loose the weight steadily and maintain the loss rather than yo-yo via obscure/extreme diets that can cause more problems than they solve.

People in this group are here to support each other so feel free to ask questions, vent or whatever. Good luck!

[LadyLaTiLa]

So sorry for how you feel , anxiety can make us feel very everything is out of control, however you are 33 and maybe this is a helpful warning at just the right time to say actually YOU are in control of your own body and you are the one who can sort out this anxiety. As another replier mentioned, please do try slimming world, (or another) it is a great way of losing weight while still feeling satisfied and there are lots of ways of having food you like but in a healthier version. Don’t be put off by thinking “healthy” food is tasteless or boring, it really isn’t, and your body will not crave the bad food and sugar after a very short time. We all have to look after our own bodies, we have one and no one else will do it for us. I truly wish you well and that you can take a step away from this anxiety and move forward in control of your own life.

[seasider18]

I have had two stress ECG/EKG's and a stress echocardiogram that caused me to have angiograms. Each dubious test was proved to be a false positive as my arteries were clear. Evidently over 30% of ECG/EKG's are false positives.