anxiety all the time

[degree21]

Hi there, I am reaching out for some help as I feel I am falling apart, 5 weeks ago I was admitted to A&E with a suspected heart attack - it wasn't. I had had Gasto problems for sometime and it was that that had caused my pain. I was about to leave A&E but told a medical registrar wanted to look again at my ECG - at 3am I was told from the EGC that I had had a silent heart attack, a left branch block -was given a prescription for heart medication and someone from the cardiologist team would be in touch with in a month and told I could go home!! I suffer extreme health anxiety anyway and since then I have been a total utter mess mentally. I paid privately to see a cardiologist to try to calm me down he said he could hear a murmur and it was possibly my valves but wait for NHS to find out what was going on but I could pay for further treatment if I wanted or could afford it - which I cant. I was triaged over the phone by a cardiologist who wasn't overly informative about what was happening infact he was almost dismissing me and I had to press for further investigation as the private cardiologist said I need a ecoh and a t something -I have had an echocardiogram and am awaiting results. Up until this happened I played tennis every day, was fairly fit, ate well and took no medication and had no medical issues at all - i am 50- apart from my anxiety which due to covid had gradually been creeping back in- i was well. Now I am in a constant tense and anxious state - worrying if i am going to die every minute, scanning myself for aches and pains and checking my heart and its beat all the time - and i have barely allowed myself to move for fear of raising my heart rate as I cannot cope with any irregular or heavy beating - I have simply fallen apart and I don't know to what extent the damage is - what i can and cant do - all of it. Any advice would be great as I'm driving my family mad with my obsessive behaviour and worry and that makes me even sadder.

[meadfoot]

So sorry you are struggling. The waiting is awful and I don’t doubt most of us on this forum and other heart related forums have felt like you do right now on many occasions.

If the medics in a and e and the cardiologist had thought you were in danger you would not be at home, they dare not risk sending someone home where there was a chance of any danger both to protect you and themselves.

The waiting time is dreadful and the anxiety even worse as we all know only too well from our own experiences. Have you considered making contact with one of the British heart foundation nurses, via this forum, possibly they could allay your fears.

Do you have a GP you could contact for support, perhaps they could check you over while you await further cardiology input. Mine has double checked me out this afternoon after I needed to contact her with various strange heart arrhythmias. Please don’t sit and worry take control of the situation by insisting on the help and support you need and deserve.

Sending a big virtual hug your way. Best wishes, many of us have been where you are right now and have lived to tell the story many times over.

[Ferrari10]

Hi There

It’s the sudden transition from one state of being to another without much time to process it all. Know exactly how you feel. Last year I suffered a HA out of the blue and within a few weeks had a double bypass. The whole sequence of events was dramatic and you become all too aware of these new vulnerabilities and the almost complete loss of confidence in your own body etc etc. But that’s the thing you are on the other side of it even though it doesn’t feel that way. If there was something truly untoward the medics would have been on it immediately. Now almost 11 months on from my op I am significantly better but I know the mental scars and fears will still take time to go. I have had several check ups and treatments that demonstrate I have made a great deal of progress. I just need to believe that fully. I am getting there. My family have been fantastic and given me the time to get angry and scared but always encourage me. The main thing for you imo is to take the meds religiously and follow a fairly strict life style in terms of diet, exercise and mostly try to calm down if you can!

[EgregiousReptile]

if they thought you were in any immediate danger they wouldn't have let you out of the hospital. I would stop worrying about it and let the treatments take their course, after you've had them and find they are no where near as intimidating as you thought they would be you will probably be wondering what all the fuss was about.

[Yasyass]

It must be very difficult for all this info but also like no info I too four years ago had a ha the gp told me abroad I was lucky and thankful I too suffer from anxiety so the thought of having another ha made me anxious I tried carrying on with the best I could but I live in panic so when I came to Uk did more tests to discover I have a severely damaged heart and hf but I feel fine but th small but powerful words what if alwaz come to mind I try living my life because the more u stress the more you’ll mk uself I’ll so enjoy your time with your family no one can predict their life so try not keep thinking of what if I know how you feel but we should try to be strong because we can’t change wh we’ve got but we can enjoy families friends share our experiences I wish you all the best

[lettingoffsteam]

You poor thing...I know how worrying it can be waiting for tests and their results.I echo the excellent advice meadfoot gave re. the bhf nurses.They are very supportive.Also a supportive GP is a great asset.I had terrible health anxiety after my hypertensive crisis and hospital stay and resulting tests.I was referred for cognitive behaviour therapy through my doctor which really helped with my anxiety.I had some delivered online which was easy to access.Hope you get answers soon.

[Pollypuss]

Really sorry to hear of your worries. After my triple bypass I could generate a panic arrack in seconds from all the odd pains and symptoms. Looking back now over the months I realise it was just that. These cardiologists know what they are talking about and checked me out and now I am back playing tennis. It’s horrible what you are going through because it is such a shock to you and you are obviously worried. There are many, many of upbeat survivors on this site who describe their unpleasant journey which i recognise as the norm.

[helixhelix]

I agree with others that you wouldn’t have been sent home if the doctors thought there was an immediate risk. Last year I went through investigations for heart problems and breathlessness, which identified mild stenosis 3/5 in aortic valve and and some blockages in minor arteries causing ischaemia. Nothing could be done about either right now, and the main advice I got from the cardiologists was to work on my cardiac fitness. I was told that there very worst thing I could do would be to stop exercising, heart muscles are no different from other muscles in that regard.

So you saying that you are not moving at all sounds a bit worrying. I would echo the suggestions to work on your anxiety.

[Smileyian]

Ferrari10 and others have said it all. Anxiety and fear of dying is all to powerful but the friends on here have given superb advise. It will take time for your nervous system and fear to calm down. You will get through it.

[Purbecklady]

I sympathise with you 100%...going from healthy one minute to feeling like you are a ticking time bomb is very scary and a terrible shock. I’m 59 and had similar news 5 weeks ago and I’m now waiting for echo/angio next month after being sent away with a bag full of drugs to take in the meantime ....as if this year wasn’t crazy enough! As has already been advised, try and not think the worst case scenario, I know it’s a natural thing to do,but if you were really bad they would have admitted you . Anxiety can be crippling , my son lost his Dad 2 years and the thought that I’m at risk has sent his anxiety through the roof , and that’s an added worry for me too. Whatever you do don’t start reading the stuff online! 🤞

[dunestar]

I'm sure many of us on this forum can relate to your experience. You are jogging along one day and suddenly your life gets turned upside down. It's made worse by not being able to get answers to all the questions which are buzzing around in your head. Put the pandemic on top of that and it's a pretty vicious cocktail.

I was in a somewhat similar situation (minus the pandemic) a while ago. What helped me was to be able to control my thoughts through breathing. I read a book written I think by an ex nurse about controlling panic attacks through breathing. Unfortunately I can't find the book now but there are loads of books out there about this kind of topic.

[degree21]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my post. I don’t do any sort of social media but yesterday I was beside myself and reached out - I am so glad I did - thank you your kind and supportive words.

I would particularly like to thank Meadfoot. I read and re - read your post Yesterday and your words really resonated - when you are in the grip of panic and anxiety sense and reason are nowhere to be seen - but your Words and your quick response somehow broke the cycle long enough for me calm down.

My fight back starts today - starting with saying goodbye to Dr Google!

I wish you all the very very best -

Thanks again