Anxiety

[Pjxx]

Does anyone else suffer from extreme anxiety knowing you have a heart condition but not knowing how long it will take to see a cardiologist?

[Dashenka]

Dear Pjxx, every day. Being alone at home, having to deal with that kind of fear is really challenging, but you're definitely not alone.

I am dealing with it one day at the time. And i've found this place very comforting.

[Pjxx in reply to Dashenka]

Thank you, I find the anxiety overwhelming in the morning and gradually feel better through the day. Working about getting back to work and my daughter who has autism and how she relies on me and won't speak to anyone else.

[Pitt12345]

Perfectly understandable. I struggle more than my husband. Watching him have two massive ha’s since Jan 2019 has really taken its toll. We decided few weeks ago because he was getting breathless again,( four months after his 5th stent) to pay for angiogram with the Consultant who had treated him on NHS in early days. Within two weeks he had another stent in same artery. They couldn’t say when he would have been seen NHS. No more holidays/treats for us - money used but for us it was worth it. Have you tried Mindfulness/Meditation there is lots of free stuff on internet. Please reach out for help, don’t bottle your feelings up. Speak to your doctor, explain how you are feeling. You are not alone, anxious times without heart issues. Take care of yourself.

[Farmer87]

13 years I think I've had anxiety for regarding my heart, drives me mad everyday! Some days are worse than others I've tried therapists and stuff but it didn't work / help. I just try and get on with it now.I was meant to have an echocardiogram bout 2 month ago doctors and myself kept chasing the hospital up and eventually we had an answer of we can't give you a date or a month but I could book a private one myself for next week.. I'm like I can feel I'm worse which has been shown in my private scan but still month and half later after the scan not heard off my cardiologist it was passed to. So my anxiety is on edge over that in case I need an op etc.

[Pjxx in reply to Farmer87]

Most people I've spoken to say that I will have to wait at least 4 months to see a cardiologist, I've had a letter to book an appointment online but when I try it tells me that there are no appointment available and to leave my details and someone will get in contact but no one has. I know we are in the middle of a pandemic and NHS are stretched, but it's hard to just get on with it. Thanks for replying by the way.

[Farmer87 in reply to Pjxx]

It doesn't fill you with confidence I know that there was an 8 month waiting time due to covid in the hospital I use, silly thing was the cardiologist were at home when the spike was going on etc they weren't in the front line so they could of still seen people or had telephone / video consultations instead of make a backlog. I understand we had a pandemic but i think it was wrong to stop vital things like that. Just leave your details and hopefully they will get back to you ASAP and also speak with your doctors to chase them so they have it from both sides. Just stay as positive as you can anxiety is hard work to deal with I honestly know all about having it. Keep your chin up have positive thoughts and keep talking if you find it easier to keep yourself or your mind busy to lessen your anxiety than find something that suits you and your symptoms. Have a nice day and if you need anything feel free to message.

[Thanksnhs]

Morning, my worst anxiety is driving I so wish I could get over it, I need my car to get to the hospital which is 10 miles away and not easy to get to by public transport, it was always there but got worse after I drove from the lake district home, I live just outside Glasgow, my icd fired at 5.30 the next morning I keep thinking what if I had been on the motorway it doesn't bare thinking about also my dad at the same age as I am now, parked his car stepped out and had a cardiac arrest in the car park, he died there and then, with all my heart problems I haven't been allowed to drive numerous times which seriously knocked any confidence I had, it's just a horrible feeling if I do venture out starting to sweat when I am on the motorway, I just try and get on with it as I don't have much option and take public transport as much as possible, I can totally understand any anxieties with heart conditions, I feel even my closest friends think they are irrational, which I feel is so unfair since they have never been through it, take care char

[Pjxx in reply to Thanksnhs]

Thank you and so sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. I too have anxiety when driving, but I just keep telling myself the hospital would have told me not to drive if it where dangerous. But advice is hard to give when you haven't had a diagnosis I suppose?

[Thanksnhs in reply to Pjxx]

It definitely is, I hope eventually I will get a bit better and stop thinking about it as much, I even worry about where I am going to park before I have even left the house! It is nice to hear I am not alone in this I felt I was the only one, I read somewhere to turn the radio up and sing loudly 😂which I actually do, I am so bad it does take my mind off it! Char

[Sunnie2day]

I'm not in any queue to see/speak with my cardiologist but I remember the anxiety whilst awaiting that first meeting - horrible, so horrible I went private to speed things up - worth the money I remember thinking at the time. The private cardiologist put me on his NHS list after he saw my test results, btw.

But the sad thing is, the anxiety during the wait to see the cardiologist the first time has become my constant companion and I'm not the only Heartie with that. It's daily, absolutely daily. Some days it's first and foremost in my mind and other days it is more like a dull ache at the front of the back of my mind. But it's always there somewhere and I've come to understand it's just part of having a long-term health concern.

Most of us manage by getting counselling including using online sources (forums, self-help support counselling via NHS or a private consultant recommendation), books, hobbies that help focus the mind on other things, doing what exercise our condition(s) permit, and self-talk including 'mantra' repetitions like 'I've done/I'm doing everything possible including seeking qualified professional medical care. I stop doing anything physical if it causes pain or shortness of breath. I'm doing all I can and that's a very good thing for me to be doing.'. Sounds trite but it does help.

[Shawshank77]

Hi Pjxx,

I feel exactly the same and it is very comforting to know you are not alone. I know I am lucky that I have a phone consultation on May 14th with a cardiologist, but I also struggle with anxiety. My issue is that I no longer trust my body, having run 30miles+ a week up until I was admitted to hospital with severe hypertension in mid-Feb, and now I've been told I can't run at all at the moment due to a dilatated aortic root.

Taking it one day at a time I think is the only way to deal with it. I believe you are right to trust that the hospital wouldn't have let you drive if they felt it was dangerous and would have admitted you or rushed through the referral if there was an imminent danger to your health. Trying to find distractions is good, which I appreciate is easier said than done. I'm trying to learn the guitar for example. Hopefully as things start to open up you'll be able to get out more, go shopping, see friends etc. The sun this weekend has massively helped my wellbeing I know that. Whatever you do please know you are not alone and carry on asking for help and talking to people. Take care and keep posting x

[Daz6]

Hi, I wrote a similar post last weekend. If you are able to find the post through my profile hopefully you will get some useful advise. I'm trying really hard to manage my anxiety but it's so difficult and I really believe it wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't had to wait so long due to covid for tests etc. My suggestion would be to phone your doctor and say that you are really struggling with the wait and it is having a detrimental effect on your anxiety and mental health and see if he / she can chase it up for you. Worked for me x