Phantom pains causing huge anxiety again

[Ourdill]

Been a few months since my orig post, as I found parttime work and have kept myself occupied. I had a heart attack at 43 (unsure of cause as was fit but self employed and very stressed) and LAD stent fitted nearly a year ago now (only 2 weeks till I stop with the ticagrelor and lanzopralol woop!) but yesterday I had the weirdest muscle fluttering on left side of my chest.. Like someone doing a drumroll on it for about 10 seconds. I thought it was weird and tried to put it to back of my mind and carry on what I was doing. But, good old anxiety crept up and punched me in the head causing instant head to toe sweats, couldn't catch my breath properly, tried the standard ways I learnt to calm down during the many times I've had this over tha last 6 months but I couldn't shift it. I ended up crying myself to sleep and felt better when I woke this morning. Went to work as normal but then it popped into my head again,but i battled thro it keeping as busy as possible. I really feel I've missed out as I had zero cardiac rehab, apart from a few phone calls.. Physically I'm fit as a fiddle due to work being quite strenuous, (I'm not overdoing it tho) but mentally I'm a wreck inside. Anyone have any further tips or experience that they used self help wise? Anything/ideas will be appreciated

[PippaBlue6]

Sorry to hear you are going through a tough time. I would suggest getting some professional support. After my HA in February and when I started to exercise I would get a fluttering feeling in my heart area and thought I was going mad!! I have heard that it could be the meds but my consultant said it was anxiety. I am glad and relieved to say that it has gone and I have been fine these past couple of months but I do understand your concern. I wish you well and I admire your strength.

[Ourdill in reply to PippaBlue6]

I been trying to get it thro my gp and the cardiac rehab at Warwick but it's a fighting losing battle.. Glad to hear you are doing well x

[Hidden]

Its early days for me.....I came out of hospital 11 days ago after having a couple of stents fitted to my LAD. It was brilliant to be home, or at first I thought so, then at about 8.00pm a wave of anxiety hit me, "what if it happens again without all the Drs and nurses here"......I was petrified.

I went to bed several times but couldn't stay in bed due to all the gremlins in my head....I finaly turned in, with the bed side light left on at 2.30am.

The following day I sat there and thought about all the posotives and everything those nurses and doctors had said to me about life going forward.

I also spoke to lots of friends and neighbours about my emotions.

The following night when I went to bed the gremlins came out again.....I thought about all the posotives.....the great service and MOT I'd just received and how my heart should be better and working under less pressure than it had for years.....I beat the gremlins and had fell quickly to sleep.

I've chatted to my cardiac support nurse about chest aches I had until a few days ago, she was very reassuring but did ask me to speak to my GP, he, as usual was brilliant and put my mind at rest.

The one big learning I've had in the last three weeks is that a heart attack isnt just physical, the other big thing I've learnt is not to be worried to say how frightened you've been been and how its effected you emotionally.

As they say its good to talk, even to a stranger who has been through the same, you're never alone or unique in your feelings.

I reckon your "drum role" was just a muscle spasm.

I've had angina for 8 years, I was hospitalised with it about 5 years ago, it was interesting that two guys in the same ward as me who thought they had heart troubles were both suffering from panic attacks.

The lousy thing for us is that anxiety and indigestion set the panic "my heart is struggling" thoughts running round our heads.

Have you got a local group you can meet up with or chat on the phone with, check Facebook, some folk laugh at it, my experience is that yu can find some great groups to join.

Sorry to ramble on, best wishes mate.

[Ourdill in reply to Hidden]

I'm actually speaking to someone from the psychological dept at Warwick hosp that I've been waiting 4 months for referral for on weds, so that will be a start on getting help on how to learn to live with what happened and maybe a few ways to defer the thoughts that I get albeit very occasionally. Thanks for the kind words.. I find using this site very reassuring, and i have told the cardiac rehab nurse who called me once a fortnight to recommend this forum to newer patients and she dint even know about it. Hope you feel better soon as well pal

[Knit4fun]

I understand completely what you are going through. I had my stent fitted in April. I am sure if I had had proper rehabilitation classes instead of a few phone calls the anxiety and stress would have been greatly reduced. I’ve had virtually every symptom mentioned on here and they are nearly all caused by anxiety. Finally getting to see my GP face to face hopefully next week to sort out breathlessness. He told my via a phone consultant that it won’t be the meds but reading on here it is quite common.

[Ourdill in reply to Knit4fun]

I've been in touch with the psychological assessment team at warwick hospital since posting this. They have been very helpful and I've learnt a few ways to deal with the daily demons.. I also found a free app called "insight timer" that has various relaxation audios and I find getting somewhere quiet and chilled, earbuds in and listening to certain ones really helps me switch if and reduce the anxiety massively. Some are short and some are half hour so whenever I get chance really. Have a look and try it. Hope you feel better soon

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Ourdill]

Insight Timer, I agree is so helpful.

I use it too, lots of different approaches to helping manage anxiety and sleep problems.

insighttimer.com/meditation...

[Knit4fun]

Thanks I’ll take a look. Weirdly I sleep better now than I ever have. The best way for me to fight the anxiety and not worry about every ache and pain is to get out the house and keep busy with other people. I definitely feel better since coming on here and realising everything I’m feeling is perfectly normal. I’m getting over feeling angry that there is no rehab which is where I would have met others in the same boat, probably even the ladies I was in hospital with,