I can’t stop worrying about my heart. I keep coming across articles of people being misdiagnosed with anxiety and panic and it actually being heart issues I’m so frightened I can’t even exercise anymore or really do anything I’m so convinced my brain isn’t getting enough blood flow. These damn chest pains that are in different parts of my chest all over down my arms and jaw feeling like I can’t breath sometimes feeling weird sensations inside my chest feeling like ima pass out. I feel so damn crazy but I know the feelings are real and really can’t control them. I’ve been to three different non connected hospitals and it always freaks me out when the computer read out ekg says abnormal and consider or may represent ischemia. I get told I’m too young to be having a heart attack and my troponin levels are non existent and chest X-ray is normal and since the pain has been there off and on and different feeling for 7 months that they also don’t think it’s cardio. I want my life back tired of feeling like I’m dying. They finally referred me to a cardiologist but it’s been over two weeks and have yet to get a phone call to schedule yes I’ve called about the referral and such and got told yeah it’s in there.
My pcp has even said “it appears like there may be some mild stress on your heart (could that be from the adrenaline rush that you had at the time of this latest EKG? Possibly), but the best way to further clarify what's putting that increased stress on it isn't so straight forward. It does not appear like there has been any significant damage to the heart, nor that there is an obvious electrical system issue contributing to your symptoms.“
Like what does that even mean
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Adamj
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it is so clear from reading your post how anxious you are. The good thing is you have been referred to cardiologist and that’s a start so they can start looking into things. However waiting times can vary between areas so unfortunately waiting is a key part of all our journeys on this site. That and really advocating for yourself to get answers. In the meantime and this is the hardest bit, working on your anxiety is key. Keep a diary of your symptoms and possible triggers and write down any questions you have for the cardiologist. I can’t comment On the quoted bit as not medical person. Good luck, it’s totally understandable to be anxious about all this and as anxiety can exasperate chest pain (if not cause of chest pain) developing ways to cope will help. Good luck.
A good reply from fish face. Your anxiety is clearly making things worse, although it appears there may be some cause for concern if things were too bad I suspect the cardiologist would have called earlier.
Do keep a diary as suggested with symptoms and what food and drink you consume and do ask questions. Have you tried to follow up on your results as that might help to ease your anxieties?
I have come back to adamj as I have now read his series of posts.
As you are in the US will you pay for the cardiology test? If so as a customer it would seem very helpful to your state of mind to push for an early appointment so you can know what is happening and what needs to be done to correct any condition diagnosed. Perhaps a phone call on Monday to those who are organising the test would be worthwhile? Stress to them your anxiety levels
I don't know if you have any other emotional or health issues or if anything has changed in your life in the last 7 months- relationship, job, diet etc- that has caused your present state of anxiety? Have you discussed this with your family or close friends?
I totally agree that a symptom diary is a must when meeting with the cardiologist.
I have been doing it for years and the Cardiologists and Electrophysiologists I’ve seen have appreciated that specific information. I record my bloood pressure a few times a week always even when feeling well. If I experience any kind of symptoms I log specifics of those..date, time, duration, kind, oxygen level, heart rate, note what I was doing, etc. I make a chart and take it with me to every doctor visit.
It’s impossible to communicate what you are feeling to the doctor without specifics. And difficult for them to diagnose with generalized statements. My current Electrophysiologist tells me diagnosis and treatment are data driven although he is also very good with the personal/relational side of being a doctor.
Anxiety seems to come with anything we think or feel that could be heart related. Remember to take good care of yourself, take walks, eat healthy foods, force yourself if you have to, to go out and be with others and do things that interest you or you care about, meditate and practice deep breathing. Listen to happy music.
I wish you well as you wait for an appointment and diagnosis. You are not alone in your experiences.
Hello
I still now suffer with health anxiety that started at such a young age like you are now and it stole my life from me because it engulfed me so much like you I felt I could not do what I wanted to do because I was to busy worrying and I feel so much for you as I can see that in your post
We can never see what others can see when we are in the middle of this fear we just see any little negatives and blow them up till in our heads they are life threatening
Anxiety can cause all kinds of sensations and they mimic so many health issues we know that but we still go searching until we find the answer that will scare us like you have that anxiety can get mistaken for heart conditions and even though on rare occasions it can they are rare
You have had lots of tests done all ready all sounding positive that you are not about to have a heart attack but I know you will still be focusing on the what if's because that is what we do
You need to really concentrate and it is not easy instead of searching for those negatives focusing on the positives that the tests you have had done they have found nothing serious
If they thought for one minute anything was majorly wrong with you they would have you straight in always tell yourself that they would not send you home
I really hope you get this appointment soon and the Consultant can put your mind at rest over your fear and if when they have you find you still are reacting the same I really think some Counselling would help you
Try to keep distracted do something relaxing that you enjoy everything will be ok
I was worried about my heart - until recently I developed an actual problem. Now I can cope with it. The human mind is a weird thing. Some of your symptoms may be due to you anxiety. Body and mind are strongly related.
Follow a good diet and exercise regime and you will give yourself the best chance to put on your gravestone at 103 "I told you I was ill."
Stress is a bad thing. It causes all sorts of bad health symptoms; real, physical problems. It floods our systems with cortisol and puts us into 'fight or flight' when we can do absolutely nothing, so it instead sends our major organs into permanent preparedness mode. It's like leaving a kettle of water constantly boiling, topping it up all the time but not using the water.
Stress can cause chest pain, jaw pain, neuralgia, breathing difficulties (esp. shallow breathing), heart rate increase and, eventually, adrenal fatigue which adversely affects blood pressure.
Right, that's the bad stuff. Here's the good:
Practise meditation. I know it sounds daft, but it works. Drink plenty of water, around 1.5litres per day. It's good for your blood and nervous system alike. Eat regularly and avoid rubbish food. Plenty of greens, fish and fruit. Make sure you have oily fish, such as sardines, twice a week at least with brown rice or similar. Avoid too much carbohydrate; you don't need more carbs (the body turns it to sugar) to gear up that fight of flight reaction and avoid as much refined sugar as you can.
Breathe deeply from your diaphragm (avoid high-chest breathing), walk everywhere and focus on music and meditation. Here's a web reference about correct breathing that you can safely look at! medicalnewstoday.com/articl...
Engage in exercise that is gentle, but effective. Swimming, stretching and walking. Listen to classical music. Develop an interest if you haven't already; it's a marvellous relaxant.
Don't turn to Dr Google or any other online symptom checker/diagnostic tool. Doctors understand what they're looking for and looking at, laypeople such as me and thee do not. We make a best guess, imagine all sorts and mostly get it wrong (been there, done that).
You've been told your heart is not in distress. I've been told this too and I have a heart condition! Believe the doctors.
Having said that, I think that no-one is too young to have a heart attack. It depends on the cause so that's a silly thing for someone medical to say to you. However, your medics have found nothing, so focus on that piece of information and wait to see what your cardiologist advises.
Meanwhile, work hard on getting your stress levels reduced; they are very likely the root cause of most if not all of your symptoms and you're caught in a vicious circle with anxiety. You need to break out of it - and it is not easy to do that, but it can be done and you can do it.
Great advice here re meditation, but for some it's not helpful. You may find yoga, Tai Chi or Qigong good if you find sitting quietly doesn't suit you. I teach Qigong myself and have had a lot of positive feedback from my students. Since I had my heart attack I find it difficult to meditate quietly as it only draws my attention to my heartbeat - and I get palpitations which are asymptomatic so the doctors tell me is 'normal' but it's still worrying. Distractions such as listening to an audiobook, soothing music or guided meditation helps me when I'm trying to take the focus away from my heart. You will find what works for you. Good luck xx
Perfect answer Bridgeit. I was about to write exactly the same as you when I saw your answer. Also agree with the audiobook suggestion. It has calmed my utter panic at night when I hear my heart beating.
I really feel for you anxiety is ruining your life, the stress is having a detrimental impact on your health. Dont let your condition rule your life, change and dont follow Dr Google.
When I was diagnosed with heart failure and atrial fibrillation, my consultant asked if I had any questions I said no (I'm in medicine) I said your my Dr and I'll follow your guidance as there is no point worrying about what I can't change. This is a good support group
So very sorry I felt all your anxiety just reading your post.
Great you have a referral and as another person has said push for that as soon as possible.
Worry never changes anything so while waiting try your best to distract yourself with music a hobby or friends.
Certainly your anxiety isn’t helping your medical team make a good diagnosis.Once they establish your condition and treatment you might start to gain confidence going forward.
You are in the USA and have the best equipment for diagnosis once in the care of the experts.
My son and family live in Austin and I am always impressed at the level of knowledge and treatment offered.
Keep in touch , their are many people on this site that have heart conditions and with medical support live a full normal life.
I feel for you Adamj. I’ve been recently diagnosed with very high blood pressure and while I wait for tests/results the anxiety over the unknown can be overwhelming. I also am ‘too young’ 🥴
You’ve had some great advice (which I’m taking for myself too so thanks everyone!) and I totally agree if the Drs had seen something concerning they wouldn’t have sent you on your away.
Anxiety, at some level, seems to be a very reasonable reaction to heart problems, which, for me, felt like a real threat to my survival,
But when it lingers and begins to control you, and you don't find good ways to help yourself, thats where the real danger is. If you have tried all you can, yourself, but you still feel controlled by it, and it becomes almost a day to day way of life, then I would say thats when you really need expert help, to help you step back and to see exactly why its happened, whats happening now, and help you find ways to counteract it.
I found therapy really helpful, but I do expect someone will tell me that not all therapy ‘works’. Thats true, some methods suit one but not another. But when we, ourselves, are readier to find a solution, the better they do seem to work!
No one needs to be defined by a heart problem (and it's not yet clear if you do have any structural or electrical heart problems), nor by their anxiety.
Hi Adam, some great advice on the replies as always.
But, you do need to keep pushing and go through all the tests and try and get to the root cause of your problems. Once all tests have been completed you may find it is in fact anxiety and stress and then try and deal with that.
in my case my doctors and consultant told me it was just high blood pressure. I had pains in my arms, chest, neck and palpitations, sweaty palms, giddyness etc and to me this just didn't seem to fit right with conversations I had with other people who had high BP, who once on medication felt back to normal. I had experienced panic attacks when younger in a particularly stressful period in my life and for me the big difference was the panic attacks would come and go. The heart symptoms were there constantly. Not always the same, but everyday.
i finally got diagnosed after paying for a private echocardiogram after 6 months of hell. I cannot tell you what a relief it was to finally know what was causing my problems.
So try and keep calm and rational but do push for the tests and results and you will eventually understand what is at the root of your problems.
Good luck
So much good advice! Stress and anxiety can mimic all the symptoms you are experiencing, so deep breathing and concentrating on it as you do it helps to bring the heart rate down, as does meditation and relaxation. Good luck with the appointment!
my story about 20+ years ago was very similar. I’d have the same symptoms incl pain but every time I had the ECG they found nothing so said it was stress. It took 17 years and a near collapse they found it to be PAF.
I had stress tests with dye etc and there were no blockages so originally given Sotalol but didn’t work so went on beta blocker- I later had an angio for the pain issue which found again no blockages but did reveal a vessel that should have grown around outside heart it grew through the muscle, on top of that is is kinked so gets squashed if heart exercises or HR goes up
I get light headed and they feel probably as when in AF the blood is t pumped efficiently so yes oxygen to brain low
Get a referral to cardiology or go to A/E when happening
Hi Adam - all very worthwhile replies . Everybody is thinking of you . Especially liked and agree with Bridgeit.
I am coming to the conclusion that I've been in flight or fight all my life - and it definitely has physical repercussions (unlikely medics will link this specifically which results in more anxiety because they will - correctly- link it to M.Health but with a blanket solution).
The anxiety is linked to your thought and the brain then also governs the body and the result is stress and more pain of every kind.
I may not have been able to understand or appreciate some of the things that are helpful now at your age but it's imperative that you understand and accept the part that your thoughts are playing in the outcomes for your body now and decide to counter them - whatever the cardiologist outcome is.
In the first instance - separating them enough to regard them without any bias and name the emotion and stay a while in that mode of regard will do something ( but you just have to have a go and keep practicing little and often ) . If you can still read I would recommend Dr David Hamilton's books and then by a circuitous route perhaps Echarte Tolle's "The Power of Now ". The latter especially is an ongoing read which one gets more out of the more one returns to it .
Try hard to view the anxiety as a separate entity - a monster if you like - if that helps you see how detrimental it is to your wellbeing . It's a monster born out of the energy we all have; just that many of us cannot channel it properly and tame it and it begins to control our thought and behaviour and eventually us. That 'presence is actually a wonderful thing when we can recognise it , accept it and let it be there until we are calm . Feeling it through is part of opening ourselves to something powerful and healing . If you can re direct some of your attention all the time to sit and reside in parts of your body it will counter the reactions of thought and emotion which are manifesting regardless of real form of pain ie/ your heart event).
It's abit like Colin Firth in the King's speech ( a real strategy for stammering) playing music through his headphones whilst reciting his speech; putting your focus else where begins to interrupt the pattern of reaction and thought . It takes practice and then the 'not knowing of the heart condition' is a formidable opponent ; not a walk in the park.
Thinking of you and sending intentions of calm , peace and acceptance.
it sounds like you’re suffering with some pretty strong anxiety Adamj.? I know exactly what you’re going through. Iv suffered with health anxiety for decades, Bekind28 has said it a lot better than I could and I couldn’t agree more.
I spent most of my younger life worrying about dropping dead with heart issues etc. or dying from a brain tumour because of headaches.? I must have cost our health services a fortune by constantly pressing them for extra scans, stress tests, blood tests, not to mention the overnight stays in hospitals when I was convinced I’d had a heart attack.!!!!
I’m glad you’re booked in to see a cardiologist because this may settle you down a little.? With all the hospital tests you’ve had I’m so sure they would have found something, these people and their tests are designed to find things and are very good in doing so.
Things will get better for you in time believe me. You won’t agree with me at the moment, but you’ll look back in years to come( because you ain’t going anywhere yet) and think wow I’m 55 now and I’m still here so the test’s must have been correct.👍
Iv had councilling over the years and medications, some of it’s helped but the biggest thing that’s helped me is my own brain realising it’s been running on high octane rocket fuel on full throttle instead of just ticking over on regular fuel.?
Hi, having cared for my son it sounds like panic attacks and yes ECG would look a little abnormal . Read this book, ' At Last a Life', Paul David, it will help you change the way you are thinking. Also recommend Meditative yoga and living Mindfully. Our minds can hijack us, you can decide how you respond. You will, Smile
You do come across as being anxious and in despair. May I suggest you do get things checked medically but at the same time seek help for your anxiety. Anti depressants may help in the short term but also some therapy. I had to do it myself and iy takes time, but no better time to start now than the present. THEN , you can enjoy life.
Set yourself small fun challenges - A bucket list and they do not have to cost anything. Believe me it helps and takes your mind away from medical anxiety. Go to your GP and get help.
Anxiety won't help, that's for sure. But the symptoms you mention do need checking out. Down the arms and particularly the jaw pain raise alerts with me. The only way to check the condition of your coronary arteries is by angiogram. If there is a problem with occlusion they can stent during the same procedure. You are very young to be considering this, so that's in your favour, but when I've been in hospital having coronary procedures there have been people in there not so much older than you. Best to be on the safe side and take any tests offered. Meanwhile, try to relax, eat healthily and get as much exercise as you feel comfortable with.
I can understand your feelings of frustration and helplessness particularly in this age of advanced technology, expertise and the ability to interpret the result of modern test. Gone are the days of history taking, examination of the patient by the warm hands of the clinician, use of the stethoscope and instead of the basic manual procedure, straight away to ECG in its various format. May I ask your age?. You said you have been under stress due to not knowing what is going inside your body. Good thing is - you are waiting to see cardiologist. One of the most important but effective test is stress echogram. Have you, had it?
One lad in my group in 2011 was 9, so age is NOT an issue. AS for your symptoms.....been there and done it. You`ll get the call, so be ready. RELAX or you`ll be making it worse.
The `electrical` bit is what I`ve got. Every body has a circuit going round the heart; some of us have a third bit which annoys the heart at times and helps the angina to occur. Just the body helping itself; the angina sometimes goes down the arms and legs.
If its really painful kick your GP; I`m lucky in that one of my daughters is one and her hubby is a Consultant. Helped me out a month ago around the dinner table for her sister`s 40th. Took some GTN spray....(ask your doctor).
Anyway we were told at the hospital to stop any `contact sports`, ie. footie, rugby, martial arts and ......go swimming.
Incidentally I`ve had five heart attacks and a cardiac arrest and `Ah is still going strong`.
You`re on that path...let the Medics do their thing.
Worrying is wonderful for producing adrenaline, and we all know what THAT does.
So-Don`t-Do-It.
That 9 yr old lad is 20 now, attends our Support Clinics is a right joker (at himself).
same for my son. Got diagnosis finally after a echo scan and an mri. You know when things are wrong as he did. He kept being told nothing wrong. After scan and mri was told he has in fact got cardoimyophy. Basically it a failing with the muscle of the heart. It pools with blood then the body reacts to it and the heart pimps like crazy to get back to normal. He has pains tingling loss of sensation in various body limbs and feels like he has hot liquid going through his chest. Ask for an mri and a echocardogram scan. Good luck
Wont commit to an explanation for his condition. However the first attacks happened within days of having his covid injection which may or may not have been a factor in this condition manifesting.
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