I’ve been suffering with chest pains for around 5 years now. I’ve had every scan under the sun and kept being told everything is ok. I suffer from bad health anxiety aswel which has stemmed from a friend of my dying from heart attack at a young age of 47. I am 37. I’ve recently had another echocardiogram and it has came back that my right side chambers ain’t working as they should for my age, also a very tiny hole between upper and lower chamber and that the aorta is slightly enlarged.
The dr told me to carry on as I am with exercise etc I am quite a fit person regular exercise big build. He has said I’ve been added to the list to see the cardiologist. My problem is I’m panicking big time now after being told they’ve found something and fearing the worse. He also told me to start taking one aspirin a day until I get my appointment through.
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hello panicking is the very normal response and lots of things will be going through your head. But they have identified it and have you in the system so to speak and will address it. Also you’ve not been given a raft of meds so that is reassuring for now.
It is naturally worrying but if there had been an immediate issue they would have done more already. So perhaps if you can, take some comfort from that.
The biggest challenge for you now is to manage your anxiety in the meantime till you get your appointment, not easy but from my experience over the last year, it’s the waiting and worry that is worst. Managing it will help through the coming months and with dealing with the process. Easier said than done I appreciate.
There’ll be someone along more knowledgeable in your particular issues soon with advice / support.
Thankyou for replying. Yes I guess I have to take the positives that they haven’t had me straight back in so they can’t be that concerned about. At least I hope that’s how it works!
I feel I had my anxiety under control. It is hard when my chest starts hurting and I go a bit lightheaded but I have had some counselling for anxiety and put that to use when I feel like that. But obvs now I’ve been told my results I need to try that bit harder as I know stress and anxiety doesn’t do anyone any good.
It does make me think is it all the stress and anxiety and depression that’s caused all this in the first place 😢
I’ve had echocardiograms done in the past and nothing was picked up then most recent prob being around 5 years ago at a guess
easy to say don’t worry, If there’s something the doctor can help with your anxiety I suffer from General Anxiety disorder. I decided that my mood wasn’t good and doctor adjusted my meds. Don’t be afraid to see your GP…. It has been 5 years since I had a big surgery. I’m back at my landscaping business, life can be a struggle so don’t be afraid it will all work out. It’s amazing what they can do with the heart these days. So far advanced and so much help out there.
I also have a small hole in my heart - a PFO. Apparently it should close at birth, but in 20% - 25% of the population it doesn't. It's often found only in an autopsy. Mine was found in a routine echo in my 70s - it's only ever mentioned in my records, not by a cardiologist.
Newborn babies have a hole which usually closes up at birth but in many cases it doesn't completely close. Many people have a tiny hole all their lives without ever knowing and with no ill effects. If it's big it can easily be closed but they usually don't bother. Forget that one. Nothing to worry about.
Hello
You had a fear through losing a friend which can create health anxiety and then what happens you get told there is something not quite right with your heart and wham that health anxiety goes into overdrive
I have anxiety and part is health anxiety so I know how it feels
You have to try and I know it is not easy but to focus on the positives
They have spotted something needs attention and looking into which a lot gets missed yours now has been picked up
Whatever it is and it could be nothing to bad for them to correct but they will do when they see you they are fantastic at what they do
If it was life threatening you would not be waiting for an appointment they would be having you in asp so from what they have found they are happy enough that you are safe till an appointment comes up
Remember and I am so sorry for your loss but you are not your friend you are you so the outcome for you will not be the same
Do a list of positives and try and focus on them while you are waiting
It has been a tough few years. Friends and family passing away. My wife has recently been diagnosed with a life changing illness so it’s all a bit rubbish at the minute.
I’ve just spoken again to the Conan’s he has reassured me not to worry. There is nothing major or sinister going on. The right lower chamber is slightly lower pressure so they are looking into that with a follow up appointment. He did say if they needed me in they will ring and get me straight down but as that’s not happened as yet then it’s a positive.
He’s sent an email to cardiologist so it will go from there. The consultant is the same day emergency unit for cardiac issues
There are times in life when we find so much happening that we never thought we would but one by one I assure you that you will get through them and you can always come here and talk
I am sorry your wife has health issues that must be a worrying time but have faith whatever it is they work miracles now
Sounds like your heart is not over concerning them and another positive they may feel they don't need to do anything or not much but you are now under their radar so to speak which again is a good thing
Our hearts have lots of quirks and anomalies, just like the rest of our bodies and minds, most of them harmless. I find biofeedback helpful: I use a fingertip pulse oximeter, visualise my heart, and talk to it in a kindly way rather than being cross or upset that it isn't behaving as I'd like, and try to bring my pulse rate down. As I bring my pulse rate down, everything feels better.
ah ok maybe worth a try. Just one thing that would put me off is if the reading wasn’t where it should be then that would make me worse and my anxiety would go through the roof with it.
I do take my blood pressure every other day and have found the same with that although I was then told it was normal range
That's the point of biofeedback - if the reading isn't where it should be, I work with my heart to bring it down. It's an interaction. We are not altogether helpless. If it spiked, then I would be firm with myself, breath deeply and tell myself not to panic, and persist in bringing my pulse rate down. It may take time to learn, but these things are to some degree under our own control. I need medication to bring the base rate down because I have severe heart damage, but it's up to me to manage these emotional spikes. It really makes one feel good to see the rate come down and regain some sense of autonomy over these problems.
I had AF for three years and you'd think by now I would have learnt the ropes, but a week ago, my AF kicked in and took my controlled HR to a dizzying 90bpm from a usual 60.
So what, people might say, It's still within the healthy parameters?
But I'm having a blood test and ECG on Monday to check for any underlying issues.
Underlying issues... my anxiety is at Olympic levels now!😱😆
Be strong, if the Dr thought it was critical, immediate action would have been taken....
The only advice I can give you is to keep up your exercise routine, if you find it totally exhausting just reduce the effort but keep moving. The fact that the cardiologist didn’t put you on meds is a good thing
yup I will kee on with the exercise. Just does your head on when you’re not active and you feel chest pains and lightheaded. Makes you feel really anxious and you also think there must be something going on to have these feelings but I don’t know
I know that feeling but anxiety can be just as bad as having cardiac pain, makes you overthink everything, I have a pacemaker and everytime I feel a flutter I think I may be going into some cardiac episode. I do try very hard not to think about it
yeah I know what you mean. I have been told that with the anxiety. Just got to manage it better. I can be doing anything and get a pain and think this is it 😢
Asprin, not good for the stomach, as I found out, I took Garlic tablets, low smell, but they won't damage the stomach and do the same, thin the blood a bit. Now after finding I have AF I'm on Apixaban.
At the great age of 71 I had a hole mended in my heart, between the 2 upper chambers. It took 2 patches - one 19 mm in diameter and one 9 mm in diameter as it had strings across it. I had had it since birth and only started having problems when I was 68! So, try and relax.
Hi, your story is similar to mine. I started with covid followed by a chest infection. After 3 lots of antibiotics, I was sent for a chest xray. The chest xray showed an enlarged heart so then I had a normal echocardiogram followed by a contrast one. The doctor told me that this had shown a reduced function in my heart so while I was waiting to speak to a cardiologist, my GP put me on a very low dose of Rampril. Finally I have spoken to a cardiologist on the phone who said I have 45% heart function but it should be higher in my 50's so they want to do an mri which in the past couldn't do because of claustraphobia. But as well as that being a problem, I have asthma so they might not do one anyway. They said they need to fond out why the function is less and also will up my Rampril. They are discussing what to do next. I don't know how long you have waited to speak to a cardiologist but I waited 5 months even though it was marked urgent. Hang on in there, you could always give the cardiology department a ring. Good luck
Your mind plays trick on you when you find you have a problem. But I suppose I have got to look at the following as positives, when my congenital issue was found they did not keep me in they referred me to a adult congenital heart department. Who are now looking after me. I am now on blood pressure medication to control the blood pressure to help the right side of the heart. Another positive is I have no heart failure, and that my condition is stable. It is now coming up for a year since it was found , but considering the heart issue has been with me for 57 years. Then I just want to keep it controlled. But now I know it has definitely caused anxiety issues to increase and I have good days and bad with anxiety . The moving forward is the hard part but reading the personel responses on this forum gives you hope, ideas and suggestions to help you get through it. I now go to gym for some rehab exercises. And I have counselling, I think we always think the worst as it is the bodies response to the unknown. But the biggest advantage is that they are keeping an eye on you and the medication out there now is improving all the time. Take care and try to live in the now. That's what iam trying to do.
Yeah more positives for me, I wasn’t called back straight away. I had to actually chase my results up as it had been 4 weeks and I hadn’t heard anything!! My blood pressure is around 120/74 which I’m told is ok. I was told I could have been like this all my life but only the extensive testing that’s being done because I keep going back for the past 5 years that they’ve mentioned it. The consultant I spoke to said, has it’s been 5 years he would be very surprise if there’s anything wrong going on in there. He did tel me to take an aspirin a day for now which I’ve done past couple days but I’m thinking of speaking with my doctor just to make sure.
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