Anxiety about health

[Cookieisland]

I recently had an appointment with a cardiologist and started Ivabradine for a constant fast heart rate. Since then I’ve felt really on edge and worried about my health. It’s been quite a stressful time, waiting for an urgent cardiology appointment, getting an abnormal ecg, then getting changed to a medication which after googling still scares me a bit. I’m now under long term care of a cardiologist which is good as it means I don’t have to wait months to get advice. But… why do I feel so much more anxious about it all, when really I should be feeling better as I have answers and a treatment plan. I think it’s suddenly hit me that I haven’t just made up all these symptoms in my head, and they need to be treated. It’s hard coming to terms that something is wrong with you. I don’t really know what the point of this post is, I guess I’m wondering if anyone else struggled with anxiety after finally getting answers to what is going on with your health. Heart medications have such terrifying side effects listed as well, which isn’t helping my anxiety as I’m constantly worrying about the Ivabradine doing something bad. Just struggling to come to terms with things at the moment. 😞

[Trainspotter56]

Hi Cookieisland, sorry to hear of your experiences. I've had them too, especially in my younger years - tachycardia, arrhythmia. It can have a profound effect on your life and anxiety levels. When I was young, panic attacks etc hadn't been invented except by me it seemed, I was terrified of my heart failing suddenly. At the time I went privately to a cardiologist and was recommended propranolol - it's been around a long time and it did help with the physical symptoms. It was the mental ones that got me.

I'm not a medical expert, all I can say is that I'm still here (I'm a 68 year old man with a wife and 2 grown up kids), I loved to cycle but now I run. I worry very little about my health now, quite dramatically less in fact, I put it down to just age and also learning about my condition - a sort of DIY de-sensitisation to squeamishness. I still get arrhythmia, but don't get stressed about it. I don't mind going into hospital, I've had some heavy duty treatments and you just get used to it.

Regarding the side effects of medications, I was prescribed something for atrial fibrillation last year which lists some awful side effects, but they never came about. They always sound worse than they actually are.

I wish you every good thing. You will survive it.

[Cookieisland in reply to Trainspotter56]

Thank you for such a kind message. I have also suffered with anxiety on and off for the last 10 years so I know panic attacks well. It is strange because when I do actually get an arrhythmia or symptoms related to it, I’m not generally anxious as I just deal with it at the time. It’s not until afterwards that I worry about its long term effects. But I hope with time I’ll learn to accept and live with it!

You’ve got a great outlook, I really appreciated your message yesterday as I was feeling quite down about everything. Thank you again

[Mon15]

Hi am exactly the same I knew there is something not right with my heart but gp was telling me it’s acid reflux etc but in June 2023 I went private and found out that I got svt episode since then my head it’s not with it my anxiety it’s been crazy I was off work for 7 months do to all of this,my gp it’s keep saying it’s my heart plus anxiety but every time my heart goes funny I can’t cope well at all I been on bisoprolo befor for a year it worked but side effects were horrible ,now they put me on candesartan to keep bp low and I forgot mention I got mitral valve issues and in result I got fast heart rate.

[Cookieisland in reply to Mon15]

I’m glad to hear you persisted, I think you usually know if something isn’t right. It’s not easy especially with anxiety too, hope that you feel better soon!

[Forgetful]

Hello Cookieisland

It is perfectly normal to feel anxiety around your diagnosis. You are human after all.

I have always suffered with health anxiety and now I had something real.

It took me sometime to come to terms with the fact that I had a heart condition AF from which I suffered a severe stroke back in 2011. I was extremely lucky and got treated quickly, with no after effects-I think that some of my anxiety brain cells must have died during that episode. However, I know have mild to moderate regurgitation in two valves in my heart

which has taken six months of private investigation to come to a conclusion. They changed my meds and there has been some improvement - however, like you, although my outcome was fairly positive I felt deflated rather than elated- as I saw this as just another progression of the heart disease. So for me it will be another journey of acceptance - remember we are still alive and if you read the comments on this website you will find there are many many people worse off than ourselves. I would try to treat the anxiety if I were you- as it can contribute to a longer acceptance journey

Best Regards

Forgetful

[Cookieisland in reply to Forgetful]

Thanks so much for your message. Sorry to hear you have had such scary health experiences, but it is also amazing to see how resilient people are. You are right, there are many people on here that have been through much much worse and it is humbling to read some people’s stories.

I will continue to work on my anxiety and I’m sure in time I will come to accept everything. Thank you again and take care too

[Forgetful in reply to Cookieisland]

Glad to help