So, long story here, but here it goes...

For the record, we're talking about a fit and healthy 30y.o. male here.

Back on November 26th of last year, I was blissful in ignorance and then on November 27th my life changed.

On that day, my mother, who had a month or so previous, recovered from a bout of sepsis following pneumonia, suffered what doctors have since called a massive heart attack and stroke. She died the following week in hospital with family at her side. Cause of death was listed as 1a. Aorta Coronary Syndrome, 1b. Bilateral Ischemic Strokes, 2. Atrial Fibrillation.

A week or so following her funeral (19th December), I experienced chest pains and palpitations whilst at my sisters house for Christmas. On 23rd December, I called 111 and they suggested I attend a local Urgent Health Centre for checks. Upon admission, they carried out an ECG which they reported to me as "abnormal" and sat me in a wheelchair. I was transferred to A&E and subsequent testing included more ECGs, Chest X-Ray, Full Blood Work (incl. Cardiac Enzymes), as well as observations. I as discharged same day with a working diagnosis of Anxiety and told to check in with my GP when back home.

Chest pain and general discomfort and palpitations continued and a week later I was in Newcastle at my parents house and during a visit to town felt lightheaded, woozy, dizzy and had chest pains as well as cold sweats and shakes. Again, I went to A&E and had an ECG, Chest X-Ray, Full Blood Work and an ECHO. Again, all seemed fine to the docs and I was discharged with a working diagnosis of anxiety and stress.

Since then, I been run the gamut of symptom after symptom and test after test.

Returning after christmas, my local GP agreed with the anxiety diagnosis but I had a 24 hour ECG for completeness and that came back perfectly fine. I made sure I exerted myself during that 24hr monitor so that was reassuring (for a while).

I was offered a Nuffield Health Assessment through work which included an ECG and a Stress ECG. The ECG came back with "LVH" which was suggested required further investigation. As a result, they didn't do the Stress ECG. My GP referred me for another ECHO which came back normal, thus disproving the LVH.

I returned to Nuffield for the stress ECG and it was reported as normal despite feeling a little discomfort below sternum at the very end. I thought it might have been down to breathing patterns.

I had a check up with Cardiac Risk In The Young (CRY) and that involved an ECG and a chat with a cardiologist and she wasn't worried at all.

So in total, over the last 5 months I've had:
- 8 ECGs
- 2 ECHOs
- 1 Stress ECG
- 2 Chest X-Rays
- 2 lots of blood work

All normal, and yet...

I still experience discomforts, pains, palpitations, heightened anxiety and heightened cardiac awareness. I still can't accept that this is all anxiety/stress related and I understand that increased focus on symptoms can lead to this hyper-sensitivity.

Recently, I've been running more and noticed discomfort below sternum when running. Doesn't seem to last all the run and seems to come and go but can't shake the thought that its angina! It's absolutely crazy!I've pushed myself to run up hills and sprint at the end of runs and the discomfort doesn't get worse or materialise in some cases.

I've also been experiencing left and right side jaw discomfort, sometimes worse in morning. Doesn't seem to be associated with chest pain. Obviously googling any of these symptoms brings up the BANG BANG of HEART ATTACK.

I spoke to my GP about this who read through my test background and didn't seem worried. Suggested a further Stress ECG (maybe) which he was going to discuss with the other GPs and get back to me next week.

Anyone with anything similar? Such a crazy, debilitating, annoying place to be!

Hope you're all doing OK. Just can't get the what if thoughts out my head. Terrified that this may be a problem that is building up and building.



Thanks for reading!

S.B.