Bakerman
22-08-11, 17:13
Hi - Any thoughts would be most welcome. I'm a 43 year-old male, non smoker, family history of heart disease, I take statins, although cholestorel levels are now fine (they have been for some time). I'm also a born worrier - i do suffer with quite bad OCD too. I work full time, doing a manual job, and as a result have lost quite a bit of weight! I swim too, a few times a week. I'm 10 stone 13, at 6 foot tall, so not carrying too much excess weight!
Here's my dilemma -
I've had ongoing chest pains (more discomfort) for a few years now. Sometimes it manifests as a 'pressure' or slight tightness, i also get occasional sharp twinges right in the centre of my chest, which last 2 to 3 seconds. Also, it can feel like a squeezing pain too. I don't have this discomfort 24/7 although it seems to be there more than not these days! I've graced the doctor's doorstep more times than i'd care to imagine over the last few years. First time they thought it may be hiatus hernia, so was given Omeprozole, which 'kinda' worked. Thius isn't conclusive though, as no tests were carried out for HH.
I've now seen 3 or 4 different docs - who all reckon it's anxiety related. Not that i'm dis-believing this at all, but I'm absolutely convinced i've got heart disease. Blood tests have been fine, ECG's have been fine, and last November had a treadmill stress test - again, all fine. So why am i like this? I've been shipped off to counsellors, had a couple of weeks off work last year, but still get these pains and don't want to keep going back to the docs time and time again. The other afternoon i went out for a walk, but after 20 minutes went really light headed and had to get the wife to pick me up! This may have been because i hadn't eaten a lot. Now i'm starting to shy away from swimming as my chest feels a lot heavier when i come out of the pool. I think that i will have a heart attack in the pool and have to be dragged out by the lifeguards!
These pains are very real, and sometimes the sharp twinges i get leave me quite literally terrified. I don't have shortness of breath or nausea, but they do stop me in my tracks. It's REALLY getting me down, and would appreciate some feedback........
Thanks all.....
Here's my dilemma -
I've had ongoing chest pains (more discomfort) for a few years now. Sometimes it manifests as a 'pressure' or slight tightness, i also get occasional sharp twinges right in the centre of my chest, which last 2 to 3 seconds. Also, it can feel like a squeezing pain too. I don't have this discomfort 24/7 although it seems to be there more than not these days! I've graced the doctor's doorstep more times than i'd care to imagine over the last few years. First time they thought it may be hiatus hernia, so was given Omeprozole, which 'kinda' worked. Thius isn't conclusive though, as no tests were carried out for HH.
I've now seen 3 or 4 different docs - who all reckon it's anxiety related. Not that i'm dis-believing this at all, but I'm absolutely convinced i've got heart disease. Blood tests have been fine, ECG's have been fine, and last November had a treadmill stress test - again, all fine. So why am i like this? I've been shipped off to counsellors, had a couple of weeks off work last year, but still get these pains and don't want to keep going back to the docs time and time again. The other afternoon i went out for a walk, but after 20 minutes went really light headed and had to get the wife to pick me up! This may have been because i hadn't eaten a lot. Now i'm starting to shy away from swimming as my chest feels a lot heavier when i come out of the pool. I think that i will have a heart attack in the pool and have to be dragged out by the lifeguards!
These pains are very real, and sometimes the sharp twinges i get leave me quite literally terrified. I don't have shortness of breath or nausea, but they do stop me in my tracks. It's REALLY getting me down, and would appreciate some feedback........
Thanks all.....