Chest pain

[chrissi38]

I suffer from severe health anxiety about my heart and have done since my first panic attack in oct 2008 everyday atsomepointi feel I am going to die.i have tried medication and therapy I havent had a major panic attack for well over a year now but have decided it is no way to live terrified everyday waiting to die.i know deep down it isn't heart causing the pain I feel I have had 3 ECG and a stress test the cardiologist told me he doesn't think itsmyheart causing my chest pains .i think what I need is someone togiveme a diagnosis of what is causing this pain the I can move on I'm tired of overthinkingthis all the time so anyonep pls reply these are my symptoms central chest ain between my breasts sometimes accompanied by breathlessness rapid heart rate usually when trying to sleep sometimes actually woken p by rapid heart rate pain in both arms sometimes in the ribs random breathless attacks with no pain constant worry and fear so anyone with these symptoms pls pls reply if you have had a diagnosis apart from stress and anxiety

[southey]

You have had your heart checked and it's fine so put that worry firmly to bed. You could be just experiencing the effects of stress and anxiety?

You say you have tried therapy and medication? How did you find it? Are you still on any support measures?

See your Doctor and see what they say. Rule out your heart as the problem before you even go as the specialist has said that isn't the problem. Maybe you have indigestion or trapped wind causing discomfort?
Suggest a course of beta-blockers to your Doctor to address your racing heart and anxiety. They are very safe to take as directed. You may find once this is addressed all your symptoms disappear?

Atb,

Steve.

[honeyb]

I am going through exactly the same at the moment. Yesterday i had an ecg and earlier in the week i had blood tests, my dr is sending me to a cardiologist as i'm convinced i have a heart problem. I get all the symptoms you are having, sitting here now i'm getting slight tightness in chest. My dr has put me on a beta blocker call Atenolol, maybe that may help you? Its certainly slowed my heart rate down, and had made me feel much calmer, don't get me wrong i still have my worries so i do really sympathise with you.

[clareek12]

This is exactly what Im going through, Im told it can be cause by muscle tension or just your heart beat going faster to slower due to the anxiety..

But when it comes to your heart you can only have your mind put to rest for so long...
I have been put on setraline and it is helping..I also get 2mg of diazapam to take 3 times a day while i start the course..

It's helping but i still worry from time to time...it's a long road..

[Bexmumto3]

Have you been checked for asthma at all ? Might be way off here but I used to get these random breathless attacks, still do every now and then, but the amount of chest pain ,pressure and struggling I had has reduced so much since I've been on my asthma meds so might just be worth a trip to the asthma nurse to rule out ?

[chrissi38]

Thanks for your replies, I have thought I have asthma many times my gp has given me the peak flow test many times I have always passed it so is there any other test I can have

[Bexmumto3]

I had to have 4wks of twice a day peak flows as well as my history before they could confirm that I had asthma.
As my asthma nurse said just because you have one good peak flow result doesn't mean you don't have asthma, we all have good days & bads. I used to have good peak flows when I saw the doctor but when I was doing them myself every day they weren't that good, you are supposed to do the morning one first thing as soon as you get out of bed before you move around too much as that gives a true reading of how your lungs are performing, the result will get better as the day goes on.
Keep pushing it & ask to see an asthma nurse, it was always my biggest fear being diagnosed asthmatic but my god i feel so much better with this now I have my puffers. Good luck xx

[chrissi38]

Thanks for the replies everyone ,I know it sounds like I won't accept I've got health anxiety ,trust me i know I have it but I also know my symptoms are real not imagined, it's just the reason for them that I imagine, and I'm hoping finding a reason apart from the anxiety will calm my health anx down to a manageable level, I know deep downi m a smoker with a bit of extra weight my problems are down to my lifestyle it's just the needing to know then ican work onchangingmy lifestyle