heart health anxiety

[scaredsobad]

hi there, I have had 2 ekg's, 2 chest xrays, blood tests, urine tests and blood pressure was measured for 2 hours at the hospita on 2 different occassions, but now I am waiting to see a cardiologist for a stress test even though the doctors said I am clear and healthy, but I still think I have a heartproblem ..so tired, weak arms and upper back pain and I have felt sick for over 2 moths almost going on 3!! Does anyone else experience these symptoms with their anxiety? Or did all of those tests miss something? Please anybody reply :)

[blackhatman]

Hi,
I have had: sort of ecg's, echo, chest xray, thyroid tests, blood tests.
Everything is fine from medical side. But I feel my heart palpitations, missed bits, sometimes very high rate.
Probably it's from anxiety.
I am also waiting for stress test, hope that will be perfect :)

[scaredsobad]

Thanks for replying :)

[Andrash]

Don't worry, it's definitely not a heart condition. It can be anxiety related, or it can be a pinched nerve due to some bad posture when you sit or sleep. Probably in your neck.

[scaredsobad]

Some days my arms don't stop hurting and tingling even like today for instance I had a few alcoholic beverages last night and today my arms were bad! I can't believe this would be anxiety related. I think maybe I could have a vitamin B defiencency or it is actually a heart issue.

[Edmonton28]

I feel like something is wrong with my heart all the time. I feel it either beating too fast, too slow, palpitations or even just left side pain right over my heart, chest pain, you name it. I have done probably 12 ECG's, 10 blood tests, 6-10 chest X-rays, an Echocardiogram and a holter monitor. Everything came back normal. Still, the pain comes, and it will radiate into my arm and shoulder, my back. Even with shortness of breath sometimes. And I, like you can't shake the fear that all those tests missed something.

The only thing I find that helps is just continually reminding myself that however much I don't want to believe it is all anxiety related, after all the tests have been exhausted whatever is left, must be the cause.

[Andrash]

Some days my arms don't stop hurting and tingling even like today for instance I had a few alcoholic beverages last night and today my arms were bad! I can't believe this would be anxiety related. I think maybe I could have a vitamin B defiencency or it is actually a heart issue.

I am not a doctor, but your symptoms sound way too familiar for me-I daresay neck is the culprit. It's nothing serious, of course :)

And don't drink alcohol when you're anxious-it worsens anxiety, that's a proven fact.

[calmiah]

[QUOTE=Andrash;1271062
And don't drink alcohol when you're anxious-it worsens anxiety, that's a proven fact.[/QUOTE]

I can 100% agree with this, I have just done 7 days off alcohol and my anxiety levels plummeted over the week, I had new energy, felt happier the lot.

So I decided to celebrate with some whiskey on Saturday arvo and bang... anxiety back, chest pains, shoulder stiffness and lack of breath all day Sunday.Really is an anxiety trigger for me.

I also have had ECGs, blood tests, lung tests, all reported good yet I am still getting chest pain & shortness of breath like you.. I'm no Dr Hilary but it does sound like you have Anxiety, just got to believe it and accept that's how you are feeling right now.

Good luck

[scaredsobad]

I do really believe that the alcohol isn't helping because I tend to feel worse from it the next day ..

[Fishmanpa]

I do really believe that the alcohol isn't helping because I tend to feel worse from it the next day ..

Alcohol and anxiety DON'T MIX! Especially if you're taking meds, Smoking and anxiety are also really detrimental.

Positive thoughts

[calmiah]

If it helps, I found that reducing the intake over a short period really helped rather than just waking up one day and saying, that's it I've stopped.

Not advising anyone to drink, but for me reducing it down to a large glass of wine after work during the week did the trick, when I just stopped completely I had night sweats, bad sleep and increased anxiety which I am told is normal when the body is deprived of anything it is used to over a log period..

If you can just stop, that's brilliant I am sure it will help.

[scaredsobad]

Alcohol has never bothered me in the past, it's so weird and I am having a hard time believing that what I am going through is actually anxiety and nothing more serious, most days I feel so badly from no energy, to the pain in my arms, today ever since last night I have been dizzy, I feel as though I am being pushed when I am walking if that makes sense! I had always been an active person who eats very well and now I cant even get through a workout! I still think there is something phsyically wrong with me! I am so bummed out because we are going away this weekend to take our son to see Disney on Ice and I am scared how crappy I am going to feel :( I have only been on medicine (cipralex 5mg daily) for going on my third week and I know it takes time for it to work, but I really don't even want to be on it! This is so frustrating especially because I keep getting told I am healthy with tests to prove it, but very scaredthat they are missing something ..I am going to a cardiologist for a stress test just waiting for the call! Maybe then I will accept this as anxiety, but until then I don't know how to deal like somedays I get through ok and manage the day, but then its a good 2 or 3 days that I am a mess again, SO FRUSTRATED, it's like being ill for 3 months STINKS! Especially being 34 and suppossed to be in the prime of my life after taking care of my health and this happens! I just DONT GET IT :(

[scaredsobad]

Today after I worked out my dizziness came back :( now this has to be my heart!