inha
26-07-15, 20:24
Hello,
I'm new here, and brought by the health anxiety I've been feeling for the past week and a half, almost with no relaxed time. I had my first panic attack back in May, when after hearing about a girl my age (19) who had a heart attack and unfortunately passed away, I started getting huge scares about my own heart. This person did not have any diagnosed condition and even went to a cardiologist some time before the incident.
Since last week, it's impossible to convince myself I don't have either a heart attack or pulmonary embolism.
I've been to the doctor who ruled out my heart just by listening to my pulse (she said it was high because I was worrying) and taking my tension (good the first time, kind of low the second). I did a blood test, which came out fine except platelets slightly high. Of course since I read it meant my blood was thicker, I'm thinking I'm at risk for clots, pulmonary embolism and heart attack...
I know nobody will be able to run extensive tests over the computer, but I'd like to list my symptoms, making it clearer in my own head what's happening, and maybe hear about some that might have gone through a similar experience !
Shortness of breath : no so much most of the time, I even did cardio exercise yesterday to prove to myself my heart was working, but today after eating I climbed the stairs, picked up something from the floor and had to immediately sit, I felt like I couldn't breath properly anymore. It ceased but anxiety took over and I started feeling shaky and like I didn't breathe properly, even though it receded since then.
Plus, I know I've always been easily out of breath, but my doctor never thought it was a cause for concern so I never had any heart-specific check-up. I also sometimes get a weird feeling like my heart slows down (stops?) and I have to take a deep breath, and it goes back to normal.
Chest pain : mostly sharp and more on the left side. Sometimes it radiates to my shoulder/arm and send me in complete panic. I feel like the worrying about heart attack symptoms is definitely at cause here.
Feeling ill/nauseous : today all day and often after eating. My doctor told me I might have heartburn, and today I got huge abdominal pain until I went and had diarrhea.
Lack of appetite : I get nauseous when I eat so I eat very little.
Basically I know symptoms of a heart attack can appear long before the actual attack and that in women, it's usually perceived as an indigestion, which is how I've been feeling this past week and a half.
I'm scared of having an unknown heart condition and my family tells me there's no test the hospital could do since I look fine and I'm not gasping for air/in a critical condition.
The worst is I'm afraid of sleeping because of the risk of dying in my sleep, so I prevent myself from sleeping until 3 to 4 in the morning. When I doze off I feel like I fainted so I panic some more : how can you tell if I fainted or passed out from tiredness ? The thought made me jump last night and I distracted myself some more hours until I couldn't hold anymore.
Anyway, I hope I get to hear some reassuring words on this forum and thanks for putting up with my rent !
I'm new here, and brought by the health anxiety I've been feeling for the past week and a half, almost with no relaxed time. I had my first panic attack back in May, when after hearing about a girl my age (19) who had a heart attack and unfortunately passed away, I started getting huge scares about my own heart. This person did not have any diagnosed condition and even went to a cardiologist some time before the incident.
Since last week, it's impossible to convince myself I don't have either a heart attack or pulmonary embolism.
I've been to the doctor who ruled out my heart just by listening to my pulse (she said it was high because I was worrying) and taking my tension (good the first time, kind of low the second). I did a blood test, which came out fine except platelets slightly high. Of course since I read it meant my blood was thicker, I'm thinking I'm at risk for clots, pulmonary embolism and heart attack...
I know nobody will be able to run extensive tests over the computer, but I'd like to list my symptoms, making it clearer in my own head what's happening, and maybe hear about some that might have gone through a similar experience !
Shortness of breath : no so much most of the time, I even did cardio exercise yesterday to prove to myself my heart was working, but today after eating I climbed the stairs, picked up something from the floor and had to immediately sit, I felt like I couldn't breath properly anymore. It ceased but anxiety took over and I started feeling shaky and like I didn't breathe properly, even though it receded since then.
Plus, I know I've always been easily out of breath, but my doctor never thought it was a cause for concern so I never had any heart-specific check-up. I also sometimes get a weird feeling like my heart slows down (stops?) and I have to take a deep breath, and it goes back to normal.
Chest pain : mostly sharp and more on the left side. Sometimes it radiates to my shoulder/arm and send me in complete panic. I feel like the worrying about heart attack symptoms is definitely at cause here.
Feeling ill/nauseous : today all day and often after eating. My doctor told me I might have heartburn, and today I got huge abdominal pain until I went and had diarrhea.
Lack of appetite : I get nauseous when I eat so I eat very little.
Basically I know symptoms of a heart attack can appear long before the actual attack and that in women, it's usually perceived as an indigestion, which is how I've been feeling this past week and a half.
I'm scared of having an unknown heart condition and my family tells me there's no test the hospital could do since I look fine and I'm not gasping for air/in a critical condition.
The worst is I'm afraid of sleeping because of the risk of dying in my sleep, so I prevent myself from sleeping until 3 to 4 in the morning. When I doze off I feel like I fainted so I panic some more : how can you tell if I fainted or passed out from tiredness ? The thought made me jump last night and I distracted myself some more hours until I couldn't hold anymore.
Anyway, I hope I get to hear some reassuring words on this forum and thanks for putting up with my rent !