constant worries relating to heart problems

[Tony3]

Hi everyone

I am new to this forum, and would like to share my problem with you since I have no one to talk to

My name is Tony; and I have anxiety and OCD for 8 years. I have severe hypochondria and constantly worry about my heart I have all the symptoms including chest pain, difficulty breathing, shoulder pain and neck pain. I went to the ER twice in one month and they said I was fine but symptoms won't stop so I went to gp and got a ECG and chest xray. X ray result came back fine but ECG said I got sinus tachycardia so I got worried and went to see a cardiologist to do a stress test and he told me I have sinus tachycardia to but no abnormal heartbeat or anything he said it was fine after that I had another chest x ray and they said I was fine and the the sinus tachycardia was just relating to anxiety but I still keep worrying its ruining my life

Is there anyone like me and can you Please help me

thanks in advance

[SubduedBlues]

Hi Tony3

Welcome to BB and thanks for posting.

Chest pain can be many more things than your heart, but as the heart is the biggest impact thing to go wrong it is what doctors always look at first. Other options include:

• Pleurisy - an inflammation of the tissue surrounding the lungs. Easily diagnosed and nigh on impossible to fake.
• Pericarditis - an inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart. Easily diagnosed via ultrasound and nigh on impossible to fake.
• GORD - Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disease (a.k.a. heartburn). Easy to treat, just ask your chemist
• Costrochronditis - an inflammation of the muscle tissues between the ribs. Extremely difficult to diagnose, usually after all other avenues have been exhausted and there is nothing left, therefore it might be this. This is treated with Vit. D, Vit. C and Iron. (get the good stuff, the one used to treat iron deficiency)
• Smokers cough - an inflammation of the bronchial passages due to smoking. Treat by quit smoking.
• Liver disease
• Gall bladder disease
• etc etc

I have Costrochronditis, and it's manageable with good quality vitamins -- taken at night. Your body repairs itself whilst you are asleep, so taking vitamins in the morning is the same as throwing them into the toilet. Does nothing. Taking them at night, before going to bed, provides the body the nutrients it needs to repair that which needs fixing.

SB

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Tony3,

Welcome and thanks for joining the forums and sharing what's been going on for you.

Subdued Blues is absolutely right in that chest pain can be indicative of other things, but on the other hand it does sound like your healthcare team (GP and Cardiologists) have been through in trying to rule these out.

You did mention in your post that you've had anxiety and OCD for the last 8 years; do you find that the hypochondria is linked closely with your anxiety? When you are more anxious, do you find that the chest pain becomes worse or more noticeable?

If the chest pain is related to the anxiety then there is good news in that it can be managed and treated. Often people with anxiety find that what they're feeling manifests itself into physical symptoms; whether that's brief (like a panic attack or feeling sweaty) or chronic (like ongoing muscle aches and pains). Both of these are real, both of these are troublesome, both of these impact your life, but both of these can be managed.

I encourage you to go back and chat to your GP about what you've written and maybe talk to him about ways to help relieve your anxiety (there are many ways without medication). It would be also great to hear if there's anything that's helped you or what you might have tried over the years to manage your anxiety and OCD; as this way we don't repeat any suggestions that hasn't worked in the past.

[always_hope]

Tony3

Feel your pain so much my dear friend.

I am also new here ,and I would like it very much if someone could explain to me ,how to post my story ,as a new thread.

About you my friend...I too have and still do suffer the constant worry that there is something wrong with my heart.

I have been to hospital many times ,had all the tests ..ECG..stress test..BP monitor..only to be told it's all anxiety ,panic attack.

I have just recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and now all my chest pain ,shoulder arm pain they blame on that.

It makes perfect sense,however my bipolar, ocd PTSD, BPD,mind will always make me feel and think the worst.

I guess what has helped me the most ,is having a GP who I trust with my life,and he convinced me ,that there is nothing wrong with my heart, that it's just me living in a hyper vigalant state ,always waiting for the worst.

I hope so much that you find peace with this..

I'm here to listen and not judge you ,as I know how real and scary this can be

Peace to yiu

[always_hope]

Absolute fantastic advice given here ,and yes ,I have found if something is going on in my environment that is unsettling ,the pain in my chest area always returns

[Tony3]

Thanks For The Support People

​Quick Update Just Had A Holter Monitor Done And Result Came Back Fine Having A Spirometry Test To Check Out Lungs Soon

Thanks

[Tony3]

Hi Romantic_THi3f Thanks For Your Reply I Have Been To My GP And He Reckons It's Anxiety To Relieve My Anxiety I Play Games And Soccer I Get Chest Pain When I Worry More Or In Crowds

Sorry For Starting All Letters With Caps Phone Keeps Doing It

[SubduedBlues]

There is a bug in one of the Android software upgrades, depending on which you have (and if you have Android), the work around is to scroll through the Caps, Caps Lock, Lower, and it resolves itself.

Hope all is well

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply!

Tony3 - I'm really glad that your GP has done further tests to rule out anything that might be underlying or hiding. How do you feel about the idea that it might just be anxiety and not anything else?

I know from my experience it can be a hard concept to wrap my head around because the symptoms feel so real and so much like they could be something more serious; so trying to understand more about anxiety and how it works in the body can help.

It sounds like playing games and soccer are really helpful for you where as crowds might be triggering. Maybe keeping yourself distracted has been key for you.

There are certainly lots of different things that can help anxiety. Often when anxiety presents with pain (like chest, neck or shoulder pain) it can help to focus on the breathing and the tension in the body. Long slow deep breaths and muscle tension and relaxation exercises can be pretty simple and subtle especially when you're in busy places. Often just noticing the way we tense up when we get anxious can in itself be a good thing because our bodies are so used to doing it automatically.

Always hope - thank you! I think that noticing the environment and what triggers and makes anxiety better or worse can be a huge step to managing it. Hopefully some of the techniques might help you too.