What is wrong with me

[Lindy77]

I’m struggling so bad. I have been to 3 different doctors and I’ve had ECG’S I’ve worn a 24hr holter monitor which I’m still waiting for the results but all other tests say there’s nothing wrong with my heart yet I swear there is something wrong. I think I’m going crazy… I get heart flutters and palpitations my heart races I get pain in my left arm and I’m my chest I get lightheaded and I swear my heart is just going to stop and this is daily.. but according to the doctors there’s nothing wrong.. I don’t know where to turn next

[Bob_22]

Hi Lindy77,

Thank you for posting to the forums and for sharing your experience. I'm sorry you are struggling at the moment with heart palpitations and other symptoms.

It is great that you have gone to a range of doctors to investigate your heart to confirm nothing sinister. May I suggest you consult your GP again to potentially consider whether your heart symptoms might be anxiety related. I mention this as it is a common symptom of anxiety and when I used to experience heart symptoms I would also experience tingling/numbness (for me it was my right arm). And like you, I would worry that something is wrong and ended up getting an ECG, echo and holter monitor. After talking to my psychiatrist I learned I was experiencing health anxiety where the fear of poor physical health would cause anxiety and feed back unto itself and amplify the symptom.  If you'd like to learn more, I found some interesting resources regarding health anxiety here: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Health-Anxiety

I am also part of another thread where various users have shared a similar experience regarding their heart/chest: https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/anxiety/heart-anxiety/td-p/542399 

I hope you find some of this information helpful. Please keep us updated. In the meantime if you need to talk to anyone, remember you can always talk to one of the counsellors at beyond blue 24/7 via phone or chat by clicking the "immediate support" button at the top right hand corner. 🙂💙

Bob

[Petal22]

Hi Lindy77,

Im sorry you are feeling this way I understand feeling this way is difficult to endure.

I understand that feeling of thinking we are going crazy because I also thought I was going crazy in a point in my life, my doctor tried to reassure me it was anxiety and it turned out my doctor was correct.

As Bob 22 has mentioned I also suffered with health anxiety I would go to my doctors a lot with symptoms I was experiencing I thought that there was something seriously wrong with me I’d be told I was ok but this wouldn’t stop the obsessing I’d just move onto something else on my body to obsess over.

Throughout my journey I experienced health anxiety and also severe anxiety OCD.

My brain just kept going in this cycle until I received professional help I did a certain therapy to learn how to break this vicious cycle.

Ive now recovered, maybe you could think about seeing your gp and discussing anxiety with them.

A psychologist can also be helpful.

[Mark Z.]

Hi Lindy77,

I'm so sorry for your challenge.

Please wait patiently for the test results. If again everything is normal, maybe it's your mental health. While you're physically healthy, stress, anxiety or depression can make you feel sick. And if the symptom is so strong, you can't wait. Have you ever consider to see a psychologist? Or, it'll be a good idea to have a chat with Beyondblue hotline.

Mark

[Flop]

   Hello Lindy77,

I don't experience these sensations myself, they sound extremely uncomfortable and invasive. I had mentioned to my GP that my heart would race of a night when I was trying to sleep and she provided me some medication for that and I've not really experienced that problem since. It is a different issue, but that medication is specifically for regulating the heart beat and is also off branded for anxiety. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to list it so I suggest if this sounds of use to you, ask your GP for more information.

Until then, as others have suggested please try and wait for your results back.

Wishing for the best.

[Hopskotch22]

Hey Lindy77

I've just been through EXACTLY what you've described. Thought I was losing my marbles. Heart felt like it was going to explode. Had pins and needles down left arm with twitching in my hand. Felt extremely anxious and sad. Felt completely out of control. Turns out I'm going through menopause. My oestrogen levels were virtually non-existent and testosterone was at the level of someone post menopausal. I'm not suggesting you're at that age (hey, you could be a dude for all I know), but a simple blood test confirmed where I'm at. Now on medicatoin and the difference is mind blowing. Doctor said I could also consider using some medication to control the release of adrenaline in my body and reduce heart going berserk all the time. Haven't got to that stage as don't need it. Thought I was too young for menopause. Turns out I wasn't. Now in a happy place. Sincerely hope you can find yours soon as I know how consuming the former state was. Good luck with it. Would love to hear how you get on.  Oh yeah, stay away from caffine and booze. They're just fuel on the proverbial palpitation fire!

[Lindy77]

hello

thank you for replying. I’m not a dude lol… I’m also 45. I really don’t know what’s going on with me. I hate this. I’m really scared cause I really feel like something is wrong. All tests say nothing is wrong with my heart. I even went to the hospital the other day and again I had an ECG and blood test and it was all fine. I’m so over feeling like this. 

[smallwolf]

Hi,

I can imagine this would be very concerning for you when this happens. Perhaps frustration with not knowing. Others have posted good replies and I can only add my experience.

For myself, my heart would get into a racing condition each day around 9am. It turned out this was related to me starting work, checking email, and so .... anxiety related. Work or email was a trigger for me. (My palms would also get sweaty.)

The above is only part of my story. It was not the main reason I started seeing a psychologist.

Thinking out loud... I am curious whether it might be something like this? Not work, but something creating stress and making your heart race you mention. If this is a possibility there are ways to deal with this and if you are interested I could tell you what worked for me?

[Added]

I would be very interested to hear what worked for you if you don't mind.

[Bob_22]

Hi Lindy77,

I'm so sorry to hear that your tests didn't confirm what you were thought and that you are feeling scared at the moment. As mentioned in my last post, have you considered discussing the possibility of seeing a psychologist with your GP to help with feelings of fear or exhaustion that you might be experiencing? 

Hi Added,

In my personal experience, I found breathing exercises helpful but the most helpful thing I found was talking things through with a friend or family member. They usually helped me see things from an objective perspective and after a while I was able to reason through things by myself. Hope that helps!

Bob 💙