Stress Center Peer Support

I have post numerous times about the things I read in news papers magazines etc. about the symptoms a heart attack. I NEVER get any responses but I am going to keep trying....

Today in the mail I read an article that says don't ignore the silents symptoms of a heart attack. They had stories from people ages 27 and up. The 27 year old said she kept telling her doctor that her symptoms were stress related. Then 3 weeks later she suffered a heart attack. Now they didn't mention anything about her being thoroughly checked until after the heart attack. I am sure I don't know the whole story and who knows if its totally accurate.

I hope since I am such a worrier and pay too much attention to the bodily symptoms and have had almost every test (all but a stress test) that I am in the good health my doctors tell me. I have seen a cardiologist and a pcp and my parents didn't have heart problems that I am ok???

I still worry. I just wonder if anyone has any thoughts.

Like I said nobody responds when I ask this question.... I would love to talk to someone about this.

Thanks.

I had felt like that for such a long time. My dad had a heart attack and grandparents on both side had heart disease AND I smoked for a very long time. Now, I just had to STOP READING THAT JUNK! For people like us, it's like an addiction/compulsion. You get your check ups and you stay as healthy as you can be and you have to learn that this is going to be enough. This is still a hard one for me too. I don't want to live in fear of dying and the less I read about my health, the better I have been. In this case, ignorance IS bliss.

ellkay,

I have gone through the same fear of getting a heart attack at a young age. I am 43.

Get a stress test done by your cardiologist. If possible get a nuclear stress test done. It is considered the best way to check how the ole ticker is doing. They inject you with a VERY SMALL amount of radioactive dye and then, after running on a treadmill-type of device, they do a scan of your body. The dye will show up on the scan if there is any internal problems with your heart. The dye leaves your body within 24 hours through urination. I had done one a 13 months ago, and it was a major step in getting over the anxiety. But insurance companies want big-time proof of the need for it; the procedure costs them big bucks. I was fortunate to get it because I left work to the nearby hospital with chest tightness; the cariologist got me approval to come in the next day for the nuclear stress test. The cardio said I had the healthiest heart he has seen in 2 years!

At the ER that day, all tests--EKG, blood, etc, were normal. I have been in the ER at least 6 times from 2006 to 2007. All the tests were thankfully normal.

Two years ago I started get chest tightness episodes. My father died three months after getting a heart attack in 2002. Even though he was in his 70s when he got it, I worried immensely about getting one because cardiac issues are often herditary.

It was finally determined (and I gradually accepted) that chest tightness was either anxiety, stress or costochondritis which is inflammation of the junctions where the upper ribs join with the cartilage that holds them to the breastbone or sternum. Here's a link on it:

<A HREF="http://www.emedicinehealth.com/costocho ... cle_em.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.emedicinehealth.com/costocho ... _em.htm</A>

Also, try and stop thinking you're going to get the same illnesses as someone else. Believe me, I am unfortunately a pro at this. But I am gradually getting better. If you read enough stuff on the net or in newspapers or see on TV, us folks with anxiety and worry think we have the same problems as someone else. When your doctor says you do not have XYZ disease, believe it--and don't go doubting it because you think you have the same thing as someone else. Again, I am talking from experience.

i know how you feel. When i see something on the news or read something in the paper on it, i get all worried and thinking a lot and sometimes even start getting panicky . So I try and not read or watch anything related to it.

Thank you for the replies. I can't even get an upset stomach anymore without thinking "am I going to have a heat attack" Its terrible.

The cadiologist I saw said a stress test in not necessary therefore convincing him to convince the insurance company isn't likely.

I am to the point that the heart palpatations aren't as big of a concern and I hardly get them anymore. Its the other things that are considered silent symptoms that worry me. They are always in magazines, newspapers etc. Of course I read them then I worry about them.

I have improved greatly with my anxiety but this is still lingering with me.

ellk,,,,,,,i so know what your saying my grandfather passed at early age from heart attack my dad has had 3 and my mom had stroke,so believe me when i say i worry bout it also,, then i went to my doctor one day feeling bad and they ran a ekg on me that came outbad to they sent me for that stress test which ended up being fine,, but now the stress of thinking im still going to have one is literally controlling me,, the positive i can say is you have to have faith and not obbsess or we are going to give ourselves one, its the stress that hurts the most, we need to tell ourselves were gonna be ok and believe it,, and quit reading bout it,,, its not healthy,, im saying this for me as well as for you,, if u ever wanna talk in chat id be happy to..

The cadiologist I saw said a stress test in not necessary therefore convincing him to convince the insurance company isn't likely.

If you still want the stress test, go to another cardiologist. I would even suggest you go to another. It's always the best way to play it safe to make sure your heart is really ok. The second benefit is after hearing the good news your ticker is fine, then you can start recovering from the anxiety.

Mention your symptoms but avoid telling him/her that the 1st cardio discounted the stress test. Sometimes Doctor B will agree with what Doctor A said, believing a fellow physician's decision rather than what the patient is saying.

Also keep in mind a "regular" non-nuclear stess test should not be an issue with the insurance company. It's the nuclear stress test, more expensive because of the radioactive dye, is the test needs more scrutiny.

thanks but I honestly don't have any symptoms just fear. I used to get heart palapations on a regular basis now they are pretty much predictable which means they are caused by stress and / or hormones (sorry know you don't want to talk about that).

I am just so fearful to leave my husband kids and family suddenly or at such a young age. I want to live a long full life and fear that I won't because a few people in my family didn't. NOne of the reasons they died are heriditary except my dad's aneurysm and I have already been checked out for that.

Then look for a therapist who deals with anxiety and when you call/check them out, mention your specific anxiety type is health related. It is also called hypochondria.

I had to log off before and wasn't able to finish. Working with a therapist who focuses on this type of anxiety using CBT is what I did and it was a life-saver.

I can relate to your fears, ellkay. My parents both died young from heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, it's all in my family. But, you know what? I am lucky to be able to have these tests, know what my risks are, and be able to change my odds of dying from these diseases. I used to look up diseases and think I had all the symptoms. But, now I research ways to take care of myself and avoid problems that I know I am at risk of developing. I hope I am making sense here, I really do understand your fear. I have also often asked myself "If I am doing all I can to take care of my health, can I do anything more?" No, I can't. I am just doing the best I can and anything beyond that is out of my hands.
Best of luck to you, dear.