Stress Center Peer Support

It's been quite some time since I posted a new discussion, but I just need to vent/get this off my chest/put it out into the world.

My biggest health anxiety is a heart attack, and I get the symptoms all the darn time. The pain starts in the center of my chest, spans over to my left shoulder, and down my left arm. I have this really bad right now and it's freaking me out. Most of the time, the symptoms are what causes my anxiety, not the other way around.

I'll be 30 years old next week, and no 30 year old should be worrying about this as much as I do. It's a daily struggle with me, a daily pain in my butt worry that I'm going to have a heart attack that day. I'm constantly checking my blood pressure. Obsessively. This morning when I was at the doctor for an appointment, my blood pressure was at an awesome 110/62. My doctor said to me, "there are people out in that waiting room that would kill you for your blood pressure" which made me giggle, but it still doesn't reassure me. My symptoms are so real to me that they just automatically win the war in my mind of what's real and what's anxiety.

I've had many an ER visit, as well as EKG and chest x-rays done, both always coming back good and normal. I haven't gotten my cholesterol checked since 2005, but back then the nurse was very impressed and said it was perfect. I had one doctor tell me after an EKG last year that I have the heart of a 16 year old. LOL. Yeah. All these encouraging things, but I can't make myself believe that everything is okay with my heart.

Advice, similar experiences, encouragement are all appreciated!

Thanks!
Lisa

oh my god. heart attack fears? you should write me!! *lol*

i am 42, and although my cholesterol has spiked like crazy in the last 2 years, my heart is fine.
i've had 3 thallium treadmill tests, countless other tests - but i still keep insisting i have a heart problem.
as a matter of fact, i think my heart attack anxiety came due to the fact that my young sister died when she was 6 months old due to a congenital heart disorder....i was 2 years old at the time, but i honestly think that's where the beginnings of my anxiety problems began.

anyway, i'm right there with you. i hope we both overcome this crazy fear....i think we will.

I have battled this fear all my life. I had 2 uncles die of heart attacks...one at 44 and the other at 53 and have been paranoid about this for as long as I can remember.
In my case I was experiencing chest pains and idt usually was just indigestion or gas.
I went to the doctor and found out I was lactose intolerant...gave up dairy products and substantially reduced the symptoms.
Also exercise and keeping slim seem to help.