chest pains

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 4:06 am

This is the exact thing that is happing to me...It starts with a little pain (whatever it is from) and then my mind starts running a million miles per second thinking about all the possibilities. I have had an EKG and other test done, I’m all good. I try and tell myself that I'm fine but it doesn’t go away. eventually I have a panic attack...I can go days or even weeks without feeling this but then once it comes back I can be very on edge for days or weeks.

My main symptoms are check pain in middle/left side...tightness in shoulders and neck..lump in throat or trouble swallowing...I do burp a lot…hands shaking=panic attack! My dr. said it was acid reflux and that I was fine…

This really sucks and I don’t know how to get this junk out of my mind. I haven’t tried any meds or treatments-- I think that I’m a pretty strong minded person--I was a college athlete and have had a lot of success in my professional life. I think reading other people symptoms and struggles has helped me a lot in knowing that I’m not alone and all my symptoms are in my head....

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 4:20 am

Holly, my first reaction upon reading your post was acid-reflux. Go to your doc and see if there's something you can take for it, because acid-reflux can be really scary and feel like a heart attack. Or maybe a nutritionist can help aim you in the right direction for proper foods to eat that will alleviate the AR- if that's what it is.

*D* · Post by ***D*** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 4:58 am

Wow Holly I get the same thing in my chest. I also have heart burn frequently so I wonder if that is a common thread. It sure doesn't feel like heartburn and then the anxiety kicks in and the heart races and I worry about the "big one" like from Sanford and Son.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:05 am

I have the exact same symptoms. I'm terrified of having a heart attack or some other type of disease in my chest. I get the paid in the center of my chest then toward the left and sometime under my left armpit. Then my mind goes crazy thinking I can't breath and that I'm going to die. I feel like this pretty much all of the time. I have also had EKGs and chest Xrays and they say everything is fine. But I "what if". What if they missed something. What if something will show up now that wasn't there before. I'm only 23 and shouldn't be scared of dying of a heart disease!. My biggest "what if" is what if this isn't anxiety and that there is really something wrong.
Do other people think that too??

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:55 pm

Hey Holly. Chest pains were one of the symptoms that led me to a panic disorder. I would get sharp chest pains every time I took a breath. I ended up obsessing about it and would research online about different cancers and such. It scared me to death because the symptoms of chest pains would often refer to a terminal illness. Well I went to the doctors to take an x-ray of my chest and it turned out that everything looked normal. My doctor told me it was due to stress. I still didn't believe him so I continuously kept obsessing over these chest pains...and low and behold I ended up getting a panic disorder a couple days after the examination. I tried to relax during that time and think positive and the chest pains went away after a few days. I now believe it was due to stress and concentrating on it made it worse. Holly, I can guarantee that you're in the same position. Stressing about this chest pain will only make it worse. It's only a physical symptom. Tell yourself that it will go away and when you do feel pain...just put it off as pain...NOT CANCER. Hopefully this will bring some relief.

beepster · Post by **beepster** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:58 am

Daniellefaith....yes other people think that all the time! I know I am one of them! The hypochondriasis is probably my worst symptom. I am always saying "I know this is anxiety but what if it's not?" That is my biggest downfall in all of this! I'm 32 and my mother died of a sudden heart attack in my arms so I believe that is where my fears stem from!! I also get the chest pains and then I start worrying about my breathing. Unlike all of you, I am too scared to go to the doctor because I know this is all anxiety!! (At least I think it is)

I also have the heartburn/GERD and I am very aware if what I eat. Holly, try a food diary to see if you can associate it with anything in particular. I still eat almost everything but I know what my triggers are (tomato sauce, ice cream, mint, chocolate, salad) It might help to take a couple of Tums when you feel this way. They are a magic cure in my eyes!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:48 pm

Holly,

We are VERY much alike. We have all of the same symptoms and worries. I'm also vegetarian, vegan actually, so yes - fairly healthy! But can't stop worrying about heart attacks. It's a daily struggle for me. Also, like your grandpa, my father died of a heart attack very young (54) so I always have that on my mind as well.

If you'd like to PM me and talk more, please do.

~Lisa~

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:37 pm

WOW fantastic helpful replies. Seriously every single post has made me feel better. Thank you all so much for replying!
mmed30, I too get the center left pain,tightness in shoulders and nick and the feeling of not being able to swallow and it is hard to get it out of your mind.

starr,love the quote and I am going to make yet another app with a doctor. iv been to many dr visits (all are alomst diff dr's lol)but its nice to hear that it must be acid relux. thankyou
jeff s,mine never feels like it could be heartburn. I never even knew how that felt. But i guess its how I feel. I worry to about "the big one"
daniellefaith, I get the left armpit pain too!!!! crazy. that makes me really feel its a heart attack. you sound alot like me. i am also 23. I what if a lot about my breathing too. "WHAT IF I STOP BREATHING!!" In my heart I know this is anxiety yet, when i think that way I start thinking... what if it's not. what if I made myself a whole new disease . .lol. . or have real heart problems 0-:
jinu1m64,thank you. your reply did bring relief. I know i need to stop obsessing. but i have progressed with the help of all of you folks on stresscenter, the program, my therapist and my friend Robin whom i met in this site and become good friends with. we text and talk everyday and she has the same things as me and just texting her and/or calling her when i feel bad makes me feel better.
laborg,I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I have been with my mother every time she has had to go to the hospital for her heart. calling 911 for her and seeing the paremedics take her away from me thinking she is going to die. It's terrible and im sorry you had to go through that. Very understandable why you have anxiety. By th way, i carry a huge tube of tums in my purse everyday

and Lisa, I pm'd you. we seem to have a lot in common.
THANKYOU all for your replies again!! If it is really something to do with our hearts I think we would have had a heart attack by now, right?