Hi, I recently started college in PA and for the past 4 weeks now I've been constantly worried about my health. It started out worrying about having a heart attack. That eventually went away and it slowly progressed into total full-blown anxiety and panic attacks. I had a heart palpitation when I was trying to sleep one night, and it completely freaked me out. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I finally had enough and went to the local doctor and they did an EKG, blood work and told me to wear a monitor for 24 hours. This was a week ago. The doctor sent the EKG and blood off to a hospital for further analysis and they came back a few days later and the doctor said the EKG came back normal and the blood work was also normal. However, they did find potential signs of left ventricle enlargement or "hypertrophy". This has been scaring the everliving crap out of me ever since he told me. He also said that the reason he thought that was because my heart pulses were higher on the EKG, but he said the more likely reason was because of how skinny I am. There's no fat barrier between my heart and the electrolytes next to it, so my pulses would naturally be a little higher. But my anxiety has me convinced otherwise. Despite constant reassurance that the heart does not suddenly just "enlarge" like that, and that it's something you're born with, which makes sense, I still am convinced that it is enlarged and I'm terrified that I will just drop dead out of nowhere from cardiac arrest because of it. My dad also said that if there was anything seriously wrong, I would be feeling really lightheaded and out of breath and dizzy all the time. Ever since he told me that, I have been feeling really lightheaded, dizzy and out of breath, not completely, though. I turned my monitor in last Tuesday and they STILL have not told me the results of it. I am crippled with anxiety and fear that the doc will call back and tell me that they found something very concerning on the monitor, and I will need surgery to repair it. I've also been experiencing chest pains and I have felt palpitations a lot over the past few days. My heart pounds really hard and irregularly, even though the doc said that the EKG said my heart rhythm was normal, no kind of fibrillation. I constantly feel my heartbeat and pulse. I am also convinced I have heart failure, but I know all of this is completely ridiculous. It is debilitating and it's interfering with my daily life. I cannot stop thinking about it or expecting the worst, and I am going insane over it. I can't take it! Sorry this is sooooo long, but a LOT has been happening over the past few weeks. Again, none of this started until I left home a few weeks ago for college, and it wasn't this bad at first. It slowly progressed into the state it's in now. I know logically I am fine, and if anything was seriously wrong, someone definitely would have told me by now. Does anyone else out there have these same problems? Does anybody have the same fears as I do? I know it's all in my head and every bit of it is anxiety-driven, but the thoughts are constant, ceaseless and very annoying. Thank you, have a great day! 😎
Hi have the same problems too ive been feeling dizzy and out of breath just doing a little bit walking it was scraing me so i went to a heart doctor she did blood test stress test echo test and ultrasound test ans said i had a small hole in my heart between the chambers i toltaly freaked out im like after all this time they barley find out i have a hole in my heart and i read it only happens when your born what the heck. and blood pressure keeps getting high also . its freaking me out thinking im gonna have a heart attack or heart problems i dont want to take high blood pressure pills because i feel awful on them. I dont know what to do. to calm my blood pressure down and calm my self down. and Im 49 years old i feel like a big baby. but its worring me alot.
I am sorry you are feeling so concerned about your heart .
please keep in mind that doctors see these things just about every day and would definitely know if it was something serious. There was no sign of fibrillation or abnormal heart rhythm. The fact that you constantly feel your heartbeat is absolutely very common with health anxiety. I get that all the time and so do millions of other people. People also get chest pains with anxiety.
Your dizziness and lightheaded and this is very likely caused from your increased anxiety and fear. Anxiety can mimic serious health conditions. It plays tricks on your mind and get youth to think negative thoughts and thoughts that something is wrong with you.
Wait for your monitor results. Your doctor will take it from there. If there is anything questionable, your doctor will most likely have you come back periodically to see if there's been any changes.
fear has taken over so you are stuck in the pattern of anxiety, negative thoughts, fearful thinking . It's an endless circle. But you can break that circle by regaining your control over your thoughts. As well as your symptoms.
something that has help me tremendously is listening to audios on YouTube for anxiety, negative thinking, and fear. They teach you how to separate negative thoughts from yourself. When I do these my whole mind, body and symptoms call him down. Practice these and listen carefully to them. Do them every day and if you notice your breathing gets a little easier and symptoms diminish even a little bit, then you know it's all anxiety related. There are many to choose from on YouTube. Use air buds if you have them.
A really good one is called "detachment from overthinking" and another is "clearing subconscious negativity"
you are going to be fine ! When you get a negative or fearful about, do not try to fight it off because it will get worse. What you have to do is in a relaxed manner, acknowledge the thought for a few seconds no matter what it is. You are the observer of the thought . That negative thought is not based on fact or reality. It's not a part of you so you can let it go. Watch it flow off and dissolve. Do this every time you get those thoughts.
hang in there! Take charge of your thoughts and let us know how you're doing ❤️❤️❤️
Hello, I know exactly how you feel.
It's exhausting and life changing.
I too am concerned about my heart I did a 48 hour ekg and blood work both came back fine.
I just did a echo cardiogram and stress test and waiting for those results.
But seemed normal.
For me, my anxiety is constant but there's times I'm busy throughout my day and don't "feel" any of my symptoms. Then suddenly I feel an ache in my arm or chest, hear my heart beat or stomach pain and the anxiety comes rushing back in.
It started out 3 months ago with a fast heart beat that kept me from falling asleep. I then had a ectopic pregnancy and needed to have a fallopian tube removed which made matters worse for someone who suffers from health anxiety. My heart rate was steady 130 in the hospital and high blood pressure for 4 days. Then it moved on to heart palpitations, then a weird vibration feeling in my stomach that drove me insane to now sporadic chest pain.
Everyone reassured me at the hospital while doing my tests and surgery that if they saw anything dangerous I'd be alerted at that moment. Which should in fact make a person feel better. But of course anxiety takes over.
The most important thing to do is check your health with your doctor. And be demanding with your requests. It's your health and your body. Which makes it your responsibility to do your due diligence.
Majority of the time the result is anxiety. My mother and aunts all suffer from it. It's hereditary as well.
I would cry from frustration. Of not being in control of my body. I still do. I couldn't sleep. Maybe 2 hours if that.
Things are getting better for me. Very very very slowly but I can see some improvements. Anxiety and panic attacks have minimized. I'm sleeping majority of the night. But having nightmares that wake me in panic.
I find being in traffic or far from a hospital brings on my anxiety. Which is a new symptom for me.
Some things I've done to help:
I listen to YouTube. Sleeping meditation. Sounds of rain helped
Keeping a fan in at night for the white noise
Healthier food options
DEEP BREATHING. Thinking positive thoughts.
Limiting stress
Watching all funny and happy tv shows. Nothing negative or scary.
Talking about it with friends and family. Super helpful
I couldn't believe how many ppl I know suffer from anxiety. More than half of my circle. Which I had no idea.
I googled my symptoms for hours and days upon days. I was a zombie. It's so debilitating.
My doctor prescribed me lorazepam 0.5mg. I've taken 4 in the past 3 months. Only when I really had to. And it really helped me. I don't want to abuse it. I'm not into prescription medications but I'm not against it either. It helped calm me down and allowed me roto relax and not think about anything negative. My body needs that from time toto time.
I'm seeing a therapist next week as well. I hope it helps.
People suffer from chest pain heart palpitations fast heart rate arm pain leg pain ect for years and years...and are still alive and fine.
I am here with you and feel your pain and frustration.
You will overcome this. As I will.
It takes time and determination.
We are in control... not anxiety.
Sorry for the long story.
Xoxo