So 10 years ago I developed a phobia of vomiting no idea why and every time I was nervous about something I felt sick to my stomach it has turned my life upside down recently in January I developed shortness of breath chest pain arm pain and pain in my jaw so off to A&E I went they ran basic tests bloods x Ray ecg all was normal so I came home over the following few days I felt like I was dying so visited A&E on 4 more occasions to be told again nothing wrong I finally went to gp which I must say he has a great reputation and he didn't believe it was heart related. But I'm convinced I'm gonna drop dead at any given moment I just don't know what to do anymore I'm.on meds and had cbt bur nothing seems to working. The gp believes my lack of faith in the NHS is 1 because I have read to many bad stories on the Internet and 2 my mother was mis diagnosed 10 years ago. They said stress and turned out was cancer. I have requested to be seen by a cardiologist but the wait is a joke does anyone else experience theses symptoms??
I know EXACTLY how you feel! I have literally been to the ER at least 20 times in the last year. Ive had numerous ekgs, lab wrk, chest xrays, a 30 day event monitor, stress echo and cardiac calcium score that was a 0. Ive seen my primary care Dr several times and I even wrk in a Cardiology office and have seen a couple of them. All everyone keeps saying is anxiety. I just dont understand how soo many physical symptoms could be just anxiety?! Ive been referred to a Psychiatrist who has recommended I start taking meds (which Im scared to do) and see a Psychologist for counseling. I hope you start feeling better soon bc I know what its like to just want to feel "normal" again........
I find the only I can deal with my health anxiety is look at the worst case scenario. I'll die. I'll drop dead. Once I can learn to overcome my fear of death and dying I can pretty cope with any harbinger of death or any sensation that means death. I am more afrraid of things like chemotherapy and chronic pain than I am death. I am afraid of the afterlife which is something relatively new, so i'm going to find someone who's been dead temporarily and ask them what happened to them and hope it's not too bad. Uncertainty is the catalyst for anxiety.
I find this with my head not heart, like I'm going to drop dead with a brain tumour, or aneurysm that's been missed on a Mri scan I had last year! To be honest it's not the dying but I'm bothered about it, it's that I'm jealous of who will watch my children grow up! The way I think is, I am happily married, 2 beautiful daughters, nice car, own house and loving family, so it's to good to be true so it must be my health that's not right.
I'm due to see a cardioligist soon as I think my gp is sick of telling me my heart is fine. I did some cbt which didn't work for me at all but was helpful in the dos and don'ts with health anxiety. Like I was told to never Google symptoms as someone with health anxiery will find they have a number of symptoms on the list of some rare deadly illness and it really is so true but I find that it become almost OCD like I check my heart rate pluse ect I'm on meds which I guess have helped some but I'm terrified of having a heart attack and no idea why or where it's come from. I have some risk factors but my doctor doesn't seen that worried I'm a bit overweight and I stopped smoking but am using electronic cigarette and have some family history but he said that 30 is still rare to have a heart attack without underlying issues I just don't know what to do any more. There isn't enough help on the NHS but if u pay u can have what u want which is so frustrating. Not all of us cam afford to pay. It's the impact it has on our daily lives there are a lot of things I won't do and when I do go out it's terrifying even.going to work in a job I love is a struggle on the best of days. I find if people can't are what's wrong then nothing is wrong
I LOVE my job too, but finding it harder and harder to go. I CANT go to the store, especially by myself. I just want my old carefree life back.....
I feel like I'm missing so much of life it's self feeling like this honestly feeling like I'm gonna drop down dead of a heart attack at any given moment I just don't know how to get over it or even accept that yes one day it might happen but then again it might not. Health anxiety sucks on a massive level and anyone who has anxiety of any kind I feel for this is an awful condition with not much help available where I live. The mental health team suck they once told me unless I try to commit suicide then there isn't much that can be done as anxiety isn't a serious enough case
I find it really sad that people dont take anxiety seriously. My dad went through it when I was younger and I didnt understand it, now I feel bad abt it. I WOULD NOT wish it upon anyone! I hope one day we can all find peace from this mental monster....until then if you need to talk or whatever you can message me anytime.
That's sad that u saw ur dad go through it too. The thing which annoys me most is that the mental health departments can help with all anxiety disorders but the bored in each area is different and they won't fund what is needed for us anxiety sufferers.
Im not sure where you live, but I live in OK and they have some pretty good mental health facilities here. However Ive been going to a Psychiatrist and Psychologist and so far its not helping.....Im scared of the meds and Ive only had a couple of therapy sessions so we shall see.........
I'm in the UK but here in Suffolk it sucks. I'm no meds but can't say weather they are doing much