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Having a really rough day...anxiety or something they missed???

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racheld1975
racheld1975

I've posted my story on here before, not much has changed. Still having chest pain, pressure, and other classic heart attack symptoms on a regular basis.  I have been to the Emergency Room 6 times in the past 2 months for these symptoms.  I also have been having some abdominal pain and digestive symptoms that were severe.  I have been diagnosed with anxiety and panic attacks for over 20 years but am now wondering if there has been something else going on this whole time.  I have never felt like they were right but I know that is also one of the wonderful things about anxiety, it constantly makes you second guess your diagnoses.  Anyway, on one of my recent visits to the ER they did a CT scan of my chest and abdomen and some xrays.  They sent me home, told me they found nothing and to follow up with a gastroenterologist...which I don't have the money or insurance to do.  I then gained access to my records online and was able to read all of my labs and radiology reports for the last couple years.  This is what the report says...

EXAM: CT ABDOMEN AND PELVIS WITH IV CONTRAST

LUNG BASES: Included lung bases show minimal subsegmental atelectasis at the lingula. There is a tiny

sliding-type hiatal hernia.

LIVER: There is diffusely decreased liver attenuation suggesting hepatic steatosis with focal fat sparing

adjacent to gallbladder fossa. The liver is enlarged up to 18.7 cm in craniocaudal dimension. No

suspicious liver mass lesion is identified. No intrahepatic biliary dilatation.

GALLBLADDER: Cholecystectomy.

COMMON BILE DUCT: Normal caliber. No stones.

SPLEEN: The spleen is borderline for size at 13.5 cm in anterior posterior dimension without focal mass

lesion.

PANCREAS: No mass. No pancreatic fluid collections.

ADRENALS: No masses.

KIDNEYS: A rightrenal cyst is again identified and is unchanged. No suspicious renal mass lesion

otherwise. No hydronephrosis.

LYMPH NODES: No adenopathy.

STOMACH, SMALL BOWEL AND COLON: No bowel wall thickening or obstruction. No evidence of

appendicitis.

PERITONEAL CAVITY: No mesenteric stranding or free fluid. Anterior abdominal wall subcutaneous fat

stranding is noted at the epigastric region and is unchanged, likely representing scarring.

OSSEOUS STRUCTURES: No acute fracture or destructive lesion. There is diskogenic endplate sclerosis

at L5-S1.

ABDOMINAL AORTA: No aneurysm. There are a few scattered atherosclerotic calcifications.

PELVIC ORGANS: The urinary bladder is within normal limits. No free pelvic fluid. The uterus and

adnexa are within normal limits.

IMPRESSION:

1. No choledocholithiasis or evidence of biliary obstruction by CT criteria.

2. Decreased liver attenuation suggesting hepatic steatosis with hepatomegaly. Correlation with liver

laboratory values is requested.

3. Other findings as above.

I am freaked out about this...There are a few scattered atherosclerotic calcifications.

I looked it up and it means I possibly have atherosclerosis of my abdominal aorta...can that be the cause of all my chest pain??? Does that mean I have heart disease??? Does that mean I am going to have a heart attack??? I am totally freaked out because nobody has ever said anything about that EVER and I have seen a lot of cardiologists and had every work up you can imagine, even a heart cath in 2012 that was "perfect" according to the doctor that did it.  I have had multiple CT scans over the years, probably glow in the dark status, and I have never had anyone say anything about finding anything like this.  I have access to several other reports from the past few years and none of the notes say anything like this, only no aneurysm, so now I am totally freaked out.  I found this out the day before yesterday and have been having really bad chest pains, pains down my arms, and all kinds of other heart attack symptoms since then.  I don't know if it is just my anxiety kicking into overdrive or what.  As I said I do not have a way to seek medical care other than going to the emergency room, I cannot afford insurance and definitley cannot afford out of pocket for all the specialists I am supposed to be seeing.  I have not been on any anxiety meds or under a doctors care for a few years now and realize that plays a role in this as well.  I don't know what to do anymore, I am really at my wits end and would love any words of wisdom anyone might have for me...

Thanks again

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • jan66332
    jan66332 racheld1975

    Posted

    Hi reading your reports it seems your generally in good health , it’s normal to have findings of atherosclerosis as long as your arteries arnt clogging up and since your have had investigations and they are normal I would take comfort from all your results and enjoy your life if anything you may have a hiatus hernia which is easily controlled and can give lots of pains like cardiac pain .... try and relax more and believe the specialists you are fine and will live to a good age ... hope I’ve helped x 
  • Anonymous111
    Anonymous111 racheld1975

    Posted

    Sit back and think rationally.

    You have read something thats panicked you and your symptoms have got worse. That is good evidence that they are psychosomatic, driven by your anxiety neurosis.

    Aortic Atherosclerosis happens to everyone. I am 23, if i was scanned and I never have been, they would find the beginnings of aortic atherosclerosis. It gets worse as you age and in most people it never causes an issue. If you took a 5yo their aorta would be atherosclerosis free, but after 20 everyone has it.

    Coronary artery atherosclerosis is a problem, but you have had a Coronary Cath and it was clear. You do not have coronary artery disease, this chest pain is not cardiac ischaemia.

    You have a Haitus Hernia - this is why they want you to see a gastroenterologist. This can cause GERD. If you are overweight, loosing weight could cure this.

    Tiny area of Atelectasis in the lungs is not significant and will not be causing your chest pain.

    The Liver - I would need more information to make a comment on.

    Spine - You have the beginnings of spinal osteoarthritis. Everyone gets this as they get older.

    You have had a CT CAP - the radiation dose of this is about the equivalent of 8 years background radiation. You need to get control of your health anxiety - its potentially damaging you physically.

     

    • racheld1975
      racheld1975 Anonymous111

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply. I am feeling more at ease knowing that these are normal findings. I appreciate your breakdown and analysis of my report and found it very helpful.
  • ivy482017
    ivy482017 racheld1975

    Posted

    Hello Rachel, so sorry you are feeling so bad. Rachel you have to relax and let life take it's course. You are working yourself up. If you have been to the doctors this many times then nothing we say will calm you either. If you don’t believe what you are hearing from professionals, Then w hat we say won't matter. Have your regular doc explain the findings that make you uncomfortable in your records. Stop making your anxiety worse by over thinking. Research relaxation techniques on YouTube. I really hope you feel better. Prayers for you my dear.

    • racheld1975
      racheld1975 ivy482017

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. I understand what you are saying but it's actually quite the opposite, I find more comfort from what others who have gone or are going through similar things to me way more than any doctor. I know this might sound irrational in itself but I've had a horrible experience with doctor's over the years and don't put much stock in their answers most of the time. I know there are still a few good uncorrupted physicians out there but they are sadly few and far between. For example, I have had 4 endoscopy all because of my chest pains to rule out a hiatal hernia or something else and they found NOTHING. I believe my gastro wasn't the best but unfortunately I was on state insurance at the time and he was my only option. But now the CT shows i have a hiatal hernia...so I have questions. I believe that most of my actual health problems have been written off as anxiety for years. I was severly anemic with b12 deficiency to the point I had to go get iron infusions and b12 injections. Alot of my nuerological symptoms that were blamed on anxiety were actually being caused by my extremely low levels of iron and b12. I just so happened to have moved and found a new doctor that actually cared and started asking questions not just blaming anxiety, then i lost my insurance...I've tried therapy, relaxation techniques, meds, you name it all to no avail. They are especially unhelpful when you cannot afford them anymore. Hence my current situation. I have other medical issues, not just anxiety, and my physical symptoms from those issues are a big anxiety trigger. I am praying I can find a good doctor and get back on track soon. Thanks again.

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