Really bad health anxiety!

Hi Lucy/ All,

I hope you're all still following this thread. I'm sitting here right now with left elbow pain and forearm/finger tingling. Of course I'm worried it's something serious because it's left arm, however more likely it's how I was sleeping.

I'm 42 and in the last 6 months I've had 3 EKG's, an ECG, blood work (total cholesterol was 155) and a stress test- all came back with no issues. Cardiologist said once a year he gets someone do as well as I did on stress test. I'm about 20lbs overweight and very active.

I do have a general anxiety issue and have on and off my whole life. But I'm convinced there's something wrong, even though all signs point to normal aches and pains compounded by anxiety.

I've had a few trips to the ER over the last 5-10 yrs convinced I was having heart problems. I've recently thought I could have MS. I get regular check ups and my doctor says I'm in better shape than most people my age. He said he'd bet the building nothing is wrong and to go run a marathon.

It's terrible to live like this, all the tests say nothing's wrong but we can't just move on and live life

Would love to hear from you guys

I feel the exact same way and I don't know what to do at this point. I have had severe health anxiety for 5 years now and it's getting to the point where I have almost given up. Recently since I've started college my anxiety has been through the roof. Everyday I think I'm dying from a heart condition and I can't tell myself that it's just anxiety. I've had 4 EKGs over a span of 3 years and all have been fine. Recently my heart palpations have been worse (skipping beats) and I've feel super tired and sometimes feel dizzy and sometimes have shortness in breath when I walk outside in the cold. I have asthma but really it doesn't bother me often. The scary part is that all of these symthoms can just be stress/anxiety or they can be heart problems. Currently I'm convinced I have an undiagnosed heart valve problem. Could there be a possibility they missed it??? My biggest fear is that all these EKGs missed something and I will end of dying from something like sudden cardiac arrest. I'm 19 years old a freshman in college with tons of stress and know that this can all just be anxiety but what if it isn't? Someone please help.

Hi Lucy.

I also have similar symptoms and smoke with a rubbish diet.

I keep thinking I'm going to have a stroke or heart attack. I'm sitting in my car now waiting for my office to open with tingling feeling down my face, but as I'm writing to you its calming me down a bit. What I do is keep myself as busy as I can to take my mind off of thinking about my symptoms, I breath slowly in counting to 7 then breath out counting to 11. I am now making myself eat more healthy food and walk as much as I can. I also brought a Vape cigarette to cut down on fags so I use it alternatively vape the next when I'm due for my 2nd smoke I'll have a real cigarette. I've noticed a difference.

I'm 42. Just a quick note. I just got out on Paxil. My doctor told me that Wellbutrin was TERRIBLE for anxiety. Also, low iron will cause heart palpations. Take magnesium to. It helps. I'm just getting better from all this crap. It's terrible. But they say Wellbutrin is terrible on anxiety. Just wanted to tip you on that. I hope you get better. I have done lots of praying!

Wow!!! I am not alone! Many of the same stories on this thread I have had exactly the same.

At my worst point I thought I had MS, heart issues, etc. After numerous tests, rushes to ER, even an angiogram all proved negative. 50 years old and the docs tell me I am in great shape, normal blood pressure, cholesteol perfect everything!!

My issue is I have been having anxiety which leads to full blown panic attacks! Worst feeling I have ever experienced. The panic attacks lead me down a dark rabbit hole. They make me feel like I now have a neorogical / brain issue. The dark thoughts enter, and the "what ifs" start. All the Docs (and my wife) tell me evertything is due to stress which leads to anxiety which builds to a panic attack. So much so they have put me on Zoloft 50mg daily and Ativan for when the panic attacks are debilitating. I have been very competive and athletic all my life and normally can push through obsticles by hard work and determination. I am trying my hardest to use the same techniques to over come the anxiety and these attacks but am having a difficult time. I have to force myself to eat, focus on the good things and literally have to make myself do the things that I would normally be so excited to do. I feel I am muddeling through life. I changed my diet about 2 months ago (healthier), no caffiene never a smoker ,etc. Hoping all of the changes will help. I am to the point where i am going to see a psych in two weeks.

I havent been able to excerise lately. I think it is due to the meds. Thanks for reading and forum. It is good to know that there are people suffering from the same........... 

Hi Lucy it sounds like you have the same as me I've been fobbed of with propranolol diazipam and fluoxetine and feel am worse than I was I had a major panic attack out the blue and since I had this I've suffered every day with anxiety and can't sleep of a night as that's when they tend to kick in am scared am not going to wake up I've not had any blood tests or nothing done just fobbed of with medication and am convinced there is something wrong with me just can't go on in life like this am a mother of 3 30 years of age and suffering badly I feel your pain.

Something like this happened to me , I been to ER for a "heart attack" turns out I was only having an epic freaking out and by the time we got into the doctor's office my symptoms completely went away now I'm worried about something completely different

I don't know of this helped but I just thought I'd share my experience with HA

That's me too except that I'm 59 and told nothing is wrong!

B.S.....They are just missing something!

(BTW I had a niece die if sudden cardiac syndrome at age 21 )

YES things can go wrong and be overlooked!

Hi Lucy84536 !

I am 28 years old now my attacks started in my mid 20s I don't eat anything healthy it's ruined my sleep bc my panic attacks are usually before I fall asleep

and had anxiety my whole life feels like a heart attack I can't breath I hate the freaky painful heart palpitations and I know I got prescribed xanex it helps but addictive ! I know all people tell me is just control your breathing

Which is made me crazy bc the fear of dying is a true fear inducing ! Which makes my heart rate go up to 200 beats per min a nurse told me if I keep it up I could get heart disease in my late 30s I can't donate plasma bc my heart rate at rest is 115 bpm ! Not 80 bpm! Anyways that's my experiences good luck if you were my friend I'd make you get it checked out more to be safe good luck Lucy !

I know exactly what you're going through. Trouble breathing, rib pain, chest pain, and I thought my heart was being weird. I got my heart checked out though. But everything was normal. No matter how many times the doctors tell me I'm okay I don't believe it... /:

Hey lucy,

I know it's been 3 years since you have posted this, but I too have been recently suffering with all the same symptoms as you were. I am 23 and have two children and am pregnant with my third so I know that with 2 children and one on the way I could be really stressed and anxious though I do not feel as though I am at all. My symptoms all started when I was doing laundry I went to pick up ancoat hanger from the floor and as soon as I stood back up I got this stange feeling of faintness, I felt hot and dizziness as though I was going to pass out out. I have these symptoms everyday all day long I have been to the emergency room several times because of my symptoms. I have had 4 EKG done in the last 4 months in Which all have come back normal. Because I have been suffering with horrible chest pain, neck side if my neck pain and pain down my left arm I have recently seen a cardiologist which has set me up to have an echo and stress test done on my heart, because of having a heart murmur. I have had problems with my anemia during this pregnany that I did not have with my other too, which doc says can cause irregular heartbeat but my hemoglobin levels are in right range for my pregnancy as of now and I take iron supplements daily. I have recently been experiencing more symptoms that include heart palpitations, chest heaviness, restlessness, pain in back between my shoulder blades, along with the pain in my the neck side if my neck and in left arm, severe migraines. I tend to freak out everyday because my symptoms all lead to sign and symptoms of a heart attack. Although I have had blood tests and EKG I am still convinced there is something wrong with my heart and that this isn't just anxiety like my doctor's have concluded. I have never been diagnosed with anxiety in the past and these symptoms only began 4 months ago. I do not get anxious or nervous about anything all day long but still suffer with these symptoms all day long. How can anxiety cause these symptoms to occur for no reason and 24/7 besides of course when sleeping? I am curious as to wether you have found.any answers since you have posted this...

hi to all this is my first post..i am fighting with anxiety and stress for tha past 2 years..i have got heart palpitations, racing heartbeats, panic attacks, weird pains in chest area, dizziness..i have been to the doctor thrice done ECG and all but all came back negative..doctor always give me Ciplar LA and zapiz..but my health is not getting better..now i have this weird numbness sensation in my mud chest close to heart and i m so scared..please guys any suggestions?

I'm 22 all those symptoms are mine