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Stuck for what to do

Posted , 6 users are following.

jason91323
jason91323

This is the first time I've ever joined a forum but I don't know where to turn to. About 2 months ago I had a 'panic attack' whilst in work. I had a number of heart flutters and my pulse went through the roof. I was shaking all over and I turned pale. There was no pain but I was convinced that I was having a heart attack. A paramedic was called and my pulse was still a little high but my blood pressure was fine and my ECG was fine. They took me to A&E just to get checked out.

I was asked all the usual questions like do I smoke, do I drink, how much coffee do I drink etc. I was sent home afterwards. For about 2 days I felt like a train had hit me, I didn't feel right at all. I was worried about having another attack and I totally lost my appetite. I went to my doctors and was diagnosed with a general anxiety disorder. I was shown some breathing excercises and was booked in for a follow up ECG. The results of the ECG came back normal and I was prescribed antidepressants (citalopram). After starting to take them I began having an attack every other day in the early hours of the morning so I began to get really worried. After stopping taking them the attacks subsided for a while and I began to feel better. i started getting other symptoms, mostly in my left arm, things like pins and needles and strange sensations along with some pain that lasted only a few seconds. My doctor booked me in for full blood works (which all came back normal) I had one MASSIVE attack about a week ago and I had to phone an ambulance because I was stuck in between work and home and it's put me back to square one. Beyond square one in fact because I haven't felt right since and I'm now terrified that I've been misdiagnosed with anxiety. I'm getting more symptoms than before and whereas, normally I would get better after a day or 2, I still feel like total crap after a week.

I've gone back to my doctor to tell him this and he just rolled his eyes, sighed and said he's gonna refer me to a cardiologist. So even he's given up trying to tell me it's anxiety. It's gonna take months to be seen by a specialist and I'm convinced I'm not gonna last that long. I am in dire need of help and I don't know what to do.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • chantelle525981
    chantelle525981 jason91323

    Posted

    Hi Jason,

    Sorry have been having a bad time. It sounds like your having palputations which i believe is quite normal. I have a heart condition and had many surgeries and have palputations that sound just likr you describe but i know other people without heart conditions that have them too and have decribed them like this.

    A cardiologist will be able to help you, but as you said it can take a while for an appointment but they are really the best people to help

    • jason91323
      jason91323 chantelle525981

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply

      I feel like I'm going nuts, it's affecting my entire life. Used to feel like I could do anything before all this started out of be blue but now I can't bring myself to do anything. I'm convinced it isn't anxiety. I'm tempted to pay for a private consultation so I can be seen earlier but i don't know if I could afford the expense. I've been made to feel worse by how cavalier my doctor has been it. He said that an ECG is pretty good for picking up abnormalities but I've also read that they only really pick up something when you're actually experiencing The symptoms. Everything points to me being physically fine but I don't feel fine.

    • chantelle525981
      chantelle525981 jason91323

      Posted

      Well when you see the cardiologist you could ask him for a 7 day tape. Which is an ECG that you take home with you and is in your permenantly for 7 days. They do them for various lengths of time but 7 day is usually the normal time. They are itchy and annoying as hell but it might put your mind at ease as when it does pick anything uo they will be able to tell you if it is heart related.
    • kathleen63747
      kathleen63747 jason91323

      Posted

      Hi Jason, I have chronic AF, I'm on Verapamil, the thing, it drops my blood pressure, have to watch when standing up or I would be on the deck. I know how you feel, the doctors are under pressure to get more appointments, but I have learned to keep calm. May I say I had open heart surgery 6 months. ago, and it was a great success, like you, I have had a bad year, so looking forward to see next year, must be better than this one. I hope you get a good doctor and you can get on with your life.....

    • chantelle525981
      chantelle525981 kathleen63747

      Posted

      Glad you are recovering well Kathleen, ive had 12 heart surgeries so far and i know how difficult recovery can be x
    • kathleen63747
      kathleen63747 chantelle525981

      Posted

      Hello Chantelle, I had the large valve replaced, I am struggling with my legs, they are so weak, my heart is good now, so that is good. I also have chronic AF Vaporil keeps it to lower , but flips jumps from 50/60 then up to 120, leaving me very tired. But hey I am here and walking as much as I can.......
    • chantelle525981
      chantelle525981 kathleen63747

      Posted

      Well hopefully with your new valve you will find a differance. Do you know which valve it is? Have you had it replaced with a mechanical valve or tissue?

      I have a mechanical aortic valve and a mechanical mitral valve

    • kathleen63747
      kathleen63747 chantelle525981

      Posted

      I had an Aortic valve, replaced with pig valve, working really well, I was really lucky my arteries were perfect, so pleased about that. I was lucky after  hearing your many procedures, hope you are on the right road now.Take care.......
  • AlexandriaGizmo
    AlexandriaGizmo jason91323

    Posted

    Hi Jason I did post a website were you can read thousands of post that would look like you had written them but it was removed, I think it would help you tremendously, all your symptoms although not what you want to think of as "Normal" they are perfectly normal for panic disorder, there is not a disease on the planet that anxiety cannot mimic, you name one and low and behold its there.

    Please try not to worry you are fine, are you in your teens/20s this seems to be the onset age for the majority of people who develope GAD, or anxiety/panic.

    I really hope you can get this under control because if you don't sadly this will follow you through your life, it will completely take over and spoil your chances of doing all the things that when you look back will enhance your life.

    I know I was that soldier LOL

    • jason91323
      jason91323 AlexandriaGizmo

      Posted

      Hi Alexandria

      Thank you for your reply.

      I've read a few forums where people have described similar/same symptoms as me. Because it's come out of the blue I'm struggling to believe it's anxiety. I've dealt with a lot in my life like many people have and Ive managed it fine so I don't know why I'm feeling like this now. I've noticed mood swings, especially in work, getting angry over the smallest things, and I'm thinking maybe the stress of day to day life in work and at home has caught up with me. But then I think it hasn't affected me before so why now. There's a thousand questions I've been asking myself and I come up with nothing. Im even too scared to take the medication the doctors has given me (he gave me propranolol) its affecting my whole life, even my partner is finding it hard to cope. I'm 27 by the way.

    • AlexandriaGizmo
      AlexandriaGizmo jason91323

      Posted

      Believe it or not you are taking the first step to taking control of your life, please check out the site, it has helped so many and once your back on track you can help others that have all of a sudden developed this horrendous disease because it is a bona fide illness, propropanol is a very safe and well used drug, intact its one of the best for anxiety, I'm a medication phobic but took this years ago to get back on an even keel, if you read your reply to me, it didn't just come on, you had/have stress in your life, its going to effect your relationship as well in a negative way if your not careful, if you value your partner then nows the time to take control.

      Next time it starts to come on, sit back and just let it happen, it will lose its power I promise, it will NOT kill you.

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