"Scared" Feeling in Chest

I think I know what you're talking about - that's a good way to describe it! All the standard heart tests have come back normal for me, but I still get the weirdest sensations...sometimes it's like my heart is beating ridiculously hard out of nowhere. I think sometimes it has to do with changes in blood flow or something...

I know a lot of people with lyme tend to say they have heart symptoms but check out fine at the cardiologist - not sure if that helps or not!

That sounds like one of my anxiety attacks - only at a low level. Funny thing with my anxiety, I've noticed that there is no feeling of any fear - just he resulting physical symptoms - chest tightening, palps, and a "weird" feeling right in the center of my abdomen. I can get the shakes (severe enough that I cant' stand or sit at times), break out in a cold sweat, get dizzy - the whole nine yards! Well everything but the actual "fear" part that usually goes with anxiety disorders. Thanks all to these lovely infections!

I do have to use medication (herbal for me) to control mine, or it interferes with my life - but a word of caution with those types of prescription medications - they are very addictive for some, no matter what the docs say. When I first started using the Xanax, I couldn't function at all because of the anxiety levels I had. I was able to come off the Xanax fine as I was just switching to an herbal that works for me, but there are a lot who can't. Just be aware of this, because if you are one that needs it, then by all means, use it!

I don't mind!! Ask away! LOL!
I was using strictly Motherwort tincture, although I now have included Wild oat tincture as well - the combo of the two are working like a charm for me!

The Wild Oats has to be "Avena Sativa", not wild oat straw or others. The Avena Sativa works on the nerves themselves, calming and soothing not just the anxiety part of things. My hands and that don't burn or tingle nearly as bad or as often now that I've started using the Avena Sativa type of Wild oats! I can handle some pretty stressful times now as well!! Lots better than my body deciding that I've had enough stress and not being able to be a part of family matters!

I hope this helps a bit!!

AvaG said...
I've been having this sensation in my chest tonight, the same sensation that you would get if you were scared or surprised. No pain, just a strange feeling that's uncomfortable. My blood pressure is good, so I'm not thinking it's heart related, but just curious to know if this is a Lyme thing or not.

i just posted on another post about this. I had it since elementary (1st tick bite) feels like when I get too excited or scared is the only way I can explain the heart thing. I do believe its lyme related, bt I also think it can be due to babesia/bart especially the sudden intense fear and panic I would feel out of nowhere. I remember them sticking me on zoloft as a 8 yr old and it was ****ing awful because they put me in the phsyc ward thinking I was a child suffering from anxiety /depression, the anxiety meds never worked . It was an on/off symptom for me for years until I got to my 20s and thought something is wrong, because I knew I wasn't experiencing any anxiety or nervousness. That's when I found lyme/bart/babs, it gets better with treatment

borderlyme said...
Trav, I feel like I've asked this a million times before, but what do you use for anxiety? Thankfully my panic attacks have subsided quite a bit (I used to have several PER DAY!) but I still have my ativan prescription as a crutch - really want to kick that habit!

my mom has lyme/bart/babs and so do. She has Ativan and says it helps lol bt when I had ativan my lips and eyes would twitch, and the panic was still there, that's when I knew anxiety meds were not the problem and they weren't working.at that point I was so panic and depressed, wired up, I'd knock door to door asking my neighbors if they had any ativan they I was having a severe panic attack literally like a crack head no offense. I remember pacing bk n forth and sweating with this intense fear and panic bt remembering "well I dnt have anxiety right now , and I felt fine so what's really wrong?"then I found out about babesia which causes Intense fear, its actually a hallmark sign of babesia also the intense sudden panic and sweating like non stop. Ppl seriously thought I was on drugs or something, not to mention all my weight loss near anorexia looking. Ativan made me rely on it after a few times, bt I realized what I was feeling wasn't anxiety or panic and fear bt I was sick , I tried many different anxiety meds and nothing over the years. I tried magnesium which doc recommended for anxiety, PTSD, and for sleep, migraines and seizures that I was getting so bad. 500 mg almost stopped my breathing it gives u this deep high feeling like being too relaxed and I hate that feeling oh god. 200 mg of magnesium is recommended and u can take it at night cuz it makes u a little drowsy bt can be taken during the day as well. I'd say start with a really tiny doseiwest as possible. I also tried ashwagandha for anxiety and I remember feeling sleepy and strung out, then again I'm super sensitive to different supplements and herbs must be the mcas. Whatever works for u though those are a few ideas as I found the magnesium most effective

MedicalNerd said...

Traveler said...
I don't mind!! Ask away! LOL!
I was using strictly Motherwort tincture, although I now have included Wild oat tincture as well - the combo of the two are working like a charm for me!

The Wild Oats has to be "Avena Sativa", not wild oat straw or others. The Avena Sativa works on the nerves themselves, calming and soothing not just the anxiety part of things. My hands and that don't burn or tingle nearly as bad or as often now that I've started using the Avena Sativa type of Wild oats! I can handle some pretty stressful times now as well!! Lots better than my body deciding that I've had enough stress and not being able to be a part of family matters!

I hope this helps a bit!!

How did u react to the avena sativa? I was going to try it bt I'm so sensitive to most herbs and supplements, mcas, now I'm like paranoid to try anything after wt happened with the milk thistle

Hi, MedicalNerd,
Boy, it's been a while since I was here last - but I got notification that a thread I had participated in was active again, and low and behold, someone was asking me a question! LOL.
Avena sativa for me was exactly what I was looking for. I never got any kind of drugged feeling, and yet it controlled my anxiety, although at first it took more than just Avena sativa to control it.

I've always been a huge advocate of the 'low and slow' approach to most everything, and I follow it closely for my own treatments. It's been that approach that allowed me to be able to make it through a lot of set backs to get back on track again. I would encourage the same approach with Avena sativa - start off with a very small dose, whatever you are comfortable with (I do understand the hesitancy in starting new things!!), and slowly, carefully, work your dose up to what would be a 'therapeutic' dose for you - where it mostly controls the symptoms. Then wait for a couple of weeks before deciding to raise it a few more drops or not.

I'm one who couldn't tolerate milk thistle as well - talk about liver pain!! I do hope that you have found a good alternative - there are a bunch of really good herbs that will help the liver besides just milk thistle - milk thistle is just more convenient because you can buy it off the shelf most anywhere.

I wish you the best in your healing!

Lol! Of course I'd show up! If anyone has any questions that they'd like 'my take' on, I'd be happy to discuss it. Not many old threads that I can add more to show up is all. You know how it can be, being an old timer here (me, not you Girlie!).

And you embarrass me by thanking me.
I do hope you're doing okay, Girlie? You've been on my mind and I've been meaning to email you....

By the way, for anyone that's curious, my signature line needs to be updated as I haven't had need of treatment in just over 2 years now (only support herbs), but my health saga continues - but that's another story for another time. Ugh

Hi Running wild!
Thank you for your kind words!! Oddly enough, I haven't had enough of this forum, even after being here for over 10 years!!

My heart goes out to you!! Getting off Benzos is not easy. I had to transition to a different benzo and then get off of that one. It worked, but it was rough.

Well, life is full of surprises. I had a major health issue happen in January, possibly due to having my infections for so long - but more on that later. I have to see an Endo (next month) to hopefully get some answers, but I plan to post about it once I have at least a couple of answers. Lol.

And, the most "lovely" thing happened about 6 days ago... I got reinfected with Lyme yet again! I had to come off all of my herbs due to needing a bunch of emergency pharma meds, and the ticks knew it!! I did get my very first bull's eye rash, so that helped me get into treatment with Doxy quickly at least!

Hi Bailey,
Have you had your adrenals and thyroid tested? Not just the super basic testing, but extensive testing? What you described resembles what I went through twice now. This second time may be my thyroid as well as my adrenals. I'll be getting my extensive testing soon, as my fist appt with an Endocrinologist is coming up quickly.

Hi Bailey,
I would encourage you to, if you are able, to have the saliva testing for your adrenals again. No one can promise that's what is going on, but believe me, it is something you want to rule out before going on to checking other things. If you think about it, saliva testing is more accurate simply because it's drawn 3 or 4 times a day instead of just once.

Full disclosure here though, I'm currently dealing with adrenal issues and am beyond frustrated that none of the doctors I'm currently dealing with believe my adrenals have anything to do with what I'm dealing with....but having had this issue before, and it being a completely reasonable possibility as the reason for what I'm going through.

So, what other things could it be?? Nervous system (neurological) issues. But....those can easily be from adrenal issues.

Low functioning adrenals, if they aren't completely depleted, can bring in symptoms off and on, as they desperately try to regain balance.

I do hope this makes some sense.

I wish you the best of luck in finding out what's going on!