Heart Attack or Panic Attack?

Hey all, I usually post over in the chronic pain forums, but I also have some issues with depression and anxiety.

Last night my stomach was bothering me so I went to bed sorta early. I take 15mg of Restoril for sleeping, as well as 50mg of over the counter sleep aid--by direction of my psychiatrist. When I was lying down in bed, my 'heart' was doing weird things. It wasn't really beating rapidly, but it was more like it would skip a beat and then overlap itself with two hard ones. Almost like it was squeezing in there really hard and then letting go.

Eventually my meds kicked in and I fell asleep, but since I woke up today I am still having the weird heartbeat. Now, however, I am also having some chest pain. Its really dull and more a discomfort, but it concerns me due to the heartbeat stuff. I'm not really short of breath or anything, and I am not consciously anxious over anything.

I would just go to my doctor, but its a Holiday weekend and they are closed. So I'd have to go to the ER instead. I really don't want to go to the ER just to have an EKG done and sent home. That kinda stuff works me up more than actually being sick sometimes because the Hospital is sort of far away. Especially if not in an ambulance.

So yeah, I read some stuff on the difference of symptoms between heart attacks and panic attacks...but it is still sort of hard for me to understand. If it is a panic attack, it could be worsened by me thinking about it, so it could be why it is still happening. But since it has lasted so long now, I really don't know what to think.

Anyone else have similar problems with panic attack symptoms or something? I don't want to overreact but I also don't want to die. lol!

Thanks, Tori.

I'm still kicking over here, so I am thinking maybe it was a panic attack..either that or I may be getting sick with something. My stomach is sort bothering me again now so imma see a doctor when I can. :)

Thanks Stkitt.

My clinic does have a doctor on call line for emergencies, but they sometimes have to call you back and the last time I did it the person ended up telling me that I needed to decide for myself whether or not to go to the ER...so it didn't really help. lol!

I took some pepto bismol and stuff, and I have a light fever so I think I am just coming down with something and the heart stuff from earlier was also from that. Sorta got me anxious though, ironic huh? >_<

I went to the er myself a few weeks ago for the same thing. It ended up just being a panic attack because after they gave me ativan I started feeling better. Do you have any anti-anxiety meds? If so I would take that and just try to relax. If you were having a heart attack your left arm would be numb and would have trouble breathing. Hope you feel better soon.

misterkatamari

I hear you on the old response, " You will have to make up your own mind" - grrrrrrr !  When I did triage I always encouraged patients to come to the ER with chest pain.......... A wise Dr. told me once that there was no such think as a waste of ER/Urgent Care time as we could always use it as a chance to educate patients.  He was a very kind and caring man.

Take care of you and please follow up with your Dr. I hope you keep on posting here in the forum.

Kindly,

Kitt

Hello Each time I have anxiety or panic attack I want to go to ambulance. Each time is different and each time is bad. Good thing that I have them more rarely than when I was younger (in my 20th). The best thing is to get your heart checked. Besides EKG ask for Stress Test (you will be wired and running so if there is any problem with heart definitely will show there). And if you have good tests then you can definitely be sure that it is panic attack, because it is really hard to get heart attack with healthy heart. Good luck.