Anxiety, or heart problem? Please help.

Hello all, I know this is long but please read!

I am a 20 year old female, 5'5" and 155 lbs. Healthy, albeit a tad lazy, but my blood pressure is great, and I don't have high cholesterol. I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs, and I eat fairly well. I'm not a diabetic, nor do I suffer from any other conditions...

Aside from anxiety and depression. I do tend to worry a lot. I believe I have GAD and health anxiety. I have been to the ER time and time again, thinking something was seriously wrong with me. Everything from brain tumours, strokes, ovarian cysts, ulcers, lung cancer, etc. And I've been completely fine each time.

But now I feel...different. One night in the beginning of October, I was just lying down watching a movie, when all of a sudden I felt nauseous and dizzy. I got up, scared, and went downstairs to my dad who tried to calm me down. I sat at the kitchen table thinking that I was going to pass out, terrified out of my mind that I was dying. I was frustrated because I was convinced I wasn't just having a panic attack and it was something really serious.

The entire night I felt the same -- it was like a "panic attack" that wouldn't end. I had no idea what brought it on, I was completely relaxed before.
And I'm used to panic attacks, but this one didn't feel the same.
Ever since that night, I've been a complete mess. I went into the ER multiple times because I was having trouble breathing and my chest felt heavy. My heart rate also increased significantly. Unfortunately the hospital in my city is TERRIBLE, so I never could get in to see a doctor. I'd be waiting so long in the waiting room, panicking, that I got so exhausted and would just leave.

Until I was able to get in to see my family doctor, I spent the entire time wondering what the hell was up with my heart.
He sent me for an ECG and bloodwork, and half of me hoped they'd find something just so I could try to fix it. But there was nothing. Everything came back completely normal.
I was able to relax for a bit, and I noticed the symptoms starting to go away.
I was fine for the remainder of October, and things started to turn around. My heart rate was still a little fast, but I kept my mind off of it.

A little into this month (November), I started feeling the same things again. Heavy chest, difficulty breathing, fast heartrate, accompanied with numb hands and headaches.
I tried to take comfort in looking up anxiety symptoms online, but everyone was saying these symptoms only last for a little while, and they pass. Mine seem ever-present. I can never take my mind off of it.
You'd think, if something was seriously wrong, that it would have happened already. But I just don't know.

I remained persistent with my doctor and asked for a physical. He said that everything seemed fine, but my heartrate was resting at 132 bpm! That's crazy. He asked if I felt nervous. I said no. Because seriously, I haven't felt that nervous at all lately, but my heart won't slow down!
The lowest I can get it to is about 90bmp which is still high for someone my age.
So he made me an appointment with a cardiologist. But I can't get in to see him until January 7th.
But what if something happens to me in the mean time?? I seriously don't want to die.

My mom is going to take me to a different hospital tomorrow to get me checked out. It's really hard to not focus on my heart when it's beating so fast and hard all the time!
I get tired and out of breath easily. There's always chest discomfort. I feel sick. The only time I feel ok is when I am lying down in bed, which is what I'm doing now.

I don't know, I just need opinions! Is this really just anxiety?? Am I worrying myself so much that I'm creating these phyiscal symptoms? Am I just stressing out my body so much?
I just don't understand how it could be stressed when all I do is lay in bed all day!
Help please

Lyrium, God bless you. I have been there, done that and got vertical. There are many on this site that have experinced many of the same exact things. I am not smart enough to give advice but will offer a few suggestions. First off the symptoms of anxiety can last for days, weeks, months and even years. That was one thing that freaked me out in the begining, if symptoms last this long then there has got to be something bad wrong, ha! Not true, first off if it were that bad it would have already exploded into what it truly was, been dealing with it for many years   Having a complete blood work up, being checked out by your Doctor and even this site are all wise choices at first.

Another thing is, I too almost wanted something to be wrong just to satisfy my own issues, and people believe me. These thigs you feel and experince, I promise can all be manifestations of anxiety. Try this if still not sold. If you want your ears to itch on inside, just start thinking about it and telling yourself, my ears itch so much inside. Before long yours ears will actually itch. Then if you are blessed with anxiety you will convence yourself it is a brain tumor .

 Not making fun, but we have to find ways to laugh, because laughter is great medicine in times of darkness. I guess another suggestion would be, if you believe in the good Lord almighty open his book to Matthew. Read what Jesus says about worry and anxiety. This is not an exact quote, my Bible in other room. He say's " bring me your tired and heavy burden and I will give you rest" "Who of you can add a singal hour to his life by worry" "Let your heart be anxious only for the Lord".

I promise you if you will humble yourself, get on your knees and hand over the fears and anxietys you have in your heart to the Lord, then truly get up and let it go, then get out there and start helping others worse off. You will see your issues will dimish See by helping others and not worring about ourselves we open the door for our own recovery, in all that is holy, I promise this. Just try and remember, faith even the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. Hope this helps this holiday season and there are a lot of people we can help, I myself have been going to senior center and doing dishes, and serving meals, really helps my anxiety. I dont even think about my issues when down there, it's amazing. Hang tough, believe, keep the faith. Remember

 

"It's all about attitude"

 

Seek ye first the kingdom of Heaven and all other things will be given!

Bass

 

Hi Bass...can u send me an e-mail?  Thanks, S.C.

Post Edited By Moderator (Scaredy Cat) : 11/23/2012 8:52:56 AM (GMT-7)

Lyrium, when I first had some presumed heart issues, it sounds somewhat like what you're currently experiencing. Mine went from feeling like a pack of wild butterflies in my chest, to pounding irregular beats that I could hear it in my ears, to being elevated, all that disconcerting stuff. I couldn't even sleep on my left side, as it really made my heart thump into my side, which gave me the willies. I'm glad I have a heart beat, I just can't stand the sound of it. :)

That lasted a couple months but it got progressively better over time. I eventually went to the doc for the usual tests and all came back a-ok, which put my mind at ease for a while.

Advice; the doctor I saw told me to drink lots of water, try to avoid stress, and stay off of stimulants. Do you take in lots of sugar, or drink lots of coffee or soda? If so, you could try not doing that. I drink lots of water now, and I feel more calm than when I was knocking back 3-4 cans of Mountain Dew a day.

I also frequently listen to guided meditation / relaxation clips on YouTube. I find them very relaxing.

Yes, keep us updated, and know that we are here to listen anytime. It is going to be allright...you will get the answers you need and be able to start towards a solution soon.

S.C.