upper stomach pain..ugh

Hi Gizmofab,
I think you shouldn't worry until you get the results and confirmation to worry. I know it's easier said then done...but try to distract yourself a little and trust your dr's. Sounds like you are on the right track and your Dr is thoroughly checking you out and testing you. Im sure if the Dr saw that you were in any type of danger they would have started addressing it immediately. I 100.% AM a hypochondriac. The ER knows my name and face well. It is part of my anxiety and OCD. I've had to learn coping skills for this. But anxiety attacks and anxiety in general can manifest itself physically in so many ways that i wouldn't be suprised if the stress and worry is upsetting your stomach. Anxiety can make your brain have weird physical reactions that are real, but us worriers go to the worst case scenerio. I used to call myself a "cyberchondriac" because with any new pain/pressure/or tingle i would head off to google and web MD. That is one of the worst things you can do. It got to the point that i had to go into my phone and computer settings and block Web MD, because if i had a headache i saw BRAIN TUMOR and skipped right over allergies/sinus/dehydration and other minor things, if i had a pinky tingle My eyes saw Stroke and not carpal tunnel/holding hand in position to long and falling asleep. From what i read in my cyberchondria days though...and i'm not 100% sure but i think a heart attack feels more like chest/neck/jaw/shoulder/arm pain on left side. Which those things could always be contributed to something other then a heart attack as well. I would chalk it up to the anxiety and trust that your dr is taking good care of you. If you don't trust your dr. As i said easier said then done. Hope someone can come along and offer you some more advice and compassion/understanding. I know it's hard. Hang in there, and keep us posted on how the rest of your tests come back.

Well, i cannot say that im 100% free of my hypochondria/cyberchondria. I still have times where i obsessively check my blood pressure/pulse/oxygen/temp. Like i said i had to block myself from Web MD and those types of sites. And i have had to try to retrain my brain (which i still struggle with) to not jump to the worst conclusion. When i have a new or heck even a familiar sensation or pain i have to first take a deep breath or two or a hundred and try to refocus myself so i can come up with other reasons for these physical feelings. I did do some cognitive therapy which helped somewhat but it wasn't covered by my insurance and was really expensive, so in order to regain my life back, instead of constantly googling my symptoms, i got on the internet to find free cognitive therapy, support groups (this one has saved my life) and read about other things. I find that my brain cannot think of two things at once. So if im having a chest pain now im at the point of going outside and staring at the cars, finding something real and looking at it in the world or i'll call a friend..they no my "i need help word". I call them and if the first thing i say is GO.,,they immediately start talking about something, anything other then health stuff. Asking me stupid silly questions,etc. If in a minute or so im not thinking about it and the pain lessens then im assured its indeed not a heart attack. Maybe you have someone like that who could help you until you learn to do it yourself. So far, those are the things that have helped me. And maybe/hopefully you'll find something in this jumble that will help you just a bit. You are not alone in the way you are feeling, im sure some more will speak up. But as i said my biggest advice would be STAY AWAY FROM WEBMD. It made my life unbearable. Feel free to message me anytime, if you don't have that someone to distract you, i'll be that someone, and in the process you could be helping me during one of my obsessive bouts by distracting me.
:)

My Dear Gizzy, one question, if it was your heart wouldn't you already be gone? Everyone here Love's you, and we collectively only want one thing, for you to treat your PAD and move forward.

It's not a disease it's a disorder, a complication of our mind. kinda like knots in a fishing line, they got to
be untangled so we can keep on fishen.

I feel so helpless, I want God to give me some phrase or comment that will be the key for you and others.
All I can think of is "be not afraid", "Live".

Always Your Friend
Larry ***