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Well..had my 5th ER visit today..can't even deal with this anymore

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Posted 11/30/2014 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Had a lot of shortness of breath all day yesterday while working, then woke up this morning and had random chest pains throughout the day...I really didn't want to go to the ER AGAIN but I had that doom feeling and could only think of my daughter and figured better safe than sorry. Doctor said EKG looked normal besides rapid heart beat (4 other times before this they were ok, then 5th one had an 'unspecified abnormality', but was nothing he seemed to care about since I had already had a stress test a few weeks prior) my blood tests came back good with no sign of clots or heart attack, x-ray was good...but why am I still getting these chest pains and why did I have shortness of breath ALL day yesterday? I just can't imagine that anxiety can keep that going all day. It's to the point that when I leave the doctors I really don't even feel better anymore...I just feel like they've missed something. I just want to be normal again...I can't stand living like this. :| Thanks for listening guys..you all are all I have to talk to about this
Posted 11/30/2014 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Gmoon,

I remember going through a very similar circumstance all to well. February - April of this year had chest pain all day, dizziness, heart palpitations, and on and on and on. I went to the ER and time and time again everything checked out normal. Totally baffled me! I went to the cardiologist tons of times, and I went to my family doctor. No one could ever find anything wrong. WHAT??!! :) They kept trying to convince me that I had "anxiety." It took me quite a while to believe them, but eventually I came around.

Have the doctor's diagnosed this as anxiety? Are you on any anti-anxiety meds? Benzo's? Where is the chest pain if you don't mind me asking? Also, what are you doing when you are experiencing shortness of breath?

TTYS!
Posted 11/30/2014 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
Well i've mostly only been to the ER about it because my insurance ran out a few months after I had my daughter. My doctor before my insurance ran out did write me a script for an anti-anxiety medicine because I was getting attacks pretty frequently (didn't have chest pains at that time though). I know that I do have anxiety and have had it since puberty pretty much, but never had chest pains..just the pounding heart/palpitations. I guess I thought I 'knew' my anxiety, if that makes sense...so the new symptoms of chest pain has been freaking me out because I don't associate it with anxiety because i've never gotten it before.
I just got a script for anxiety meds..a knock-off of Paxil and something else that I can't remember. Haven't started them yet though.
The chest pain is basically always in the same spot...the bone above my left breast. It's always a sudden pain that only lasts a second or so. Freaks me out every time.
The shortness of breath yesterday wasn't a full on shortness of breath...I'm a bartender so i'm up and walking around, and it's not like I was panting. Just a general feeling of not having enough air. Then later on once I got home it was like I felt like I was forcing myself to breath and forgot how to breath normally, which was causing me to almost hyperventilate. So I was trying to belly breath, which did seem to help some
Posted 11/30/2014 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
I would start the medication as soon as possible. I too have pains in my chest that have been attributed to anxiety and gerd.

I'm hoping you are able to figure this out and start feeling better.
Posted 11/30/2014 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
I still say GERD. An EGD should have been performed in the ER in my opinion. In the meantime, let's hope those meds help.
Posted 11/30/2014 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks jennings, I definitely plan on it now. And 1039smooth..I wish they did. I know there's something going on with my esophagus, but the ER only wnts to make sure you're not dying then they boot you. Def need to try to get my insurance back
Posted 11/30/2014 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
G,

I recently spoke to a physical trainer and she said the body only cares that the heart beats. Perhaps the same can be said here. If you know anyone with GI issues, ask if they see a gastrointestinal doctor. Call the office and see what they charge for a visit and EGD since you're without insurance.
Posted 11/30/2014 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
I totally get it that you thought you "knew" your anxiety. I kind of feel the same. They had to convince me I had anxiety, lol. My first doctor visit was prior to the ER, and after taking my pulse and information the doctor asked, "Have you ever had anxiety?" And I said, "No, I don't think so??!" Pulse was 120 or so at that point. When I look back, I'm not sure how I didn't realize I had anxiety, but oh well! :) Now I have to learn just like you, that my anxiety can cause a huge array of symptoms! Some silly, like my right ankle feeling like someone is holding onto it, and some scary like the chest pains and heart palps!

Man oh man. You're going to get through this gmoon! No worries! You got this!
Posted 11/30/2014 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
GM.,

I am really glad that you checked out alright.:) That is a relief.

I do agree with following through with an upper GI workup when you are able to.

I also agree that symptoms can and do morph. Our bodies and minds get used to symptoms, and we therefore do not register them anymore...so the anxiety...which is in fact a survival warning system will develop new ways of getting our attention!

Can I suggest that you print this thread out for future reference? There is a lot in here that could help to reassure you that everything is okay...for any future situations that are similar. You can look back and remember that you've 'been there, done that' before and been okay!

S.C.
Posted 11/30/2014 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
GMoon

I read your post and this literally could have been me writing this a few months ago!

I had almost 30 ER visits during the summer and each time I felt like they were missing something. When I got back home my chest would start hurting again and I would instantly begin to contemplate my next ER visit.

It was only after I started having faith in my doctors and in the tests that they ran that the doom and gloom feeling faded away. Instead of focusing all of my attention on what I thought was a death sentence, I focused on the healing process.

I engulfed myself in learning more about this disorder. I developed my own, unique program to healing which consisted of coping skills, healthy distractions, medication, and therapy. It didn't happen overnight but little by little, I was able to get my life back. I am working again, I sleep well at night, I am maintaining meaningful and personal relationships, and I basically just feel more like "myself" than I have for a long time...

It wasn't easy to get to this point, in fact, it was hard work but I am so much happier today because of it. The healing process is an ongoing thing where you constantly have to be moving forward and making progress (think in terms of baby steps). Don't be afraid of setbacks because you will experience them - there's no way around it, just prepare yourself.

Your story sounds so much like mine and I want you to know that if I can do this then you can do it! When your chest begins to hurt, remind yourself that this has already been checked, tested, and cleared from a doctor. You are going to be just fine my friend!

Haven't said this for awhile so I'll take this opportunity to say it now - jump on the anxiety train with us and commit yourself fully! Yes, the ride is bumpy but will get smoother as we travel. As always, the destination is a place called 'Healing'! TOOT TOOT!

And yes my jokes are corny and I repeat them over and over again!

Hope you feel better soon!

Thinking of you during this trying time...

God bless

Cornell

Post Edited (Cornell) : 11/30/2014 10:59:37 AM (GMT-7)

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