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Posted 12/9/2014 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Why is it that my symptoms seem to take turns? One day I get chest pains, but my heart rate is a normal rate most of the time, then next day I have a pounding heart day but rarely any chest pains, then i'll just have shortness of breath and where it feels like i'm forcing myself to breath- but no real heart troubles. Today is the chest pain day...I keep getting random quick pains below my left breast and on the top of my chest, and on the left side like where my cleavage would be...my neck/shoulders/upper back is quite tense and achy..but if my chest pain has something to do with that, why am I only getting chest pain and not back pain? There's days I just wanna give up....if it wasn't for my daughter I may have already!
Posted 12/9/2014 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Gmoon,

I really feel for you here. How long has this been going on? I'm in a similar situation, and like you I am riding out a string of "bad days." So many times I have wanted to say those same word, "I give up!" It's hard, I totally get it. There is hope though, and I believe that you can and will make it to a place where you feel comfortable again.

Do you have any coping skills that you use? How about relaxation techniques?
Posted 12/9/2014 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
I'd say it's been going on almost 3 months..the heart issue at least. Before that I was convinced I had MS, and then before that for about a month or so I was sure every morning I was gonna drop dead of a stroke. I'm 30 years old and I just want to live my life and enjoy it :( I don't have insurance to see a therapist or doctor so my only real coping skills is what I read from the internet. I don't have anyone to talk to about my problems because I don't want to scare my family, and I don't want my friends to think i'm nuts. I'm so scared to be alone with my 8th month old daughter because I'm terrified something is going to happen to me. The only relaxation technique that I know is belly breathing, tensing your muscles for a few seconds then relaxing them, and booze (kidding). But more than anything i'm just so scared that the ER missed something or didn't give me the correct test (been there 5 times the past few months) and that it is going to be a heart attack
Posted 12/9/2014 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Oh man. I totally know where you are. I have an 11 month old, and mine started 4 weeks after she was born. I was convinced I was having a heart attack and asked my husband to rush me to the ER. I even called 911 while he was driving me to the ER and asked if they would be faster than my husband if we stopped. I went to the ER 3 times after that as well.

I have also had the MS fear, and a muscular fear, a brain fear...the list never ends!

I'm glad you figured out belly breathing, that's a great start. Are you going to have insurance any time soon? And I so wish you had someone you could share this with. I don't know your family personally, are they not supportive? My husband is great, but my parents, well, I don't share much with them because their support isn't the best. So I get it if your family just isn't there.
Posted 12/9/2014 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
My parents are super supportive, but my mom has bad anxiety herself and me telling her this will make her worry constantly, and I don't want that. My dad is supportive, but doesn't really 'get it'. He'll listen but he doesn't know how to help and I also don't want to worry him.
What's sad is I find myself longing for a physical injury or a cold or the flu to take my mind off of my heart. Because if i'm preoccupied with another symptom then my heart issue seems to usually fade. Before having my daughter i'd get the pounding heart or the skipped beats..but the chest pain is new and I hate it more than anything!! Because it's like every time that I feel it I think "this is it..!!!" I think in my right state of mine i do think that this is a skeletal thing & muscle related, because it's like as soon as I get a pain I start rubbing my chest and moving my neck around. But maybe I just do it to make myself feel better, I don't know. As of yesterday I was having a decent day and was convinced that I was over this heart thing, and today it began again. I just wanna be over it...i'm almost happy to start thinking I'm dying of something else....as sick as that sounds!!!
Posted 12/9/2014 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
I hear you on that one. I was just thinking earlier, "Why couldn't I just hurt my toe, and have that be my problem?" That would be SO MUCH EASIER to work with than a heart issue. It's hard. Seriously. Have you tried working through some of the health anxiety modules to try and "debunk" your health anxiety?
Posted 12/9/2014 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Gmoon-

I'm sorry! I don't have the heart fears like most others. I'm 43 & had the heart fears in my early 20's. Somehow I got over that & it never came back. I have a laundry list of every other health fear though blush

Do you work outside the home? Have you checked into any free health clinics in your area? I know even smaller towns have them.

In Indiana where I live, I think mothers of children 1 yr or younger, get state insurance (maybe it's medicaid). Are you in the United States?

If you want to email me your city, id be happy to look up free clinics that might be in your area. Also if you're in the states, you can call 211 & ask for resources in your area. My email is on my profile here so feel free to send a message.

Sending you much healing! You're gonna get through this & we're going to be here for you.

Lisa
Posted 12/9/2014 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
I feel for you GMoon. I always worry about something happening while I'm alone with my two year old. It makes it so much scarier!
Posted 12/9/2014 10:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi GMoon

Sorry to hear you are going through this at the moment you have received some good advice above I just wanted to direct you to our resources thread which you will find on the main page first post as there are some good strategies that you could use to help.

Keep us posted of your progress we are here for you.


Hibee
Posted 12/9/2014 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
GM.,

Yes!  Those anxiety symptoms certainly do morph and change on us...fustrating!

I think this happens because the anxiety needs to get our attention somehow, and if we are conditioned to one feeling and ignoring it...the symptoms will attempt to up the ante, so to speak.

This is where overall anxiety management and acceptance of the feelings comes in.

Here are links to stress relieveing exercises, and below that, self-help for health anxiety.

Both of these will help.  They take time and effort to go through and start to make a difference...but  you will see results if you give them your attention.

Self Help sites with breathing/relaxation exercises instructions

Panic attack relief exercises:

 

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessons/

http://www.healthyplace.com/

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/

http://www.ehow.com/video_4405003_breathing-exercises-panic-attacks.html

http://www.psybersquare.com/anxiety/panic_relax_I

 

Health Anxiety - A Self Help Guide:

 

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hypochondria/pages/introduction.aspx

Helping health Anxiety

 

http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_id=53

Health Anxiety- The Super Scanner

http://www.get.gg/docs/SuperScanner.pdf

S.C.

 

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