Posted 2/27/2017 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
i'm so sorry you're struggling with this! i know just how you feel.
i'm almost twice your age and had the same symptoms, landed me in the er just a couple of weeks ago. they did all the tests, sent me home with ativan for anxiety.
the thing about the er is that they will only check you for the most imminently threatening conditions -- heart attack, blood clot, pneumonia, etc. they won't go deep because they expect your doctor to do that with you. so you won't ever get the answers you're looking for by going there.
with my doctor's help, we've determined that my physical symptoms were a gallbladder attack brought on by a night of drinking (which i almost never do so it figures lol) that set off my anxiety like someone doused it in gas and lit a match. and every attack i had after that was just as terrifying, altho eventually the pattern started to emerge that it was often in the wake of greasy/fatty foods. aside from the psych meds i started, they put me on a gerd diet to go with prilosec. the prilosec has made a big difference but i still need to watch what i eat until it's handled.
since then, it's been a lot easier to tell what are symptoms of the gallbladder attacks and what's anxiety. but anxiety definitely makes every symptom seem like it's worse and, because of that, it actually feels more severe. i was so sure those chest pains were going to be the end of me, i started to write letters to the niece and nephews i wouldn't see grow up. but here i am.
if i were you, i'd give myself a couple of days for the gerd meds to kick in and, if you're still experiencing symptoms, consider switching to a gerd diet as well (low to no fat, stay away from acidic foods) because that could be adding to your discomfort right now. if that helps you, definitely tell your doctor and hopefully they'll schedule you for an ultrasound. gallstones can happen at any age and they're not any kind of death sentence.
keep reaching out, remember to breathe. you're doing great.