Chest Pains

Sometimes we win and sometimes the monster wins. It's that way with all of us.

Bambola, I know you already know that only the cardiac tests we take can answer those questions - whether it's your heart or not, but I will tell you that after a certain medical incident a year ago I had to take a nuclear stress test and ECHO as well as a heart cath to rule out heart problems. The tests were fine but my anxiety was creating chest twinges as well as very high blood pressure. Doctors take these symptoms very seriously and do every dang test to rule out heart attacks and heart issues. The problem for people like me is that all this concern made my anxiety even worse and my BP higher so my doctor added buspirone to the generic lexapro that I was taking.

I know that we're all different and our experiences are different but I can tell you that it got to the point that I was afraid to go to bed because my imagination convinced me the doctors were wrong that my tests were fine.

If therapy helps, do that. If walking or exercise helps, do that, too. (Exercise does help me.) And what's also helping me is getting involved in projects here in the house as it takes my mind off this. Projects can be anything as you know, just so you are involved and busy, doing something. This is what I've been doing: buying unfinished wood birdhouses and painting them. I am not an artist by any means but with paint and little craft additions, etc. I spend some really good and pleasant time on these. Completely taken my mind off 'me'.

Are you still working? Can you get out and walk?

It was good. She said it’s not my heart or lungs it’s muscles inflammation. From stressing and anxiety. She want me to go for massages also. Why can’t I believe it’s not my heart ??

bambola:

You said about your doctor's visit, "It was good. She said it’s not my heart or lungs it’s muscles inflammation. From stressing and anxiety. She want me to go for massages also. Why can’t I believe it’s not my heart ??"

So I now understand why you put an ice pack on your chest when you have chest pain, because the doctor says it's inflammation and an ice pack reduces inflammation. Lanie had some good advice, saying,

"The tests (for her heart) were fine but my anxiety was creating chest twinges as well as very high blood pressure. The problem for people like me is that all this concern made my anxiety even worse and my BP higher so my doctor added buspirone to the generic lexapro that I was taking.

"I know that we're all different and our experiences are different but I can tell you that it got to the point that I was afraid to go to bed because my imagination convinced me the doctors were wrong that my tests were fine."

Lanie added, "If therapy helps, do that. If walking or exercise helps, do that, too. (Exercise does help me.) And what's also helping me is getting involved in projects here in the house as it takes my mind off this. Projects can be anything as you know, just so you are involved and busy, doing something. This is what I've been doing: buying unfinished wood birdhouses and painting them. I am not an artist by any means but with paint and little craft additions, etc. I spend some really good and pleasant time on these. Completely taken my mind off 'me'.

"Are you still working? Can you get out and walk?"

I would suggest volunteer work. I also walk once a day and try to busy myself with projects.

I said earlier, sometimes we win and sometimes the monster wins, to which you expressed curiousity. It's probably a philosophical question.