pain ~ a few questions - Anxiety Message Board

Boxermad · 10-19-2006, 06:34 AM

sorry I keep posting but Im still trying to figue out all this in my head as its all new to me.

Mt chest pains starting 15 years ago and have slowly got worse the doctors Have onkly just diagnosed me with anxiety , is this possbile to have anxiety for so long?

My pains are there all day long mainly in my chest ~ does anyone else get the constant pain?

If I did have a heart problem or heart attack , would it of been picked up in blood tests and an ecg?

Another thing I have just relized is that 15 years ago (iwas 14 yrs old) I was suffering from that compulsive disorder , I was obbsessed doing things over and over again, but I never knew at the time about ocd , it went away on its own after a few years, could this of contibuted to anxiety ?

I cant understand why Ive had this pain for 15 years and no body knew it was anxiety

nuttygirl · 10-19-2006, 10:22 AM

With OCD anxiety is very common. My psych told me OCD is a form of anxiety disorder. As with the chest pain, I've been having it on and off for almost 13 yrs. Sometimes when my anxiety is really bad it goes all day. If I have a panic attack it gets really bad. When it first started 13 yrs ago I must have went to the ER 25 times in a few months times. I had so many different tests and everything was ok according to the cardiologists and doctors. Finally seeing a psych and getting on meds seemed to help. I quit the meds 3 yrs ago and had been ok until the beginning of August when it all started again. Now I am right back to seeing cardiologist and having tests for everything. I am on xanax and it does help. I'm still not convinced that it is anxiety causing the problems, I think it is the problems causing the anxiety! If I have a bad day with chest pain and maybe heart skips or flutters my anxiety is way up there but if I have a good day my anxiety is low or not even there. Even the xanax doesn't help too much on my really bad days unless I take extra. But, no matter what the doctors say about everything being fine I won't ever be convinced because that's just how I am. So, I'll keep getting tested for my heart until they refuse to see me anymore

LOL - It's not that I want them to find something horribly wrong......nooooo.....but it's so hard to believe sometimes that it's all anxiety you know?
I know it's so hard for us to believe that anxiety can cause these things but it can. All we can do is get tested for whatever it is that is bothering us just to rule out anything and trust in our doctors.....easier said than done.

I know it's hard. Have you been tested to determine the cause of your chest pain? Don't ever let those doctors dismiss you because you're young and female. Demand testing to ease your mind!! Be assertive in your medical care and find a doctor you really like.

Take Care,
Tori

Boxermad · 10-19-2006, 10:34 AM

Ive had ecgs , blood tests , a scan. and 24 hour recordings .

Does your chest pain stab at you all the time and feel like its in your heart?

jules174 · 10-19-2006, 11:10 AM

Hi,
I to have suffered chest pains for 15 yrs I am 37 now. I have had ecgs, treadmill ecgs, chest x-rays, heart tape tests, bloods, brain scans, lumber punture, brain wave test and all have come back clear and normal...

I have been off and on the this roller coaster for all this time. For the last 2months I have been in constant anxiety thats stopped me from going out of the house. Last night I went on to the health boards and ended up on acid reflux, on that forum on a post called "chest pain". There is 5 pages of posts read them its worth it cos GERD and anxiety or linked and I can relate to all the symptoms, it really is worth the read.
My pains are like stabing pains in my chest and have been unbearable at times.

Last night I went to our local pub and managed an hr in there, it was difficult as I had a panic attack but I decided to sit there and not to run home. Today I have actually drove the car, only to they local shop and back but I felt ok. After I walked the dog with my youngest son I feel triumphant....
I am new to this sight and I can't tell you how much its helping me. Instead of me talking to my partner ( who has never ever had anything like stress or anxiety) and who I feel is getting sick of my constant need for reasurances I just come on to this forum instead...

confused32 · 10-19-2006, 11:46 AM

I have the chest pains also and the flip flops with my heart. It totally scares me to death. I have been to the ER and 4 different Cardio's over the last 5 years. My worry over it seemed to go away for a few years but back in March came back with a vengence. I have been told over and over its not my heart. I was told a few years ago though that i have MVP but now my test show i dont. Ive had every test done besides a cardic cath, im to scared to have that one done just yet.

Nuttygirl- you should be my twin!!!!! I take ativan as needed, it helps some but i try to take the smallest dose i can. I even tell the doctors they are wrong and dont know what they are talking about. I tell them there is something wrong, i know there is, it can not be just anxiety. My heart is on my mind all day, the only time i dont feel pain or worry is while i am asleep. I am sick of living like this everyday, im scared to go places incase i start having the palps or the chest pain, i feel my only safe place is my house and i dont want to become home bound again like i was a few years ago when all this started. I get the chest pain, left arm pains, back pains and jaw pain. I believe all this anxiety and stress has now caused me to suffer from gerd and acid reflux. I refuse to take anti-depressants though i do not want to be on an everyday medicine.