Doc says it's anxiety, I'm convinced I'm having a heart attack.
I was only recently (2 weeks ago) diagnosed by my GP with generalised anxiety disorder after a string of intense near-fainting spells that left me panicking that something was wrong with my heart.
I really don't know much about anxiety so I don't know if some of the things I'm feeling are normal symptoms of GAD or if there really is a heart problem. My heart races and flutters and kinda hurts and I feel really spaced out and short of breath and find it hard to swallow. I get so terrified that I'm having a heart attack which just seems to make it worse. Right now I am so convinced that sometime today I'm going to have a heart attack and die that I've been considering calling an ambulance.
This is scaring me so much... it's impairing my ability to drive, work or go to the gym. I'm worried I'll become agoraphobic.
Re: Doc says it's anxiety, I'm convinced I'm having a heart attack.
If you can, go to your doctor just for a physical and ask for a stress test and/or an EKG. If your not happy with your doctor, definitely see if you can find a doctor to give you a second opinion. I had chest pains, chest tightness and an elevated heart rate. I did have anxiety, but it felt like a heart attack. I would up going to the emergency room twice.
Re: Doc says it's anxiety, I'm convinced I'm having a heart attack.
i know how you feel. i have had many anxiety attacks in my life, and know alot about them. but when you get one, all that knowledge seems to fly right out the window and you're SURE you're gonna die. "oh, this ones different, theres something wrong this time"
it never fails, it takes all the will power i have to not go to the hospital and to just wait it out. my doc gave me ativan to slip under my tongue to calm me down, and it usually works, but never fast enough unfortunatly.
Re: Doc says it's anxiety, I'm convinced I'm having a heart attack.
HI,
I had my first anxiety attack not quite two weeks ago,
I went to ER because I was having trouble breathing
and chest pains,and I could not sleep.They told me it
was an anxiety attack.Mine was all due to the medicine
(Zoloft)I had just started 36 hours sooner.I am fine now,
now that I am off of the medicine.They did give me a chest
x-ray.
Take care,Sherri
Last edited by Sherri5186; 08-17-2007 at 04:40 PM.
Re: Doc says it's anxiety, I'm convinced I'm having a heart attack.
Along with Voodoobiker advice I would ask for an EEG because you are feeling faint.
These are all symptoms of GAD and Panic disorder so try to relax and if you do not feel comfrtable with what your DR tells you then find another. You need to have faith in your DR and that will help you get along with your symptoms.
