Diagnosed with general anxiety and panic disorder, have a few questions. - Anxiety Message Board

Tony4424 · 03-23-2009, 12:15 AM

To start off, I am a 21 year old male. This is a bit long, but I really hope that you will take the time to read this. I feel that to get advice from someone they should know about your background, so I have told my background in my post.

I have been feeling strange for about 6 months now and for the longest time I had no idea what was causing me to feel like this. I found out that what I felt was derealization, and shortly after I found out that I have general anxiety as well as panic disorder. I have had a total of two bad panic attacks. The first one took me by surprise and I actually ended up going to the hospital when that happened. I thought that I was having a heart attack, once I got to the hospital the docs took an EKG which came out fine. They told me that they would like to admit me to run further tests. They took a total of three blood tests to test the cardiac enzymes, and I also did a nuclear stress test. They injected me with some kind of dye, took pictures, made me run on the treadmill with an EKG attached, and then took pictures again afterwards. All of the tests came out fine, the doctor gave me Prilosec for the heart burn, and I was out.

I have had two panic attacks to the point where I just could not control myself while I was having the attack, I deal with derealization just about everyday, and boy does it suck.

The thing that bothers me the most. I get heartburn/acid reflux at times. The thing is, I get it right where my heart is, unlike everyone else seems to get it in the torso area; furthermore, I seem to only get heartburn when I eat greasy foods. Every time I get heartburn I get really nervous and think that it is my heart that is hurting. Now it is to the point where if I eat something that has even a little bit of fat in it, I start to get chest pains and I think that I am having a heart attack, I normally have palpitations as well as sweating, and sometimes hot flashes. Is my heart really hurting, am I having heart attacks? Or is the pain a manifest of my anxiety?

Can anxiety really cause my chest to hurt like this? The pain is always on the left side, very rarely is it on the right side, the only thing that kind of encourages me is that the pain sometimes feels more like it right under my skin, rather then in my chest.

Thank you very much, Tony.

ezroc · 03-23-2009, 08:08 PM

Hello Tony, My name is Bobby. Your story is 100% identical to mine. I too want to know exactly what causes the chest pains mostly on my left side usually in three spots. edge of rib cage, about an inch towards the center of my chest from the nipple, and about two inches below my collar bone. All Three points on my left side. They hurt constantly and I push on them regularly. I came across your thread looking up keywords "chest pain" so I'm right with you looking for help! Feel free to contact me anytime as I know it helps to communicate with someone else who has this!!

Lourage · 03-23-2009, 08:31 PM

I had the same chest pain, rightr over my heart and for sure thought it was heart related ( enlarged heart) and that i was on my way out lol. I mean i knew it wasn't in my head! i knew it wasn't anxiety related. it got so bad it would wake me in my sleep. Finally saw a few doctors, turned out to be costochondritis that i got from exercising. What a relief! it went away and i'm fine now.

Tony4424 · 03-23-2009, 11:08 PM

Bobby, how old are you? Also, do you have a history of anxiety?

Lourage, your story gives me so much hope. How does a doctor test for something like costochondritis? Are there tests that can be done to confirm it?

Thanks

ezroc · 03-24-2009, 08:34 AM

Hey Tony, I'm 36 and had this for about 4 years. And I'm still trying to find answers. Alot of people have told me that the flutters I feel are esophageal spasms from acid reflux or GERD. They say that it can cause chest pains too. I don't know I just want them gone and is looking for anyone who can help...