I am getting so angry and unhappy because nobody knows what wrong with me and nobody is helping!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my list of symptoms:

Fast Heartbeat - At rest anywahere between 70 and 100. Can go up to 150+ when at worst.

Heavy Heartbeat - Pulsating feeling all over body.

Chest, back and shoulder pain - Sometimes sharp, sometimes aching.

Lightheaded - Feel like im not really there and about to pass out.

Nervous (Stomach churning)

Weak - Like my legs cant be bothered to hold me up

Tired

Starting to get depressed.




I got rushed to A and E about 3 weeks ago as i had a really fast heart beat of 150 and chest pains.

I had ultrasound, ecg, x-ray, bloods, blood pressure - all OK.

They sent me home the next day because they couldnt find anything wrong with me.

I'm still the same now its making me so angry and depressed. I fear going out to the pub and stuff in case i collapse or something.

My doctor has put me on 40mg Verapamil to slow the heart down but i dont think its working.

It seems to be related in some way to worry or stress. It is triggered by my ex-girlfriend and whenever i think about her my heart rate rockets up and i get so nervous. I then cant stop thinking about my heart and get myself all worked up.

I can go all day at work feeling relativly OK. But then if i am due to meet friends that for a drink that night, as soon as i start getting ready or think about getting ready my heart rate shoots up from about 70-80 bpm to more like 120 bpm. I can then feel my heart beating away in the stomach, temples and chest.

I go out anyway and i stay like this all night. Its horrible because i cant stop thinking about it and i feel like im about to pass out and i dont have a good time. I have stopped drinking alcohol because i dont want to blackout when im drunk in case i dont know what to do or something. I also drive everywhere in case i have to go home ill.

Sometimes i have to leave early and when i get home and watch tv i return to normal.

I sleep fine and this doesnt effect me at night. (It seems)

As far as i can figure out this these symptoms are with me all the time but 80% of the time there are hardly noticeable. They seem to get worse when i go out to places like pubs and clubs and when i think about my ex,( who im still friends with and i see her most weeks) and when i think about my symptoms.

I am worried that my ex might start going out with one of my friends and this is what gets me worked up. I also get a nervous feeling when shes around me and i cant figure out why. Its driving me crazy!!!!!!!!

Once i notice that my heart is beating fast i cant get it out of my head and get more and more worried about having a heart attack or blacking out. The my heart rate gets worse and i cant put it out of my mind.

Im on a 15 week waiting list at the hospital for an outpatient visit - But i cant carry on like this!!!

Nobody seems to seem bothered about helping me in a hurry!!!!!!!!

My family are concerned but they think it is a bit in my head because my symptoms get worse when i think about them.

This is stopping me from going out and enjoying life in general and in turn its getting me more anxious that i am missing out on stuff with my mates and getting left behind!!!!!!

I have posted in this board but i dont know if its anxiety related at all.

Please help.

Im 20 y/o male who is really Pi##ed off.

a properly adjusted beta blocker med will calm the heart, it wont cause a heart attack but 'heartattack' symptoms are common for anxiety sufferers

do learn to relax and stop worrying
the rest is probably all related to strtess and anxiety, ask doc, some valium type meds as needed will also help

try to ignore your heart, dont monitir it or tune in to it

Sounds like you're just having anxiety triggered by your break-up, and also just thinking about things to much and worrying. I know it sounds stupid to say "just dont think about it," but honestly... don't. Break-ups are hard for anybody, so I know what you're going through. I pretty much had all your symptoms exactly, but they weren't triggered by anything and depression/anxiety runs in my family so meds were pretty much my only option if I ever wanted to feel "normal" again.

Valium type meds could work out for you. If you have a night where you feel like you just can't get yourself to go out, they can help calm you down with pretty much the only side effect being drowsiness. Talk to your doc about them.

Rich, AFTER you see your doc and he/she tells you that they cannot find anything physical causing your symptoms, then you need to start trying to convince yourself that is is ONLY axniety. You say that you have to drive yourself every time that you want to go out in case you have to leave.. Try talking to your friends and explain to them what you are going through and what they can do to help you when you start feeling a little OFF. Don't ever be embarassed or ashamed to let people know what you are going through b/c one of them might be going through the same thing and can give you a little advice. I am a 37 year old man with a family of five and many good friends that have all help me get this under control. Never under estimate the power of friendship. There are many FRIENDS for you on this board that will help you out in any way they can. Keep on posting and let everyone know how you are doing, and ask anything you need to, someone here probably will be able to answer it for you. Laugh at anxiety and it becomes a Joke, fear anxiey and it becomes a NUSIANCE!!!!!

You've described almost exactly what I went through the first time I started having anxiety/panic attacks several years ago. I know it's not easy, but try not to panic about panic. It does feed off of itself. I've had some really bad attacks over the years and they never hurt me.

I'm not a big fan of taking medication. I do not currently take any, for which I'm thankful. However, when push comes to shove, I will take medication if necessary. My point is that you may want to consider taking some anti-depressant medication, if you aren't already. I'm telling you, Paxil saved my life. One thing to keep in mind, if you don't already know, anti-depressant medications can take several weeks to kick-in. You may also have to try a couple of different kinds to find one that works for you. It took two attempts for me to find one that worked. Everyone's body is a bit different.

Stay strong and don't be too hard on yourself.

The important thing to know is that what you are going through is more common than most people would like to admit. It seems to be the onset of anxiety. The above post is correct that anxiety feeds off itself, but the important thing to remember is you are ok--you feel okay when you are home because it is your safe place. usually people who suffer from anxiety (myself included) have a difficult time going to public places, or public situations. You also feel like you are going to pass out, so you worry what will happen if you do. Most sufferers feel this way!
Xanex can prove to be very helpful if you don't have a family history, as panic attacks/anxiety is very genetic. Xanex will help in a desperate situation, almost acting as a safety net. It works almost immediately and calms you down, only when you need it. Anti depressants will also treat it, but those are taken daily, and if you are suffering from break-up stress, it might be unnecessary to go on that serious of medication.
If you continue to have the problem, therapy is also very helpful. Good luck!

I went through the exact same thing you are going thru, its really wierd. I kept saying the same thing that you were, "theres something wrong with me, im going to have a heart attack." Then one day something happened. The fear of having a heart attack and being afraid of my anxiety symptoms actually become so painful that I said to myself I would rather die of a heart attack then go on living like this. That was the tipping point. I was no longer afraid of the symptoms becuase I accepted that I was going to die from them so what was the point of being afriad anymore?? Then slowly after that my anxiety symptoms went away. It wont happen right away but as soon as you let go of the fear slowly your heart symptoms and anxiety will go away.

You are clearly obsessed with your heart. What you dont relize is that your obession is causing the symptoms. Then you obsess more about it etc.

Hey, Thanks for the replies to my post.

I have sort of started to accept that i havent got anything seriously wrong with me, (hopefully) and i think this will be the hardest thing for me to do.

But im still have big trouble with a v fast heart beat.

It only ever occurs when i do 4 things.

1 - Think about anything related to my ex.
2 - Get ready to go out to the pub or whatever with friends.
3 - When im out at the pub or club with friends.
4 - When i think about my symptoms.

Points 2 and 3 are similar to 1 because when i am getting ready to go out i am thinking about seeing my ex out and about. (i cant avoid her and i dont want to neither because all my mates are good friends with and so am i, but she makes me feel really ill, and im sure she has some how cause all this to happen)

I find it so difficult to go out and enjoy myself when i am plagued with a racing heart beat and a leadheaded and stomach churning feeling.

I used to look forward to going out and getting drunk and on a friday and saturday but now i dread it and would rather spend the night in my bedroom.

If i do stay in, its no better because all i can think about is every1 out having a good time and then i feel sorry for myself.

I have bought books and stuff which dont help. Does anybody now if there are any exercises i can do when im out and about to forget about my symptoms and slow my heart rate down?

What does worry me is that i get the fast heartbeat everytime im out with friends. It beats at aroung 120 - 150 bpm sometimes more and will stay like this until i get home and go to bed. This cant be good for the heart can it? It can be like this for 4 hours + on occassions.

I am taking verapamil 3 times a day to slow the heart down but they obviously arent doing anything at all.

I dont really want drugs but what is available to take as and when i need it?

I would prefer to sort this out naturally and get it out my head but i cant so i ned to revert to medication.

Thanks again for your help!

Probably the best med to start on would be Lexapro. It's supposed to be very effective for anxiety, and have a lower incidence of side effects. (I've just started taking it.) But everyone is different. Other good ones to try would be Paxil, Zoloft, and Prozac.

You should also try to find a counselor/therapist who can talk to you about your problems and also teach you ways to control your anxiety through breathing techniques, relaxation, etc. Try to find someone who does some sort of cognitive behavioral therapy.

I hope this all helps. Often the biggest step is just accepting that what you have is "only" anxiety, and that you do have the power to control it.

Good luck!