Hi, I had my first panic attack roughly a month and a half ago. I felt intense chest pressure, sweaty palms, nausea and left arm/shoulder pain (heart rate 130). I rushed myself to the hospital and had an EKG done--they said I was fine. A day later I looked up some of my symptoms online and that triggered a second much WORSE attack--once again I went to the hospital and almost collapsed because my face went numb this time; I was CERTAIN I was having a heart attack. They did another EKG and ran blood tests (cardiac enzymes I believe) and said I was 100% healthy and that it was anxiety. This made me feel much better for 2 weeks, however, roughly 3 weeks ago my father died of a massive heart attack and ever since that day my symptoms are back with a vengeance. I figured my chest symptoms are anxiety related, however, I started having pain in my appendix region and pain in my ribs so I went one last time and they ran bloods and did a CT scan of my abdomen--nothing was wrong. I REFUSE to take meds and am planning on seeing someone, however, my latest concern has become angina because my symptoms tend to get worse after I eat; I must mention that I am 23 y/o and in pretty good physical condition--I train with weights 3-4 times a week and practice ninjutsu (martial art) 2 times a week. I have recently started eating much healthier (not that I was especially unhealthy before) and yet I can't shake this feeling that I may have angina. I had 2 EKG's dne--is this enough? I am currently on a waiting list for a family doctor so no full physical until then. The doctor at the ER mentioned that my EKG was phenomenal and that my heart seemed to be working very well. Should I press this angina thing further at the hospital or focus on relieveing what is probably anxiety.

My current symptoms are: random left outside pectoral pain (near ribs), random left bicep pain (not shooting), random nausea and random front and back shoulder pain. These are all worse when I look for them and when I eat. I feel little to no pain after working out (a supposed symptom of angina). I also get random twinges of pain in my lower lats.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I would just like to mention that the idea of eating a larger meal actually makes me anxious. I realize that this could exacerbate the symptoms.

Anyone? I'm feeling very anxious about all this.

I suffer from the same symptoms you described. I have had them for going on 2 years now. I have had every heart test done besides a cardic cath, they all show my heart is fine and all my symptoms are anxiety related. I definatly know how you feel.

Is an EKG sufficient heart testing for someone who clearly suffers from anxiety? I mean there is no doubt in my mind that my fathers death has caused anxiety.

Hey Ninja,
If there was something wrong with you heart, 2 EKG's would have shown something wrong. You are safe to chalk these 2 episodes up to anxiety.

Now what to do about the anxiety. Are you taking any medication? If no, why
not. If you don't want to take something all the time, there are many anti-anxiety meds that you can have on hand and take when you feel an attack coming on.


Best wishes,
JB

Im sorry but i have to disagree with the last poster. I would not take the results of 2 EKG's to rule out a heart problem. If your worried i would go to a cardiologist and have them do a stress test and an echo of your heart they are the types of test that will usually show a problem if there is one. No test is perfect but EKG's are not that reliable. Thats just my opinion. If your father died of a heart attack i would definatly have the other test dont just to be sure and put your mind at ease, my father also had major heart issues all through my growing up and did die from congestive heart failure at 68. Im sure dealing with that all my life is what is causing my problems with my fear of having heart problems. Good luck!!!

I think at 23 he is fine. I wasnt to keen on taking meds either but I am on a very lose dose of lexapro 5mg and my life is much better now. I would much rather take a pill for now until and live a happy anxiety free life then suffer everyday. I have only been on it 5 weeks and my doc said if I am ok after 3 months I can start to get off the meds and start handling my anxiety on my own. Sometime you need to be on meds temp. just to get things straight then get off them. Its worth it to me. I forgot what normal felt like and I like it.

Going to a cardiologist is not as easy as you think in Canada. There are long waiting lists and I do not have enough money for a private cardiologist (full-time student who lives on his own). The most they would do at the ER is an ECG, so...

I find it a bit peculiar that my symptoms only started AFTER my father had a heart attack. I have never EVER had any heart discomfort and I trained like a maniac at the gym (up until last month). I am constantly worried about dying and having a heart problem which could explain why I feel heart-related symptoms.

Also, I noticed that when I have a severe pain in my chest that the area PHYSICALLY hurts--it hurts when I touch it. I was told by my mom that if it was a cardiac problem my muscles wouldn't hurt.

I would also like to state that I still workout (although light) at least 3 times a week and I actually feel less pain AFTER a workout that before or when I don't do it.

It is very common to be worried about your health after a tramatic experience. I like you think my problem is due to my dad's health problems with his heart.

If the pain is there when you touch it then odds are its not cardiac related. Maybe you could talk with your doctor to get some medication to see if that would help with the anxiety. I take ativan as needed. When im having a bad day and feeling alot of the symptoms that i think are heart related i take one and it does help me to relax and not worry so much about my heart. I also pray alot and that helps me get through alot of the worries also. I hope you get some answers, that sucks that its that hard to get into a doctor where your from. Just try to not worry, with your being so young im sure your fine.

I would also like to point out that both times that I did have an EKG I was in FULL BLOWN PANIC MODE. I was literally telling the nurse that "I'm having a heart attack..."--repeatedly.

Finding this board has helped me a lot (over the last week). For the last month I lived every single day in constant fear and panic, however, for the last 2 days I have been fully functional. I finally went to school (missed the first week because of panic) and finally went back to work (where I work alone for 16 hours straight as a security guard).

Thank you all. You are all helping very much.