sara103
02-19-2003, 05:20 PM
Again, I am new here, and just wanted to know if anyone suffer's from chronic chest pain associated with anxiety and panic? I alway's feel that there is a big fat elephant setting on my chest and usually my heart rate is 60-80, but today it has been about 54-60! Is this normal? I got myself so worked up that I had a full blown panic attack, but managed to just calm myself down and now I am fine. My blood pressure is usually normal as well, sometimes goes 110/60 but usually ranges 120/70. I am under a considerable amount of stress. Right now my blood pressure is 119/67 with my pulse rate being 65. I guess that is pretty normal? My chest also feels like someone is squeezing muscle or something, in the upper left hand corner of my chest. I have had several EKG's, wore a heart monitor for 20 day's or so, believe me I recorded about a million times, and also had an echocardigram. Should I be still worried about my heart? I do take Lexapro and Xanax as well. ANY INSIGHT WOULD BE GREATFULLY APPRECIATED.!!!!!!!!!!!1
Sara
Sara
Sponsor
nervousdave
02-20-2003, 09:29 AM
hi,
chest pain is a classic anxiety symtom. part of it is due to the fact that you're breathing from your chest. take a long deep breath from your stomach and release the air slowly. do this a few times and feel the tension release from your chest. also, don't spend so much time thinking of your blood pressure and heart rate. you're only freaking yourself out.
nd
[This message has been edited by nervousdave (edited 02-20-2003).]
chest pain is a classic anxiety symtom. part of it is due to the fact that you're breathing from your chest. take a long deep breath from your stomach and release the air slowly. do this a few times and feel the tension release from your chest. also, don't spend so much time thinking of your blood pressure and heart rate. you're only freaking yourself out.
nd
[This message has been edited by nervousdave (edited 02-20-2003).]
Autumn Angel
02-20-2003, 10:40 AM
Hi sara...I know the feeling well...One thing it could be from the tightening of your chest muscles mine got so bad before I developed what my Doc called Chest wall pain. It feels like someone is squeezing the life out of you. It helps me to remember the heart isnt on the left side it is located in the middle of your chest and a tiny bit of it is in the left by your stomach. Your esothogus is in the middle too and joins your stomach which falls to the left under your left ribcage. It helps to know what body parts are where when you have anxiety so you know your not having a heart attack even though it feels like one at times. When do you take your Xanax? As a preventative or just when you get your attacks? I am on Ativan but I only take it when I feel an attack coming I take half of it when I feel the "start" of it and it usually calms me down if I call my mom or a friend and talk after I take it if it doesnt calm things down I take the other half and I am fine. I also have TUMS handy for the gravel gut I get. Panic/anxiety attacks are one of the worst things in the world to feel especially when you dont know whats going on just know they cant kill you but they make you feel like they can. I wish you the best in controlling them.
Cheers....Autumn
Cheers....Autumn
sara103
02-20-2003, 12:34 PM
Thank you all for your words of wisdom. You know I used to have headaches all the time, and would wonder about a brain tumor and what not, now it has all just centralized in my chest area? I wonder why this happens? We all have stress-why can't we just seem to handle it better?
Does anyone have any suggestions about how not to tense your chest wall muscles? I am also constantly checking my pulse. Another bad habit I guess.
Thanks guys..
Sara
Does anyone have any suggestions about how not to tense your chest wall muscles? I am also constantly checking my pulse. Another bad habit I guess.
Thanks guys..
Sara
toolong
02-20-2003, 06:59 PM
Sara, I have the exact same problem you do. My chest hurts every single day. Sometimes it's a tightness, sometimes it's stabbing pain. Either one is very uncomfortable and scary. There has barely been 1 day in the past 8 months that I didn't think I was having a heart attack. I just started on Effexor 2 days ago. Feeling a little lightheaded but I want to stick it out to see if this will work for me because Paxil didn't. The most aggravating thing to me is I have no idea where this is coming from. I truly don't. I have the same stresses as most people nothing more - nothing less. Why do I get this type of physical pain from stress & worry? I have had many medical tests all showing that I am perfectly fine except for having acid reflux. Yet I find myself constantly doubting the test results because I just can't make sense of the anxiety thing. Jeez - this is frustrating.
sara103
02-20-2003, 08:35 PM
Toolong:
Thank you and everyone else, for the words of wisdom.
They have helped alot.
But do you think that the acid reflux could be causing the problems with the chest pains? Because I have that too?
Just a thought. Let me know how you are doing
sara
Thank you and everyone else, for the words of wisdom.
They have helped alot.
But do you think that the acid reflux could be causing the problems with the chest pains? Because I have that too?
Just a thought. Let me know how you are doing
sara
Autumn Angel
02-20-2003, 11:51 PM
Most definately Sara. I have acid reflux and a bad stomach too from 10 years of Anti inflammatories like Naproxen and ibruprophen for pain before I started on the pain meds I use now. I was taking nexium for my stomach but now I take Losec its a once a day pill that limits the amount of acid your stomach produces it has been my Godsend. If your having trouble with your tummy ask your doc about it. And the chest pains can most certainly be from your stomach thats forsure. Have a good night.
------------------
Cheers...Autumn
Female...42
TMJD...12 years
Anxiety/Panic Attacks (cured I hope)
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy Ovaries left intact due to endometrial bleeding after miscarriage (2002)
Hernia Repair(1998)
Apendectomy (infected) 1988
Just Dx with multiple ovarian cysts..having C-125 test done for possible malignancy.
21 year old daughter born with Mullerian Aplasia.
18 yr old daughter bulimia survivor.
Pain Management- Oxycontin 20mg twice a day..Percocet for bt. 2 mg Dilaudid at bedtime.
" Wishing all a pain free day"
------------------
Cheers...Autumn
Female...42
TMJD...12 years
Anxiety/Panic Attacks (cured I hope)
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy Ovaries left intact due to endometrial bleeding after miscarriage (2002)
Hernia Repair(1998)
Apendectomy (infected) 1988
Just Dx with multiple ovarian cysts..having C-125 test done for possible malignancy.
21 year old daughter born with Mullerian Aplasia.
18 yr old daughter bulimia survivor.
Pain Management- Oxycontin 20mg twice a day..Percocet for bt. 2 mg Dilaudid at bedtime.
" Wishing all a pain free day"
Jennita
02-21-2003, 04:20 AM
Lexapro site listed chest tightness and bradycardia(slow heartbeat) in the adverse effects section, so maybe it's just a side effect?
rainbowbubbles
02-22-2003, 08:10 AM
Im just going to add my point here as it is related kinda.
I too suffer from chest pain, even been to a&e about it. i was given ibuprophen as they thought it was chest wall pain although it usually comes on when im excersising or having an argument with someone anyone else had that/ it is sort of in the middle of my chest at the moment, like its being squeezed also i always get pain down my left arm and fingers when i have this, is it normal??? Im so scared that im going to have a heart attack or something but surely if your having a heart attack it wouldnt last more than an hour, woudl it? Im answering my own question here aren't i lol
I too suffer from chest pain, even been to a&e about it. i was given ibuprophen as they thought it was chest wall pain although it usually comes on when im excersising or having an argument with someone anyone else had that/ it is sort of in the middle of my chest at the moment, like its being squeezed also i always get pain down my left arm and fingers when i have this, is it normal??? Im so scared that im going to have a heart attack or something but surely if your having a heart attack it wouldnt last more than an hour, woudl it? Im answering my own question here aren't i lol
CJB
02-22-2003, 08:41 AM
I have pains numbness and pins+needles down my left arm today and in my fingers, and tightness in the chest. This is a symptom of anxiety I have had many times, each time it feels worse than the last although it probably is not. I get a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders, which can also cause these sensations in your arms from tense muscles pressuring nerves.
Autumn Angel
02-22-2003, 01:56 PM
Rainbowbubbles...Have you been seen by a doc? Your comment about the squeezing feeling and the middle of your chest kinda made me uneasy. Mine is usually on the left side and its more like a sharp, stabbing or pulling pain. Its between the coller bone to under my breast. I hope I am not scaring you but most of us here with Chest Wall Pain have already been seen by a doc and had all the heart related tests done. I have had an EKC Echo test, bloodwork and a stress test all normal. It is probably just anxiety but I would have it checked out if you havent already...Take care of yourself :)
------------------
Cheers...Autumn
Female...42
TMJD...12 years
Anxiety/Panic Attacks (cured I hope)
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy Ovaries left intact due to endometrial bleeding after miscarriage (2002)
Hernia Repair(1998)
Apendectomy (infected) 1988
Just Dx with multiple ovarian cysts..having C-125 test done for possible malignancy.
21 year old daughter born with Mullerian Aplasia.
18 yr old daughter bulimia survivor.
Pain Management- Oxycontin 20mg twice a day..Percocet for bt. 2 mg Dilaudid at bedtime.
" Wishing all a pain free day"
------------------
Cheers...Autumn
Female...42
TMJD...12 years
Anxiety/Panic Attacks (cured I hope)
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy Ovaries left intact due to endometrial bleeding after miscarriage (2002)
Hernia Repair(1998)
Apendectomy (infected) 1988
Just Dx with multiple ovarian cysts..having C-125 test done for possible malignancy.
21 year old daughter born with Mullerian Aplasia.
18 yr old daughter bulimia survivor.
Pain Management- Oxycontin 20mg twice a day..Percocet for bt. 2 mg Dilaudid at bedtime.
" Wishing all a pain free day"
rainbowbubbles
02-23-2003, 08:34 AM
Yes i have been seen by a dr. many times! Ive had an EKG and x-ray done plus blood work but it all came back normal.
kthorse
02-24-2003, 04:08 PM
Lexapro causes me to have rapid heart beat and chest pain. Katrina
Grumpy
03-01-2003, 04:22 PM
I take Nexium 40mgs once a day for the chest pain [works wonders] Ativan for anxiety and Lexapro for Depression. also on seven different pills for bp,angina, and vascular desease. Hope this helps. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/blob_fire.gif
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Grumpy
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Grumpy
AlanG
07-02-2003, 05:59 PM
hi all im new here....reading this thread has made me feel so much better about myself....i suffer from the chest pains and as u all know it hurts....im just about to start efexor xl will this help with my chest coz the chest thing is the main thing that bothers me????
marylennox84
07-02-2003, 06:12 PM
chest pains and acid reflux are nothing uncommon when it comes to panic attacks and stress. Although scary, its usually nothing to worry about. Go to your doctor if you think something might be up with your heart, but i doubt anything is. Good luck :)
sleepy1038
08-10-2003, 12:19 AM
Hello,
I too am on lexapro, 10mg/day, and ativan 1.5 mg/day, and am having a problem with bradycardia. My heart rate has been getting as low as 52 when lying down, and sometimes even 56 when sitting up. I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experience with lexapro and/or ativan?
Thanks
mike
I too am on lexapro, 10mg/day, and ativan 1.5 mg/day, and am having a problem with bradycardia. My heart rate has been getting as low as 52 when lying down, and sometimes even 56 when sitting up. I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experience with lexapro and/or ativan?
Thanks
mike
Belle45
08-10-2003, 04:20 AM
Alan,
I have been on Effexor-XR for a year now. My initial diagnosis was Severe Anxiety and Depression. I started out with 75mg a day then went up to 150mg a day. I saw immediate results with the depression, I mean the next day results. Plain Effexor is for depression and the Effexor-XR is for Depression and Anxiety. I have not had any luck with the anxiety though. I have the air hunger, really bad at times also have the chest pains, numbness in hands/arms, etc... Anxiety affects all of us differently, just because Effexor-XR helped my depression but not the anxiety doesn't mean it won't help you. I wish you luck.
One more VERY IMPORTANT factor with Effexor-XR, when the doctor tells you that once you start taking them that you CANNOT quit cold turkey...BELIEVE HIM. When you read the info about Effexor and it tells you DO NOT stop taking without tapering off...BELIEVE IT.
"Ms Smarty Pants" over here figured that it just couldn't be that bad and decided about a month ago that I was going to stop cold turkey my 150mg a day. I just couldn't lose the 40 friggin lbs that they caused me to gain and I was STRESSED over that. I stopped cold turkey...by the third day I was having the worst withdrawals, thought I was losing my mind, severe BRAIN FOG, mind racing in 900000 different directions, severe agitation, nervousness and those were just to name a few. I promptly started back and by the next day I was "normal" again. So please, don't try cold turkey to get off of them, don't know how long the taper process is but certainly won't make that mistake again.
[This message has been edited by Belle45 (edited 08-10-2003).]
I have been on Effexor-XR for a year now. My initial diagnosis was Severe Anxiety and Depression. I started out with 75mg a day then went up to 150mg a day. I saw immediate results with the depression, I mean the next day results. Plain Effexor is for depression and the Effexor-XR is for Depression and Anxiety. I have not had any luck with the anxiety though. I have the air hunger, really bad at times also have the chest pains, numbness in hands/arms, etc... Anxiety affects all of us differently, just because Effexor-XR helped my depression but not the anxiety doesn't mean it won't help you. I wish you luck.
One more VERY IMPORTANT factor with Effexor-XR, when the doctor tells you that once you start taking them that you CANNOT quit cold turkey...BELIEVE HIM. When you read the info about Effexor and it tells you DO NOT stop taking without tapering off...BELIEVE IT.
"Ms Smarty Pants" over here figured that it just couldn't be that bad and decided about a month ago that I was going to stop cold turkey my 150mg a day. I just couldn't lose the 40 friggin lbs that they caused me to gain and I was STRESSED over that. I stopped cold turkey...by the third day I was having the worst withdrawals, thought I was losing my mind, severe BRAIN FOG, mind racing in 900000 different directions, severe agitation, nervousness and those were just to name a few. I promptly started back and by the next day I was "normal" again. So please, don't try cold turkey to get off of them, don't know how long the taper process is but certainly won't make that mistake again.
[This message has been edited by Belle45 (edited 08-10-2003).]