Muscular chest pain

[PAUSA]

For the past few weeks I've been getting chest pain off and on and it feels like it's muscular, but I haven't lifted anything heavy or pulled my chest muscles at all so I'm kind of worried about it. Sometimes if I pull my shoulders back to stretch out if feels good and then when I release the stretch I get a thump or a really weird feeling in my chest. It makes me nervous when this happens because I can't ever remember having it before with my anxiety. I just had a 24 hour holter monitor, my third one this year, and it came back fine. No blockages, abnormalities or anything except for a PVC or PAC or skipped beat which the cardiologist said was perfectly fine. I've also had two EKG's and a Stress Echo last June which were all normal as well. I just always think that maybe they missed something or something has changed. I'm so scared of dying, it terrifies me. I have a 6 year old son and he is my entire world and I don't want anything to happen to me. I've been seeing the number 9-1-1 all over for the past two months and it's been stressing me out and causing me lots of anxiety as well. I try to put it out of my mind, but I can't. Help please!!

[darryl1963]

Hi,

Try not to worry you have had the test and had the all clear, I have same feelings as you. But I think what happens is we get in to a catch 22 situation were you have chest pains for excample so you worry. But because we keep worrying the body thinks it is under threat and we tense up hence we have the pains again.
I don't understand how the mind works but the answer I think is to keep telling yourself you are ok and even if you see 911 signs it does not mean anything is just you are picking out the signs because you keep telling your self they are there.

For excample lets say you went out and drove a ford focus car. and then over the next few days you kept seeing that make all over the place?
does it mean that....
1 there are loads of that make car or
2 they have always been there its just you are now more aware that they are.

Try this test pick out a make of car when you are out and about and then see how ofton you notice it again.........I bet you will see loads..........but they where always there it will be your mind is just more aware of them just like you see 911 your mind spots this more because you keep seeing them ignore them and it will ease off.

Take care

Darryl

[PAUSA]

Thanks for your reply. I've been trying to focus on other numbers, but honestly it isn't working. It really worries me, but I'm trying to replace negative thoughts with positive ones so hopefully that will help. I get so tired of anxiety sometimes. I think it has to be one of the most draining things to have to go through because it's so constant. I don't know. I'm trying to keep my chin up :-)

[destiny dawn]

PAUSA,
I can relate completely to you. I had a bout of depression years ago that resolved on it's own. Then, last year, I suddenly had a panic attack out of nowhere and ever since that one attack, I am always feeling worries, pain, and doubt. I agree anxiety is so incredibly draining because everything you learn about your condition contradicts itself.
It's to the point now that I feel a total loss of hope in the healthcare system. My MIL tells me that at some point, I'll get sick of explaining my symptoms to doctors and will just forget about it. I hope so. I've been suffering for a year.
My back pains feel like pinched nerves or muscles. It comes and goes and varies in location. But it almost always occurs in my left center of my shoulder blade and it really hurts! Sometimes I get a hard THUD in my chest that feels like someone has punched me from the inside out. And when I'm laying down I often get sudden shooting pains on the side I'm laying on. It's all very real and painful and disconcerting to me, yet nobody can help me fix it. So, I've learned to live with it. It doesn't change the fact that in the back of my mind I'm always wondering if I'll ever regret giving up on figuring it out. I pay attention to signs, too. Over the last 2 months, cancer has been everywhere. I have an enlarged node in my groin, that's hard and fixed. Ever since the doctor took it seriously, and I've been waiting for surgery, I can't get away from cancer. Larry King (who i watch all the time) had a special on cancer, my friend lent me a book about a girl with cancer, cancer commercials, cancer treatment fundraisers, it doesn't end. I think Darryl has a point though, that if we are looking for something, then we'll find it.
I wish you much luck. I know how exhausting and terrifying anxiety can be (especially health anxiety) and I hope you and I can one day see our anxiety as an old memory.
-destiny