Think I’m having a heart attack 🙄

[Blackbear10]

I used to have quite crippling anxiety but had some therapy, worked really hard and all but got over it. (Obviously some things still throw me a bit and it’s a constant work in progress)

However this morning I woke up with a terrible sharp pain in my chest.
I’m pretty sure is a pulled muscle.
The problem is my anxiety has kicked in and I think I might be about to have a heart attack. I keep checking my pulse and have noticed I feel tired but honestly I really am probably just tired rather than it being heart attack symptoms.

When my anxiety flairs like this it’s pretty useless for me to get over until until tomorrow once I have proven to myself I haven’t died overnight. 🙄

I’m not sure what I’m wanting really other than a bit of a handhold and maybe a good kick up the arse!

I’m not at the age for the typical heart attack person and I’ve survived since waking up this morning, but there is that little anxious niggle that plays in the background!

Why do people call 111 instead of the GP?

Is that an English thing?

I'm in Scotland and would call my GP. They always see patients with chest pain, usually the nurse wires you up for an ECG straight away and then the doctor will check it and see you.

I would only use 111 after 6pm when the GP is closed.

If I die before 3:00pm then so be it.

I’m sure it’s not a heart attack, I just need talking down from my anxiety.

If it gets worse or I get other symptoms I will call 101 or 999 (if I’m literally on deaths door)

I’m just making my anxiety worse worrying about this all.

I can walk around my house and make myself lunch.

I’m going to pop next door and see my neighbour in a bit (who is disabled before anyone suggest them taking me to the DR) so if I keel over there at least they can call someone.

I was just hoping for a talking down and told that is just my anxiety and a bit of a handhold while I get my anxiety under cover.

I suffer from this with my panic attacks.First I take a single aspirin immediately. Then I clean my fists until I can feel a pulse if it is steady I get up and do something to take my mind off it. If it feels fluttery I walk to the bathroom and have a wash. If the symptoms were still worrying and the pain was still there I would ring 111.
I have had anxiety attacks for about 25 years now and have twice called a doctor.

Clench not clean

111 or your GP's are just going to tell you to go to A&E

Thank you for the messages I’m honestly not trying to ignore advice or be difficult.

I was just hoping for a talking down and told that is just my anxiety and a bit of a handhold while I get my anxiety under cover

I’ll give you a handhold OP and tell you I think it’s likely anxiety but I wouldn’t want to encourage you to ignore a serious health condition

For the person that said it’s changed since this morning,
It hasn’t changed, it’s still a sharp pain but not all the time only when I pull my shoulders forward or more in certain ways.

Take an aspirin. I'm not being facetious.

I have had similar, when I'm anxious. I know that taking aspirin thins blood and helps in the cases of heart attacks, and so therefore if I take an aspirin my anxiety lowers, and the symptoms ease.

What you are describing sounds to me like an anxious reaction (possibly to a pulled muscle), and honestly nothing like a heart attack.

So take an aspirin, give it half an hour, and see what happens.

Obviously, obviously, if it gets worse, if you start having other symptoms that might suggest a heart attack, or if you have reason to believe it actually is a heart attack, seek medical advice immediately. But as someone who has at times struggled with a level of health anxiety, what you are describing, on the face of it, without other symptoms or medical history that would put you in a high risk category for a heart attack, suggests to me anxiety far more than it does heart problems.

111 or your GP's are just going to tell you to go to A&E

No they won't. The GP will assess OP and then decide what action needs to be taken.

All patients presenting with chest pain do not need to go to A&E. In fact MOST patients that present with chest pain don't go to A&E. There are many reasons for chest pain that are not heart related. The GP surgery is more than qualified to make the call.

I don’t actually own any aspirin

But I will take some paracetamol, they are pretty similar and if the pain goes I know it was muscular!

I empathise. I have gone to A+E via ambulance convinced chest pains were an imminant heart attack many times. Ive had the blood tests and all's been fine. Then the next time it happens I'm back convinced again, it's my heart. Now diagnosed with GORD but the thoughts that go through your head are horrendous when you have health anxiety and still have me convinced it's heart-related.I agree it doesn't sound heart related if the pain changes with movement but give 111 a call and take it from there as your anxiety is likely to escalate if you don't get yourself checked.

Why I would definitely do I thought I was having a heart attack is write about it on the internet.

Yes take the paracetamol but just for clarification Paracetamol and aspirin are not similar. Aspirin is a NSAID and paracetamol is an analgesic. It’s used for reducing fever and moderate aches and pains.

Call 11 for health advice
Call Samaritans to talk thru the anxiety

111 for health advice

Not much use for now, but I’d really recommend talking to your GP for strategies to help when this strikes. Taking aspirin, being with people, breathing exercises are all sensible. GP can also tell you when to call.

I have a chronic health condition and many side effects mirror symptoms of more serious, acute conditions so I am used to dealing with decisions about getting things checked. Health care professionals always tell me to err on the side of caution. And, as long as you are working to manage your anxiety, they will understand.

I just wanted to say and you poor thing. I am sure it's nothing, duck, but just get yourself checked over to be sure eh? You'll feel better when you know you're not dying, and you will have raised the anxiety with the GP too, which is a win.

If health fears are on your mind, it might be worth trying some counselling or CBT.

Take care of yourself.

Costochondritis
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costochondritis
When I have it, pain is worse when I inhale, very sharp stabbing pain. If I do a big (scary, painful) inhalation it's like it pops and completely goes away immediately.

I'm a lifelong anxiety sufferer, and I think that you don't ever really beat it. You have periods where you are in what my therpasist called recovery and they can last years, but you can relapse at any time.

I'm suffering quite badly at the moment due to a health scare and things that are helping are exercise, actually exercise is the thing that helps me the most. Also reading, getting lost in a good book really helps take your mind off stuff, listening to music, eating well, cuddling my dog.

I would go to a&e

I get what you are going through. I. Have health anxiety and it’s horrible
If your pain changes when you move that suggests muscles
Take some pain relief and see if it goes.
I had a pain down my arm last week and worried it was a heart attack. It did go away after a while with moving my arm around etc but the anxiety went through the roof. Hoping it will go away soon. Big hugs

My husband has health anxiety. When having a panic attack he often convinces himself he is dying. He was sure he was having a heart attack about 6 months ago. He wasn't - he was fine and having a panic attach. I suggest you spend an hour focusing on your breathing and trying to relax. You sound like you do need to go back to your GP to discuss your anxiety.

I would go to a&e

Why?

OP, I used to have terrible health anxiety all focused around having a panic attack - I didn't even need chest/back pain! I would do what you are doing and repeatedly check my pulse and then freak out because it was racing because I was stressing out which then stressed me out and made my pulse ra- you get the picture. It was then all I could think about and I would focus so much on x, y, z weird feelings and build them up and up.

It's really hard to deal with because you KNOW you're fine but can't convince yourself.

If you don't go to the GP about this, please do go and speak to someone about the health anxiety. It is absolutely horrible to live with.

I hope you feel better xx