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!

Can someone explain what a panic attack feels like please.

I do realize this is a bit of a hijack of OP's thread.

The poster who referred to the 'fluttering' has made me wonder if this is something i suffer from without realizing.

A ‘fluttering’ heartbeat can be just occasional palpitations like the sensation of a missed beat. If it is frequent you need to speak to a GP.
My panic attacks are usually a sense of not being able to breathe deeply and a tightness in my chest. I always feel really scared. A couple of times my whole body was shaking violently (I called the doc for those).

I sometimes get the heart attack thing. It's generally trapped wind and an extra strong mint or fizzy water brings on a burp which clears it.

Well I’m still alive and nothing has changed.

Really sure it’s muscular but still got low level anxiety.

The pain killers have helped a bit but my left shoulder feels a bit shaky and a little twinge on the left side of my neck so I’m pretty sure it’s a pulled muscle!

I’ve not wanted to eat anything but bananas as my anxiety is still crap.

I just hope this episode isn’t going to put me back again!

Go and lie down and take some deep breaths or have a bubble bath. Sounds more muscular to me. A female relative had a heart attack and her symptoms were pain in her upper back and throat, very breathless and extremely fatigued. Obviously everyone is different I know.

Well if the pain goes with paracetamol I would presume it’s not a heart attack but try telling yourself that when your anxiety is warning you you’re about to die!

I’m not sure my anxiety will allow a bubble bath just in case I pass out and drown!

I promise I haven’t been like this anxiety wise for years.

Are you having counselling for your anxiety OP?

I was for quite a long time.

I haven’t had ‘anxiety’ for a good 2 years. Although I still struggle going places completely on my own for example getting in a taxi with a bloke I don’t know or having a tradesman round that I didn’t know was coming and haven’t seen their ID, etc, etc makes me really anxious and uncomfortable.

I did have health anxiety for a while that was mixed in with GAD, OCD and PTSD but again I hadn’t had anything like that for a good couple of years.

I suppose waking up with the pain in my chest was triggering for what my health anxiety mainly revolves around (having a heart attack or passing out and nobody being around to help) and no amount of CBT or coping mechanisms helped.

I suppose it’s just one of those things that should be expected occasionally if your pre disposed to an anxiety disorder?

@Seaweed42 what on earth is a hot press??

@PrismGuile
Why don't you just Google what it is like a normal person.

Ahh. Has there ever been a Mumsnet thread that hasn’t kicked off?

OP I hope you’re feeling better. It’s horrible feeling like that

Hi, I know this is a super old thread but I have the exact same issues as the poster. I could’ve written it myself. Just got back from the GP who thinks it’s mucscular from yoga or something but I also suffer with health anxiety and my mind is going overdrive. Did you ever find out what it was? X

Coming on here was never a good idea of you have anxiety.

Sit still, take deep breaths and think clearly for a moment. If there genuinely is a chance that it’s a heart attack. (Pain and pins and needles in left arm?) then ring 999. Don’t think about it do it.

If you know you pulled a muscle and you are feeling ok now, just a twinge or two in the chest then relax and see how things go over the course of the next few hours. Ring 999 if it gets worse, that’s what they are there for.

Zombie thread 🤦‍♀️

@LittleTiger007 thank you for your response I didn’t expect anybody to see this! Yes you’re right! It actually started last night and like the poster it only hurts if I’m in certain positions. (Cannot lie on my right side at all) I think it’s because I don’t even remember straining myself but thinking back there was an uncomfortable move and I’m new to yoga so perhaps the GP is right xxx

[quote ACCx]@LittleTiger007 thank you for your response I didn’t expect anybody to see this! Yes you’re right! It actually started last night and like the poster it only hurts if I’m in certain positions. (Cannot lie on my right side at all) I think it’s because I don’t even remember straining myself but thinking back there was an uncomfortable move and I’m new to yoga so perhaps the GP is right xxx[/quote]
I have chronic GAD and have had several "heart attack" moments, it is scary, but so common as anxiety attacks can often mimic some of the symptoms of a heart attack.
I strained a chest muscle putting something on a high shelf at work many years ago, it is annoyingly easy to do!
I'm not a doctor so do always check if you're worried, but I don't think heart attack pain would only hurt in certain positions, and I think it generally gets worse pretty quickly, so I reckon you're okay.

@ArnoldJudasRimmer Thank you for your supportive words. To be honest I wasn’t thinking heart attack my main worry is the C word. I’ve read some awful things how chest pain is caused by undiagnosed C’s that you haven’t had symptoms for. Or even read that it could be due to a tumour in that place. Honestly I just terrified myself using google. I was in such a good place before this happened last night I was starting to feel a little calmer but this has just brought me back to square one :( xx