Could these 'cardiac' symptoms be put down to stress?

[violetbloom]

I've been having weird and horrible heart rhythms for about 6 weeks now. Sometimes those flip-flop missing beat feelings, sometimes runs of very superfast beats followed by a gap and a large beat. In addition I have numbness in my chin and bottom lip which comes and goes, sometimes it stretches into my neck as far as my collar bone, it feels cold and tight, very unpleasant. And I'm getting a cramping pain in my left bicep. All of these are made worse by exercise but they are not always triggered by exercise. I have a numb chin now sitting here and I'm not doing anything. Sometimes the chin and arm symptoms last for hours, sometimes they come and go. The heart palpitations happen once or twice every minute on average.

I am an anxious person so I'm prepared to think this could be stress although I've never felt anything like this before. I quit smoking about 6 months ago, I drink in moderation, I'm not overweight and I have low to normal blood pressure. My cholesterol is raised at 6.2.

I am the sole carer for my daughter and worry about what this might be is making me feel more and more anxious. I've seen the GP who has referred me to a clinic but I haven't had the appointment through yet.

Could these things be stress-related or should I be more concerned that it's something sinister.

I know this is long and rambly but I really would appreciate some advice / opinions.

Anyone around with knowledge?

Thanks for your reply. I'm not sure I can take aspirin because I'm asthmatic. I've always been told not to take it by pharmacists.

And the numb chin / arm pain? Any experience of anything like that?

Yes, I mentioned them and she thought they might possibly be related, perhaps angina and she prescribed me a nitroglycerine spray which I haven't used because she said to use it if they come on after exercise and don't go off. They seem to be there for hours at a time at the moment. All day so far today, for instance.

Only the unstable variety to be honest.

Thanks for your help. I would go to A&E but I have to get my daughter from school etc. I just hope I get my appointment through soon for the clinic.

Hi..I get the exact same symptoms as you and have put it down to stress...Over the years iv had heart scans, Ecgs..24hr heart monitors and all has been ok but for the last few months iv been getting a numb chin and pain in my left shoulder..top of chest..but I have had some mider with ds1 at school and ds2 starting school. I have put it down to stress..so will be watching your post..please tell us the results of your clinic appointment..Think I may try for a docs apt at end of week...Just dont want to waste their time xx good luck and keep posting x

21again, thanks for replying. I felt so bad earlier that I was about to dial 999 but things eased off. I still have a totally numb chin and numbness all around my neck, kind of in a circle as though someone is strangling me. it's very disconcerting. Perhaps it's some sort of neuralgia, I don't know. But I am planning on seeing the emergency GP tomorrow as I don't think I can cope with another day like this.

I'm trying to reassure myself that if the numbness were to do with my heart / circulation, I wouldn't have had it literally all day would I? If it was my heart, surely it would have led to some kind of cardiac crisis after all these hours?

Violetbloom....My husband had a heart attack 4 years ago..he was only 39 so I am forever checking my symptoms to the ones he had. He has since ended up in A&E on a number of occasions and the last time I asked the doctor exactly where heart pain is felt..he said across the top of the chest..anything higher or lower or just on one side is not heart related...obvs thats not the case with everyone but the general tightness and pain is central and upper. You will feel clammy, hot and be out of breath. I honestly think the numbness is kindof panic/stress..our body reacts badly to that and it shows in many ways. I cant sleep at night and my heart was racing so bad last night I thought I was gonna pop..my chin is tingling now but I am stressed to the pepsi max!! Are you stressed for any reason?? Good luck at the docs and let me know how you go...WE CAN DO THIS!!

p.s. when you say numb chin/neck..do you mean you cannot feel your hand touching it..as in skin numbness or does it feel kind of like tingly like when pins and needles is starting to wear off...the later is mine..x

Hi 21again, thanks so much for replying to me.

I ended up in A&E on Tuesday as I felt so awful. I had an ECG and a stress ECG which showed that I have a depressed ST but not significantly so whatever that means. They did some blood tests too which showed that I did not have any 'cardiac' markers in my blood. I found I couldn't sleep last night though, I had pain in my middle of my chest and a racing heart which kept waking me up from horrible nightmares. Not a good night at all.

I went to my GP this morning to ask about the depressed ST thing and he's referring me to a cardiologist although he says I am very low risk for heart disease. I have lowish blood pressure, don't smoke any more, have no family history of early deaths from heart disease, am not overweight and although my choleserol is quite high at 6.2, 2.45 of that is good choleserol and 3.25 is bad - he said 3 was what they hoped people would be below for the bad choleserol so it's not hugely raised.

He did examine my neck and glands though and I have a large painless swelling on the left side of my neck, just above the collar bone - I can't believe I didn't notice it before and he wonders if that might be the cause of my chin and numbness as well as symptoms in my left arm. So I've got to go for some x-rays and an ultrasound of the lump.

That may be the cause of those things but it doesn't explain my palpitations and the chest pain. I do often get a sensation of tightness or pressure across my whole chest but not all the time and it's not as unpleasant as the pain in the middle of my chest.

The sensation in my chin is hard to explain. It's not totally numb to touch but is half numb. It extends from just below my bottom lip, down my neck and slightly up my cheeks to the top of my cheek bones. It feels like a sort of crawling pressure and numbness but it's rarely painful.

The GP thinks this lump is likely to be the cause of that and told me to try to put cardiac concerns out of my mind so I am trying to but it's difficult when you feel so lousy and so scared.

My ex died of a sudden heart attack when he was 40 - no warning signs. He was fit and slim, vegan diet, but he did smoke a lot and for years. I was no longer with him at the time, we'd broken up years before, but it did throw me. I also lost my father to a heart attack very suddenly with no warning signs. So I've always felt quite heart conscious.

I hope you're having a better day today and sorry for not replying sooner xxx

Bless ya..Mine is deffo stress...Its not so bad at the moment but I still cant sleep! Glad you got checked out and that blood test they did is v acurate in determining whether a heart attack has taken place...even tho you didnt think you had had one. Hopefully you will get your cardi apt through soon and I bet after tests you feel bloody marvellous....we just need reassurance and im thinking its prob stress...If you have had close people die or suffer from attacks its always there in the back of ya mind. This lump is a stange one..wonder what that beast is..haha..keep moi posted on that n hopefully once thats sorted your numbness will vamushka..good luck x