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Original poster

Can anxiety make you feel like you are having a heart attack?

43 replies

anonxc · 25/03/2023 15:50

I've suffered with anxiety for years and years and my anxiety is mainly health related, recently I was prescribed medication I should not have been given by an out of hours gp. The medications interacted and I had stomach pain and palpitations, I went a&e and they checked me over said I'm not struggling to speak, I don't sound out of breath, my oxygen and observation levels are good so I can go home, they didn't think an ECG was necessary as they didn't believe I was having a heart attack but since leaving I've just had shoulder pain, palpitations, chest tightness all the symptoms of one. I'm not sure if it's anxiety that is causing it or if there is actually something wrong. I don't really want to go and sit in a&e for another 6 hours but I am just a nervous wreck honestly. (I have put in a complaint about the out of hours gp who prescribed it even when I told them I was taking medication that interacted with it)

OP posts:
youkiddingme · 25/03/2023 18:51

I totally get you OP. You just want to remove one worry to lower your anxiety a bit. I thought I thought I was calming down a bit when I was on my way home from A & E. By the next day it was just as bad again. You need to get to the underlying cause.

Original poster
anonxc · 25/03/2023 19:18

youkiddingme · 25/03/2023 18:51

I totally get you OP. You just want to remove one worry to lower your anxiety a bit. I thought I thought I was calming down a bit when I was on my way home from A & E. By the next day it was just as bad again. You need to get to the underlying cause.

Yeah you are right, I was thinking about starting therapy as I've tried anti anxiety meds, they all triggered palpitations really bad for me so doc just said it's a no go, they said there was not any other medication option they could give me for it.

OP posts:
trampoline123 · 25/03/2023 19:28

Yes, this is how my mum started - they called it syndrome X.

She full on felt she was having a heart attack.

lljkk · 25/03/2023 19:40

it sounds like your anxiety is getting worse, OP. you have a health problem but it's not your heart

Original poster
anonxc · 25/03/2023 20:38

lljkk · 25/03/2023 19:40

it sounds like your anxiety is getting worse, OP. you have a health problem but it's not your heart

I think so too, it's crazy how it feels. I tried to watch a movie to get my mind off it and suddenly had pain down both my arms and a palpitation just triggered it all off again🥲

OP posts:
Original poster
anonxc · 27/03/2023 06:56

I did end up going a&e as the palpitations and tightness was getting worse and I didn't end up seeing a doctor, but nurse said my ECG was normal and all my obs blood pressure etc was normal, they did bloods but they were so busy after a few hours I had to self discharge. I imagine if anything was a concern they would have called immediately. I do still have the palpitations and tightness. I think it could potentially actually be a side effect of the medication I'm on as it does say this medication can cause it... I'm going to mention it to my doctor.

OP posts:
megletthesecond · 27/03/2023 07:05

I'd they've done blood tests and it's OK then it's more likely to be anxiety. My mum's heart attack was only found by a blood test. Make sure you follow up the blood test result just in case.

Original poster
anonxc · 27/03/2023 07:07

megletthesecond · 27/03/2023 07:05

I'd they've done blood tests and it's OK then it's more likely to be anxiety. My mum's heart attack was only found by a blood test. Make sure you follow up the blood test result just in case.

They told me the blood results get sent to GP within a few days, is that the truth? Or would I need to contact a&e?

OP posts:
Original poster
anonxc · 27/03/2023 12:23

Impossible to get my blood results, a&e on hold for 30 mins over and over (understandably I know they are extremely understaffed and busy) called doctor reception said they can request them for me, doc has now messaged to say they can't request them and to please keep trying with a&e ☹️

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 27/03/2023 16:11

I'm glad to see that your ECG was normal.
I expect you're feeling relieved now.

Original poster
anonxc · 27/03/2023 16:32

TheShellBeach · 27/03/2023 16:11

I'm glad to see that your ECG was normal.
I expect you're feeling relieved now.

I am happy nurse said ecg was fine but I don't think it's anxiety, I think it's the medication I'm on that's doing it as thinking back this is when it started, I'm sure it's the tablet doing this. It's constant even when I'm walking/working it's still happening

OP posts:
HappyHolidai · 27/03/2023 16:52

TheShellBeach · 25/03/2023 17:51

So you've had three. And you want another one because you think it'll calm you down. But it won't, because the three you've already had haven't convinced you that your heart is normal.
You need therapy for health anxiety, not another ECG.

Show quote history

What a load of spiteful lies. If she was having a heart attack now then the fact her ECG was normal 6 months ago hasn't any bearing on the matter. An ECG now would been needed to identify what is happening today.

In the circumstances it does seem most likely that the OP is fine from a cardiac perspective and suffering from anxiety, but that's a separate point. @anonxc have you tried lying on your back and breathing in and out slowly for 30 minutes. It might help!

Original poster
anonxc · 27/03/2023 17:09

Thank you, I have but I still feel the palpitations, I'm concerned it's the high dose of fluconazole that I'm on, it says online it's a rare but more serious side effect however last night I did go a&e and they did tell me obs and ecg was normal - just didn't get a chance to wait for my bloods. I'm pretty sure it's this medication now though, that or anxiety but anxiety has never caused this to be so consistent even when I'm not thinking about it

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 27/03/2023 17:13

HappyHolidai · 27/03/2023 16:52

What a load of spiteful lies. If she was having a heart attack now then the fact her ECG was normal 6 months ago hasn't any bearing on the matter. An ECG now would been needed to identify what is happening today.

In the circumstances it does seem most likely that the OP is fine from a cardiac perspective and suffering from anxiety, but that's a separate point. @anonxc have you tried lying on your back and breathing in and out slowly for 30 minutes. It might help!

Show quote history

But she has now had another normal ECG.
Therefore she is not having a heart attack.
OP I'm sorry if you thought I was spiteful. It wasn't my intention.

FinallyHere · 27/03/2023 20:04

anonxc · 27/03/2023 12:23

Impossible to get my blood results, a&e on hold for 30 mins over and over (understandably I know they are extremely understaffed and busy) called doctor reception said they can request them for me, doc has now messaged to say they can't request them and to please keep trying with a&e ☹️

I'm sorry you can't get easily get access to your blood test results.

I've been really very impressed by the new computer system in use in our local trust. Every interaction has a 'post visit report' which lists out what was done alongside the actual results.

Really, really helpful. Hope it is adopted by your local trust soon.

lljkk · 27/03/2023 20:47

OP needs to accept the difficult truth that her symptoms are her mental illness not something that can be fixed in a&e.

Gravelady · 27/03/2023 21:33

I have been like this on several occasions and the last time I had a large panic attack I was screaming at the 999 operator to get me an ambulance because I was having a heart attack and going to drop dead on the spot. Unfortunately that’s how anxiety and panic can make you feel, it mimics symptoms of a heart attack/cardiac issue and the more you panic the worse it gets. I have had lots of tests including a 24hr ECG but was still convinced my Doctor had missed something. I am now on medication and having regular therapy which is helping massively! Talk to someone OP you shouldn’t feel this way ❤️

Original poster
anonxc · 28/03/2023 12:31

Hi all, just to update you - doctor got back to me, all my bloods were normal heart, liver and full blood count. Ecg trace was normal aswell, I mentioned about the side effect of fluconazole and that I'm scared of the rare abnormal heart rhythm and he said it is a very rare side effect and the ecg was normal so he isn't concerned, he said he thinks I'm a little anxious and it's probably making the palpitations worse and he's more concerned about the stomach pain I'm getting with the tablet than anything. It didn't make me feel at ease because now I'm thinking what if the ecg didn't catch it when it was happening. I will look into therapy to help with my anxiety. Thank you for all your comments :)

OP posts:
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