I'm convinced I have an undiagnosed heart problem

[Alwaysworrying25]

Just that really. I'm convinced I have an undiagnosed heart condition and I'm a ticking time bomb, but the doctors don't listen to me. I've had periods for years, of heart palpitations, chest pains at rest and with exercise, breathlessness, light headedness, random episodes of racing heart to the point I feel unable breathe or move properly, which do actually fuel my anxiety. I've been to th GP many times, I've been to A & E many times. Every time they say my heart is fine but how do they know that? I had a 24 hrs holter monitor about 2 years ago, which found ectopic beats, they said every other beat was an extra bear but that this was normal and benign? But how do they know that? Without doing other tests?

I do have a history of OCD, and health anxiety and I think this is why the doctors say it's all in my head but it's really affecting my life. I'm sure something is seriously wrong and I truly feel like I'm a ticking time bomb and I'll drop dead at any moment. I'm so scared.

I looked at seeing a private cardiologist but I just couldn't no afford to do it. How can I make them listen to me and give me the neccesry tests to check my heart? I have a young son with special needs and I'm making myself sick that I'm not going to be here for him one day soon when this happens.

To add, I am overweight so I guess this does contribute to some of my symptoms and I'm working on losing weight.

Iv had all the blood tests, vitamin d, iron etc which all day sufficient. This is ongoing since my son was born so almost four years I've been having these symptoms.

This is everything I was going to say.

But quite honestly, the first thing you need to do if you are really worried about your heart is lose weight, which I can see you are trying to do but I would make a real conscious effort there before I was paying for a private cardiologist. A lot of your symptoms and pain may get better from that alone. And get some anxiety meds in you because this is self-perpetuating.

I had this - waking in the night, unable to breathe, palpitations and feeling of choking.
Afrer numerous investigations it turned out to be silent reflux. It can also cause asthma like breathlessness , and the palpitations are due to hyper stimulation of the vagus nerve.
a PPI (lansoprazole) every morning has stopped all the symptoms completely, and raising head of the bed helped too.
Apparently it is common if you are overweight (which I am) .
It might be worth asking your GP about it.

Thanks for all of this.

I had a Rheumatology referral. They found nothing really, all bloods and test were clear and they said it's unlikely I have anything autoimmune. They said they ruled out eveything and that's how's they came to the fibromyalgia diagnosis. Espebailly as it started after my son was born and this was labelled a potential trigger. I don't know it's is related but I was 24 stone when I gave birth, I subsequently lost 5 stone after he was born so I don't know if again my weight was being blamed. I'm quite scared to go back and ask for any other investigations.

Thanks for this. I have suffered digestives issues in the past and I do have gallstones so maybe related.

I did have a Rheumatology referral. They found nothing, bloods and tests were clear, they were querying lupus at first. I also had high cortisol and were concerned about ardenal efficiency so I was referred to endocrinology but again they didn't find much.

Your problem is anxiety . Anxiety increases adrenaline levels. Adrenaline causes increased ectopics.

I do know this, but I have them even when I'm not feeling particularly anxious.

I would consider the advice about starting on a toddler dose of that anti-anxiety med, or another one. As someone who's had a similar anxiety, I can relate completely to the fear of side effects and thinking you'll be the one in a million, but I can tell you that the relief when you push past that feeling and take the first tablet and then some more, and nothing bad actually happens, is enormous. It really would be worth pushing yourself to do that.

Yes, but long term anxiety is associated with chronically raised cortisol. It will be raised even when you're not feeling particularly anxious. This with the adrenaline will worsen the physical sensations you are experiencing.

@Alwaysworrying25 Did the rheumatologist check your joints for any hypermobility? Even if you're not hypermobile, I definitely think it's worth you getting checked for POTS. Just to mention too, that Propranolol, which is an anti-anxiety medication, is often prescribed for POTS, it helps with the high heart rate and also lowers blood pressure (so not suitable for everyone). I do sympathise with your reluctance to take meds, I have a family member with the same issue (also OCD), but they really will help you. I agree with everyone who is suggesting trying the tiniest baby dose possible to get you started. But do try a quick standing test for POTS first.

It doesn't matter that you're not feeling anxious, though. When you have anxiety, your body is constantly in fight or flight, even if you don't realise it.

Yes I suppose that's true. I've been much less anxious today, had a wobble last night but only cos I couldn't sleep because I was getting the heart palpitations.

I am taking the weight loss seriously, I know it will help me in the long run. I managed to do 10k steps today for the first time in months maybe even a year or so, and I've ate really healthy and tracked all my calories. I want to lose weight to he healthy and I want to go back to the gp and show them that it's not my weight to be blamed for all of this. I know it's not helping and I know my anxieties don't help but I also know deep down that there is SOMETHING wrong

They didnt actually check much tbh but I'm definitely going to look into the symptoms of hyper mobility. I do have issues with my knees especially but I guess that's mostly down to being overweight. Knees locking, giving way etc

@Alwaysworrying25 It's definitely worth checking. My knees also lock and give way and I weigh about 9 and a half stone, so don't assume it's your weight without looking at potential hypermobility.

@Alwaysworrying25 I am really sorry you're going through this. I had similar symptoms, sudden onset after surviving severe sepsis and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and a couple of other bits after ECGs and a 48 hour Holter. I'm young to have it apparently and it's proving quite difficult to treat, to the point I have a hospital bag permanently ready. A diagnosis is not a good thing in itself and won't give you reassurance.

What I can tell you is that if you did get a cardiac diagnosis, you will be on medication, potentially quite strong and regular medication that from what you're saying you wouldn't take. I think you need to concentrate on getting help for your anxiety before anything else, at least to the point you feel able to medicate that and see what happens. Please be honest with your GP, they can't help if they're giving you pills you won't attempt.

Why are not answering the questions like - if you had a heart problem would you take the meds? As others have said there is no point in diagnosing you with anything because you state you won't take meds. You won't take meds for your anxiety - all I see are excuses here. Sorry if that's a bit harsh but maybe that's how you are viewed by your doc? He doesn't have a magic wand.

Take the meds that you've been offered.

I've recently been diagnosed with gall stones ... if you have been diagnosed presumably you've had either a CT or MRI scan? My first symptom was chest pain.You feel like something is wrong because something is wrong - your digestive system is not working properly. Your gall bladder is just under your rib cage mostly in the centre but a bit to the right.

I've had them for years, but never knew what the pain was. I had an ultrasound that found them. I have irregular attacks but when I do they are painful. I'm on a watch and wait approach. I've only had about two attacks in the last 18 months but I do get niggle pain and bloating, nausea etc.

Apple watch? You can record your heart rate/rhythm through an app. You'll hopefully then catch what happens during your palpitations

Have you checked your thyroid? I went 2 years with palpitations and anxiety and was finally diagnosed with thyroid disease. A lot of people have something wrong with their thyroid but doctors think you are over eating etc. The thyroid controls your metabolism which affects every organ in your body.

I haven't had it checked recently but I did about 18 months ago and they said it was fine

They told me mine was fine but it wasn’t. Thyroid disease is hard to diagnose. A healthy person has a TSH of about 1. Anything higher means your thyroid is struggling.

Just checked and it was done in 2023 😂 Thyroid function test
Serum TSH level 1.87 mu/L [0.35 - 4.94]
Serum free T4 level 11.3 pmol/L [9.0 - 19.0]
Thyroid Therapy No treatment