Chest pains and panic attacks - it's all good, honest!

[darkpenguin]

Recently I've been overwhelmed by panic attacks that hit me when I'm trying to sleep and sometimes through the day.

For a couple of months now I have been suffering from chest pains which I have recieved some medical attention for in the form of pain killers until my appointment at the hospital in a couple of weeks.

I think the panic attacks are linked with the pain as I keep worrying about my mortality and the randomness of it all with the not knowing when or where my time will come and it's really been bothering me.


I'm guessing that it's a normal reaction to the pain and where the pain is and I'm wondering if anyone else has had a simmilar experience and how they dealt with it.

Another thing that might not be helping me is the lack of working as I feel kind of lost and without purpose at the moment which really isn't a great feeling.

Anyways, any advice would be more than welcome.
Thanks,
Craig.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

At your age the Cause of chest pains is usually the Panic attacks. uncontrolled worry is very bad for you . much better is to face what is causing you anxiety and do something about it.

The chest pains are most likely caused by stress, which can cause heightened blood pressure and so the circle goes round.

It is not saying the symptoms are not real or should not be looked into. Because the should.

But the most likely cause, is worry about something.


Other things to think about is your work and family situation
Do you smoke.
are you over weight
Do you drink too much
do you take enough exercise
Do you have a balanced diet

These are all questions you will be asked.

 

[darkpenguin]

At your age the Cause of chest pains is usually the Panic attacks. uncontrolled worry is very bad for you . much better is to face what is causing you anxiety and do something about it.

The chest pains are most likely caused by stress, which can cause heightened blood pressure and so the circle goes round.

It is not saying the symptoms are not real or should not be looked into. Because the should.

But the most likely cause, is worry about something.


Other things to think about is your work and family situation
Do you smoke.
are you over weight
Do you drink too much
do you take enough exercise
Do you have a balanced diet

These are all questions you will be asked.

Well all is good apart from my weight, exercise and work or lack of it lol.
I stopped smoking mainly because of the pain and I drink very little in the way of alcohol.
The panic attacks could be a valid reason for them but it's really confusing as before the pain started I was never concerned with death and took it for granted that I'll live a long life.
I guess the lack of working and purpose could have brought on stress and panic without me knowing.
I'll just have to wait to see what the hospital say.
For now I'm trying to keep off of the pain killers as I'd rather know that the pain is still there rather than ignoring it plus they make me drousy and itchy lol.

Thanks for the advice

 

[ALifetimeToWaitFor....]

I have panic attacks and the anxiety causes my stomach to act which feels like chest pain, but I got medicine for acid reflux and it almost completely goes away. Not saying not to go to your doctor, but just try out some Zantac or something.

 

[darkpenguin]

I have panic attacks and the anxiety causes my stomach to act which feels like chest pain, but I got medicine for acid reflux and it almost completely goes away. Not saying not to go to your doctor, but just try out some Zantac or something.

Thanks for the info, the doc thought it was heart burn so gave me some pills, the heartburn has gone but i'm still left with the chest pain.

Thanks.

 

[love]

I had my first panic attack in 1992 shortly after a serious car accident. It has changed my life and I believe some of it is good in a sense I have a different outlook on life. You start to appreciate things in life that you took for granted before like interaction with others. It definitely changes your focus.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I get panic attacks. In fact, I had one so bad a couple of years ago that I had to transported to the hospital because I thought I was having a heart attack. The problem was, it was at the end of Star Wars 3 in the theaters, right when Darth Vader's helmet was being put on. Gentoo wasn't pleased...

Anyway, after extensive research, I discovered that the culprit was MSG (Monosodium Glutamate). I had had Chinese food that day, and that was all I had eaten. Similiar attacks in the past have been linked to it, and my brother has discovered a similiar problem. I know of some students at the school I work at that have had the same reaction.

When I get one, I simply focus on my breathing and meditate a bit. I'll also apply a bit of pressure to my third eye point (acupressure/chakra point between and above the eyes).

 

[Scarlett Wampus]

I'm guessing that it's a normal reaction to the pain and where the pain is and I'm wondering if anyone else has had a simmilar experience and how they dealt with it.

It would certainly within the realms of a normal response given what you're pondering! But not too helpful because the muscle tension from anxiety and especially the stress of panic attacks can create aching in the chest anyhow (like Terrywood said) which can come and go for days afterwards and feed back into the fear. The hospital will be able to run a decent ECG on you and tell you if anything is up. The wait until then can't be easy though.

I used to get panic attacks a lot. Years later over something different I had good reason to think I might drop dead at any minute, and oh man, it was an enormous shock to my system to suddenly be thinking about that. The randomness & meaninglessness of it was a large factor in how disturbing I found it. It definitely bothered me. It also made me feel helpless and lonely.

Regarding panic attacks this may sound ridiculous but I found relaxation exercises helped. Not while I was in the grip of one obviously, but when I wasn't they seemed like the last thing that would seem natural too. They did help though. If you want to try that use whatever you can: Some kind of guided relaxation tape, sitting still and concentrating the mind on all the noises you can hear for 15 mins or whatnot. Another thing is that because panic is an over-heightened sense of alertness it is conflicted by doing/taking things very steadily and methodically. When panic comes on you could try saying something to yourself like, "Ok, so I'm panicking. So what? Bring it on." then patiently but persistently get on with something. It doesn't matter what your mind is doing, let it do its thing, but carry on with some task regardless. Since the panic attacks often happen when you're in bed then you could try reading a book slowly. Even if you can't concentrate on what you're reading, go through the motions of reading slowly anyway.

What helped with my fear of mortality was...well I didn't find any way around that. Its a huge thing to think about, goes straight to the core. Over time I just became accustomed to it and it faded. Still had a profound impact on my outlook though. If you ever wanted to talk about it you'd be most welcome as a fellow mortal.

 

[darkpenguin]

Well the panic attacks seem to be no more which is good...
I still have chest pain however and went for an ultrasound scan on my heart today which was odd to say the least lol.
I've come to realize that while physical exercise doesn't make the pain any worse, stress really does which is a whole bunch of fun when you have an ex trying to wind you up daily lol.
I have another appointment tomorrow for an exercise scan which sounds like fun.
Now all I have to do is wait for my results.

Just thought I'd give a little update for anyone that's interested.

 

[Reverend Rick]

A rich man would gladly trade all his money for good health.

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the strength to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference between the two.

Worrying about things beyond our control is futile. Doing something about things we have the ability to correct is rewarding.

Don't prioritize your schedule, schedule your priorities.

Any person who is going though changes in their life is going to experience stress and insomnia. This will pass with time.

A new hobby or interest may help. Exercise will relieve stress as well as meditation.

The old Reverend prescribes a much needed vacation. Enjoy your life and take control of it. Don't let your life control you!

Keep us updated. I'm sure many of us will send you positive energy or prayer if you would like.

 

[Ever learning]

I agree with Love it does change your outlook on life compleetly. I used to suffer from panick attacks years ago myself. Once you realize though, that you are not going to die that instance and that there is nothing to fear but fear itself it will get better. What helped me were natural herbal teas and once I felt an attack coming on i went for a long walk.Have not had one in over 10 years.

 

[Hema]

Another thing that might not be helping me is the lack of working as I feel kind of lost and without purpose at the moment which really isn't a great feeling.

Don't let your mind tell you negative things which aren't true. Everyone was born to fulfill a particular purpose. Sometimes the mind is like a tape recorder which replays thoughts which were shaped by past circumstances. Just observe your thoughts and let them pass without forming an opinion of them. You will realize an awareness of a "self" which exists beyond the mind. I'm also trying to control my mind these days. I try to watch my critical thoughts and let them pass. So many times my mind has been my worst enemy and has brought up old thoughts and feelings of low self-esteem. I'm trying to control my mind by watching my thoughts and acknowledging that they are only in my mind. I'm trying to control my mind and not let it get the better of me. I hope you feel better soon.

 

[darkpenguin]

Thank you for your kind words of support, Like I said the panic attacks are no more as well as my feeling of pointlessness so much so that I had an epiphany a month or so ago that kind of showed me that me and my ex partner were heading in different directions.
I don't want to do the normal life thing, society can keep it's nice car and high paid job and big house and all thats expected of me because quite frankly I don't want it.
I want to feel alive, I want to sky dive, bungee jump and even though the thought scares the heck out of me I wanna swim with sharks. Just anything to make me feel alive and so I can say I did such and such and stuck 2 middle fingers to fate and I'm still standing.
Some people may think I have a death wish, I like to see it as having a craving for life.
So yeah thats where my panic attacks have gone, they kinda left out of the door with my fear of death as that's one thing that no longer scares me.

 

[Halcyon]

I'm glad you're panic attacks are gone, my ex-girlfriend used to get very extreme panic attacks, so i know how distressing they can be for you and those around you.

I get chest pains sometimes, it happens when my lung actually sticks to the lining of my chest wall and is excruciatingly painful when i breathe, i don't suppose it feels anything like that does it?

 

[darkpenguin]

I get chest pains sometimes, it happens when my lung actually sticks to the lining of my chest wall and is excruciatingly painful when i breathe, i don't suppose it feels anything like that does it?

It's only felt like that once as far as I recall, it's annoying more than anything, I'm just glad the hospital are doing proper tests now instead of the whole "here have some painkillers" thing.
Like I've told numerous Dr's, I don't want painkillers and actually want to know if the pain is getting worse or not, painkillers won't actually help me they'll just mask the pain and make me feel woozy and itchy (gotta love co-codamol lol).

 

[Booko]

Like I've told numerous Dr's, I don't want painkillers and actually want to know if the pain is getting worse or not, painkillers won't actually help me they'll just mask the pain and make me feel woozy and itchy (gotta love co-codamol lol).

Stick with that and be insistent, darkpenguin.

When they can't figure out any other tests if nothing yet has shown up, insist on having hormone levels tested. Having some of your hormones off (thyroid especially) can cause weird heart things to go on, especially palpitations, but other things as well, including chest pains.

They'll have some other cardiological things to work through first, I expect, and those would naturally be on the list of first things to check out.

 

[Halcyon]

It's only felt like that once as far as I recall, it's annoying more than anything, I'm just glad the hospital are doing proper tests now instead of the whole "here have some painkillers" thing.
Like I've told numerous Dr's, I don't want painkillers and actually want to know if the pain is getting worse or not, painkillers won't actually help me they'll just mask the pain and make me feel woozy and itchy (gotta love co-codamol lol).

Oh, i've never taken painkillers for it (sorry, what's co-codemol?)

Might not hurt to ask about the sticky-lung thing though, you might just have a more seriosu version of it than me?

 

[darkpenguin]

Oh, i've never taken painkillers for it (sorry, what's co-codemol?)

Might not hurt to ask about the sticky-lung thing though, you might just have a more seriosu version of it than me?

You may have a point there, think I'll see where the test results leave me first though.
Co-codamol is codeine and paracetamol. Yes it works well but it leaves me not being able to function much what with the dizziness and feeling drunk lol, plus due to genetics I inherited my mums reaction to the codeine which is itching which really isn't a whole barrel of laughs.

 

[Booko]

plus due to genetics I inherited my mums reaction to the codeine which is itching which really isn't a whole barrel of laughs.

You have an allergic reaction to codeine?

 

[darkpenguin]

You have an allergic reaction to codeine?

yeah, it's only itching though so it could be a lot worse.