Everyday Sunshine

Its so scary, when you find out that its not nothing - but you dont know what the "something" is. My advice, do the test and know that the goal is to find out what exactly is going on. Dont assume that its to confirm als, its to just find out what is the story. Twitching isnt just als all the time. I have never had your specific symptoms, but when the news from a doctor isnt "its nothing" or "you're fine" I ask for a 1-5 freak out scale on their part. Where 1 is "not a second thought" to 5 "total freak out". Dont rate yourself, but ask what their perspective is for you and follow that. If you cant wait until the test, ask the doctor now. Make sure the doctor understands your fears and anxiety. If the doctor is any good, they will give you as much information as possible to give you proper perspective. Good luck.

I have started to diet to lose a few pounds. Since then, I have been feeling "kinda" lightheaded - not enough to pass out, but enough to ramp up the anxiety and make me feel unstable and unsure about myself. As a result, I panic that something with my blood sugar or blood pressure is too low (I dont actually have diagnosed problems with either) and I end up eating a bunch of sugar and carbs - torpedoing my diet. I have lost weight successfully before, without these issues. I am super frustrated. I get dizziness with my anxiety - and it could be that, but I cant keep from thinking that its not. It has to be something much much worse like internal bleeding or hypoglycemia or God knows what. Trying not to google - that never makes things better. Looking for brothers/sisters in arms on this one. Anyone else?

There is your key IMO. Yes. I have had your exact symptoms before with no diagnosis of something actually wrong. But I absolutely back you up that its super scary and leads me into anxiety every time. Sorry this has happened to you. I had the sudden pressure in my head also. Thought I was having a stroke (I wasnt). It could be sinus related, but I think it was also a form of migraine brought on by stress. Hope that helps.

One thing I have learned from my long (and continuing) journey with anxiety is that if you are looking for symptoms, you will find them. I've never found the actual disease or sickness I feared, but I certainly found the symptoms. In the past few days you found 4 weird things, you actually did hundreds, if not thousands, of things perfectly fine. The outliers stick out in your brain because the first one was weird and then you started looking (subconsciously) for every weird one after that. For what its worth, we all do this. For a more direct answer, my grandmother had dementia. There was no question on whether she had it or not. Everyone around her knew something was definitely wrong. The one person who didnt know something was wrong was her. Hope that helps.

If you play the basic odds that most heart conditions are rare, it’s Doubtful they will find anything. Remember, this is standard for ANYONE and EVERYONE having an your kind of operation. It’s not like they took a look at you and said “whoa! Better check this one out!!” I think you will be fine

I get the anxiety about medication and especially the anxiety about the procedure. I agree. You don’t need the medication, but it will probably help and it’s so short that addiction won’t be a factor. A thought. Your mind, like the rest of ours, focuses on what can go wrong and what will happen if it does go wrong. Think about why it will go right. You will have a doctor that’s been training and working for years using techniques that have been around for decades with medications that have been proven effective for years and years. If a mechanic was this experienced, would you worry about him accidentally cutting your brake lines? Probably not. It’s hard, but sometimes you have to trust that the person doing the work knows what they’re doing

The point of having a pre-operative physical is to make sure you don’t have some sort of ailment or underlying issue that could hurt you once you’re under anesthesia or being operated on. The ECG is part of that. Think of it this way...they’re not doing it because they think you have an issue, it’s to make sure you don’t. My father died from a heart attack in his 50s as well, and I feel your stress. I think about it way too much since i hit my 40s. My suggestion is to tell your dr about your fears at your next physical and ask for their suggestions on how to best keep an eye on things to keep you well. Remember, past performance is not and indicator of future events. It’s not easy to remember when anxiety has a hold on you, but it’s been the truest thing I’ve learned.

Thanks Binn - always good to hear from you. Feeling much better today - a good night's rest sometimes does wonders. To answer your questions - Genetics...It seems so. My dad died at 55 from a heart attack, but he was also a lifelong smoker (I am not) and he pretty much gave up on exercise the last 5 years of his life (I still exercise 3-4 times a week). My mothers father also had died in his 50s from a heart attack, but he also was a big smoker and drinker. I have a regular doctor and cardiologist. They both said I am overweight and should lose weight and triglycerides have been high in some checkups but normal in others. otherwise they happy with my health numbers and markers. both have said they don't have anything they worry about when it comes to my health. At the root of my issue is that sometimes I still worry that I will have one. That checkups only show a snapshot of that day. that "healthy" people still have them (i.e. Bob Harper) and that no one knows absolutely for sure. That leads to doubt, leads to bad thoughts, leads to anxiety, causes chest pains, etc. Knowing that I am not doing anything outright dangerous (except for weight) should give me some positive. And normally it does. Its just that bad days can be bad.

I take magnesium daily. I dont know if it has directly helped my anxiety, but it has helped some of the underlying causes - - helps me sleep better - keeps me regular - relaxes the muscles which keeps my aches and pains from stress tightness down. So its a big win for me since I have started taking it.

ingrown hair, pimple, small cyst (they are completely harmless) that may go away on its own.

Hi AC Friends - I have been off the boards recently as I have sought therapy for my anxiety issues, and so far its been going well. My family took a vacation to Florida last week and normally that sets my HA and GAD off completely, but I was actually pretty normal for the visit. I was really proud of myself. But the last 48 hours since my return things have just crashed down: - Late flight home and inability to get back on a sleep schedule gave me only 9 hours of sleep combined for the past 2 nights. - came back to a s--t storm of work back at my job. Lots of stress and requirements for immediate decisions - due to lack of sleep have not been able to work out. Being on vacation gave me a terrible body image as well and added to my stress of being out of shape = certain impending heart attack. - This morning, the news had a big story of a local politician (thin, fit, good looking guy) dead at the age of 60 from a heart attack. Then a story in the newspaper about another guy who found new meaning in his life after a heart attack at age 45. (Note, I am 48). This has all led up to one big anxiety trigger for me today. My left arm has felt "inflated" (although not visibly bigger) and pain in my fingers/lower arm/wrist (I have been thinking for a while I have carpal tunnel) I have been having stressful chest pains on and off all day - although not at the same time as the arm...that would have REALLY set me off. The logical me knows that the stories in the news plus a bad mental image of my health right now is probably the root cause. But I cant stop the negative thoughts. My kids are picking up on it as well and that is really bothering me. Here I am, back again, as a panic-filled person who cant stop thinking that I am dying and cant get out of my own head. And I thought I was doing so well. Thanks for listening.

I have been dealing with fairly regular acid reflux for the last 10 years or so - and I can tell you that it is truly an issue that compounds on itself. Acid reflux makes me stressed from its symptoms (all the ones you mentioned), which makes me want to sympathy eat - which is usually reflux-causing foods, rinse and repeat. Like Binn said, Tums is a good choice. Gaviscon tastes like drinking chalk for me but it really shuts all the reflux down If the meds route doesn't work for you, my suggestion is to embrace and own you actions in a positive way. Yes, the wine causes reflux, but it brought down your stress level and helped you relax. (If not, note that as well and try something else next time). But also know that one day or one week of bad food choices will not erode your stomach. That happens over years and even decades. Go easy on yourself and these choices. Its just one bad day.

FWIW as a guy I get these too - although I have yet to tie them to my period. Sometimes I think it could be a temporary rise in blood pressure, or a release of adrenalin from an anxious moment or thought. Either way, they are uncomfortable and certainly a little scary. But haven't had one result in anything bad.

It has happened to me. I have never been able to pinpoint a reason why, but I have a feeling it can a cause of mild dehydration, or a funny sleeping position.

DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) is a pretty common thing and I get it quite often after a heavy or extended weight training day...but like 24-48 hours after. It sounds like DOMS and then a resulting panic attack from the chest soreness sensation. I have been exactly where you are a number of times before. It sucks, but you have to remind yourself of what do did at the gym and how it can affect you afterward.