i havent posted on here in quite a while since ive had a pretty crazy summer but i remembered this is always a good place for advice. ill try not to make this any longer than it has to be. about 4 months ago i went through a pretty rough break up with my girlfriend, i eventually got over it after a month or so, then the last week of august i hurt my neck in a demo derby, 2 days later i started having real bad stomach pains so i went to the ER thinking it was appendix, they said no so i went home, the next night i try going to bed but i have a real bad urge to pee, like every 5 seconds, so i go back to the er, they do a urine test, everything looks fine, they send me home, still have stomach pains so make a doc appt. they do more urine tests, xrays, blood tests, everything comes back fine besides my spleen is "moderately enlarged" the whole time im stressing myself out because i feel like crap but cant find out why and my job is laying people off and its not getting any easier. im constantly stressed and so uncomfortable i dont sleep, this past sunday night i started having chest pains and on wednesday night i thought i was having a heart attack so i went to the er again, they did more tests and everything was normal. i got online and did my own research and i think it was an anxiety attack since i have all the symptoms. since this happened i constantly take deep breaths and stay calm, i dont get worked up about anything but my concern is i still have some slight chest pains and occasiosally my heart rate feels a little high. is this all part of the process or what? should it eventually go away if i keep going through my relaxation steps? if it helps im an active 20 year old male im 5'11" 160lbs so im not the least bit out of shape. thanks for the help.

 

Google tachycardia causes. Took wifey into ER in June- she swore she was having a heart attack. Her pulse was 210/90 (!), elevated spleen levels (whatever those are). Came back down on their own- still don't know what caused it. I'm guessing stress. Stress and anxiety can cause some really spooky medical problems. The first thing I'd do is start some type of exercise program, then try to be pro-active about the things in your life that are causing stress. It's the lack of control that's the biggest cause of anxiety- so take steps to try to get a handle on things.

Hope someone else chimes in here.

Edit: tachycardia is quite common, especially in middle-aged males. No one's really sure what causes it.

 

bump for the morning crowd.

 

Ernie's got the right idea. You need to find an activity to get your mind off of things that are stressing you out. You also need to realize and accept the fact that there are some things in life that you will never be able to fully control; at best you might only be able to influence the outcome. That's just how it is, for each and every one of us. Years ago I took on an attitude that "there is no problem that can come my way that I can't overcome". Looking back, that statment still holds true although the outcome is not always precisely what I'd hoped for. But in the end, I've found that somehow everything seems to work out for the better. Hang in there and just remember that no matter how bad your problems seem, there are hundreds of people out there with far greater problems that what you've got going now. Because it's true too.

 

Just as some added help (bearing in mind I hate prescription drugs) I would suggest getting either some Xanax or Ativan 1.0mg (Sub Lingual)

This is just enough drug to take the edge off and it works quickly.

I suffered panic & anxiety attacks for years..without taking this medication I probably wouldn't be here now.I get the odd one...... now and then depending on the circumstances.

 

I have episodes of super ventricular tachycardia (a form of severe abnormal heart rhythms) that can and do feel like a heart attack. My advice is to see your regular doctor and see what he/she thinks. They may refer you to a heart specialist who will most likely have you wear a Halter monitor for a day or two to get some readings of your heart rhythms. While this may be just anxiety attacks I would want to know for sure.

 

I'm 31 and I've had a series of pains in my chest and anxiety attacks as well surrounding relationship issues, work issues, money issues.... the list goes on.

From what you've described you have a heck of alot on your plate right now. Like Cowboy said, find something that will busy your mind. For more long term help, I would suggest some therapy. Talk to someone or journal. Get it off your chest. Like Ernie said, feeling like your out of control of your life is the BIGGEST STRESS. For me, I don't outwardly stress, some how I internalize and it comes out in anxiety attacks and chest pains. I understand what you're going through first hand. Did you know that divorces and breakups are as stressful as deaths? When a doctor told me this once, I realized that I had not been in touch with what I was going through at the time.
Do know that stress causes, diseases and can even kill you. Actively seek out a remedy that will work for you. Talking to someone that is objective and listens will help you clear your head and your heart. Journaling is a tool that can help you let things go that you may not realize you're harboring, or work things out. These are the things I do. It's gone away almost completely since I've done it. I do, like Dennis, get the random, heart racing, but it's usually never more than that.

Diet can also affect your heart rhythms. i.e. too much sodium.

 

thanks for all the input, there was more i could add in there but i wanted to keep it short as possible. i feel better about everything. ive kinda changed my attitude as that i dont care what happens, so that way i wont worry about things. not that im negative but this way i cant stress about it if i dont care. i just try to keep myself relaxed. my only concern is the slight chest pains, if they went away id feel pretty good.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agoraphobia

 

There are many things that can cause the same chest pain, and some of your other symptoms. Some are very serious - like a heart problem. Some are not so serious - for example Reflux (where your stomach valve doesn't close properly, allowing stomach acid back up into the throat - you don't feel burning, you feel chest pain like a heart attack)
Step one is to not let up on the doctors. Go back and tell them of your chest pains.

If it turns out to be true Anxiety Disorder, then you may have already fallen into one of the classic ruts - fear of the fear. Avoiding anything that might cause anxiety becuse it's the anxiety that's so unliveable, not the physical symptoms. True Anxiety Disorder can often be treated with Cognitive Therapy - a very down-to-earth therapy that basically dares you to do things that cause anxiety, but in managebale doses so you re-build up a resistance to it. But this should only undertaken under strict medical supervision.

 

Rebelford4x4, are you a smoker? Heavy coffee drinker? These along with a high stress environment either at work or home will contribute to anxiety attacks. I used to suffer from them on a daily basis, people used to look at me and say my skin color was a pasty white when I was having them. Atavin worked wonders when they really came on strong, but in the end I had to kick the habit (smoking) and make some changes in my life (personal,relationship) and excersise more often and they gradually became less frequent and now they have almost dissappeared. Someone mentioned breathing excersises and they helped also....good luck.

 

If medical reasons are ruled out try Vitamin B. complex. When you're stressed the nervous system burns off the B's which your body needs. Start with 1 cap 3 times daily. If you have trouble sleeping leave off the evening dose. Good physical exercise can also be a good stress reducer. Get rid of the adrenalin build-up.

 

If anyone is looking for a good read about this stuff, try Jay Mohr's "gasping for airtime" book. He's one of the funniest guys out there, and he has suffered anxeity attacks for years.

 

I am 23 and had very simmilar problems all related to anxiety if that is indeed what it is the meds mentioned above work very well my advice would not to use xanax if one of the other similar drugs (benzodiazepine's) work for you. xanax has the shortet half life meaning it works fast but not for long and is easy to become addicted to. ativan or klonopin r the best bet hope you feel better soon.

 

Emotional strees does in many ways manifest in physical events. It can raise your heart rate and your blood pressure. People that have "anxiety attacks" feel they cant catch their breath, this leads to hyperventilation which can cause you to have chest pain, numbness and tingling in your arms and hands. It will eventually make you pass out.

It sounds like your relaxation method is working for for you.

Texas Outlaw your Supra Ventricular tachicardia (SVT) is a serious condition. How many times has that happend to you?