I think I know why my pulse seems weak

[AbnormallyAnxious]

About a month ago I checked my pulse persistently. Like 15 times a day. And once while I was checking it I pressed a little too hard on my neck under my chin and felt like a ball in my neck (I think it was the lymph node) move from it's place. So maybe that's why I cant get that firm pulse anymore? I don't even know if what I'm saying makes sense to you guys but I'm here if there are any misunderstandings. I'll try to explain more; When one is taking their pulse from their neck, they put their fingers on the lymph nodes. And I feel something has dislocated in my neck, and that's why my pulse seems 'weak'. I've also noticed the right side of my neck has a stronger pulse, the side where I didn't feel pain and discomfort after pressing for my pulse.

Do you guys agree?

[gcalex]

I agree that you are extremely anxious and obsessed with monitoring your bodily functions and entrenched in the belief that something is wrong with you when there is zero evidence to that effect.

[floridaguy65]

Hey AA:)

What I read is someone trying to find some reasoning in what's going on in their thinking patterns and there is a compulsive output of that stress / anxiety. That output is you continually monitoring your vitals and checking things on your body, especially your heartrate / pulse. Justification, and then questioning the validity, of the mechanics of your actual checking are part of your overall struggles. This even folds over into you overanalyzing changes (perceived or actual) in your body. You are caught up in a fear cycle. Your actions are promoting this cycle, fully. But, that said, this is pretty common when an anxiety peep reaches some hyper levels of anxiety / stress / fear / panic.

What is going on in your mental health help?

Where do you live? What is your support system?

There is hope and help, always:) It CAN get better, for sure:)

Peace and Feel Well:)

[AbnormallyAnxious]

Guys I was serious writing that. When one checks their pulse, where do they put their fingers? There's a proper way to do it, which is getting a grip on your the lymph nodes of your neck, no?

[sky3942]

To check a pulse you use your wrist. Left wrist find your radial pulse use your point finger and middle and ring finger. Count for one minute. When checking your Carotid pulse use the same 3 fingers and place them on either side of the throat area and count for one minute. As a health professional we never use the Carotid unless were checking for life or death. Also don't worry if one side of you body has higher pulse rate or stronger or weaker it will be different because we have arteries on different sides of the body which will give a stronger pulse. And why are you checking so many times? It is only making you anxiety worse. I am telling you this because one i know you are worried but there is nothing to be worried over.

[vardnas]

You don't need to be jamming your fingers into your neck to get a pulse. Two or three fingers lightly on the side of the neck is all that's necessary. My doctor scolded me once for putting too much pressure on my neck. AA, have you ever thought that you feel a "weaker" pulse because of the layers of skin and flesh and tendons and such on you neck? It doesn't have anything to do with how hard your heart is working.

Read again what FLG has written to you. It is good advice and he speaks truth.

[bertybotts]

Do you wanna know the best way to check your pulse? Come close, here's a secret!!! The answer? NOT AT ALL. You have no reason whatsoever to check your pulse. Your heart is fine. You have lymph nodes and bumps and normal bodily things. Stop the pulse checking. It is so destructive. Self monitoring is a road to destruction. Just don't.

[kmwondering]

^that!!!!!

[AbnormallyAnxious]

You guys are seriously missing out on my whole point.. :L is it possible for the lymph nodes to be moved? i'm telling you guys i felt serious pain after pressing that day and I felt a dislocation sensation in my neck.

0213 vardan, no i've never thought of that because my neck is very skin i've no flesh to change the way i feel my pulse.
0213 sky, what do you mean by we have stronger arteries? are you saying my left heart artery is weaker than the right and that's why i got a better pulse on the right side of my neck?

[vardnas]

No. You can't move your lymph nodes. Are you making this stuff up to mess with us?

[gcalex]

AA likes to argue, I think.

[bertybotts]

You guys are seriously missing out on my whole point.. :L is it possible for the lymph nodes to be moved? i'm telling you guys i felt serious pain after pressing that day and I felt a dislocation sensation in my neck.

0213 vardan, no i've never thought of that because my neck is very skin i've no flesh to change the way i feel my pulse.
0213 sky, what do you mean by we have stronger arteries? are you saying my left heart artery is weaker than the right and that's why i got a better pulse on the right side of my neck?

Sure, you can dislodge your lymph nodes. It would hurt like a son of a bitch and you would end up in the hospital if you ripped one out of its root.

[gcalex]

Don't tell her that, she will be convinced that's what she did.  AA -- you didn't.

[bertybotts]

Don't tell her that, she will be convinced that's what she did.  AA -- you didn't.

She would know. She would be screaming. In pain.

[AbnormallyAnxious]

I'm not making anything up. I thought maybe I've affected something in my throat that helps me feel my pulse. And I was sorta happy because I knew why my pulse seemed weak when it really wasn't. Now that I know what I think happened hasn't...