Hot Flash? Icy-Hot Feeling in Chest

[Boo89]

Hi Everyone,

Looking to see if anyone has experienced this before. I had GAD, occasional full blown panic attacks, and at this point my therapist says OCD caused by hypochondria (nervous wreck  )

Lately there have been some family health issues which are stressing me out more than normal (normal is already pretty bad). Last Monday, Sunday and yesterday I was my usual tense, scared for what the day may bring self but at one point I felt a sudden fear of fainting/something bad happening. Then I got this "hot flash" (I'm 23 so not sure what a real one feels like yet) where my chest felt like something really hot was passing through it - kind of like the hot part of icy-hot. It would freak me out and I would feel weak (scared I was going to faint) and then my heart rate would go up and I would freak out more thinking who is going to help me/what if I faint/what if's...

Of course nothing happens and I am able to calm myself to my usual tense state (my legs are often really weak bc I can feel myself clench my thighs). Then I usually get a slight headache and am super sensitive to everything. After yesterday I feel a little paranoid still - my left elbow hurts a little, back of my head has an occasional dull ache, my chest feel tight at times. My therapist says its anxiety but its like a new symptom which makes me want to go to my PCP to get a physical (really I want an MRI/PET scan to rule everything out) but my PCP always said its anxiety & I'm way too high strung.

I only take 5 mg of beta blockers (my heart rate is low ... like 50s) and never had blood pressure/sugar issues. I havent been eating too well lately (not often/small portions) but thats b/c of the family health issues.

Thanks for any feedback

[mollyfin]

Sounds like anxiety to me.  I get things that sound similar to what you're describing.

[heathers]

I also get the icy-hot feeling. For me it's mostly focused on my head and face and goes down my spine. I've been seeing a neurologist about this and some other symptoms. I think I've come to terms that my icy-hot feeling is my anxiety because during an attack I did feel it in my chest (which was new) and it does overall get worse during attacks. Also, my doctors don't seem too worried about it.
Hope this helps to put your mind at ease!

[rhaney83]

I also get this feeling. A feeling of warmth over the upper body right? Consumes you when your anxious, right? I guess it is anxiety.

[tamay138]

I get that.  It will be in my head sometimes, but usually my back, chest & upper arms.  Thought I was having a heart attack the first few times.  I've had a few EKG's, chest x-ray.  Everything is good.  So, I fight with that in my head now.