This has to be bad this time...

[red]

Im soooooo fed up. I've been doing really well and haven't even felt the need to come and check this site out. Just an hour ago whilst driving down to my parents, i had terrible pressure pain in my chest for about 2 seconds and then panic cos of the palpitations that followed. I've noticed i have been having more and more episodes of palps and feeling a little anxious about them, but i have never had pressure accross my chest like this before!!! I am convinced i am about to have a heart attack.

Please help. I have had an ecg and eco last year, which was fine, but im just so scared there is something wrong with my heart. i keep having episodes of breathlessness, well more like i dont feel like im getting enough air.

Does anyone get sudden pressure all over there chest? please say you do cos im going out of my mind here!!

red x

[MJF]

These feeling are so very common with panic attacks.  I have gotten them more times than I could count.  I know the feeling of heaviness or pressure on your chest and breathlesness, I really do.  The funny thing is that I get these feelings all the time when driving, because I get a bit nervous (all that open space) in the car.  Does driving trigger panic with you?

I am not sure how old you are, or whether you have any health issues (it sounds like you have been checked out).  Maybe a stress test would ease your mind?  If you are in your 30s or older then it is a good idea anyway. 

[red]

Thanks for replying. I usually dont ever get anxious when im driving unless im going somewhere unfamiliar. Im 33 and i do have a history of irregular heart beats. i had to have an oblation done in 2004 (Small procedure done on the heart) which is were the obsession with any pain or sensation began.

 echo x 2, and about 6 ECG's!!!  since the oblation. if i had a problem they would have found by now right? god, its so easy for me to rationalise this when im not having the pain, but as soon as it kicks in or the palpitations start, that good old irrational nonesense starts plaguing my very tired brain 

[MJF]

I think many people (after having any procedure on their heart) would be a bit anxious about any sort of flutter or palpitations.  This was to correct some electrical issues?  They obviously ruled out any structural abnormality or stuff like long QT syndrome with the echo and ECG and gave you a clean bill of health. 

I know for me it took a long time (and many cardiologist appointments) to put my panic-induced heart symptoms into perspective.  I would get bouts of tachycardia where my heart rate would go up to 150 bpm, and palpitations on top of that.  I still do, but I have managed to convince myself that it is all panic, which it is.