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Avatar universal

Is this a panic attack, or something else?

Not how I wanted to start the new year off, but it is what it is...

Some background:
I'm 27 years old. I've recently had full blood work done - all of which came back normal. I had a stress test in 2013 to check for any deformities. My heart is fine. I've suffered with panic attacks for awhile. Been to the hospital many times, all of which are normal results, so you can understand why I don't want to go.

I'm going to make an appointment next week, but it's Sunday and I'm really nervous, so I figured I could get some opinions or maybe so peace of mind.

I woke up this morning, didn't sleep that well, feeling shaky and disoriented. Started feeling fine. Sitting at my computer I start to feel weird in my chest, like a palpitation but not really. I guess that's confusing, but it's the best way I can describe it. My blood pressure was fine, pulse was high (100-109) and my blood oxygen level was 98%. So all was pretty normal. Anyway, I drank water and calmed myself down well enough to relax a bit, then I got up to get some cereal, as I was eating it, the feeling came back in my chest. I feel like I'm going to panic and just want to get calm again.

What's going on with my body? Is this really all stress/anxiety related or what?

Thanks...
4 Responses
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Avatar universal
People always say blood was was done and everything is normal. Problem is that lab ranges are set to low in many tests and maybe the blood wasn't tested for something as simple as a vitamin or mineral deficiency.

Of course anxiety can come on fast and just be that...anxiety.

Was your Vitamin D or Vitamin B12 tested?

Low magnesium can cause issues as well. Testing isn't very helpful with it though.
Helpful - 0
19738073 tn?1483515944
It sounds like common anxiety, which is NEVER common when it's happening to you. Good answers and ideas below. I also recommend, since you mentioned the water, that you try to drink more water during the day. Having nervousness while you sleep can cause temporary acid reflux, which will feel a LOT like anxiety and bring on the anxious condition all the more. I've called the EMTs due to this happening to me. Watch your caffeine intake [coffee, colas, chocolate [things I dearly love] and increase water and see if that helps. Maybe even Tums® or Maalox. You'll know right away if those work. Good luck!
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Avatar universal
Two possibilities -- you have something wrong with you your doctors aren't looking hard enough for or, more likely, you're suffering from chronic anxiety.  There are a lot of possible physiological explanations for anxiety attacks and doctors are way too busy and anxiety is an easy way to get rid of you -- and by giving you medication keeping you on their patient list for good.  Some harder to find things are thyroid problems, subtle blood sugar problems, hormonal imbalances, hidden viruses, food intolerances, etc.  But you can't look for something forever -- at some point you accept there's nothing physically wrong with you and get into therapy to fix the anxiety problem if you can.  Were you looking at anything on the computer that might have bothered you?  Do you spend an inordinate amount of time at home or work on the computer -- that can also cause some of your symptoms.  
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2 Comments
I was being intimate with my girlfriend (I'm in a long distance relationship) and after I finished is when it hit me. My chest was palpitating and then it just went down hill from there. I workout at the gym a lot so I wasn't too concerned. Like I said, I've had a stress and echo test done on my heart because I've been worried before in 2013. The cardiologist said I had no abnormalities or anything. But this is the second day and it's still going on. The palpitations, fluttering feeling. I have acid reflux too so I don't know if it's all mixed together, but I'm worried and I really don't want to go to the hospital. I HATE the hospital. I've been like 20 times and each time was normal. I can't afford it and don't want to unless I'm in crippling pain, which I'm not, I'm just scared and it is uncomfortable and wont go away.

But I checked everything today - My blood pressure is normal (121/70) pulse is in the 60s, and my blood oxygen is 99%...

So, what's going on...
1. A heart attack feels like a huge weight being pressed against your chest instead of what you have been imagining is a heart issue.
2. If you had heart problems as long as you have kept wondering, you would be dead so that prove your heart is ok like the docs say.
I hope the above is of use in looking calmly at it next time you tense up and sweat in fear thinking your heart might not be ok. Heart is ok so if you can calm down and shrug the self-made "symptoms" off then they will disappear. Not everyone can do that but it is the only way to peace.
Avatar universal
i have the same symptoms, very panicky all of a sudden
are you taking any anxiety meds?
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