Heart Palpitations Forum http://palps.chemicalforums.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl Heart Palpitations Forum >> Symptoms and other concerns >> Bad Day http://palps.chemicalforums.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1187785726 Message started by Stu M on Aug 22nd, 2007, 5:28am

Title: Bad Day Post by Stu M on Aug 22nd, 2007, 5:28am Hi Guys, Been taking the beta blockers for some time now and on the whole things are improving, but today Im a bit worried and need some help. Not with skipped beats but with my anxiety this time. Ive been getting a pain deep in the bone of my chin, I know sound inocuous, but I recall someone telling me before that pains in the throat and chin can be indicative of heart attack :(  So as soon as I got this pain, my palms started to sweat, and get tightness in my chest, and get very very dizzy (which is unusual for me), burning feeling doen left arm, but no skipped beats which is strange. So now im in panic mode, and need some reassurance I think.  I know it sounds silly but is this pain anything to worry about, have I been missinformed?  Am I just panicking and so hyperventilating and is the pain in my chin just muscular? Thanks Stu

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by beadbabe on Aug 22nd, 2007, 6:57am Oh hi Stu. I am sorry to hear you are feeling bad.  :( I am sure RLR won't be far away but in the mean time, I am sure it is not going to happen. I don't know about chin pain but the fact that you are dizzy the moment you got a weird pain sounds like the kind of anxiety I have. And I have it from personal experience that anxiety symptoms move around the body. In some anxious people a tiny trigger that the brain subconsciously associates with something dangerous is enough to trigger a panic or high anxiety - which includes many symptoms including the ones you are having. Oh I sound very rational, don't I? Of course I can never rationalise this myself when it happens to me. Warning this bit is not meant to frighten anyone ... A friend of mine's dad has had two heart attacks and suffers from palpitations and even he says that palpitations are very different from a heart attack. He says if you are having a heart attack you will really know about it, you will not be thinking 'oh am I having a heart attack'? If you are really worried about it - get it checked out, but if there was a way for you to relax and calm I expect you would feel a little better. Hope to hear back from you that you are feeling okay! beadbabe

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by angiebaby on Aug 22nd, 2007, 9:09am Hi, i hope you are feeling a bit better by now.  I get pains all over the place and my body goes straight into panic mode and i try and talk myself around all the time.  When i was nursing heart patients in the hospital, there were a lot that would be suffering with the 'classic' pains and symptoms of heart problems or indeed of having a heart attack.  After assessing them and giving them some gaviscon or mismag - wind medication - they did a good few burps and they were fine again.  But the symptoms that they were having were classic symptoms too, they had the cold sweat and the pain, funny feelings down the left arm, sickness, dizziness and jaw and neck pain.  It is said that indegestion etc, can mock the symptoms of heart problems and that is why sometimes it is so difficult to tell.  I do not know if anyone has ever suffered from 'wind around the heart', i have on many occasions and so has my hubby and the pain is absolutly horrific and you can't take a deep breathe and you sweat and in fact you can't even move.  Then you could have pulled something, it could be muscular.  I know how difficult it is but try and relax, are you hungry or could it be a pull or wind?  If it continues or worsens and you are still unhappy and scared then get it checked out to put your mind at rest.  Have you had any heart checks at all?xx

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by beadbabe on Aug 22nd, 2007, 10:06am hey - I just had another thought Stu. Is anything going on in your life to confirm that it is increased anxiety? I have been having worse symptoms these past few weeks and I am starting to put it down to kids being off school - misbehaving and being constantly demanding (they are 5 and 3). I don't get a minute to myself. eg. I counted having to get up more than 20 times during dinner for different demands and earlier today I have had to mop out the toilet four times and my head is spinning with dizziness and I can hardly move now. Tension headache (I hope ;)  ) like nobody's business. Not surprising I am ill with anxiety and palpitations, really. Husband is away too so this is my only social outlet today (how sad is that?!) Hope you are feeling better.

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by RLR on Aug 22nd, 2007, 10:26am Hi Stu, Sorry to hear that you're having a bad day. Hopefully my post with bring back a smile and some degree of comfort. Referred pain from a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack is rather specific and where the jaw is of concern, is felt as a rather painful surge along the lower crest of the mandible or along the bottom of the jaw line to the mental protuberence, which is the center of the chin. While this can be associated with an ischemic condition of the heart, it is more commonly seen with something called Sternocleidomastoid syndrome. The clavicular region of the SCMs can cause referred pain to the neck, ear and tip of the chin, not necessarily in combination. It is usually the consequence of stress and diminished range of motion in the neck is oftentimes observed. Trigger points are sort of rolled fiberous sections of muscle tissue that react to pressure and I'll bet if you inspect the area of the SCMs, you'll find it to be tender and you may even be able to reproduce the facial pain by forcefully pressing the relative trigger point. Incidentally, in case you need a roadmap, the SCMs are located vertically on either side of the neck about midline and extend through the ear downward and appear as the rather tubular looking muscles on the neck. Testing range of motion is simply done by turning the head so that you are trying to touch your shoulder with your chin in either direction and then tilting the head to either side as if trying to touch your shoulder with your ear. If a good deal of tightness and or pain is experienced, combined with reduced range of motion, then you're likely looking at a musculo-skeletal issue here instead of a heart attack.   Interestingly enough, SCM syndrome has also been suggested to effect equilibrium, so in instances where the pain and tension are sufficient enough, dizziness and loss of balance has been reported, including episodes of nausea in some cases. While I certainly haven't examined you, my impression would be SCM syndrome due to stress and tension and the subsequent fear encountered from misinterpreting the pain at your chin likely drew forth an adrenalin response that would explain the sweating and other sensations. If alternatively, you feel convinced that the pain is referred pain from a heart attack, then you should certainly make decisions about seeking medical attention to rule out the possibility. In the absence of previous supporting clinical data and test results lending credence to the possibility of heart disease, I'm of the opinion that you're misinterpreting the pain in your chin. I'd take a breath and relax. Best regards and Good Health

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by Stu M on Aug 22nd, 2007, 10:32am Hi, Thanks for the thoughts guys, im feeling a little bit better, but still feel very light headed and 'out of it', lost my appetite too and feel sick this evening :( Work stresses me out, but today has been good.  Ive been feeling really exhausted for the last 4-5 days and havent been sleeping well.  Normal worries, health, money etc nothing out of the ordinary. I think I may be coming down with a virus perhaps, I seem to just keep going nowadays as I have a 3 year old son, so perhaps Im just ill and normally would be wrapped up recoveing instead of continuing and suffering and then panicking.  Dont know.  Just concerned about this new pain in my lower jaw/chin that seems to have started, and also the ligh headedness, and although I have stomach problems, its not often I lose my appetite!   Going to try and take it easy tonight, my wife has suggested yoga long term, as I think I need to relax  ;)

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by Stu M on Aug 22nd, 2007, 10:37am Hi RLR, Sorry I think I was posting at the same time as you and hence didnt see your response straight away. Just to clarify, my pain seem to run from around my adams apple up to the tip of my chin, underneath and just slightly off to the right as a shooting pain, and also sometimes just a pain at the point of the chin I just explained. Does this still sound muscular? If I move my head as you suggested, it is very tense at the back of my kneck and shoulders, but no pain in jaw or chin? Also one last thing, ive had no pain in the chest area, and minor skipped beats today. Thanks for all your help. Stu

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by angiebaby on Aug 22nd, 2007, 1:02pm I know that you say you feel sick but have you actually had something to eat Stu?

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by RLR on Aug 22nd, 2007, 1:13pm Hi Stu, I'm gonna sit on the side of musculo-skeletal for the time being. There's nothing in your posted history that would suggest MI or ischemic events would even be a consideration. That sort of shooting pain is somewhat inconsistent with the type of jaw pain referred from ischemia and is more persistent in duration and intensity. The fact that you seem to be describing other symptoms that sound somewhat indicative of viral infection, I'd be inclined to think you've caught a bug so aches and pains are part of the process and the usual duration is 5 to 7 days before you feel yourself again. My opinion here is to get plenty of rest, clear fluids and eat light meals until symptoms pass. If not better in 10 days, seek evaluation unless symptoms take a turn for the worse. I think you'll be fine, Stu. Best regards and Good Health

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by billycat on Aug 22nd, 2007, 1:14pm Hi Stu, I often get jaw/chin pain in the middle of panic attacks and I have read that this feeling is quite common of panic. I once had it so bad driving on a motorway about 12 years ago - with dizziness, pain down arms, numb hands and feet and vision problems - I thought I was going to pass out, crash and die on the motorway - and I have never driven on a motorway since. (I have developed a rather spectacular phobia of motorways due to that one incident  ::) ) I have never heard of the thing that RLR describes, but it makes sense and it really does sound like anxiety symptoms to me (if thats worth anything!?!) and it also sounds like you may be tying your phsyical feelings to fear of a heart attack - so they may potentially hang around until you feel less fearful. Does that make any sense? My therapist continually reminds me not to tie things in my head (ie Pain in jaw MUST equal heart attack, so then you get arm pain, numbness, dizziness etc etc and anything else you associate with a heart attack ) - eg I spent a lot of last year absolutely terrified that I had MS or Motor Neurone because I had numbness in my arms and legs, and this stayed for months and months until I was less afraid and less convinced, and then the physical symptoms seemed to go away (over time). I could well be talking a whole load of rubbish and be completely wrong (apologies if this is the case) - but just thought I'd share my thoughts with you! I hope you have already started to feel better... Take Care x

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by Stu M on Aug 22nd, 2007, 2:50pm Thanks for all your responses and support, Im starting to think its a virus thats made me feel so low, and thats probably why I feel so faint etc too.  Then my anxiety has gone through the roof as it does when I feel out of it, or have some unexpected pains etc. Ive sat down and checked out rationally how my muscles feel, and my kneck and shoulders are so tense and tight that when i stretch them they hurt pretty bad, so Im starting to think my Chin/Jaw pain is linked, as has mentioned. Im obviously stressed and anxious, which is making my muscles tense.  I will see how it goes over the next few days. Once again thanks for the support, its VERY much appreciated. Thanks, Stu  :)

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by beadbabe on Aug 23rd, 2007, 12:53am Stu Hope you're feeling better today. I have a five and three year old and, I tell you, I never get enough rest and they are really contributing to my problems at the moment. the eldest sleeps less than I need to. ie. last night he kept getting up and bothering me with requests until 10 and then he was wide awake and demanding things from 6. I am in for a bad day, and get no time to myself. Even now they are both glued to me asking for drinks, and wanting to know when we are going out and asking what I am typing. Love them to bits but they do nothing for my stress and anxiety levels. Take care - the light-headedness and nausea I have a lot. It is easy to make this worse by not eating because you don't feel like it. Even if you can force some little non-sugary snacks down it will make you feel better. cheese, oat biscuits or something. It's a bit like trying to stave off morning sickness but it might help you during an anxious period. I could go all day without eating at the moment, but I try to eat what I can it and usually makes things better. Bead

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by angiebaby on Aug 23rd, 2007, 3:29am Hope you are feeling better today Stu.  Let us know how you are going on hun.xx

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by Stu M on Aug 23rd, 2007, 7:46am Hi Guys, Feeling 100% better today, although still didnt sleep to well  :( Im convinced now that all my aches pains, dizzyness etc were brought on by stress/anxiety and major, major muscle tension. Ive had a bit of a massage to ease my kneck and shoulders, eaten some food, and relaxed a bit (well as much as you can with anxiety) and feel a lot better.  I still feel exhausted, and tense but I can see where I went over the top yesterday and have a more level headed view of it all today. Beadbabe, I have admiration for anyone who can look after kids full time (especially with anxiety).  My wife does most the work looking after our boy, bless her, while I go out to work in the day.  I know how exhausted she gets, its full on work !!  Just weekends and evenings on top of working a day does me in, but I wouldnt be without him for any a money in the world, he brings a smile to my face everyday  ;D What I need to do is get some rest, I think I may have a virus too as I feel soooo tired.  But hey tomorrow's a new day. Once again thank you everyone for your support, Yesterday was a low low day. Stu  :)

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by beadbabe on Aug 23rd, 2007, 10:23am So pleased you feel better today! bead

Title: Re: Bad Day Post by angiebaby on Aug 23rd, 2007, 4:16pm Great news Stu, glad you are getting better!xx

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