I think I have congestive heart failure

[brisbxne]

Okay so this is my first time posting to a forum like this but I've been really scared these last few days. To tell you a little about myself; I am 19 years old and I was diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder, major depression and a few other things a few years back. Recently, things have really taken a turn for the worst and I am convinced I have congestive heart failure. I keep holding my breath to focus on my heart and I check my pulse as much as I can and it feels like my heart is beating faster than it should be. I googled the symptoms of congestive heart failure and I read that excess urination at night, dizziness, fatigue, palpitations and shortness of breath are signs of it. The night I read about the symptoms, I found myself peeing a lot more than I usually would. On Saturday, August 25th, I got super dizzy and it felt as if I was going to pass out and I broke out in a sweat and was shaking. I had an ekg and chest x-ray done not TOO long ago and nothing came of it and I was able to go home, but I feel like the doctors lied to me and I actually have end stage congestive heart failure, but they just didn't want me freaking out in my final days. I seriously think I'm dying. Often now when I wake up, I immediately start thinking about my heart, or sometimes I'll wake up with my heart already racing. I don't know what to do. I told my mother but she said there's nothing to worry about and that I'm fine but she doesn't truly know that. Has anyone ever felt this way before? I am terrified. I'm scared to go to the hospital because what if I actually do have it. As I'm typing this, there is a dull pain on my upper left arm. Am I having a heart attack? I know that silent heart attacks are a thing and I'm scared I'm experiencing those as well.

Another thing I forgot to mention is that I smoke weed. Or I used to, I haven't smoked much recently. I know that smoking can cause heart issues as well. So I am pretty sure I'm dying. Sorry that this is all over the place. Also in the past, I've been sure that I had a brain tumor, bacterial meningitis, stomach cancer and nerve damage.

 

[Jstan92]

Can relate to this oh so much, sometimes i feel the pain of something that is all in my head. I hope that you can get over this and feel better. I really don't think you have CHF, especially at such a young age. Maybe seek some one on one counseling and find some things that make you feel relaxed.

 

[LostMyWay]

Well I was diagnosed with major depression as well, and though I have never been checked for anxiety I know I deal with it (I don't need a doctor just to tell me that). So anyway, yes I feel almost exactly as you described, fast and heavy heartbeat, dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, basically all of it. At the time I was diagnosed with the depression, which was 2 years ago, I was also checked for heart problems since I was feeling those same things back then as well. Just like you though, they found nothing wrong and said it was due to anxiety and depression. Do I believe them? No, because I always worry that something is wrong. Should I believe them? Probably, because on the rare occasions that I do actually feel normal my heart is normal too. I too used to smoke weed, and smoked it for I would say at least 10 years or more plus even smoked cigarettes for about 2 or 3 years as well. Back around the time I was still smoking the weed I would get these really sharp pains in my chest from time to time, they felt like something was stabbing me in the chest and going out through my back. They were so bad that I went to the hospital for it once, and they found that nothing was wrong. To this day I still don't know what those were, but any time I feel even the slightest of pains in my chest now I panic... and I feel pains in my chest almost every day.

So would I be worried if I were you? I can't say honestly. Depression and anxiety can really mess with you mentally and physically, so what you're feeling could just be a result of that. Maybe there's something wrong and maybe there isn't, you could have a reason to be worried or you could be like so many with anxiety and be worried about nothing. My heart beats too fast almost constantly now, and no matter what I'm always afraid that something is wrong and I'm sure you're probably the same way right? I'm sure some people will tell you not to worry, but how can you not worry when it's something like your heart that doesn't seem to be right? If you're that worried about it I would honestly get checked again. I know you're afraid that something is wrong and that they will find it, but if something IS wrong then you need to catch it as early as possible that way it will be more likely to be treatable. The longer you wait, the worse things could be.

 

[Xhemal Leka]

If I were you I’d go see a cardiologist to rule out that there isn’t anything wrong with you. It’s most likely the anxiety doing this and playing it’s mind game. You should do these tests... Echocardiogram, blood work, chest X-ray, and stress test. After you get the results and know that you are fine. This will give you piece of minds and to relax.

 

[RemyAnonymous]

Okay so this is my first time posting to a forum like this but I've been really scared these last few days. To tell you a little about myself; I am 19 years old and I was diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder, major depression and a few other things a few years back. Recently, things have really taken a turn for the worst and I am convinced I have congestive heart failure. I keep holding my breath to focus on my heart and I check my pulse as much as I can and it feels like my heart is beating faster than it should be. I googled the symptoms of congestive heart failure and I read that excess urination at night, dizziness, fatigue, palpitations and shortness of breath are signs of it. The night I read about the symptoms, I found myself peeing a lot more than I usually would. On Saturday, August 25th, I got super dizzy and it felt as if I was going to pass out and I broke out in a sweat and was shaking. I had an ekg and chest x-ray done not TOO long ago and nothing came of it and I was able to go home, but I feel like the doctors lied to me and I actually have end stage congestive heart failure, but they just didn't want me freaking out in my final days. I seriously think I'm dying. Often now when I wake up, I immediately start thinking about my heart, or sometimes I'll wake up with my heart already racing. I don't know what to do. I told my mother but she said there's nothing to worry about and that I'm fine but she doesn't truly know that. Has anyone ever felt this way before? I am terrified. I'm scared to go to the hospital because what if I actually do have it. As I'm typing this, there is a dull pain on my upper left arm. Am I having a heart attack? I know that silent heart attacks are a thing and I'm scared I'm experiencing those as well.

Another thing I forgot to mention is that I smoke weed. Or I used to, I haven't smoked much recently. I know that smoking can cause heart issues as well. So I am pretty sure I'm dying. Sorry that this is all over the place. Also in the past, I've been sure that I had a brain tumor, bacterial meningitis, stomach cancer and nerve damage.

It’ll be hard for me to adequately respond how I want to, but I’ll do my best. I have been in your shoes. I AM STILL in your shoes. When My anxiety gets bad, the physical manifestations all mimic symptoms having to do with my heart. I have come to believe that this is due to my previously obsessive online reach and googling about heart issues and their symptoms. Anxiety is a shape shifter. It feeds on our fears and stokes them in the worst possible ways. I believe that I only have certain symptoms because my brain knows they’re typically associated with the heart. Had I not spent time googling or reading about them, I don’t think I’d have those particular symptoms.

The moral of the story is: GOOGLE IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. It gives the anxious part of our brain weaponized ideas about how to make ya the most afraid and panicked. The first big step I made to improve my anxiety was to resist the urge to look up everything I was feeling. It was hard. I would reach for my phone and then stop and say “No. I don’t need to look this up. It’s the anxiety and I know it is.” I know it’s difficult, but you should really get off Google.

Part of the symptoms you’re inevitably feeling come from your intense focus. Without necessarily realizing it, you may be holding your breath and thus reducing the oxygen you get. That’s sounds more intense than it is, but really all it does is accentuates other symptoms - like dizziness or lightheadedness. It’s better to find an activity that takes your mind OFF of the symptoms, not trying to hone in on them. My anxiety is always worse when I’m left alone with my thoughts. Books and video games are some of my distractions. (TV and movies don’t grip my attention enough)

I have had EVERY SINGLE symptom of heart failure and heart attack (except vomiting or coughing up blood) and my heart is strong and healthy. Anxiety is tricky. It hyjacks your body and presents you with exactly what you’re afraid of. Once you can accept that, you can start really feeling more at ease. You can do it. You’re going to be ok.

 

[brisbxne]

It’ll be hard for me to adequately respond how I want to, but I’ll do my best. I have been in your shoes. I AM STILL in your shoes. When My anxiety gets bad, the physical manifestations all mimic symptoms having to do with my heart. I have come to believe that this is due to my previously obsessive online reach and googling about heart issues and their symptoms. Anxiety is a shape shifter. It feeds on our fears and stokes them in the worst possible ways. I believe that I only have certain symptoms because my brain knows they’re typically associated with the heart. Had I not spent time googling or reading about them, I don’t think I’d have those particular symptoms.

The moral of the story is: GOOGLE IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. It gives the anxious part of our brain weaponized ideas about how to make ya the most afraid and panicked. The first big step I made to improve my anxiety was to resist the urge to look up everything I was feeling. It was hard. I would reach for my phone and then stop and say “No. I don’t need to look this up. It’s the anxiety and I know it is.” I know it’s difficult, but you should really get off Google.

Part of the symptoms you’re inevitably feeling come from your intense focus. Without necessarily realizing it, you may be holding your breath and thus reducing the oxygen you get. That’s sounds more intense than it is, but really all it does is accentuates other symptoms - like dizziness or lightheadedness. It’s better to find an activity that takes your mind OFF of the symptoms, not trying to hone in on them. My anxiety is always worse when I’m left alone with my thoughts. Books and video games are some of my distractions. (TV and movies don’t grip my attention enough)

I have had EVERY SINGLE symptom of heart failure and heart attack (except vomiting or coughing up blood) and my heart is strong and healthy. Anxiety is tricky. It hyjacks your body and presents you with exactly what you’re afraid of. Once you can accept that, you can start really feeling more at ease. You can do it. You’re going to be ok.

I just wanna say thank you so much. You actually made me feel a lot better. I mean it sucks that people have to feel this way but it's comforting knowing that you aren't alone with how you feel. Last night I had a panic attack and I was SO sure it was a heart attack. Rapid heart beat, tingling sensations, arm pain but it was dull and only in one spot. But here I am now and I feel fine. I woke up with my heart beating a little fast but I know it's because I went to bed panicking and when I woke up, I immediately thought about it and my heart. Also I didn't google ANYTHING today really and it made a difference. I've had an EKG done this year and last year, as well as blood work and a chest x-ray and everything came back fine. So I know that I'm fine. It's just crazy how anxiety can make you believe anything and can manifest in such horrible ways lmao. But thank you so much. I know I'm going to be okay. It's just hard convincing myself of that whenever I'm SO sure that I'm dying.

 

[Wooyall9]

I would NOT go see a cardiologist. Take it from me. I’m 38 and have had years of google searching. Google excessive urination and you will see 100’s of thousands of reasons. I can tell you that if you’ve had an X-ray and someone used a stethoscope on you which your pedi has, theybwould pick up on CHF. I’ve thought I’ve had things that caused dizzying and excessive urination and when I stopped obsessing over those things and something else came into my head to obsess over, those symptoms went away. Just thinking about being dizzy makes me dizzy. When you feel dizzy trying walking in a straight line. Bet you will walk it fine. Try not drinking liquids for a few hours and you will be able to tell if you are peeing normal or excessively.

 

[Wooyall9]

I just wanna say thank you so much. You actually made me feel a lot better. I mean it sucks that people have to feel this way but it's comforting knowing that you aren't alone with how you feel. Last night I had a panic attack and I was SO sure it was a heart attack. Rapid heart beat, tingling sensations, arm pain but it was dull and only in one spot. But here I am now and I feel fine. I woke up with my heart beating a little fast but I know it's because I went to bed panicking and when I woke up, I immediately thought about it and my heart. Also I didn't google ANYTHING today really and it made a difference. I've had an EKG done this year and last year, as well as blood work and a chest x-ray and everything came back fine. So I know that I'm fine. It's just crazy how anxiety can make you believe anything and can manifest in such horrible ways lmao. But thank you so much. I know I'm going to be okay. It's just hard convincing myself of that whenever I'm SO sure that I'm dying.

Do you eat healthy and stay hydrated? Dehydration causes high heart beat, dizziness and palpitations.