Cardiogram next week and I'm only 22 :(

[Schrodinger]

Last Friday I pulled 64 waking hours, well, with a couple very limited 15 minute naps here and there... finals at college and the deathmarch had me going.

Anyhow I suddenly felt this weird sensation around my heart area, and then it started fluttering and I couldn't breath... it felt like it was pushing all the life out of me and I was trying to suck it in... not my lungs but my heart? I began feeling super dizzy and disoriented.

Mind you earlier that day it began to ache like a bruise/cramp. Then it began to ache constantly, went to see a doc and my bloodwork, breathing and heartbeat etc turn out fine from his perspective...so I'm booked for a cardiogram next week and further inspection.

Its turned from a cramp/bruise like pain to just a weird sensation and instead of being every once in a while its more a constant but much less painful (though it was never painful in the first place, more a discomfort, now its just a weird "I know its there" type thing).

God I keep picturing myself having some terminal heart disease :/ ah reminds me of when my mom had gigantic lymph nodes... took them 2 months to finally have a specialist look at her! (go Canadian healthcare) and the whole time I thought the worst--she had some terminal cancer in late stages.

God I'm too young to die

And the scary thing is that this isn't the first time I've felt the discomfort. I've felt it before but for VERY short periods--like 10 minutes and once or twice a week and not to that amount of pain. Oh yeah and when I was writing my finals it really seemed to flare up with my excited/nervous state from the pressure.

 

[Storm]

Just relax, take the cardiogram and then worry if the results are not good.

 

[Mookow]

Am I a worrying too much or am I really dying? *sigh*

Oh, you're definitely dying. Just like everyone else, one second at a time.




Hope this helps cheer you up

 

[UnatcoAgent]

It sounds like you've warn yourself out from school, and your body has just said enough is enough.

Take it easy, don't worry you will be fine.

 

[geno]

Uh, hope you're ok man!

Don't get too overdramatic just yet, I'm sure that 64 straight hours is hell on your body and would throw your sleep pattern way off, not to mention take some time to recover from. Here's to hoping nothing serious is wrong!

 

[JonnyStarks]

Maybe stressing like crazy over finals has something to do with it.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

64 hours? Get some sleep!

 

[Schrodinger]

Originally posted by: JonnyStarks
Maybe stressing like crazy over finals has something to do with it.

I'm hoping thats it :/ I don't have any formal diagnosis of anxiety but it runs in my family (father has extreme anxiety to the point it is debilitating and takes extensive amounts of prescripts just to cope)

Doesn't help that I've pushed myself just to keep my GPA up this time :/ (no, I'm not Asian heh... just striving for whatever reason)

 

[RavnShield2]

The most important thing is that you are gettin an cardiogram done. But, if nothing comes up, DEMAND to see a specialist. Get a stress test done. The symptoms you are describing were exactly like mine...except I also had severe jaw pain.

I don't want to scare you but you are faaaaar better off gettin a green light from a cardiologist.

I went to my family doc thrice complaining of symptoms. I got a cardiogram done, nothin showed up. B**** told me to get some exercise and that she never heard of symptoms like mine. A month later, I get my very own heart attack at 19yrs old.

Again, MOST likely you are stressed out from exams but if the symptoms persist after you get back into your regular routine...be sure to get it checked out by a cardiologist.

9 more days and it will be one year and I am squatting twice my bodyweight. w00t

If u have any q's, pm or email me. Goodluck

 

[Schrodinger]

Originally posted by: RavnShield2
The most important thing is that you are gettin an cardiogram done. But, if nothing comes up, DEMAND to see a specialist. Get a stress test done. The symptoms you are describing were exactly like mine...except I also had severe jaw pain.

I don't want to scare you but you are faaaaar better off gettin a green light from a cardiologist.

I went to my family doc thrice complaining of symptoms. I got a cardiogram done, nothin showed up. B**** told me to get some exercise and that she never heard of symptoms like mine. A month later, I get my very own heart attack at 19yrs old.

Again, MOST likely you are stressed out from exams but if the symptoms persist after you get back into your regular routine...be sure to get it checked out by a cardiologist.

9 more days and it will be one year and I am squatting twice my bodyweight. w00t

If u have any q's, pm or email me. Goodluck

How long before and after the heart attack did you have the chest cramp?

Did you find out the cause of the heart attack?

God I'm scared I might die in the middle of the night between now and then damn worrying...

EDIT: PS the symptoms have been lasting about a week thus far...

 

[bradruth]

It must be a terrible way to live if you torture yourself over a few tests like that.

 

[Schrodinger]

Originally posted by: bradruth
It must be a terrible way to live if you torture yourself over a few tests like that.

Man it is... I kept my 4.0 GPA again this semester but I'm starting to think a 3.9 would be healthier :/

 

[BannedTroll]

Originally posted by: RavnShield2
The most important thing is that you are gettin an cardiogram done. But, if nothing comes up, DEMAND to see a specialist. Get a stress test done. The symptoms you are describing were exactly like mine...except I also had severe jaw pain.

I don't want to scare you but you are faaaaar better off gettin a green light from a cardiologist.

I went to my family doc thrice complaining of symptoms. I got a cardiogram done, nothin showed up. B**** told me to get some exercise and that she never heard of symptoms like mine. A month later, I get my very own heart attack at 19yrs old.

Again, MOST likely you are stressed out from exams but if the symptoms persist after you get back into your regular routine...be sure to get it checked out by a cardiologist.

9 more days and it will be one year and I am squatting twice my bodyweight. w00t

If u have any q's, pm or email me. Goodluck

I thought jaw pain was one of the symptoms that doctors would associate with a heart attack along with possibly left arm amd back pain. I've had similar symptoms to the OP and my doc said if I experienced any of that to get to the hospital. Oddly they still haven't figured mine out. They sat it is most likely panic attacks or tachycardia.

The first time it happened was the worst. After a weird movement in my chest I could see my heartbeat in my eyes. Now it I just get the feeling and a few minutes of dizziness.

 

[slpaulson]

I'll never understand you people who run on no sleep during finals week.
Heck I sleep more during finals week than during a normal school week.

 

[Adica]

If you don't learn to relax and sleep well, it can be very dangerous. Just take it easy and meditate or something. My mom always told me that 99% of what you worry about won't happen!(and I have come to know that it is true) Don't worry, I think you'll be fine.

 

[her209]

Its your heart telling you that you need to get some action... and SOON!

 

[element]

What kind of geek are you? Do your own cardiogram at home. All you need is a microwave oven with the window smashed in and removed and some large film and tinfoil.

edit: oh wait that's a chest x-ray, all you need for a cardiogram is an osillyscope and an old dot matrix printer and some tractor fed graph paper.

 

[HalosPuma]

I've had them as well after a tremendous amount of stress. It's called heart papitations. Nothing to worry about, except you keep thinking you are going to have a heart attack. Stop worrying about it and it will go away in a few days, a week at the most.

And plan your schedule better next time! I'm absolutely positive that you procrastinated and that's why your had the "deathmarch."

 

[Schrodinger]

Originally posted by: HalosPuma
I've had them as well after a tremendous amount of stress. It's called heart papitations. Nothing to worry about, except you keep thinking you are going to have a heart attack. Stop worrying about it and it will go away in a few days, a week at the most.

And plan your schedule better next time! I'm absolutely positive that you procrastinated and that's why your had the "deathmarch."

I know what palpitations are and what this was. Trust me they aren't the same. I've had palpitations in the past but this was much scarier. I'm not just going to ignore it. Chances are it turns out something so stupid as me stressing too much--but I'd rather have a specialist tell me that.

And deathmarches are quite the opposite of procrastinating on your part
Wikipedia: Death march (software development)

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

I had similar stuff a couple of weeks ago, they think it was just stress and anxiety...haven't had much since except some discomfort/tightness every couple of days and then went over a week with nothing.

 

[Schrodinger]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
I had similar stuff a couple of weeks ago, they think it was just stress and anxiety...haven't had much since except some discomfort/tightness every couple of days and then went over a week with nothing.

After it initially happened, how long was it there (in days?)

For me its much less painful since I've gotten some rest but I still know its there...almost a sensation with little to no pain. Like poking at a small week-old bruise. It started last Friday or thereabouts and has progressively gotten better.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: Schrodinger

Originally posted by: bradruth
It must be a terrible way to live if you torture yourself over a few tests like that.

Man it is... I kept my 4.0 GPA again this semester but I'm starting to think a 3.9 would be healthier :/

lol I used to be shooting for a 4.0... I've decided i'm happier with my 3.4.

 

[T2T III]

A few weeks back, I experienced a similiar pain. I was given an EKG, but things came back OK. The doctor determined that the pain(s) were caused by a muscular-skeletal type of issue on the side of my chest/rip area. I was told to take 2 Alleve tablets 2 times each day. That resolved the issue for my situation.

However, the fluttering, etc. that you are also experiencing, might just be some anxiety issues related to the lack of sleep you've had combined with some worrying about your health. In any regard, I do hope the next appointment works out for you.

 

[HalosPuma]

Originally posted by: Schrodinger
I know what palpitations are and what this was. Trust me they aren't the same.
And deathmarches are quite the opposite of procrastinating on your part

So you go to college and work for a software firm? That's very tough. Trust me, it's not worth sacrificing your health for money.

And why does it take a WEEK to get a cardiogram? When I scared myself with heart palpitations, I went to see my doctor the next day and had a mini-EKG done on the spot.

 

[Schrodinger]

Originally posted by: HalosPuma

Originally posted by: Schrodinger
I know what palpitations are and what this was. Trust me they aren't the same.
And deathmarches are quite the opposite of procrastinating on your part

So you go to college and work for a software firm? That's very tough. Trust me, it's not worth sacrificing your health for money.

And why does it take a WEEK to get a cardiogram? When I scared myself with heart palpitations, I went to see my doctor the next day and had a mini-EKG done on the spot.

Yep I program full time and go to school full time. Even balanced a calculus course added on at the beginning of the semester for a couple months too. I also have a college student drinking habbit that probably contributes--but that and caffeine stopped immediately when I began to experience this.

Why does it take so long? Canadian healthcare. The reason you have it done the next day is because you show up with a VISA or cash in the states and they welcome you with open arms.

In Canada is can take up to a YEAR to have some tests done. Recently a man went to buffalo and paid (I think around $1000) to have some very important medical procedure done related to his health. It was like a life and death sort of thing but he would have had to wait up to a YEAR otherwise.

Don't buy into the "Canadian healthcare is good, we Americans want it". I've experienced it first hand and worked in a hospital before (security for 6 months) and I can tell you its a frigging joke.