Am I Really?

Hypochondriac? 
I dont know, however heres the story.

about two years ago. i was having these weird feelings in my chest.. my heart to be exact.
id be lying in bed, and feel my heart, as you do (i think) trying to ignore it and occupy my mind with something interesting to think about to nod off to, i can’t ignore it. so its like this
 

DUDUM, DUDUM, DUDUM, DUDUM….*feeling of hollowness in my chest, no beat* THUMMMP, DUDUM, DUDUM.
By this point. i have shat myself. im sweating, my face feels flushed, i begin to panic until eventually i fall asleep.
i went to the Doctor, who then referred me to a paediatric cardiologist.
 I done plenty of research on what to expect upon my appointment, and found that they usually fit you with what they call an ambulatory electrocardiogram, or something. which is a 24/48 hour device which is connected up to your chest, for 24/48 hours to monitor your heart beat, its like a personal cd player thing.

I arrived after three months on the waiting list to meet a lovely middle aged doctor, (a bit irrelevant…) as i was sat there i was doing my usual analysis and figured (by the visible blood vessles stretched across his nose, common amongst alcoholics) he had a stressful job, hence why i felt the appointement was rushed? there were also trainee cardiologists in with us, he obviously asked my permissions, i was only happy to help.

He asked what the symptoms were, hard to explain something you as the patient can only feel, i tried my best.
he then asked if i smoked, i said Yes. he frowned as i am also asthmatic, i’m aware many NHS workers or even Doctors as a whole discriminate against smokers as they damage their own health then need to be treated on the NHS. so i thought this may make my attempt at a diagnosis a bit biased.

i laid down on the patient bed whilst he took my pulse and listened to my chest….however, i felt this "heart thing" as i call it, THE SECOND he took away the stethescope….GUTTED. i was hoping he would suggest the AECG (ambulatory ECG) as i mentioned earlier but all he referred me to was an ECG, which lasted around a minute, give or take, i had it that day, the whole time i laid there didnt feel a THING.

as expected I received a letter saying the ECG picked nothing up. Of course, as it didnt occur during the ECG. hence my eagerness for the AECG. since then, ive been having the same thing happen. everyday.

Ive been quite happy living my life ignoring it. only recently, (Since i was a child i would refuse to think about the consequences of or death as a whole, i would throw myself into tantrums if i thought about it for too long, crying and screaming as i would become frustrated at the thought of eternal NOTHINGNESS, i still refuse to think or talk about death now) alot of the "death" subject has been forced my way, songs about death, people mentioning death, coming across my fathers pension plan reminding me becoming old and dying is inevitable…. has made me a little stressed, and ive been lying awake at night, feeling this heart thing happen. alot more than once, and i am too scared to fall asleep. im very very afraid of falling asleep.

ive heard so much about sudden adult death syndrome, and im afraid i will become victim of it, i want to be POSITIVE that my heart is healthy so i know i have the same chance as any other Tom, Dick or Harry of falling victim to it.
Should i have a second opinion, Its been around Two years, Or will they think im just being a Hypochondriac?

Am i being a hypochondriac? Should i have counselling? 
The night before last, i would not turn off my light, and i read my book lying down so that i would fall asleep without a choice, im going to continue doing this until im comfortable, and secure.

I need some advice, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, feel free i would be eternally greatful/.

you never know…you could save my life 😉

 

 

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June 12, 2009

you’re not a hypochondriac. you can feel your heart, and it scares you. ur allowed to be scared by it! just dont let it rule ur life. u’ll be ok 🙂