What does my heart hurt and my left arm go numb?

Question

I have been seeing a therapist for several months now for anxeity. I am taking a medication called lexapro. But the reason I see this doctor is because of heart pain, and other related symptoms. I admit that in the past I may have been a hypocondriact, but this has been going on for a year and a half. Latley I have not worried about it and I brush it off when it happens, but I have been thinking about it for the past couple of days. do you guys think it is anxeity? Oh and I should probley add that my mom died when I was 11. She died of liver cancer real suddenly, even though she was extreamly healthy. My family thinks that somehow my brain kept all of this insde of me, and now my anxeity is coming out n a physical form. I do not know what to think... My therapist might get mad if she found out that I was questining it again....

Answer 1

Hello:)

I also suffer from anxiety and taking Lexapro. You sound very much like me .. everyone thinks i am nuts cuz I am always thinking there is something wrong with my heart. I get the pain in my chest and tingleing in my limbs as well. I have been feeling like this for about 5 yrs. I would like to think if something was REALLy wrong I would be dead by now.
I have been to my Dr more times I can count and he has done just about every cardio work up on me and everything show my heart is FINE. Nothing is wrong.
So everything I am feeling IS anxiety related. If you look it up on the web you will see so many people believe they are having a heart attack but its really anxiety.

Good Luck.
If you want to talk feel free to email me.

Answer 2

I know nothing of the anxiety side of your condition. What I do have experience with is dealing with a physician who believed because I was a young woman that I couldn't possibly have a heart condition and repeatedly told me that I was imagining it. The last straw for me was when his receptionist told me that the Dr was on vacation and couldn't see me for over 3 weeks and to just relax. Two days later my husband drove me to a hospital that had a major heart center and I was admitted. It was found that had had a heart attack and 5 days later I had a quadruple bypass. Had I stayed with the Dr I had, I would probably be dead right now.

This is your body, not the therapists and not any of your family members. If you are having chest pain/pressure and if the pain radiates down your arm (either side) and you are feeling numbness it needs to be checked. Even if it is a false alarm at least you will know. Like I said, this is your life, noone elses. You need a cardiologist. Preferrably one that does more than an EKG and a stress test. It wasn't until I had a heart catherization performed that they actually confirmed what was happening.

I wish you the best of luck.

Answer 3

Well first off if your therapist gives you a hard time about seeing another doctor because you are worried about your psyhical health then it is time for you to find a new therapist. I too suffer from anxiety and I too have been known to be a little bit of a hyperchondriate, but when we go like life tragedies such as we have , we always have our saftey net around us, this is a charateristic of ours. I lost my father at 16 that was 14 years ago and honestly I always think anything I have is cancer related. He died of lung cancer! Although, it is more then likely anxiety what good would it do to wonder. See a doctor if it going to give you piece of mind; that is all part of the healing process of depression and aniexty. P.S. find a new therapist, they should not scrutinize you for your actions, however they are to teach you guiding tools on your thought processes. Good luck!

Answer 4

Anytime your heart hurts and arm goes numb, signals something wrong.(from heart trouble to anxiety)...you may also have OCD(compulsive disorder) and cant stop yourself from thinking of things to worry about, like doom. Screw what the therapists says, tell your medical Doctor you would like an EKG just to be safe, I would rather be a live hypocondriact. then a dead duck. Tell your family that you may have cried wolf about being sick in the past, but your scared about your heart and want to see a doctor. If nothing is wrong, then continue seeing your therapist to help you through this time. Until then, Good luck, and Peace to you.

Answer 5

I would take very good care of myself if I were you. My mother also died before she was 50 years old. She had heart trouble. I try not to worry because everyone is different. Just because she died early, that doesn't mean I will too. In fact I am 71 years old. I go to the doctor every year and I try not to worry. That's how you can live long. A lot of times when I feel I am having heart pain, it turns out to be that I have to burp. I drink some soda and I burp.

Answer 6

Try XanGo juice from mangosteen fruit. This is a juice not a drug. Seniors, adults, teens, kids or even pregnant women can drink this juice. Research from medical universities all over the world show the Xanthones in the mangosteen contains elements that literally help to correct and kill many diseases that occur today. Did you know that there exists an antioxidant that is even more powerful than any vitamin? The powerful life enhancing substances are called xanthones. In fact there is a whole family of xanthones, and the most dynamic of these are found in the mangosteen whole fruit.

Xanthones are being studied for their medicinal potential since they demonstrate a number of pharmaceutical properties.

-supports microbiological balance
- maintains immune system health
-promotes join flexibility
-provides positive mental support

make a research about this yourself. Or for more details and information log on to www.tab64.gomangosteen.com

Answer 7

You really need to see a cardiologist . Ask for a referral from your doctor....demand it. The therapist should not be dealing with this as it is a physical problem rather than a pscyh one.

Answer 8

I agree with Kenneth. Also, it may be vascular problem cutting off blood supply to the affected limb causing it to go numb.