Becca95 Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Hey, So if you don't know already I have anorexia, it's coming up to a year that this illness has taken over my life. The last few days, maybe a little over a week I've been having sharp chest pains. It's like the butterflies you get in your stomach when you're scared but in my chest, it's like my heart is flipping. I've noticed when I'm aware it's occurring it becomes worse, also I think it gets worse when Im exerting more energy but its hard to tell. I do also have an anxiety disorder, of which I suffer regular attacks where I wretch uncontrollably. I haven't had this before with my anxiety and I'm not normally anxious when this occurs, so I don't know if it just is anxiety? I think my mum is going to try to get me into the doctors on Thursday for a blood pressure check and hopefully another ECG. I had an ECG before as part of the requirement to get referred to the Eating Disorders people. I had a minor irregularity but it was sent to a specialist and they said it was okay and normal. That was last year. Basically, I just wanted to know if anyone else with anorexia has experienced these pains, well actually they're not pains they're more sensations or feelings, it doesn't hurt it's just uncomfortable. Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threemoons Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Hi Becca. I'm not a doctor so you should check with yours but what you said made me think of something. You say it's like your heart is flipping, maybe you have extrasystoles. It's an extra beat of the heart which can be caused by anxiety or a lack of minerals. Usually it's benign. People who have it can report feeling their heart jumping or flipping in their chest. I guess the minerals in your blood are checked, like calcium and potassium levels. If they give you an ECG they'll see any sort of disturbance if it occurs during the exam. Hope it's just a benign thing and you go well. Hugs to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becca95 Posted July 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Thank you Threemoons, maybe I'll get a blood test too just to make sure. I hope so too, thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artemis84 Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 I agree - ask for a blood test to check your sodium and potassium levels. These should be done regularly when an ED is present - particularly if there is any presence of vomiting. The problem with an ECG is that it only captures the moment at which it is carried out so if nothing weird happens then it won't show it. I have a heart condition that was only picked up when I was in hospital for my anorexia. I don't think it was caused by the ED but it was only because they were closely monitoring my heart regularly that it showed up. I also (separately) experience 'extra' beats like you describe. My consultant told me that quite a lot of people experience these but that they can be made more obvious with anxiety (which I have like you too). I think what I'm trying to say is that it's best to get everything checked out - hopefully it is just 'normal' variations in rhythm but to be sure get your bloods checked and tell the doc about all your symptoms. Hope that helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becca95 Posted July 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Thank you Artemis, yes it did help. I'm just worried as I've had a bad few weeks that my heart is struggling to cope or something. Ill see what my doctor says, thank you again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becca95 Posted July 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2013 Just thought I'd update- went to the doctors had blood pressure checked that was okay. She listened to my heart and she said she thinks I have ectopic beats or eptopic, not quite sure but she said it's quite common. I have an ECG booked for next week and she mentioned a 24 hour heart monitor to make sure because of my condition. I think she kept thinking I was talking about palpitations but oh well it's going to get checked out so that's good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threemoons Posted July 11, 2013 Report Share Posted July 11, 2013 Thanks for the update. Finger crossed that it's just benign ectopics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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