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Psychosomatic symptoms?

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Posted 1/26/2006 5:36 AM (GMT -6)
Hello.

I wonder if any of you have had similar experiences - since being told I had severe calcification of the coronary arteries, I have started to be aware of vague 'symptoms', such as my heart sometimes banging harder than usual, a general 'unwellness', and very very slight shortness of breath.

But as I experienced NONE of these up until three weeks ago (when I was told about the calcification) I think they are probably just in my head.

Is this a normal reaction? My conscious mind tells me that all is well, and I am very calm; my subconscious seems to disagree!

Allen-UK, London.
Posted 1/26/2006 11:25 AM (GMT -6)
Allen,

I see this frequently--especially in patients who have had a heart attack, or have had a stent--they are much more aware of their cardiac status, and hence "notice" chest pains more frequently. I doubt they are having more symptoms than they had prior to their event, but they are more attuned to them.

It is in a way similar to why many people complain of pain worse at night than during the day--at night, when all other senses are not as active (dark and quiet room)--you are more attuned to your pain sense--while during the day you are "distracted" from it by all the other stimuli. This is similar in that now your subconcious, and probably your conscious, mind are attuned to your chest.
Posted 1/27/2006 5:05 AM (GMT -6)
Thanks for that, Erskine, it makes sense - particularly the night awareness part, which I haven't experienced yet (wait till tonight...)

I shall endeavour to calm my subconscious, too.

Allen-UK, London.
Posted 1/27/2006 6:03 PM (GMT -6)
Hi allen, just want to say that I had two stents a little over a year ago and was so upset that what I thought were chest pains were actually stomach pains in the chest area caused by anxiety, kid yourself not you are probably worrying yourself , stress can cause all sorts of symptoms, did they tell you how much calcification? Are you getting an angiogram done?
Posted 1/28/2006 5:49 AM (GMT -6)
Hello dreamgirl, thanks for replying.

Not sure what system of scoring you use in the US for calcification. Over here 400+ is high, going down to 20-ish for insignificant.

My score was 4000+, which shocked the docs. doing the tests.

400+ recommends aggressive management of all other risk factors, which we are addressing. No, no angiograms yet. I am seeing a cardiologist in a couple of weeks, and he'll send me for such tests if necessary.

But as Erskine James says elsewhere on this site, calcification scores are not the gold standard for prediction of heart disease, but just another thing to watch.

I'm not complacent, by any means, but my <2% chance of a serious heart 'event' has to be seen in context of my >98% chance of NOT having one! Unless I'm misreading the statistics, which might well be the case. (Rose-tinted spectacles are issued free in the UK).

Best wishes.

Allen-UK, London.
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