Heart problems or panic attacks

I am no doctor but it sounds to me like you have panic attacks and phobias.  Many people fear tunnels, etc.  The tightness in the chest sounds like anxiety.  You say your doctor checked you out and said your heart was fine.  If you still think it is your heart I would go to another doctor and get a second opinion.

Lynette, I read your question and concernes-and I know that this is a very scary time for you. However, your symptoms are more than likely stress related. Meaning you are probably having panic attacks. I too was once overweight. I weighed 307lbs, with small bones, and height of 5-3. I was very much at risk. I too had panic attacks, which stopped for a while after I lost my weight, but started again after some very stressful times in my life. Yes panic attacks can seem very much like a heart attack! You have some of the same symptoms between the both. I have included some sites for you to read about, and I think they may be very helpful to you. However, I would also like to touch on another issue right now. I am proud, that you are now walking, but when someone starts walking/exercizing, it is very important to start out slow. It is important for someone even with normal weight, but especially important for someone overweight. It is the usual practice, for a person to start out walking about 1/4, to 1/2 mile for about a week-slowly working up to greater distances week by week. Anyway here are the web-sites, that I have included. www.panicattack.net , and www.mindpub.com , both sites talk about panic attacks versus heart attacks. Good luck, and let me know if you have any more questions. 

This sounds more like a physical problem than it does a panic disorder. You wrote that you travel a lot, and although you hate going through the Lincoln Tunnel, you never had major problems before. You've been diagnosed as being borderline diabetic. When a persons body is not properly managing glucose levels the symptoms you're describing would be consistent with that diagnosis. What gasoline is to a car, glucose (i.e., blood sugar) is to our bodies. And like a car that sputters and runs poorly if its gas filter is clogged or gets watered down, your body does the same sort of thing. You are very overweight and have begun the process of paying for those excess pounds, and that price is expensive. You need to turn that around!

As your body changes you may even feel worse before you get better. But that's actually a sign that you are on the right track. Psychologically you could be looking for any excuse to stop dieting and excersizing. Working toward a goal of living a healthier lifestyle is hard for anyone, ah but the rewards that await, in the end make it all worthwhile.

Hang In There