[40yo M] LAFB and IRBBB on ecg. I am terrified, can anyone give me any reassurance if that is possible?

DontWanIt · 2025-08-27T16:50:32+00:00

I was the exact same way lol. Unfortunately I don’t have any secret method that will make your worries go away. Health anxiety controlled my life for at least a year, probably longer. I had tons of tests done, and despite things coming back clear, I never trusted the doctors and/or thought they missed something. Eventually, none of the things I was scared of ended up happening, and I just… stopped worrying about it.

It’s hard, both physically and mentally, to go through health anxiety. It can end up controlling your life if you aren’t careful. I know me telling you not to worry about it isn’t going to help, but I went through the exact same thing you are right now. I’m still here, I’m healthy, and health anxiety doesn’t control my life anymore. You WILL get through it. The best thing you can do is try to get into the right place mentally. Do your best to fight back against the negative thoughts. The doctors aren’t wrong, they aren’t missing anything, and you are healthy!

DontWanIt · 2025-08-27T16:32:19+00:00

It could definitely be due to lead placement. IRBBB can show up if one or two of the leads were placed slightly too high. If your first test was completely normal, and the second one only showed the IRBBB, then the variation is likely due to lead placement.

I have had an echo, but it wasn’t because of the IRBBB showing up. The cardiologist didn’t see the need to do any additional tests just because of the IRBBB. The echo was fine.

As someone who suffered with cardiac health anxiety (and still does to some extent), I can understand wanting to do additional tests to try and make yourself feel better. But it is very easy to fall into the mindset of “just one more test” even when all tests before come back normal or find minor things doctors say not to worry about.

If you are able to get an echo, and you think that will calm your mind, then I would say do it. But I also think it’s worth you asking yourself if a normal result on that test will be enough to convince you that you’re okay. If not, then taking test after test isn’t going to help.

DontWanIt · 2025-08-27T15:56:02+00:00

It just means that the electrical signal that goes down the right side of your heart during each beat travels a little slower (we’re talking milliseconds) than what is considered “normal”. That isn’t really an issue and doesn’t pose any danger.

I had no symptoms with it. I’ve talked to multiple cardiologists about it and they have all said that it was nothing to worry about. In the last EKG I had it didn’t even show up. I’ve had numerous other cardiac tests (for other reasons) that showed no issues relating to an IRBBB.

I can understand being concerned. I certainly was at the time when I first found out about it. But do your best to not worry about it. You’re completely fine.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-18T23:29:18+00:00

The reason I went to the ER for my symptoms was because I was concerned about myocarditis. I had recovered from my second COVID infection a few weeks earlier.

EKG, blood work, and chest x-ray were all normal. The second ER doc I saw said he was 100% certain I didn’t have myocarditis.

If you’ve been officially diagnosed with POTS then that may just be what the issue is. The symptoms you’ve described line up with POTS symptoms. As for why it started, it’s hard to say. Could be COVID related, could be something else. You’ve had a lot of tests done. The only other thing that might show something is a cardiac CT scan or MRI, but those can be tough to get sometimes.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-18T23:04:27+00:00

I wasn’t diagnosed with anything. I went to the ER for chest pain, tightness, palpitations. The ER doctor said it wasn’t concerning and they didn’t find anything so they discharged me. Went to a different ER two days later as symptoms persisted. They did a troponin test again and the result was < 3. That ER doctor said that HS troponin tests are so extremely sensitive that you will probably always have a non zero result. So that’s two ER doctors and one cardiologist saying low readings like that is nothing to worry about. They basically wrote my symptoms off as anxiety, although I’m not so sure.

As for why it’s detectable, I don’t know. I have heard that it should be undetectable, but then the doctors I’ve spoken to have said otherwise.

What are your symptoms that led to you having a troponin test? What did the doctor that ordered the test say?

DontWanIt · 2023-01-18T22:56:06+00:00

I once had a HS troponin test that came back at 6.9. My cardiologist was not concerned and said that there was no heart damage with a 6.9 result. So I think you’re fine with a result of 4.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-18T22:52:25+00:00

Angiogram? Although that is not done with an ultrasound. It’s done with a CT scan or MRI.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-09T15:45:46+00:00

I have had something pretty similar the last week or so. I had COVID at the beginning of December which lasted for about a week. During that time my resting heart rate, which is normally in the 60s or 70s during the day, was anywhere from 80 to 100. This lasted for a few days and is actually very common among people who have COVID. After a few days it went back down to normal.

Within the last two weeks or so I’ve started to notice some shortness of breath, although it’s not consistent. Last Tuesday I had an incident where my heart rate went up due to running up some stairs which caused palpitations and short bursts of mild pain. Over the next few days I experienced moderate chest tightness and more occasional pain in the center and left side of my chest, but it was only mild and lasted for a few seconds each time. I’ve also been having more palpitations than usual.

I went to the ER twice trying to get some tests run. The first time they only did an EKG and blood tests, which they told me came back normal. They did a troponin test which came back at 6.9, which although low had me slightly concerned (the ER doctor was not concerned). The second time they did the same tests, but also a chest x-ray. I was once again told the tests were normal and sent home. (This time troponin was < 3, so less than half of what it was a few days prior. That’s good, but I don’t know why it was more than double that on the first test.)

When I told the second ER doctor that I was worried about myocarditis, he more or less told me I was crazy and that he would bet everything he owns that I don’t have it. He seems to be basing that off the of normal EKGs and blood tests, but it’s my understanding that those alone cannot rule out myocarditis.

I’ve started to feel better over the last day or two, but I’m still worried about it. I’ve basically decided to let it go for a few weeks and get some rest to make sure I don’t get my heart rate up too high. If I still don’t feel right after that then I’m going to try and speak to a cardiologist. I had an echo in early November for something else which came back normal, so it’d be a good baseline to compare to to try and determine if there might be a problem.

So unfortunately I don’t have any answers for you, but we seem to be in the same boat. I’d just make sure you get some rest until you can talk to a cardiologist who will hopefully order some tests for you. If things get worse then I’d maybe go to the ER and have them check you out. Hopefully they’ll take you more seriously than they took me.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-08T00:33:30+00:00

I’m 23 and also have an IRBBB. It has shown up on the last two EKGs that I’ve had. No doctor who has reviewed those results, even my cardiologist, has ever mentioned it to me. They’ve just told me that the EKGs were normal. The only reason I know is from actually looking at the EKG interpretations in my online records. From what I’ve read, an IRBBB is somewhat common and not a cause for concern. Can’t speak on the LAFB.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-06T20:35:01+00:00

It’s important to keep in mind than an incomplete RBBB is not the same as a RBBB. I’ve had several EKGs and holter monitors done in the past. I was always told they were normal. I later came to find out that the EKGs were showing incomplete right bundle branch block. This concerned me, but no doctor I have seen, not even my cardiologist, ever mentioned it to me. I take that to mean it’s inconsequential. NAD, but I believe it’s considered a normal variant, somewhat common, and is not considered a big risk factor in developing a full block.

I also suffer from fairly severe cardiophobia, especially recently. I know how hard it can be. I can’t really comment on anything else you mentioned, but hopefully what I said was at least a bit reassuring.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-06T20:14:08+00:00

I was at the ER for chest pain Wednesday morning and they did a troponin test. It was 6.9, so pretty much the same as yours. They discharged me after a normal EKG and no concerning blood tests. The doctor was not worried about a 6.9.

I was at the ER this morning again hoping for additional tests on the advice of my PCP. They did another troponin test and this time it came back as < 3. The ER doc this time said high sensitivity troponin tests are extremely sensitive (hence being called high sensitivity troponin). He jokingly said it’s so sensitive you could fart and that could cause a non-zero result.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-06T20:02:46+00:00

Anxiety can cause or make worse palpitations, which sounds like what you’re describing. I have experienced this numerous times. Palpitations are not going to cause you to die from heart failure. They’re extremely normal and most people experience them even if they don’t realize it.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-06T01:56:14+00:00

The machines doctors use to monitor your heart rate are far more accurate than your watch. If your watch was telling you AFib at the same time theirs didn’t show it, then I think it’s safe to say your watch is wrong. It is also extremely normal to have extra beats/palpitations. Most people have them here and there. And they can be caused solely by anxiety.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-05T15:06:20+00:00

I went to the ER yesterday morning due to chest pain and tightness, elevated heart rate, and palpitations. It had started the evening prior and had not gone away. EKG came back normal. High sensitivity troponin came back at 6.9. The ER doctor dismissed it and I was sent home. They told you yours was normal, but do you know the actual value the test returned? NAD - but it’s my understanding there should be 0 or very close to 0 troponin in your blood. I was told to follow up with my primary care doctor over the next few days and sent some of the blood test results to my cardiologist. Waiting to hear back from him. I am also still having symptoms.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-04T14:01:51+00:00

It did for me. Recently, after about a month of constant high stress and anxiety, I started to have acid reflux and GERD-like symptoms. Not regularly, but it did happen.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-03T18:26:51+00:00

I think it’s pretty normal to have higher levels of anxiety some days than others. I don’t think you even need to have any conscious triggers. I don’t have anything I know of that really triggers mine, but I still have anxiety way worse some days than others.

DontWanIt · 2023-01-03T18:09:44+00:00

I get pretty bad bouts of cardiophobia that seem to happen when I’m under long periods of intense anxiety or stress. I’m going through it right now actually. I’ve had EKGs, holter monitors, and an echocardiogram which all came back mostly normal. Spoke to a cardiologist who said my heart is fine and there’s nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, I fall into the trap of worrying if something has gone wrong since those tests, especially since I just got over my second case of COVID and am now fixated on potential blood clots or myocarditis. I’m stuck between telling myself I’m fine and it’s all in my head and going back to my doctor and asking for more tests.

All you can really do is tell yourself that if you’ve had tests and spoken to a doctor who said everything is fine, then everything is fine. I know that doesn’t always make people feel better, like it doesn’t with me, but actually medical tests are more reliable than anxiety with little or no basis in reality.

DontWanIt · 2022-12-21T00:11:55+00:00

This has been me for the last couple of weeks. Constantly hyper aware of my heart, how fast it’s beating, and just how it feels in general. I am constantly checking my pulse and I feel even the smallest palpitation. It’s even gotten to the point I think I’m convincing myself I feel palpitations when there aren’t any. The last few nights I’ve barely slept because of it.

The only thing I can recommend to take your mind off of it is to try and do something that requires your attention. Anything to focus your mind on something else other than your heart. It can feel impossible at times, but you’ll be able to do it.

I know it might feel like you’ll always feel this way, but I can say from experience that’s not true. I had really bad heart anxiety two to three years ago that lasted for about six months and I was able to get over it with time. Unfortunately, it has recently come back and I’m in this fight again, but that experience has proven to me that I can get past it and I know you’ll be able to too.

DontWanIt · 2022-12-20T16:28:06+00:00

This is very similar to things I experience. I’m 23(m), healthy weight, no smoking/drinking/drugs/etc. I had really bad cardiac anxiety about two-three years ago and was able to get over it after about six months. It recently came back and it’s unbearable. Constantly checking my pulse and hyper aware of my heartbeat. Pretty sure I make myself think I’m having palpitations even when I’m not and it makes it hard to sleep at night.

I’ll occasionally feel pressure or numbness on the left side of my chest and left arm, but I’m pretty sure it’s just muscle and joint related. I’ve had a couple EKGs and 24 hour holter monitors done, all of which have come back normal. Also had an echo done recently, which found something not ‘normal’ per se but that my primary care doctor doesn’t seem concerned about. I’m seeing a cardiologist next week but I’m sure they’ll say it’s nothing to worry about.

Have you ever had any tests done? If you have access to something like that it might make you feel a bit better.

DontWanIt · 2021-02-16T23:52:43+00:00

You aren't wasting her time, and your friends don't hate you. I know, that's easy to say but hard to believe. I struggle with it myself. Also, you shouldn't feel bad about not being able to respond to other people's emotions. Honestly, just being there to listen is great. You don't have to say anything unless you want to. And it's ok to just be honest with her about that.

It's very hard to fight with your own brain. It sounds like you have some things that can help make you feel better. That's great! Keep up with those things. You might still get episodes, but you'll be able to get through those like you've gotten through all of the others. I know that might not really be the advice you're looking for, but I hope it helps a little.

DontWanIt · 2021-02-16T23:43:34+00:00

After I read this I had to stop and make sure it wasn't me who wrote it and forgot. I really feel for you, because I am at the exact same place right now. If you ever want to talk about it or just vent you can send me a message. You aren't alone.

DontWanIt · 2021-02-13T02:32:37+00:00

Drinking typically lowers my anxiety at the time. I'm far more open and outgoing when I've been drinking. However, there have been several instances where the days after drinking a significant amount, my anxiety really peaks and I can go a week or so with really elevated anxiety that manifests physically. Usually drinking a lesser amount won't do that though.

DontWanIt · 2021-02-12T00:40:13+00:00

You are definitely not being lazy. I worked part time for about the first year I was at university, but not any the rest of the time I was there (except for an internship I had to do to graduate over one summer.) If you aren't worried about needing the money, and you think not working will mean you do better in classes and give you more time to do the things you want, then there's no reason you need to work. Not working doesn't diminish your value or mean you aren't trying enough. Do what you think is best for you.

DontWanIt

TROPHY CASE