Just diagnosed with very high triglycerides and very scared!

I was just dianosed with having high cholesterol. It was the actual triglyceride level that was INCREDIBLY high at 1211, yes you read that right. My doctor put me on Antara and just told me to change my diet and exercise more. I am a 31 yr old, non smoking, 5'2" female and weight 203 lbs. I was at 240lbs last year. He also told me the signs and symptoms of heart attacks and strokes and what to watch out for. So does this mean that odds are I am just going to die soon and why he spent more time on the signs and symptoms of these two things that scare the heck out of me. I know I need to get my triglyceride level down, I have started my medicine, am changing my diet and have started walking 45 mins a day at a brisk pace. I am just so scared. I spend 65% of my day just thinking that any moment I am gonna die and when I do have numbness or pain I freak out. Are there others out there who have had levels like mine and gotten it down in time? Thanks