CAD and chronic tiredness

[Macinleich]

Hi, After reading the forum for quite some time this is my first post. I am wondering if anyone else has had similar symptoms to mine and can offer some advice;

I was diagnosed CAD with X2 55-60% calcified blockages in my LAD in January 2022. Although I am a relatively fit 67 year old male I am finding it increasingly difficult to walk up inclines, lift heavy items or tackle flights of stairs. After horrendous side effects from a high dose statin I am currently med free. Does anyone else experience anything like this with similar blockages? When I asked my cardiologist about it he said that at that level of blockage he would not expect me to be showing any ill effects and thinks that the tiredness is not related to the CAD. However this is definitely impacting on my quality of life as I am having to do everything at a ‘snails pace’.

Also although I was keen on having a follow up CT Coronary Angiogram, to track the potential advancement of the disease, he said that he would not advise a repeat until 5 years after the last one? How do others track the advancement of their CAD?

Thanks

[Hidden]

Hello

I think if it were me I might be asking for a second opinion

Are you up to date with your routine blood tests if not I would be asking for them to be done you could be low in iron

I think it would be a good idea to make a Doctors appointment and mention all this

Let us know how you get on x

[Macinleich in reply to Hidden]

Hi, thanks for your reply to my post. Yeah I am considering getting a second opinion as it just doesn’t seem right that it could be 5 years between tests? I don’t see how we can keep an accurate record of blockage progression if it’s not checked regularly? I wondered how others get on? Also my GP has been wonderful and has run a ‘barrage’ of blood tests all of which have been normal thankfully.

Thanks again 😊

[Hidden in reply to Macinleich]

Hello

I hope you will get that second opinion and let us know if you do how you get on x

[Hidden]

I have moderate to severe disease or severe disease in most of my heart arteries as discovered by angiogram following an NSTEMI five years ago. I am not stented. However I am older than you but don't get tired except that which I put down to age but I can still walk a few miles without issue, the main limitations for me being musculo-skeletal. Your cardiologist has suggested your tiredness is unlikely to be related to your CAD, so it might be appropriate to discuss alternative causes with your GP which could include, for example, thyroid, anaemia and diabetes. Also on the assumption that you only tried one statin your GP has others he/she can prescribe which may not give the same side effects, and if that doesn't work there are other alternative medications which are available to those who cannot tolerate statins. Point being that anyone with heart disease is advised to reduce their cholesterol levels to reduce their ongoing heart risk.

[Macinleich in reply to Hidden]

Hi, thanks for your reply to my post and good to hear your experience. I also walk around 4 miles daily but will usually be quite tired as a result... I have a fraction of the energy I used to have prior to the CAD diagnosis. My GP has checked for all of the conditions you mentioned and has run multiple blood test and thankfully all have returned normal. l have tried X3 different statins all similar side effects albeit to a lesser extent depending on the dose. However my cholesterol is good, overall 3.9 and ratio at 2.8 so I don’t think that’s where the problem lies. How often do you get your CAD checked and is that via a CT angiogram or a CAC? I’m just not sure how they track the progression of the disease without regular testing?

Thanks again

[Hidden in reply to Macinleich]

I had angiogram in 2018 at the time of my NSTEMI, then another last year following A&E visits as a result of chest discomfort which turned out to gastro related and not cardio. If I hadn't had the chest issues last year I wouldn't have had the second angiogram. If my experience is to go by if you are deemed healthy enough to be discharged by the cardio people as I was last year and back in 2018 about four months after my NSTEMI, there is no recall to check how you are getting on. You are left under the care of the GP which in my case is issue of a repeat prescription for statin and aspirin, and nothing else. So if discharged by cardio the only time you will be back in the system is if you present with heart issues as in perhaps a visit to A&E with chest pains, or maybe a referral from the GP because they need specialist input.

[Flamel]

Hi,

I think Cardiology would be guided by your symptoms and whether you’re having lots of chest pain. I had an MI five and a half years ago, and had 2 main arteries at 75% blocked too. I ended up having those two stents soon after my first stent because of the pain.

I wouldn’t worry about the 5 year thing too much. If it needs looking at further, I think your body will tell you. But you need to know why there’s such a change in yourself and the sluggishness, especially if not due to medication.

Maybe tell the gp your concerns and see what they say. But they don’t like going against the cardiologist.

[Macinleich in reply to Flamel]

Hi, thanks for your reply to my post and For sharing your experience. Yeah I have told GP of my symptoms and she has done lots of blood tests to eliminate anything else. Thankfully all have come back normal. However I am no closer to identifying the cause of my tiredness although I am convinced it is related to my diagnosis of CAD.

Thanks again

[magnilink]

Hi

I was diagnosed with mild cad , 18 months ago

Calcium score 65 , no symptoms other than my face felt that it was being pulled one night

But my blood pressure was high , I did go to A&E but they said nothing wrong I found out about CAD because I booked myself into seeing someone privately

Anyway they advised me to take statins to slow progression, but like you I want to know if they are slowing the progression, I was told they never re scan the radiation burden is too high she said perhaps in 15 years

I can’t believe anyone takes pills and doesn’t know if they are working, seems strange but you also don’t want more risk with radiation

Pip