I write this long winded message to raise awareness about ECGs and blood tests not recognising angina.
Over the last few months I have had very frequent angina both at rest and in exercise. My medication for a previous HA was increased to maximum dosage in January due to a visit to A&E and as usual an ECG was taken and 2 lots of blood but nothing was shown so I was discharged and had a follow up to see a consultant in 3 months time. The angina continued becoming more painful and lasting longer so I was back to the hospital and again same procedure with nothing showing on ECG or bloods ,so I was sent to have MRI which proved I had narrowing of the LCX artery. I was given an appointment to have angioplasty of 13 May however on 30 April I called 999 and the team came out but again they couldn’t see anything on the ECG and was taken to hospital for bloods- again nothing showing. A cardiologist nurse cane into A&E to see me and my wife was told I. was deteriorating and needed to be admitted to the Cardiac Coronary Care Unit immediately. Once on the ward another ECG was taken and more bloods - nothing showed up but my body was going into shock so I was monitored overnight and listed the following day to have the angioplasty to sort out my LCX . However during the procedure it was recognised that my RCA distal artery was totally blocked so it took over 3 hrs to complete what was a tricky procedure.
But the reason I raise this is because all the ECGs and bloods were showing no sign of artery blockage and had the cardio nurse not seen me I would probably not have made it to the 13May.
I know many people on this forum and others will have had pains in their chest/arms,neck etc and will have had ECGs and blood test showing nothing so will have been sent on their way with no explanation why and this is why I raise this topic on this forum to at least give my story which will perhaps raise a bit of awareness for those going through a similar journey. It appears to me that you are not taken seriously or believed if a ECG or blood test come back indicating a HA - it doesn’t appear to pick up angina or in some cases other coronary issues and this could lead to a fatality, I was lucky that a cardio nurse recognised my deterioration. So please push forward for a diagnosis not matter how much pestering it takes.
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Toffodog
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Thanks for your message and raising awareness. I had a very similar experience - long story short went to a&e, like you ECG and bloodtests clear - was discharged. Same episode again, discharged again. Luckily, took matters in my own hands - and went the private way. Had holter, echo and ctca. Angiogram showed stenosis in LAD and treatment has started since the diagnosis.
Point I am making, if I had it the NHS way - I would have been going around like everything was hunky dory . But as I have stated before - NHS sucks when it comes to prevention and health outcomes. I know I am harsh, but that is the sad reality. Mind you, I am not taking anything away from the hardworking people in the NHS - not their fault - system not optimal in its current form. Fortunately, I have private healthcare via work, but realise not everyone has this option.
Hi. ECG are basic . If symptoms are there and ECG is ok then further tests should be taken. It’s not ok to just rely on an ECG with heart symptoms. ECG are also on,y relevant to the moment they are done…heart conditions fluctuate! Unfortunately often means pushing gp for cardiac referral. Angina referral….I had a phone call appointment. Asked some basic questions and said not Angina because the symptoms included whilst at rest!!! Heart phone call appointments should not be allowed. Eventually I went private and diagnosed with bradycardia. Still gp doesn’t take seriously even with symptoms flaring.
It’s such a shame patients have to fight to get fully checked ☹️
Thankyou for your response and so glad that you took it on yourself to go private to get the treatment that you clearly needed. Like you I don’t blame the NHS medical staff for following the protocol that is set however there should be some way that all patients attending A&E get to see a cardiologist rather than a just relying on a A&E doctor to do the routine, ECG and bloods and sending you home with no explanation. As you say you were fortunate to have private health care and the tenacity to persue your medical treatment and luckily you survived , however there are many patients who will simply take the advice for theA&E doctors and simply get on with life. I believe that there must be many people with heart problems whose lives are cut short because of a NHS failure to rely on ECG and bloods alone to rule out heart problems. I am not sure what can be done to raise this awareness’to everyone but I had to tell my story on this forum to hopefully help heart patients to ask and pester for proper diagnosis and not accept the simple ECG and blood tests and your story and others in this forum around this subject will help - thank you.🙏
Similar experience. Had chest pains which went down left arm. Ended up in A&E . E. C.G. And blood normal Went home with g.n.T spray and told to go g.p if In Had pains which went if I used spray and asked to be referred to rapid access chest pain clinic. Did so a few days later as I was still getting chest pain. Didn't hear anything so back to g.p.. After a bit of faffing around was Sent to A&E by the locum a the docs and again bloods and e.c.G ok. But was seen by cardiac register who referred me to Basildon cardiothoratic centre for a c.t. Angiography. Long shot I had a completely blocked LAD and ended up with a stent.Found out later the first time I went to A&E the cardiac register(who didn't even come and see me) put the pains down as non cardiac, which was why I never got referred to the chest pain clinic.
Basildon were very good after c.T angiography and then an angiography was diagnosed with the completely blocked LAD and agreed to take part in the ORBITA 2 trial which lasted six months. Had to have another angiography at the beginning of the trial which was a blind one as to whether I got a stent on not. Luckily I did and eased angina symptoms 99%. The doc ( who was a clinical research fellow) who looked after me was excellent, could contact him anytime of day if you had problems
Thankyou for your response and explaining your journey to get the treatment you needed, it is your story and others alike that will help raise awareness that ECG and blood test do not always show what may be happening with our heart system and many symptoms go undiagnosed because they are overlooked.
I'm in regional Australia, had similar issues. I've always had clear ECG even with heart attack. Only one cardiologist recognised that angiogram only way to clear me. He is hospital cardiologist and so busy, wait time, 6mths. Being female, I have very mild symptoms for heart attack, so it's a constant worry. I hate going to emergency, they are kind, but rarely get a cardiologist opinion. It's either anxiety or Reflux. I've had 3 heart attack, 5 stents, even though I have good cholesterol. Take care. Moni
Thank you for your response and helping to raise awareness. From the responses I have received relating to my message it does show that there are many different cases where ECG and blood tests have not picked up a persons condition and I fear that this will possibly lead to fatalities for some but luckily for you and I and and others on this forum we have managed to eventually get the treatment required and so get to tell our stories which hopefully will resonate with others so they may shout and pester to get the treatment required, thank you 🙏
I'm seeing my new cardiologist next week, seen him a couple of times through telehealth ( the joys of regional areas) appointment, he actually listens. I will bring up the subject to him. My last cardiologist barely even looked my way when I talked, person to person. Take care. Moni
Had my cardiologist appointment, I asked about not having clear answers from ECG, especially being female and different symptoms. He said he was going on echo, which showed a strong heart. Unfortunately didn't have results of nuclear stress test. But he did increase Isosobide to higher dose, to hopefully ease angina. He recently put me on ezetimibe 10mg on top of atorvastatin 20mg. Which took my cholesterol to 3.1 from 4.4, triglycerides 1.6 from 2.1, LDL 1.2 from 2.2 in a month. It had its desired effect, but because of the pain not worth it. So I go back to atorvastatin 20mg which causes no pain, it's one I've been on for 13 years. I could barely walk and in pain at night, I do need my sleep. I see him again in 6 months. Hope you get a cardiologist that listens. Take care. Moni
Thank you for sharing this. You have been extremely lucky. I have been suffering angina despite having clear arteries on CT scan. Normal blood tests and ECGs results were normal and didn't correlate at all with how unwell I felt during my angina attacks.
Have you considered taking Ouabain for your Angina? Your doctors probably never heard of it since it was buried by Big Pharma years ago when its patent expired and they no longer could make huge profits on it. Here's some info- infarctcombat.org/heartnews...
Hi Kind51 please ask for more help because as you probably know angina related to some thing not being quite right with our hearts or respiratory system and as Ive seen on this forum there are many different types of heart conditions many that I’ve never heard of but by people adding their messages to this forum I for one have learned so much and it certainly helped me to ask the right questions relating to my condition. So please ask for further investigation into you angina until you get the treatment you need.
I had a normal ECG but with mild chest pains. My GP insisted on a blood test. The quickest way was to go to A&E. Again ECG BP etc all seemed fine. The Dr there said I was ready to go home when the results came through. On receiving the blood work my traponins were raised so I was admitted. After 18 hours on a medical ward I was told I had a mild HA (NSTEMI) and was admitted. I had an angiogram two days later where I was told I needed a triple CABG. A week later I had the procedure and was discharged Xmas day. I’ve made a full recovery but if it wasn’t for a vigilant GP I was told I wouldn’t have made another 12 months. Thanks to him, my surgeon and all the staff who saved my life
Yours is just another case where your symptoms were ruled out simply because you failed the EVG and blood test route but luckily yoy eventually got the treatment you required, thank you for your response and sharing your journey 🙏
Good morning Toffodog I had a similar experience with my Angina. I was taken to A&E ECG and blood tests done, ecg appeared normal so sat in a&e for hours ( even though blood pressure was 200/110/) triage nurse did not seem concerned but did give me some tablets not sure if this was to lower the BP or for the Angina pain ( can’t remember) I then had another bad episode while sitting in a&e waiting to be seen so taken to majors and admitted. This was in May 22 I was kept in for 5 days and told by one cardiologist that they wanted further tests as my Troponin was raised.
This was over the bank holiday so that cardiologist went on a break and I was seen by another heart specialist who said he was happy to discharge me as did not think it was my heart causing the problems. They were also checking whether it could be a gastric problem.
So off I went home ( gladly) I then had an appointment with a cardiac nurse in June and still ecg did not show any problems, I also had echocardiogram which showed no concerns. Thankfully the cardiac nurse arranged for an Angiogram as she was concerned about my symptoms. I had the Angiogram in July and this showed severe Coronary Artery Disease ( multi vessel) and one of my arteries was 100% occluded. I was informed the same day that I needed a triple heart bypass which I had in November 22.
Reading other members experiences it appears ECGs are not reliable in diagnosing all heart related problems. Best wishes 😊X.
Hi Gorilla queen, wow you have certainly had an awful journey it had a similarity to my own . Thank you for sharing your experience and again raising awareness to others. It’s so hard to believe that a heart condition requiring a triple by pass was missed however I do know why . I hope you have made a good recovery and that you have found a new lifestyle to reflect the changes that you probably have had to make 🙏
Hi Toffodog thank you for your reply. I’m now 18 months post surgery and doing well until recently when I started to experience palpitations, breathlessness and generally feeling weak and lethargic. My GP has referred me for tests and to see a cardiac nurse but hey ho I’m feeling positive and just getting on with it like we all do.
I am aware that the meds I’m on can also cause these symptoms as can stress so I am trying to address that. Just want/ need a good holiday but juggling too many ruddy appointments at mo as I also have Non Hodgkin Lymphoma, low grade thankfully. This was only picked up when I had a CT scan regarding the investigations they were doing at the time so without that I would still be none the wiser. Life certainly throws challenges at us. Hope you are well take care 😊🌞X
You have certainly been through things but as you say you just have to get on with life and adapt things to deal with the challenges we face . So I hope you a blessed with a wonderful journey ahead life is good to you , take care 🙏
When I had a heart attack,the paramedics said my ECG showed signs of a heart attack. However even though they fitted two stents at the time I was told I had two other part blockages around 65% blocked but not bad enough to stent. I've had two years of worsening breathlessness; lung function tests , x rays etc all clear. Is it the two blockages that have got worse? It seems no tests can show them apart from another angiogram. I mistakenly thought an echo I had last year would indicate whether they'd got worse but echos don't.
Thank you for putting this information out there. My severe Heart Failure is not visible, on Ecg. 24- 72 hours holter, blood pressure or Blood tests. My heart Failure is only visible on Echocadiogram. That's why I have stopped going to A n E when unwell because last time it was just a waste of time. Because they go off, these 4 tests.
Yes I had a similar experience. Chest pains that do not show a cause via ecg or blood test. I think the blood test is really only effective at identifying heart attacks. Husband took me to hospital due to chest pain told after standard tests that it was probably a viral infection even though I have a history of high blood pressure. Same thing a couple of days later went in by amblulance and a lovely doctor checked said he thought I should sty in hospital. Proved to be blockage which required fitting of stents.
Have you considered taking Ouabain for your Angina? Your doctors probably never heard of it since it was buried by Big Pharma years ago when its patent expired and they no longer could make huge profits on it. Here's some info- infarctcombat.org/heartnews...
Hi. I just had a similar situation. I had been getting chest pains and was told by by GP to go to A&E . There I had 3 cgs, and two sets of blood tests , all normal. I was then discharged and told that my pains was probably due to inflammation under the Ribs. I still have the pain and am not sure hat to do next. For a bit of history I have been diagnosed with A-fib and Angina and had an Angiogram. I am currently waiting for follow up talk with my consultant about the possibility of having an Ablation.I not sure what to do next
I have been having shortness of breath dizziness and chest and back pains and my ecg, bp and pulse are all text book perfect. No swollen ankles either. I had a stress echocardiogram which showed some sort of problem with what looked part of my heart having to work harder than expected. I am still waiting to see the consultant to explain it all to me. I am glad l kept going to the gp about it now
I have Fibromyalgia and thought it might be that or that l was even imagining it or making more of it than it was. It was helpful reading your post so thank you
Although you still waiting for full diagnosis you have had the tenacity to keep pushing because you know your own body and things were not right. I’m glad you have had the echocardiogram and hope that you get the treatment you need.
Physicians learn in medical school that a careful history of a patients symptoms is extremely important. With respect to angina symptoms It's mandatory to determine whether the anginal symotoms are stable or unstable and a patient with unstable angina symptoms should be considered as having an impending actual heart attack&admitted and monitored in a cardiac unit&never sent home! You dodged a bullet!
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