Totally lost!

[Southwellski]

Hi, just joined because I'm feeling totally lost and confused.

I came home from Papworth Hospital this afternoon having been referred for an angiogram. I've had classic angina symptoms for the past few weeks and was admitted into West Suffolk Hospital last Wednesday after a cardiology outpatients appointment.

The angiogram showed that my arteries were absolutely fine and my heart looks healthy. I'm still getting the symptoms, tightness, breathlessness, pain in my neck and extreme fatigue, this is despite being on a bucketful of meds.

The surgeon said he thought I should be relieved that the angiogram showed no issues with my heart, but I don't share this as I still have the symptoms and no clear idea of what is going on.

What should I be asking my GP to do next?

Thanks.

[bowler]

Hello

I am under the care of West Suffolk Hospital, apart from other tests, I had an angiogram done there 2 weeks ago which clearly showed I had two blocked coronary arteries and a leaky mitral heart valve, I now await surgery at Papworth. I'm sure that you were in good hands at Papworth and if they said there wasn't a problem I would believe them.

I don't really know what else to tell you to put your mind at rest, or what to ask your Dr. maybe it's some anxiety, ? you say your on a bucketful of Meds, maybe there are some side effects of those ?

Sorry I cant be of much help.

Take care.

[Southwellski in reply to bowler]

Hi Bowler,

Papworth were great, however the doctor doing the anagram said it doesn't always show the problems if it's something like microvascular angina, apparently only 1 in 4 angiograms detect a problem.

I suppose my worries are that I was hoping to have something to confirm what was causing the problems and left without that reassurance, for want of a better word.

Good luck with your surgery when it happens, you'll certainly be well looked after there!

[stevejb1810]

Well, an angiogram showing all is well with your arteries and heart is a pretty good starting point. I think I’d be questioning your meds - would a different cocktail be better. It’s still worth chasing a cardiac cause but I’d also now be asking GP to start looking at other things, other potential causes. It’ll likely be a slow process of elimination but if you rule out the obvious, the not so obvious can be a bit harder to find. It’s not a particularly comforting message, but think positively, so far they haven’t found an issue with your heart!

[Southwellski]

Thanks Steve, I suppose I was just hoping that something would be found so that I knew what I was dealing with. I share your view that my heart and arteries are ok just getting fed up with feeling exhausted.

[Carokai]

I would be very suspicious of the Meds.

If they are saying there is nothing wrong with your heart, why are they continuing to medicate you?

My experience in the year that followed two heart attacks was that I had several hospital admissions because of drug reactions. Now I am almost med free (just take amlodopine and Isosorbide Mononitrate) things are much better.

I do suffer with microvascular angina but these two drugs, alongside masses of exercise and a controlled diet (I have very high Cholesterol due to FH) seem to keep on top of it. I also take care on very hot or cold days as extremes of heat can trigger my angina.

I discovered through research that I was initially just given the NICE protocol battery of meds following my first HA. Clearly only some of that was necessary and the remainder just a complication in my recovery.

[Kazcoles64]

My situation is very unusual I have had pain and breathlessness on exertion for 20 years had many tests heart scans etc over the years never once told i had a bicuspid valve and always told everything with my heart was good. So was told it was indegestion and stress. 3 years ago I got a cough that wouldn't clear had chest x ray they found a shadow it all escalated from there! Was then sent to papworth another heart scan then told I had a bicuspid aortic valve that i was born with and was now severely stenosed. Was told it couldn't be causing my symptoms though because had them too long! Then told I would be scanned once a year and it would just be watchful waiting. I then see a different cardiologist at Papworth as mine was off sick to then be told this shouldn't be left I need an angiogram. After all the pain and suffering for 20 years im now on the urgent list awaiting AVR. So the moral of my very long story ( sorry to go on) is things aren't always as they seem iv been told u can't possibly live 20 years with symptoms 2/3 is the max well I beg to differ! Your angiogram was all good though so that's very reassuring for you but just be aware of your symptoms. x

[Emily_BHF]

Hi Southwellski,

I appreciate this must be difficult for you as your angiogram result shows no evidence of coronary artery disease, but you are still having these symptoms. If you haven’t already, I would ask about having an ECG, a 24 hour holter monitor ECG (if necessary) to assess your heart rhythm and an echocardiogram scan. This will show any structural problems with the heart and problems with the heart muscle itself. We have information on our website about these tests which you may find useful.

It may be that your condition will need to be medically managed with medication alone and they will need to spend some time focussing on getting the medications and the doses perfect to manage your symptoms.

Please discuss your concerns with your doctor so that they can advise.

Take care,

Emily