Micro vascular angina

[achillislander]

I started with the symptoms of Microvascular Angina in November 2016, it started with shortness of breath when walking uphill. It progressed through to severe chest pain, shortness of breath and feeling clammy and colour drained from skin. I was rushed under blue lights to local A & E with suspected heart attack. Trop t was ok after both blood tests, then they thought it was Angina, following angiogram my main arteries were clear so was discharged within 2 hours. Follow up with a different cardiologist I was diagnosed with Microvascular Angina. Since October 2017 I have tried many doses of different drugs and been admitted to hospital 4 times. I am currently on 3.75 mg Bisoprolol daily, 750 mg Ranolozine twice daily, Monomil 90mg daily, Atorvastatin 20mg daily, Sertraline 50mg daily and Gtn spray as required. I am still suffering shotness of breath but chest pain has reduced. My question is how much of my former life am I likely to get back?

[Effiecat]

You will get to a better state again...... I did, but it wasnt back to my former life. It’s different.

The microvessel disease has caused me unstable angina, so I’m left with some stable angina (which is on exertion.... inclines, stairs, stress, cold, wind etc) ..... now managed pretty well. The unstable comes and goes. Now mainly at night, or when resting, with the same greyness etc you mention.

You ask about getting your old life back.

It’s taken over 5 years to get the meds ‘right’. Now I have less episodes like yours, fewer A and E visits, much more energetic exercise, gardening travel, socials etc.

One tip is to keep the Drs interested in finding just the meds that suit you. I’ve had to persist on trying different statins, and life is now much better on the fifth one. I’m on lots of pills and BP is kept much lower than I’d like (as I can’t use the GTN spray when I get angina, without passing out) but life is 100% improved, and I’m getting better at avoiding stable angina episodes, which are much reduced.

I hope you get to an easier state. I’m sure you will.

[Copsem in reply to Effiecat]

Thanks for sharing how long it takes to get the meds right

[Twobells]

I had triple heart bypass April 2017, there was a 4th artery that was also partially blocked, but for reasons I don't understand nothing was done. 12mths on chest pain, breathless when doing anything. Now have unstable angina due to micro vasclar disease. To say I'm p....ed is an understatement. They have me on the table so can't get my head round as to why, when there was the opportunity to regraft that 4th artery. Now on loads of new meds, but I am just doing one day at a time. I no longer work, so that's taken a lot of pressure off. I have had counselling which has helped. I think you are never quite the same, but finding a new path to walk has made a difference to me. I cannot change what has happened and what is currently happening so I fill my time doing things I never had time for. Life is tough, but you do cope its never easy on bad days, but somehow you do manage.

Wish you well, this site helps too makes you realise your not alone

Fran