Worry about returning to work

[SKW1502]

I have been suffering from chest pain, breathlessness & fatigue for most of the last year. My symptoms were all treated as lung based for quite some time as it all started with chest infections that became pneumonia. I was found to have mild Bronchiectasis on my right lung. The terrible chest pain started completely out of the blue, was constant for many days, gradually decreasing in severity and frequency over many weeks/months. This has happened twice, in May & September. Eventually I was also referred to the Cardiac team and recently had a few tests, 24 hour ECG, Calcium Score, CT Chest Scan, & US TransThoracic ECG. All of these results have come back ok but from all I read I feel MVA is a likely cause. I am enjoying quite a good spell of health at the moment and due to start a phased return to work in a few weeks. I am just so worried that my symptoms will return again when I go back, as they did last time, 5 months ago.

[dunestar]

Just to say I have MVA which was diagnosed by an echo, then a stress echo followed by an angiogram. The stress echo in particular showed "fairly global ischaemia" and it was thought at that time that my main arteries were blocked. But when it came to the angiogram they were not in too bad shape, so the conclusion was MVA was causing the ischaemia shown on the stress echo. I haven't had one but I believe MVA can also be diagnosed via a cardiac MRI perfusion scan. I don't get chest pain so it's difficult for me to say whether what you experienced is typical of MVA.

[SKW1502 in reply to dunestar]

Thank you, I think perhaps there are other tests I need to have but my Dr does not seem keen on continuing in that direction at the moment.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi SKW1502

A phased return to work can be helpful.

Have you been able to identify which are your main stressors?

The cold weather, mental and emotional stress are common triggers.

Take it slowly be gentle with yourself and don't feel you should push yourself too hard too soon.

Using techniques such as meditations, visualisations, yoga and Tai Chi can be helpful ways of managing stress.

There are lots of free apps you can use.

insighttimer.com/

I live with vasospastic angina causing Microvascular angina and Coronary artery spasms.

All my tests were normal except I had an specialised angiogram with acytelcholine which showed my coronary vasospasms.

I do however have ECG changes when I have chest pain

MVA is a poorly understood and recognised condition and your Cardiologist may not be up to speed on the condition.

The BHF have some information which I included. Perhaps print them out and go and discuss your symptoms with the Cardiology team.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Good luck on your return to work

.

[SKW1502 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you, I will read through all you've suggested. I think mental and emotional stress are the primary triggers for my chest pain. But sometimes it comes on with no real pattern or reason that I can identify. I do like my job, although it is quite stressful, and I am keen to return, but this time I will be much more strict in sticking to my phased return plan.

[jimmyq in reply to SKW1502]

I found Tai Chi a great help. When I couldn't walk the length of our street because of Angina, I could do a 2 hour Tai Chi class and enjoy it. If you don't want to learn a Tai Chi form you could try Shibashi. A class is preferred but if there isn't one near you you can use this video: : youtube.com/watch?reload=9&...

[SKW1502 in reply to jimmyq]

Thank you, I am looking at starting a Tai Chi class. My Mum who is 80 goes to one and really enjoys it!