Anyone out there with severe fatigue after several heart attacks. Had it now for 5 yrs and is controlling my life. Any tips please.

[Doedoe]

Fatigue

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Could you expand a bit - dates, if stents fitted, medications, etc. - as it would be easier to comment. Thank you.

[Doedoe in reply to MichaelJH]

Hi, have 7 stents fitted, just had my 4th heart attack 7mth ago, 4 in 5 yrs. On nicorandil 90, monomil 60, tildem retard 300, aspirin, for the past 5 yrs. Seen numerous consultants, claim my fatigue is down to heart disease. Thank you.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Doedoe]

Another question - do you suffer from angina?

[Doedoe in reply to MichaelJH]

Yes usually 3-5 times a week usually at rest.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Doedoe]

I asked because the first three medications are for angina (I had two different anti-anginals before my bypass). Slightly puzzling is no statin considering you have had stents and no blood pressure medication. The later might be because the anti-anginals reduce BP as part of their action.

If you had said that angina comes on with exercise I would have asked if a bypass had ever been discussed. However, as you said mainly at rest I am thinking micro vascular angina (MVA). Could someone comment.as not an area I know much about - thank you.

[Janma123]

Hello Doedoe, my husband suffered from fatigue for many years prior to his second heart attack and subsequent bypass. Following his bypass he was initially diagnosed with anaemia, then as having low folate and finally as low in vitamin B12. He is less tired now that he has regular injections to correct this but the tiredness returns when his next injection is due.

It may be worth asking for b12, folate and vitamin d3 to be checked also.

I hope you find a solution.

[Doedoe in reply to Janma123]

Hi Janma, thank you for that. It's a shame they who organise the blood tests don't test for all these things, seems to be a chore. I will certainly be asking to be tested on the items you have highlighted.

[Janma123 in reply to Doedoe]

There is loads of information on the Pernicious Anemia forum on HU about b12 and other associated deficiencies. I don’t understand why they are not checked with all of the other blood tests that are done.

Best of luck getting to the solution to you fatigue.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi Doedoe

Just picking up Michael's comments about microvascular angina.

Both MVA and vasospastic angina aka coronary artery spasms are poorly understood and recognised conditions.

These less common types of angina typically cause chest pain at rest and in the night rather than in response to exercise.

Being constantly woken at night and not sleeping enough may also lead onto extreme tiredness.

Chest pain at rest is a symptom not to be ignored. I suggest you make an appointment with your GP to discuss your chest pain at rest in the night and the possibility of Microvascular and vasospastic angina with them.

The BHF have the following information which you may find helpful.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...