Exhausted and constant angina during ... - British Heart Fou...

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Exhausted and constant angina during and after the loss of my boxer zeta.

Rob6868 profile image
27 Replies

I'm exhausted to the point I can hardly stand up and even lift things at the moment. I feel physically and emotionally drained since I lost my beautiful dog.Im back at work this morning after having been woken all night with angina pain and dull aches and sharp pains directly across my left breastbone. I've now got to work through the night until 8am tommorrow morning and I'm genuinely concerned now for the ongoing pain I'm getting 24/7 I don't want to keep ringing an ambulance so I'm toughing it out.

I feel I've aged 10years in the last month or so.Im trying desperately to get on but my body won't let me and now I'm worried I'm damaging my heart with these consistent angina attacks that my GTN spray seems to help but then comes back after 10 20mins.Sorry for my rant but I'm just sitting in a corner at work absolutely shattered and I don't want to tell them I feel ill again so they then have to get others to do my job into the night.

I'm so confused in pain and one minute think I should be back in hospital and the next I should just soldier on..

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Rob6868
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27 Replies
Howardl profile image
Howardl

I would see a doctor at the very least

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

Sorry to hear about this. You need to ring 999 or at least 111. Forgive me, but toughing it out is stupid. I know someone who did so for a weekend and went to his GP on the Monday. He is fortunate he did as he then suffered a cardiac arrest! If he had been in his back garden he would probably not be here. Please get on the phone now!

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868 in reply to MichaelJH

I still have a dull ache after taking the spray

So do I try again or is that part of the coarse that your chest feels bruised after?Or is that angina still lingering?

Zena166 profile image
Zena166 in reply to Rob6868

Hi Rob I really think you need to seek help and advice. This pain has been going on since this morning so it’s really important that you get relief. Either phone 111 or 999. So let us know how it goes please. We are all thinking of you. Take care. Zena x

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to Rob6868

My angina became unstable, i.e. coming on for no reason, shortly before my bypass. This is fairly critical and you need it checked out ASAP!!!

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868 in reply to MichaelJH

I took a second dose and it's eased.As I've said to Milkfairy I'm going to try to get some sleep.Im physically drained so that has definitely not helped.I will definitely ring 999 the moment the pain returns. If I had gone back to work it would have finished me off.Im.aware it's Saturday night and A+E will be awash with the usual idiots jamming the system up

And I don't think that will help me Michael.

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14

Rob

Your loss of Zeta is such a huge event. Please see the Dr. you need to be evaluated.

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868 in reply to Dolphin14

Just got out of hospital

They found in had a chest infection with a high tempature and that set off the angina.

Apparently it's a good job I called the ambulance because I was told it could have become much more serious because I have Microvascular angina so the heart may not of been able to cope.

So chest x ray picked up a shadow and I'm now on 5 day dose of Amoxicilin

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Rob6868

I'm so glad you went. Take your meds and I hope you feel better.

Continue to reach out as you go through your grieving process. You are not alone.

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868 in reply to Dolphin14

Thank you so so much Dolphin

Your kind words mean so much.Isnt it hard to believe that one minute your dancing around and walking through life with hardly a care the bang you have a chronic heart condition

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Rob6868

Rob

I do understand. My husband and brother both had surprising onset's of illness. That's why I joined the forum.

You take care of yourself. Losing Zeta and now being sick you need to rest.

Get well soon

Shoshov profile image
Shoshov

morning rob. you have been through a massive trauma. you’ve even said so yourself. you need to get seen by someone robb. we know stress and anxiety makes angina worse and you’ve got it in spades just. even for peace of mind you need checked out. you would be telling us to do that is shoe was on the other foot. time to pull your big boy pants on and just do it. please let us know how you go. your such a big persona in our group and we don’t like to hear of you struggling. take care❤️

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868 in reply to Shoshov

Apparently I have a high temperature hence I feel rubbish.

They found a shadow on my chest x ray and said there is the start of an infection. My troponin levels were ok but I was told if I had left it much longer I could have been in big trouble because the the infection set off my angina and the heart was having to cope with two things.

So now on high dose antibiotics for 5days

Zena166 profile image
Zena166

Hi Rob as others have said please seek help. You are in the middle of a serious alteration in your health status. You need to get professional advice and help as well as relief. Your GTN spray is only helping for such a short period of time that’s not good so any health care professional would say go to A&E or as Michael has said at least phone for advice. I am so sorry about your beloved Zeta it has been so traumatic for you which is why you need to get the help and treatment that you need. NOW. please do not leave it. You know you have all of our support on this site but you also need to access urgent/emergency care now. Sending big hugs. Zena x

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868 in reply to Zena166

I've taken my gtn spray and waited.I now have a dull ache or bruised feeling over heart area.Does that mean they spray has worked or do I take a second dose then ring hospital I'd that pain is still there?

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868 in reply to Zena166

I went to hospital Zena

Turns out on x ray I had the start of an infection and that's why I had constant angina attacks because my heart was fighting two battles. High tempature and feeling crap and microvascular angina was not good.So trying to rest up now..bit hard in this house though. But on 5 day course of antibiotics to see if that sorts it.

If not then I'm back in Zena x

Zena166 profile image
Zena166 in reply to Rob6868

I’m glad you went to hospital sorry you have an infection but At least you know what it is and good that you are being treated for it. Make sure you rest for the next week keep hydrated and NO rushing back to work. And go back to hospital if anything gets worse. Take care Rob and REST! Big hugs. Zena x

Healthyheart1 profile image
Healthyheart1

I agree with all the comments, you have and are going to be exhausted from this for a long time. Take a well deserved break, that way work will know exactly what's happening and you can stop feeling guilty. Please seek help today, yes you know you would tell me the same thing. Thinking of you and sending loads of hugs . Please get your big boy pants on as showshow said x

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

Rob,

Please don't tough it out.

Physical and emotional pain need to be treated promptly.

Please call an ambulance and go to hospital. The hospital staff can check that your heart muscle is okay and treat your angina pain and if necessary that means IV GTN and maybe some morphine.

I too have tried to stay out of hospital and I ended up in worse physical pain along with even worse psychology issues. Post traumatic stress disorder is no fun.

I am fortunate that I have an admission plan so the staff know how to look after me when I am admitted.

When I go in when I am having a bad run of vasospasms I am treated with IV GTN and IV morphine and this I need to get me out of my cycle of pain.

I can sleep and be pain free.

We all need a respite from time to time and it sounds as though you need to have a break from your pain too.

Take care of yourself and be kind to yourself . I hope you find some relief from your pain soon.

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868 in reply to Milkfairy

I took the gtn spray and it eased but I feel bruised and there's a dull ache over the area.Is this still angina or just remnents of it?I went to bed because I was exhausted. Thankfully they have covered my work for tonight but I'm going to take another two dose spray in a bit and see if dull ache goes.If not I will then go in

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Rob6868

Rob if you still have chest pain or dull ache after using the GTN spray several times it's time to go in to hospital.

Ring 111 for advice.

Tell us how you get on.

We're all thinking about you.

Group hug gentle one though.

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868 in reply to Milkfairy

I've gone to bed with a hot water bottle just like you suggested. Something I never thought I would ever do being a rugged old builder but needs must.Its Saturday and you know how A+E will be so I've taken the second dose and it's eased. I'm going to try to get a good night's sleep. But rest assured I won't hesitate to call 999 the moment it comes back Milkfairy

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868 in reply to Milkfairy

Chest infection Milkfairy

Found shadow on xray and now on antibiotics for 5 Days

Apparently it was a good job I went into hospital or it could have become a heart attack so they say . Nothing like that to cheer me up!!! Too much strain on heart they said with MVA and chest infection. Not one person dealing with me really understood my condition and that upset me and made me feel vunrable. I had to explain it..She sat there saying it could have become a heart attack. And that I need to contact my cardiologist

OH yeah right! So prof peter Collins is going to give two hoots about a chest infection

hutch123 profile image
hutch123

Rob I am so sorry for the loss of Zeta. It is totally devastating to loose a loyal companion and you have to go through the grieving process as they were part of the family. I hope chest pain and discomfort that you have been feeling have eased and your haven't been carted off to A & E.

Just a thought with your loss how has your appetite been and has your eating been ok. I have found since my nstemi and 7 stents that my stomach can cause havoc with what with is what I think is chest discomfort is actually wind moving around or acid reflux. The combination of medication which are not good for the tummy and not eating regularly when I have been stressed or upset have taken me to A & E a couple of times thinking I was having another heart episode and given me all sorts of awful pains and of course the GTN spray did not work as it wasn't heart related.

I also feel total rubbish now if I get over tired or run myself into the ground and get exhausted, my body now seems to tell me to rest.

Please do get your self checked out as it's better to be safe than sorry and sometimes just getting reassurance makes you feel a whole lot better.

Allow yourself to grieve for Zeta, there is no weakness in grieving for a beloved pet as they are such a big part of your life.

shopman profile image
shopman

Hi Rob

I've followed your story & loss but thought it better to just read for now. I have probably dealt with more Boxers than most over the years and could tell lots of stories - some funny, some sad etc. If you are not in the market to get another dog - my wife and I cannot now have one as neither of us are well enough to exercise one - then there is always then the possibility of acting as a foster carer for one of the many Boxer Rescues round the country. If interested then I'm sure I could help with the introductions.

judes profile image
judes

Hi Rob

For some reason I missed your message.

I’m known to be a direct sort of person, so here goes

You have suffered a huge loss, this will effect you mentally and physically, there is nothing to be ashamed of when you are grieving, some would say well it’s only a dog. What a load of rubbish our pets are part of the family, cry, laugh, remember the good and not so good times.

Our mental health can and does affect our physical health, so no wonder you got a nasty infection,your prob exhausted, not eating properly and feel like c**p. If you get more chest pain do something about it, as the saying goes don’t be a hero, it’s not worth it.

Take some time off work, rest, sleep as much as possible and try and talk to someone, anyone, I have long conversations with the cat, and have been known to talk to the telly!! Weird I know.

Sending cyber hugs and good thoughts to you.

J

Rob6868 profile image
Rob6868 in reply to judes

I'm doing all those things you mentioned judes.

Although I was a tad naughty in that I just popped down to asda (No food in) Needs must..Feeling it now though! So that's it for the day! Day in with the two other crazy dogs to keep me going

Thanks judes

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