Cardio Syndrome X was the suspicion - shock discovery yesterday at a private angiogram. 99% blockage so stent surgery done there and then. I had to pay in order to get the treatment as I was considered low risk by the NHS. Anyone experienced similar? I’m home now and expect a full recovery but shocked at the fact I could have experienced a serious event at any time . For context I have low cholesterol, am ideal weight, never smoked , healthy approach to food and alcohol. I do daily exercise and until June was swimming at least a mile every day. I’m from a family of people who have had heart issues and strokes but many health care professionals have told me unless it’s your parents who have heart issues then other related people don’t count. A nurse yesterday clarified this for me as a genetic issue, so someone like me can do all the right things but be destined to experience what I have. It’s been a rocky few months and I’m pleased to be on the right side of a diagnosis and treatment- but at a cost - and one the NHS would only be able to shoulder once I had become and emergency. I’m really interested to share my experience and anyone else’s.
Surprise discovery at private angiogram - British Heart Fou...
Surprise discovery at private angiogram
Hello HighburyHill. I am similar in that I exercised regularly, ate a balanced diet, was not overweight, do not smoke and only have the occasional drink. However my family history meant I was heading for a heart attack which I had it in February.
Hi Maisie,
I’m sorry to hear that. How is your recovery going? I’m really interested in how you felt the system worked for you before your HA. Did you experience any symptoms at all? I’m emotionally strong about this but can see how easy it must be for some people to feel isolated and frustrated. To add some humour my husband has just been to the large supermarket for me - I can’t lift anything heavy until the bruising from the angioplasty goes down - and he has returned apoplectic at the state of relatively young people coming out of the attached fast food joint - in his words “with rolls of fat on top of rolls of fat chowing down on even more fat. I bet they’d be a priority on the NHS”. I have volunteered to go and stand outside with a placard warning them of the dangers but I doubt a reasonably slim 51 year old middle class woman is going too change their habits! Love to hear how you are recovering both mentally and physically.
Well I have a parental history of heart attacks. I was fit played sport twice a week , normal weight and bloods came back fine but I did have a mystery pain in my chest and shoulders when I served in tennis and it wore off oddly so after many ecg’s , which came back normal they decided it was muscular. However things got progressively worse and after a visit to A&E they discovered I needed a heart bypass! What I do inherit from my family is the inability to cope with stress which I attribute mostly to my condition. That was all 18 months ago. Am now back at tennis aged 78 and no more odd pain - even my migraines are far less
If you check out my profile under the post marked “apologies” I let rip. I’m a lot calmer now and more resigned to the new me for now at least. I was Mrs Angry for a while and very resentful after doing all the things I’m supposed to do to prevent the inevitable heart attack but in vain. I’ve always been a very strong person and find it difficult being cared for. I’m not an east patient but I’m trying my best. I’m sure you’ll get there. This site is very good for putting you straight and keeping you cheerful.
Wow, I’ll check that out. I’ve genuinely reconciled myself to this situation. Although I’ll confess I was Mrs Angry when a work colleague couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting anywhere in the NHS - and recommended I told them I was depressed as her Mum had done that and got a boob job and a tummy tuck. 🙄 I’m also 100% grateful that we could cover the costs. I know I might still have some issues but seeing that angiogram yesterday was shocking. It’s also shocking that for every one of me there are so many out there waiting for appointments yet due to not being deemed high risk are just pootling along in a very stretched system. I know the NHS is amazing when it needs to be but it’s just not enough to keep fit ‘healthy’ people on track.
When I experienced angina I went to my GP who referred me to the Urgent Chest Pain Clinic. In our area cardiolgy is so overwhelmed it meant a six week wait! When I found it was four months wait for an angiogram I went privately. It was then back to the NHS for treatment as a bypass was way beyond my shallow pockets. The one thing the private consultant did was prescribe Diltiazem to reduce the angina. Up until then I had not even been prescribed GTN spray! Not really good enough! I am more than happy with the outcome of the bypass but it was a very long wait!
Hi Michael is it possible to go private after using NHS for second opinions and get a proper diagnosis just in case anything else can be done
Yes, I saw the lead interventional cardiologist in the private wing of the same hospital. Personally I would only have a procedure, like an angiogram, done within the confines of a major acute hospital.
Oh wow - that is very interesting. I am very similar in the sense I follow a good diet, exercise regularly, low cholesterol, ideal weight and still ended up having a minor heart attack with 90% blockage in my main artery! So we are both lucky to be smart enough to address the issue. My symptoms were mild discomfort which lead me to visit the local hospital and check it out. Ended up having a stent and now I am back to normal. Its been a crazy year but thankful and grateful to have diagnosed my problem at the right time. Wishing you all the best -
Glad you are able to reflect in such a positive way. All the best to you as well.
Hi there
I think we are all in agreement, it’s all about genetics and it doesn’t matter what you do if it’s in your gene pool it’s going to get you, plus I think with fast food becoming a common
Theme for dinner it’s going to get you even quicker. I had an angiogram after my heart failure was diagnosed and I have all healthy arteries, no furring or blocking at all and when you consider I come from the west of Scotland my cardiologist was most impressed with them, but I didn’t take a particularly diet or watch what I ate really, so a bit of genetics to that part too.
When I was diagnosed with CHD, my surgeon said it was 'mostly familial' and there is a history of coronary heart disease on one side of my family. When I was told I had a 100% blockage in my right coronary artery and two x 90% + one x 70% in left, I wondered how/why I was still standing! I agree with you that there are so many out there waiting for appointments but the numbers needing treatment mean that waiting lists are very long. I was able to have a triple bypass operation done privately because I've been paying in to a critical illness policy for 25 years; the surgeon told me that if I'd waited for the NHS, it could have been 'many months' ...
Hi HighburyHill
I totally agree with what you have said re: the system not appreciating genetics unless its parental. I was in a very similar position in 2018 and resulted in having a bypass at the age of 53. I had been to the Drs on several occasions but not deemed ‘at risk’. What upset me the most was when I asked the cardio rehab nurse following my bypass - why cvd doesn’t appear to be given the same priority as cancer in terms of NHS pathways, policies and timeframes etc she responded - ‘they think it’s your own fault’. I presume they being the decision makers, yet at cardio rehab classes there are plenty of people who have looked after themselves watched their weight, exercised, not smoked etc. There does seem to be a need for those in positions of power within the NHS to reassess the genetic link to heart disease and stop just placing the emphasis on parental link and poor lifestyle.
Wishing you all the best with your recovery.
I was fat shamed when I was in hospital with Sepsis and AFib they did treat me like it was my own fault I was walking 3 miles a day working as a cleaner so physical job. Not eating loads and trying to eat healthier was so upsetting the looks I was getting im mainly just large for a woman 5ft 10, and well built do have some fat but not huge I'm heavy boned, I am 17st but was 19 and trying very hard to lose weight has taken me two years to lose that 😢
It is interesting.
I have seen the main discussion on "unconscious bias" on the Hub.
Looking forward to reading further discussion on the subject.
For me all this points to the NHS treating everyone as an individual and not putting people into boxes.
Cardiologist told me when I asked was it genetics, as my Father died at 68 after years of Heart related problems. He just said "In my opinion Heart problems are so common it just looks like genetics " ?????
My husband had a 95% blockage of his right coronary artery in Dec 1995, after a balloon angioplasty in Jan 1996 apart from taking half an aspirin daily and statins and watching his weight he has always had good BP , his cholesterol is 3.9 and he has been fit and healthy since. He is now 73.
Hi LilyMeg,
Thanks for that - firstly I’m so pleased to hear your husband has had such a good outcome. Secondly thanks for replying to prove how positive this treatment can be. I’m relieved and a little elated truth be told that this was caught and I can stop worrying about my symptoms and get on with life again.
I’m more worried about losing my fitness as even up to Thursday when I went in I was walking 10km a day - used to run it - but I’m doing what I’m told for now and taking things easy. Absolutely onwards and upwards.
Thank you
Hi Highbury Hill
I found I had a 'blockage in a major artery' and that 4/17 areas of my heart have a blockage', was referred to the RACPC (Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic) by A and E with my GP further chasing an appointment for the angiogram that I apparently need.
I have just received a letter advising of a telephone consultation the week after next!
I keep telling myself that if it were really urgent, I would be treated, so I can apparently wait.....
I can image your shock at your diagnosis. We actually gave up our BUPA subscription in May, as now being in our seventies, the cost was becoming prohibitive)! Good timing, eh?! We would be happy (perhaps happy isn't the word!) to pay for an angiogram (could you give an indication of cost?) if the NHS really couldn't provide it and I needed it quickly.
I just keep thinking that if I needed it, the NHS would 'come good' but do have nagging doubts as they are so stressed at the moment.
I wonder what/who is classed as 'urgent'...
Cost for angiogram and one stent in April this year was around £3700 (every stent they do we were told is charged at £1000) so obviously might be more (or less if none needed)Worth it esp after two ha’s and signs of a third !!! but couldn’t get it done in NHS it was done in his usual NHS hospital
Hi yes same for me spent 9 hours in a&e with racing heart and sob..several tests and sent home and advised to take aspirin and wait for the cardio team to call.. luckily for me I have heathcare with my job so found my self a consultant..again several tests but this time a ct scan only to find several blocked arteries. Had an angiogram which identified the lad being 99 % blocked. Which was stented and was told that I had just got to them in time..so here to tell the tell..dont blame nhs staff they were brilliant but so over whelmed only the infrastructure that runs it.. As I say I was lucky enough to have private heathcare but so many don't..
Hello. I was very interested when coming across your post on this matter. Firstly, when did the NHS provide you with this treatment which lead you to go private which seems really unfair for you. However, despite everything it seems you did the right thing because they found some issues and treated them which may have saved you from any future issues. I have a 100 percent block in RCA which was particially unblocked but unable to put in stent because artery was to narrow. I still don't understand why my cardiologist say they are not bothered about this artery until it bothers me like getting pain and getting breathless. I have trouble excepting this and wonder if a private cardiologist might have a different view. However, I would if anyone has any idea how much this may cost. So pleased you managed to see private cardiologist and avoided any serious dangerous events. Good luck and I hope your recovery all goes well and soon able to get back to normal life. X
Angiogram
Angiogram tomorrow
Post angiogram 
Heart NHS or private?
