Unstable angina: Does any one have... - British Heart Fou...

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Unstable angina

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17 Replies

Does any one have unstable angina.? do you mind telling me what symptoms you have and how you deal with it[tablets etc) thanks

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Picass
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17 Replies
Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

Hi the main symptom is chest pain at rest or after less than usual exertion which does not respond to GTN spray or sublingual tablets.

It is not something to leave untreated it needs urgent medical attention.

I suggest you ring 111 and if necessary 999 if you are having these symptoms

The BHF has this information about angina

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

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Picass in reply to Milkfairy

Thanks

Unstable angina is not restricted to chest pain. It can be discomfort in the jaw, shoulder, arm and so on. Mine was around my left elbow and felt like stiffness/bruising not sharp pain. Usually accompanied by mild shortness of breath. Unstable angina is when it occurs at rest - sitting, laying down etc, you don't need to be exercising. It is highly dangerous so any discomfort like that, especially with some shortness of breath is a medical emergency.

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Picass in reply to

How do you deal with yours

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Northernpaw

Hi there

I was diagnosed with unstable angina just a month ago and ended up a stent to relieve a 90% block on LAD. I am 61, very active, fit etc. Complete shock. I believe I have had the symptoms for a long time. Often associated with exertion but not always. Chest pain that was diagnosed as intercostal or muscle pain for years. It often felt better with exercise but lately it was occurring during exercise and relieved at rest, that was a sign that something was not right. I also had a numbness or tingling in my left hand, and mild pain in my armpit for years. The symptoms did not go away with nitro or meds. A 12 lead ECG will often the signs of unstable angina. If you have the symptoms take note of when they occur, how often, and how they are relieved. Share this information when you get checked.

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Picass in reply to Northernpaw

Do you take medication

Northernpaw profile image
Northernpaw in reply to Picass

I take the cardiac cocktail of Rosuvastatin, Bisoprolol, Perindopril, Ticagrelor and ASA. I hate it. Makes me light headed and jittery. My cardio may take me off the beta blockers after 3 months

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Picass in reply to Northernpaw

It’s a nightmare I have come off bisoprolol because of breathing tried carvedilol that took my blood pressure down too low now I am trying nicorandil feeling really stressed with it all

Hi, I get back ache across both shoulders and centred. I also get a dull pain across my chest. Quite honestly it's a nuisance. It varies as to how bad it can be. At worst it can knock be sideways for 3 days, then I can go seemingly a week without getting it.

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Picass in reply to

What medication do you take. Sounds a lot like my symtoms

Victosa for diabetes then.. Ticagrelor, aspirin, bisoprolol twice a day, amlodopine, ramipril, and a statin. I rattle when I walk 😂

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Picass in reply to

I have come off bisoprolol as it made me wheeze trying nicorandil at the moment it’s very stress ful

Manhattan1 profile image
Manhattan1

was told my angina had changed to unstable angina couple of weeks ago after being admitted to hospital.. chest tightness or discomfort.. jaw pain .. shoulder or upper back pain.. dizziness and clammy feeling or nausea.. sometimes not all at once.. on ivabradine 5mg.. diltaziem 90mg.. isorobide 120mg. aspirin 75mg.. perindopril 8mg.. bendofluzamide 5mg.. simvastatin 40mg.. and gtn spray.. i swear i’m starting to rattle lol

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Picass in reply to Manhattan1

How do you manage taking all those tablets any side effects?

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Manhattan1

it’s got to the stage now.. i probably don’t recognise any side effects lol.. Cardiologist said the drugs will do their best to protect me from something more serious happening👍

Arthur1962 profile image
Arthur1962

You are obviously worried and talking with others certainly helps me but you will understand that no two cases are ever the same.

My angina hits sometimes sitting on the couch watching TV, climbing the stairs or if I’m silly enough to try and mash potatoes.

ECG and blood tests have Never shown any anomalies, yet up to now I have 9 stents and awaiting tests for a coronary occlusion device.

On an absolute cocktail of drugs , Bisoprolol, colecalciferol, atrovastatin, amlodipine, apixiban, isosibride, ranitidine, ranolozine . Your consultant may have to juggle combinations over some months to find your best treatment but please stick with it.

Don’t be frightened to tell your consultant how you feel after treatment, better or not, as explained my ECG and blood tests always shows nothing, it’s so hard to try and explain after that how bad I am feeling.

Was I worried at first diagnosis Yes just as much as I am now, however you learn to live with it, you try and control it and never let it control you.

Believe me you’ll soon learn what you can and cannot do, always ask questions, always enquire and never take no as an answer, what might work for one may not for another.

Manhattan1 profile image
Manhattan1 in reply to Arthur1962

same here.. sitting on couch.. climbing stairs... and mashing potatoes is a big effort .. another thing that sometimes brings it on is while i’m ironing..

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