Possible Angina

[KatieG1979]

Hi, I am being treated for possible angina. I’m on amlodipine and atorvastatin and aspirin. I am 41 and very scared. Having chest pain and tired a lot since starting tabs. Awaiting heart scan. Anyone able to reassure me or tell me of own experience please.

[Smerblue]

Hi, accept you will be scared. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Until your scan you will probably be feeling every twinge. If you have GTN spray use it. The tiredness may just be the angina. I was tired and short of breath with mine. Hope your heart scan goes well.

[KatieG1979 in reply to Smerblue]

Hi

Thank you, my letter has just arrived from my phone assessment 2 weeks ago stating the possible stable angina.

I think it is the unknown that scares me, I have also suffered with anxiety for over 20 years.

Hopefully get the scan when things resume back to normal

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi KatieG

Welcome to the forum

It can feel very bewildering coming to terms with your possible angina and the medication you are taking can effect how you feel too.

It is as Smerblue says okay not to feel okay!

The BHF has this information about the different types of angina and the possible causes.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

The BHF Cardiac nurses are also very knowledgeable and helpful so perhaps give them a call too?

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Have you got any strategies to manage your anxiety?

[KatieG1979 in reply to Milkfairy]

Hey, many thanks for this reply that’s really helpful.

Regards my anxiety, yes, I have dealt with it for years now and when it comes on I can manage it and understand it, just know it is an uncertain time for everyone at the moment anyway without a possible angina diagnosis

Many thanks again

[Palpman]

If you are over 64 then your amlodipine should be no stronger than 5mg. This, also if your ankles swell with oedema.

Ask your GP to change your Atorvastatin to Simvastatin as it is better for depression.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Palpman]

Hi Palpman

That is interesting your comment about statins and mental health.

Have you got any research articles you could share with us about this?

[Palpman in reply to Milkfairy]

frontiersin.org/articles/10...

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Palpman]

Thank you.

The link between brain inflammation and depression has been researched by Cambridge based Psychiatrist Prof Edward Bullmore.

His book was published a couple of years ago.

The Inflamed Mind: A radical new approach to depression

[Palpman in reply to Milkfairy]

Cholesterol accumulations in the brain can be called inflammatory disease as does heart arteries. Just a thought.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Palpman]

It is indeed the cardiovascular system.

You can have plaque formation in any blood vessel in your body.

[jerry12953]

Please try not to be too anxious about it. Over the years I have learned that the mind can do terrible things. Many of us tend to believe in the worst but it usually isn't! I almost convinced myself that I had MS many years ago but it was nothing of the sort.

Now I too have angina and that's not in my imagination! But I live with it; maybe I'm lucky in that I can still be pretty active. Sometimes the chest pain reminds me that I'm not what I once was but I try to let that thought go.

I think that is the secret. Let your worrysome thoughts come and then let them go.

[IsabellaHill50]

Hi, I am also being treated for possible angina. 4 weeks ago. Been in Hosp one day where I had various tests which came back normal. Waiting for an app to have an angiogram. I had symptoms of a heart attack however mild. Meds newly prescribed are Clopidogrel blood thinner. Verapamilopen arteries and lowers blood pressure. Rosuvastin to lower cholesterol. Also have nitrolingual spray to open airways. All meds as a precaution till I get angiogram. I am back walking a mile a day and healthy eating. I am 60 . Fit and well before this. Only need the spray about once a week. Like you it is the wait and not knowing. After advice from friends on here did help to calm me a little. We are normal to be worried.

[Sunshinebrew]

I have angina and it took a long while to get a diagnosis so I I understand your feelings of anxiety while waiting for tests. I was very breathless and tired with the chest pain which felt like tightness. I had a scan followed months later by an angiogram and then 3 stents to one artery, and have since been diagnosed with microvascular angina which is being treated with medication. It can take a while waiting for tests and to see a cardiologist, so see your GP if you are worried in the mean time or go to A and E if the chest pain doesn't ease and you're worried, they can do ECG and blood test which will put your mind at rest. Anxiety can make it all worse and I regularly use meditation and mindfulness to help with this.

Hopefully the support and advice on this site and the information on BHF website will help.

Wishing you well.

[Hidden in reply to Sunshinebrew]

Can. I. Just ask what medication you take for anxiety,?

[KatieG1979 in reply to Hidden]

I self help and always have. I never believed in taking medication for it as it just masks the anxiety. I accept it is part of me. I’ve used herbal Bach remedies before and deep breathing.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

No sorry the question was for sunshinebrew ive been looking for an anxiety tablet that safe with my heart meds and post heart attack

[KatieG1979]

Thank you for that another

GP looked at my ECG and said there’s were not hugely worried and all my bloods came back clear my cholesterol was up to 5.2 and has always been 5. The tablets are just making me achy and tired at the mo but hoping that will pass.

[DavidG1971]

December 2018 at 47 years old - I had 2 stents placed in my LAD. It was 100% blocked. I was a complete mess ....my best friend said he thought I was dying when he saw me 2 days after the procedure. I was that colourless, limp and depressed.

Last Friday I played 4 sets of tennis against a 20 year old professional sportsman (I lost) and this week I’m expecting a baby with my very supportive girlfriend. There was a lot of worry inbetween, but shows how much things change.

I haven’t been on this forum for months - I used to be here daily. If nothing else shows

things do return to normal.

[petef1]

How are you now KatieG1979? Hoping you feeling better and getting some answers.