Just a quick question, I'm due to to and see the Rapid Chest Pain clinic today and it's my first time since being diagnosed from GP. What should I expect as I am quite nervous?? Will they scan my heart today, or maybe just start me on the medications, I do feel some thing should happen as my chest is always quite tight although I feel alot more relief with GTN spray, my GP has also put me on statins. I just feel that I'm always tired and breathless so not sure if they might be able to give me something for this?? Any advice would be grateful. Thank you
Hello and welcome to the forum! Usually on the first visit they do a ECG and you see a cardiogist afterwards. Usually there would be a delay for further tests like angiogram and/or CT scan. I was sent for bloods which included FBC, HbA1c, clotting factor. You are probably already on a mini (75mg) Aspirin. You could also be prescribed an an antianginal like Isosorbide Mononitrate or Diltiazem (a Calcium Channel Inhibitors). These have a not dissimilar action to GTN spray and could relieve your feeling of tightness. Good luck...
Thank you, thought this might be the case to be honest, not on aspirin yet just statins but think this might be the case, or other meds will see. Thank you for the reply will keep you posted.
From what I saw of the Rapid Chest Pain Clinic it seemed to perform what was basically a triage and signposting function, employing more sophisticated tests (for example their ECG tests are more detailed than those you may have had at your doctor's surgery, A&E, or in an ambulance) to really try and understand your heart problems at a more thorough level. The really urgent cases will be identified at this stage for accelerated analysis and treatment, and they'll route the other patients for appropriate care.
There's absolutely nothing to be anxious about, at this stage it's extremely unlikely that you'll have any invasive tests. More likely are some or all of X-Rays, ECG, and bloods.
It will be interesting to hear what they do, and what they suggest. I would feel very happy a team were going to take a really good look at me and my heart!
Well just an update, went to clinic and the nurse was very clinical and straight talking, she has mixed feelings whether I have angina, as went I said to her I had chest tightness when resting she bluntly replied to say 'this is not an angina symptom' ?? Slightly confusing, but she did say that breathlessness and dizziness when walking for 10-15 does sound like it with chest tightness? So she is sending me for for a CT coronary scan to check, something make a me feel it's more my heart than angina, but because the GTN gave me instant relief and took the pain away I'm unsure. She kept saying it was my weight and that I'm not relaxing enough?? I know I'm a couple of stone over weight, which I'm now addressing, also no stress at the moment and relaxing alot so I really don't understand. Hasten to say I feel like I've wasted the Clinics time and don't understand why they have to be so flippant and blase'. I work for the NHS and was given good advice about listening to everything the patient has to say rather than constant interruptions, hey ho will see what the scan suggests I think?
Please do not feel you are wasting anybody's time. It is important for your symptoms to be acknowledged and for you to receive the appropriate testing and treatment without judgement.
I wish you luck
Thank you so much, I feel like I'm going crazy, I have been having these pains on and off since last year and they have got progressively worse. Recently I have really struggled to walk with my dogs for usual 40-50 mins, I'm really struggling after 10-15 mins. I become very breathless and my head spins, chest tightens so need to sit down .. after resting for 10 mins I can walk again. I know I'm 2 stone over weight but my eating habits aren't that bad, I eat lots of fruit and veg, fish and chicken, no red meat, so the weight has creeped on. I have started really healthy eating now, only water for drink, tea and coffee only two cups. The weight is coming off slowly, don't smoke never have, don't drink really, only at parties or celebrations. So I feel she has jumped on some thing to blame, rather than actually investigating first then advising me on what I am doing wrong/right? I felt so deflated and awful when walking out of the hospital, like I've wasted everyone's time, but I'm not imagining these symptoms they are real and actually quite frightening when it's happening. Anyway sorry to go on, it's so nice to have support on here.
Hi, I know how you feel and you don't look very old! I'm 45 and have had problems for 5 years and doctors can't detect what's wrong with me, I'm like you I eat well fish, chicken beast, low fat dairy products, nuts and beans and wholemeal bread and wonder why I get sick sometimes when I take care of myself and I exercise daily so I don't understand the pain!! Nice to see you're not alone hopefully things will improve it doesn't mean you're going to die but I know it's very scary and worrying!! Not knowing what's wrong with you, why it's happening, I really don't want to die or grow old but we can't control these things can we, wished we could be forever young and fit, don't worry and chin up!! I'm like you, I feel like the doctors don't care and won't do anything to help you so I just try not to worry. 🙂
It is awful when a Healthcare professional does not listen and tries to treat their assumptions rather than your symptoms.
The BHF published a report last year to raise the issue that women do not do as well after a cardiac event as men. They are often told they are having a panic attack rather than a heart attack
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