Regarding chest pains and tightness

[mikeyboy6]

Hi all, i have been having chest pains and chest tightness for the past few months. 10 years ago i had an ablation to correct an irregular rhythm in my heart, recently i had an echocardiogram and a 48 hour trace and the cardiologist said my heart function was fine, although my heart rate was up to 140 at times, i have had a course of lansoprazole which did not help, and i also have asthma and have been on a beclometazone inhaler for the past few weeks which has not helped, i am wondering if anyone has any experience with this and if i should ask for a second opinion or any other tests i should ask my gp about, kind regards for any information or help.

[Ninjanoo]

Hi mikeyboy6!

Could it possibly be angina pain??? Not an expert I hasten to add by any stretch of the imagination! Would seek advice from GP or cardiologist as first port of call.

I have been having daily chest pain and tightness in chest which sometimes radiates up into my shoulders since March. Chest tightness can feel like someone's got a garden tie round your chest and they're tightening it. Or you've got an elephant sat on you. Apologies for the random descriptions!! Best way I know of describing it though. 😊 All I know it's b awful!

I had an angiogram in June and was diagnosed with vasospastic angina (also known as prinzmetal angina/variant angina/coronary artery spasm). Pain comes on mainly at rest although mine seems to start whenever it feels like it! It does wake me up in the night too usually between 3am and 4:30am.

Like I say no expert can only tell you about my experience but would definitely speak to your GP.

Hope my ramble has been of some use!

Let us know how you get on 😊

[mikeyboy6 in reply to Ninjanoo]

thanks for your reply, i am just worried as the first tests came back fine, that i will have trouble getting any other tests done especially in this climate, did you have initial results that showed there was problems in your heart from ecg/echocardiogram/bloodtests?

[Ninjanoo in reply to mikeyboy6]

No mine's been one long saga to get this far! I had a load of tests done in 2015 they all came back normal. Been to A&E with angina symptoms on and off since (usually in back of an ambulance!)Last episode prior to this current episode was Oct 2018 when long QT showed up on 2 ECGs - cardiologist not at all a nice one got a rollicking and was basically left to my own devices. However this time got referred by GP following an A&E trip in March again suspected angina and another late night/early hours trip in May hospital ECG showed possible ischemia so they referred me as well. Long story short got saddled with same cardiologist but made him book me in for an angiogram which he was reluctant to do as had a CT one done in 2015 which showed clear arteries but got my way! Angiogram done through wrist in June - although arteries "pristine my dear" diagnosis confirmed! Did have a smugness about me not going to lie!!

I got fobbed off because I also have a hiatus hernia and that's what they kept blaming my chest pain on (even though I knew it felt completely different and not had a flare up) I also have no immediate family history of heart conditions. Basically be prepared to be persistent - if you've got a half decent GP you're halfway there you just have to be firm.

But please dont let my experience put you off! I was just unlucky and should have been more forceful but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Don't sit on it do seek help from GP. Let me know how you get on and take care of yourself. Just remember you know your own body better than anyone!

[mikeyboy6 in reply to Ninjanoo]

thank you very much for your reply, its very comforting to know someone else has experienced something similar to me, at least in terms of symptoms and no results on the test, based on reading others experiences on here i was intending to ask my gp to consult with my cardiologist about this but if nothing else happens and all my other tests relating to lung/gut possibilities come back negative i will be asking for more cardiology tests for sure, i am glad you managed to get your issues sorted, thanks again

[mikeyboy6 in reply to Ninjanoo]

just to be more clear i have also had a stool sample test done and that came back negative so im not hopeful about any other tests finding anything but i want to try everything

[Ninjanoo in reply to mikeyboy6]

You're very welcome 😊

I'd be lost without this forum I felt so alone and unsupported. Everyone on here is really friendly and the great thing is everyone shares their own experiences it's really reassuring. We have a rant have a laugh and give out virtual hugs when needed!

I know it's more frustrating when the tests come back normal. Makes your case that much more difficult - trust me I know how that feels! Another thing that may help is write down when you get the chest pain how long it lasts and what it felt like. Do you take your blood pressure at all? Take some readings now and again - dont have to be frequent but three times a week at random and make a note of those. That can sometimes help your GP and also gives you a bit more ammo!!

[mikeyboy6 in reply to Ninjanoo]

no i havent but i recently had an asthma review and my blood pressure was high so i plan to get a bp monitor and do this, my pain is pretty much constant with it sometimes being worse and sometimes being just low level, thanks again for your replies

[Ninjanoo in reply to mikeyboy6]

No probs. My BP fluctuates so am having to take more regular readings 🙄. My chest pain is daily but know colder temperatures also have an effect. Oh the joys!!

Keep me posted with how you're getting on 😊