Troponin levels

[Frenchbulldogsx]

OK so I haven't been posting for a while.. I try and stay positive and get on with my life.

Briefly I am a youngish woman who after having a sudden MI in 2017*was diagnosed with hereditary heart disease. I had a quadruple bypass but made a full recovery. I returned to work. Then a year ago whilst out walking my dogs I had another apparently milder MI. Because one of the grafts was not viable.

I was put on Ticagrelor.

I have gone from strength to strength and even changed my job role to an administrative one and went full time. But then whilst being put under extreme pressure (staff off sick, training new staff) -

I had another episode Wednesday at work.. I just felt like fading in and out no pain just odd like before. Couldn't get my words out as fatigued it only lasted minutes but just in case Paramedics arrived and I was taken to hospital. The longshot is my obs were fine but my Troponin was 5 but because my heart is damaged there will always be a reading.Did you all know this...

The first locum doctor told me that he was sorry but I have had another heart attack but then the consultant said unless my reading was over 14 he was not anxious but due to my history he would repeat the blood test in 3 hours. After that time plus some😢I was told that my Troponin was still 5.

I was sent home under the care of my Gp and a referral to the pain management clinic,as I have been having muscular pain around my left breast.

I had an upset tummy but I now know that this is a result of anxiety comes on suddenly.

I think I have a virus or something as I'm not as active as usual and get tired. But my anxiety always thinks that here we go again and I literally drive my stress levels up 😭🎃

[Maisie2014]

Stress can be very unhealthy. Try not to worry so much. Being positive is the right way to start. Generalisation of symptoms is not always helpful. I was actually in an obs ward having been transferred from A&E and ECG, echocardiogram were clear and troponin 2.5. They were all convinced I had strained a muscle in the gym but when my daughter (a cardiac ICU nurse) spoke to the ward sister they transferred me to a cardio ward where I was told my a cardiac nurse I had dodged a bullet. Hence I had a stent fitted and have been on meds ever since. Just listen to the cardio team. Cardiac rehabilitation was great. The team are very helpful. Remember you know what you feel and what meds agree with you. Take care.

[Manhattan1 in reply to Maisie2014]

my highest troponin has been 10.. but A&E docs have always told me if it’s over 4 then they have to take a second blood test after 3 hrs.. 2 months ago nurse who took the ECG said it ‘was all over the place’but that might be because i had taken a deep breath!.. which i hadn’t lol.. earlier that day i’d had chest pain and my HR had been going up and down erratically over a period of 30 mins.. so just wondering if that period was maybe showing up on the ECG rather than the ‘deep breath’ ? lol

[Ferrari10]

I had a double bypass October last year after an MI. I have had a few episodes of chest discomfort and in some cases just simply not being sure whether I was having an MI or something else and have taken myself to A&E on a few occasions. Every time both the EKG and Tropinin levels indicate a past MI (apparently this is completely normal) but on every occasion was sent home as Tropinin levels stayed same or reduced after second blood test (3 hours after the first) never going above 12.

As I had my mammery artery harvested for the bypass I have had continued soreness and discomfort in the left breast and left side of my chest. My surgeon graphically described the process of harvesting the mammery artery and told me that I should expect soreness for some while on the left side as the muscles and nerves need time to heal. The trouble is it gets confusing when the pain plays up and you think it is another MI. I have also had a cardiac MRI where the heart function and blood flow was deemed normal. Cardiologist reassured me that all is good and that I must stay calm and keep to the meds. I guess it will take a while longer or indeed when twinges, discomfort etc pass that the anxiety subsides! Getting there ....

[Frenchbulldogsx in reply to Ferrari10]

Hi interesting although I am 3 years post bypass I to had the mammery graft. It did take a long time to feel relatively normal. But even now I get a shudder when I am cold under my chest wall its really weird. I think that the pain I have above my left breast is muscular as it hurts when I stretch and it is controlled with pain relief.

It's been 2 months though but I suppose once you have a sternectomy you will always be higher risk of injury.

Let's hope 2021 is more normal

[Ferrari10 in reply to Frenchbulldogsx]

Here’s hoping. I have tried to avoid taking paracetamol but most of the time have been unable to hold out as the soreness and aches get a bit too much. Although I have reduced the amount of times I need the pain relief. 🙏🏼

[Frenchbulldogsx in reply to Ferrari10]

I started taking 2 x paracetamol 4 times a day (I also avoided taking pain killers) and the pain is gone, I just get breakthrough pain then remember to take them. So although paracetamol are mild they have been working for me. I will give it a few weeks and see how I go without them.

[Ferrari10 in reply to Frenchbulldogsx]

Same here 2x4 times a day. I am keen to not rely on them for too long given all the other meds.

[Frenchbulldogsx in reply to Ferrari10]

Oh yeah definitely but the consultant told me that once you have had a sternotomy you will always have weakness there. I think I did something lifting my dog and that is 3 years post op!

[Alison_L]

Hi FBD. After my HA in 2018, I ended up in A&E a few times over the next year or so. My troponin floated around during that time, and on the last occasion was 24. They transferred me to CCU for 24 hours that time, but after an echo and various other tests, decided that I hadn't had another event, and that my troponin is probably going to stay quite high.

[Frenchbulldogsx in reply to Alison_L]

It's expected I suppose but when I was told you have had another MI because the F1 didn't know his stuff it was very bad. At least the consultant calmed me down and reassured me.

I have part of my heart that is dead so will always have Troponin levels.

[Alison_L in reply to Frenchbulldogsx]

That makes sense. My HA left me with a dirty great scar across my heart.

[Frenchbulldogsx in reply to Alison_L]

So many scars, but we are survivors Alison. ❤️

[Frenchbulldogsx]

Thanks for that it was a very uplifting comment.