Hi, I am new here and am looking for advice please as am very confused.
My heart attack came without any warning 7 weeks ago. I had a stent fitted as had 90% blockage of my RCA. A week later I experienced the same heavy discomfort in my chest radiating to my throat whilst at rest. The GTN spray had little effect so I dialled 999. In A&E bloods and ECG was normal so I went home.
Last week again whilst resting I had the same symptoms. Using the GTN spray did not resolve it so called 999. ECG and bloods were normal but the A&E Dr wanted me to be admitted to see a cardiologist. I was on the trolly in A&E for 18 hours with no monitoring except BP taken at intervals. I eventually got admitted on to a gastrology ward. As it was the weekend no Drs rounds took place.
On Monday the medical consultant for the ward came round. He said I was bound to have angina after a HA. I asked if I could have any further investigations to confirm the diagnosis of angina. He said what tests do you want? I said a stress ECG test for example. He said we don't do those and walked away! I felt my admission was a total waste of time and I don't want to be a burden on the NHS.
I was discharged the next day without seeing a cardiologist. On my discharge notes the diagnosis stated Unstable Angina. I have looked this up and am really scared! I don't understand how I can have angina when I didn't have it prior to my HA and surely now the blockage has been stented then I should not have angina.
I'm unsure what to do. Can I request further testing to be done as do not know what the condition of my arteries are? The angiogram stated left side normal and 90% blockage of mid RCA thats all. I did have an echocardiogram which stated good pumping mechanism. I feel really scared and at a loss what to do. It doesn't help that there is no cardiac rehabilitation. As yet I do not have a follow up appointment with the cardiologist. Sorry this is long winded! Would really value some feedback,
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tywanda46
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Hi sorry that you’ve had a recent HA. It sounds like you’ve had a rough ride with post HA admissions to hospital .
I can relate to what is a very scary time in your life .
I like you had a HA in April this year for a RCA blockage . I had a stent too . Following H A I too had two admissions to A and E as thought I was having another HA . Pain in throat across shoulders tight chest .
Nothing was done whilst in hospital and they put it down to extreme anxiety which I do think it was .No one told me that a stent can take weeks to settle down too which would have helped . My new meds also took some getting used to . I was extremely nauseous and no appetite-lost a lot of weight .
The positive thing is though is I got better it just took time , small steps to recovery .
CBT helped as it’s a massive emotional event having a HA and you needtime to process your thoughts and fears . I also found breathing techniques / medication good as especially at night when somehow I got panicky.
I’m happy to say I’m
Well now and enjoying my life I think somehow experiencing a life threatening event and surviving it makes us a stronger person and I feel the Luckiest person in the world to still be here with my wonderful family .
Hope you get better soon I feel sure you will because I did and lots of other fellow hearties on this forum .
Hi, Thank you so much for your reply. It has given me hope that life will improve. And yes I too am grateful to be given a second chance at life.
I am due to see my GP tomorrow so have lots of questions for him! I also have a follow up appointment with the Heart Assessment Team in early January and am going to ask for further investigations,
im on the same boat as you mate heart attack 20th nov stent fitted to rca then 3 weeks later i called 111 as i had pains in my chest they did my egg normal checked my troponin leaves they was only slightly raised a n e doc said looks like infection as raised white blood cell count seen cardiologist and they sent me home
well last night as i just lay in bed all of a sudden felt sick then this same feeling as when i had heart attack pain on arm and crushing pain in chest i had to spray with my gtn twice to get the pain to subside
its like being left in limbo if it happens again i will ring 111 trust me im scared myself and feel like no support
Hi djeighp I'm sorry to hear that you are having similar problems to me. Yes it does feel as if there is little support around especially with no face to face cardiac rehabilitation available. I have found the exercise videos on this site very good.
Do you have a follow up appointment with the cardiology team? I only found out that I had one by phoning the cardiologists secretary. Yes definitely phone 111 if chest pain does not subside with GTN spray this is what I am going to do. It's what is advised.
no nothing through post yet but did say id get 1 in new year but not so sure now with all in lockdown again tier 4
Welcome to the club. I've had 5 stents and all of them take time to bed in. This in itself I've confused for angina. Like you, I also have unstable angina, 18 months on from the HA. I won't say it gets easier as you've had a life changing event, but you get more accepting of your condition. Keep using the gtn spray, do whatever your specialist tells you to. I've found that I've accepted my mortality and that sooner or later I will be gone. It's the human condition and we all have it. Enjoy your time, be gentle with yourself and those around you. I might have 20 years, it might be 20 weeks, but whatever it is will be filled with happiness and love. I hope this helps and isn't too blunt. I suspect that like me, the reality of your mortality is the really difficult thing that you're wrestling with. We all tend to think we're immortal until an event like this. But keep smiling, you've at least been given extra time.
Badly LOL. I'm in a wheelchair and they said I wouldn't be able to do the exercises so I just had to wing it; do what I felt I could and increase a tiny bit each day. I was just due to start a "not heart specific" class for disabled when lockdown started.
KEEP AT YOUR DR. I had pain a few weeks ago (HA 10yrs ago 2 stents) I Went to A&E twice in one week was sent home twice with diag of trapped nerve. Was told to stop over reacting with my pain. Some little snotty nosed Dr I threatened to sue my DR and Hospital if they did not refer me. they did My first stent had failed and totally blocked again. I also have a vein blocked on back of heart that they can do nothing about My GTN tablets have had to be doubled, Please keep at your Dr to be referred To cardi Dr
Hi gene175 Thank you for your reply. Wow it was a good job you stayed strong and were assertive in asking for more investigations to be done!
I am due to see my GP tomorrow so have lots of questions for him! I also have a follow up appointment with the Heart Assessment Team in early January and am going to ask for further investigations,
I've not much to add to what others have said other than to encourage you to stay positive. When I was recovering from my HA, several times I was told that my rapid recovery was down to remaining positive. The mental side of recovery is just as important as the physical. I appreciate that it is easy to say that and it may be difficult to put into practice. For me the focus on getting back to climbing hills in Scotland was the key.
Hi GWP1952 Thank you for your reply. It is true what you say about the mental aspect of recovery being as important as the physical. I like the idea of finding a focus to aim towards. For me it is getting out and about in nature with my camera
Hi. I read your original posting with interest. My situation was very similar to yours. I ended up with four stents and a GTN spray, which did nothing for my "angina" which I was told I shouldn't be experiencing post stenting. I was basically dismissed and told that it was impossible for a GTN spray not to give relief.
I persisted relentlessly and also changed consultants.
From this I had a cardiac MRI, which instantly diagnosed an underlying genetic heart condition that I'd had since birth - Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, a condition that has the exact same symptoms as having blocked arteries, but does not respond to the GTN spray at all.
I was totally shocked, but then things started to fall into place. Especially when my new Cardiologist told me that my stents were working perfectly and no, GTN, wouldn't of relieved the symptoms of HCM.
I was eventually put on a raft of further medications, which now control all my former symptoms and feel way better.
Moral of the story, be pleasantly, persistent. If something doesn't sit right with you, get it checked out until you are satisfied with what you are being told.
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