MINOCA : Hi everyone! I’m a 54 year old... - British Heart Fou...

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MINOCA

GreyDoor1 profile image
10 Replies

Hi everyone!

I’m a 54 year old woman whom had trapped wind which wouldn’t go away. Normally I get trapped wind lie on my front for a while and it disappears. Day 1 the trapped wind just didn’t seem to go away.. Day 2 still had it.. took all the remedies but nothing seemed to work. So got my husband to run me down to A & E Dpt. Of course he had to leave me at the door because of Covid. I was half expecting to get seen to and be set on my way but bloods came back with high Troponin. Never ever did I hear of Troponin before.... seems this shows up a Heart attack! Well you can imagine how shocked I felt and how worried I was for my family. Anyway they kept me in Hospital for 4 days. My ECG s were great, blood pressure ok, tread mill great so I was discharged and given statins, spray and sent home to await an angiogram only to be taken in again with chest pains.. same again High Troponin etc, etc Kept in for around 3 -4 days then transferred to another hospital Golden Jubilee for an angiogram.. no damage to heart, no blockages and clear arteries. I was too late to get into the place for an Echo so the Doctor decided to do a small portable echo.. looked like a mobile phone she was using to look at the inside of me heart.. said all was good and it may also be Gastro related then sent me home.. only to be back in a further twice at my local Hospital where I got some more tests done and a proper echo of my heart. Doc saw that I have a little more fluid than I should round the heart and slight scar tissue. I’m now back home with being discharged with MINOCA. And also awaiting to go for an MRI scan. I’m so worried about this and still do not feel that I’m that great. I wish I could just set my mind at ease. But living in limbo like many others.

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080311 profile image
080311

Hello GreyDoor1

Welcome to the forum, we are a merry band of Hearties with numerous heart problems, but are willing to share what we have been through and offer what help we can.

It’s a scary place that you have found yourself in, but you are now on the medics radar so things will move on. Waiting to get a diagnosis is really hard, but it really is a step at a time.

I had Aortic valve replaced and bypass done at the Jubilee, so know it well! It’s a great hospital with amazing staff.

MRI is fine, nothing to worry about. You have had the gold standard in the angiogram and they found your heart was fine no damage no blockages.

When we have a heart event with no obvious diagnosis even without COVID it’s a bit of a waiting game.

Remember you are now a member of the Hearties family and if you need someone to listen to you there will always be a ear, and if you need a shoulder to lean on we can do that too. Even having a vent is ok we all do😂

Best wishes Pauline

GreyDoor1 profile image
GreyDoor1 in reply to 080311

Thank you so much fir getting back to me so quickly. God you’ve been through it! So glad that it was a success. It’s a real scary time when you’re told that you have problems with your heart. I thought I’d be dancing when I got the results of Angiogram but it wasn’t the case snd still isn’t. Medics seemed to think my condition was Gastro related as I had so much wind. The Golden Jubilee did well with angiogram but made a real boob with the Echo which I’m really unhappy about. The Echo place was shut so the Doctor came in with a miniature echo and what looked like her mobile phone. She only missed the excess fluid around my heart snd some scar tissue which I’m really annoyed about as it’s caused more stress and worry as to Why I haven’t been feeling great! I will of course take this further as they should have waited to give me a proper Echo in the morning instead of putting me out at 7:30pm at night! For weeks I’m sure my Doctors thought it was just my anxiety but they will all be put straight soon. I am also on a drugs trial for blood thinner and since being on it my bloods don’t come out like they used to?? Anyway I hope they get me in for MRI soon. Thank you so much for this as I thought I was going insane! I do hope you go from strength to strength Pauline.

AM53 profile image
AM53

Hi Greydoor, similar presentation with bad heartburn and age, but I was incredibly lucky to have a heart MRI in my 4 days in hospital just before Christmas. My heart rate doesn’t like exercise, and MRI showed Myocarditis. Angiogram clear. ECG good when not moving. Troponin levels high. Have inflammation and oedema but no scarring yet thankfully. Home now and still have continual chest pain, but not worried now. Got a follow up in 4 months. Hope you get a firm diagnosis soon.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

Hello GreyDoor1

Welcome to the forum.

I am sorry you have had such a challenging time.

Have the Cardiologists said why you had your Myocardial infarction non obstructive coronary arteries MINOCA?

The most common causes are Vasospastic angina, Microvascular dysfunction or Spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

acc.org/latest-in-cardiolog...

Have you been given a follow up appointment?

Golden Jubilee is a centre of excellence with a Cardiology team experienced in caring for patients with Vasospastic and Microvascular angina. They are actively researching the conditions.

There's some information on the BHF website about Vasospastic and Microvascular angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

GreyDoor1 profile image
GreyDoor1 in reply to Milkfairy

Thank you so much fir getting back to me. Yes finally been told I have MINOCA but it’s taken a couple of months to get this diagnosis. Golden Jubilee made a mistake with Echo.. The particular Echo they used was a miniature echo with what looked like a mobile phone for seeing inside my heart.. it’s no wider they got it wrong... seems the echo place was closed so they did this procedure instead of keeping me until the morning to do a proper Echo. Weeks later I’ve been in and out of Hospital as I’ve been feeling rubbish. Now turn out I do have excess fluid and some scarring which my Cardiologist saw on Echo although I still need an MRI scan to determine the outcome. so worrying days ahead I’m afraid. I am so worried but happy I have found this group as I was making my man go crazy. I just hope it won’t take long for MRI. I put my trust in the Goldfn a jubilee and feel let down by it. :(

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

It took some time for me to get my diagnosis of vasospastic angina.

It can certainly erode your trust when Clinicians don't perhaps listen as they should to you or miss important opportunities to find out your diagnosis.

Living with a rarer under recognised heart condition can be made more challenging when Clinicians just don't have the expertise to care for you.

I was originally admitted to hospital over 8 years ago with a suspected heart attack. There just wasn't the understanding of MINOCA then and I was firmly told because my coronary arteries were clear I couldn't possibly have had a heart attack.

About 6% of heart attacks are due to a MINOCA which is often overlooked and people just discharged from Cardiology care without any follow up. So it is good that your MINOCA has been recognised.

Are you still getting chest pain or extreme tiredness?

Have you been prescribed beta blockers?

This is very common after a heart attack however they can make vasospastic angina much worse which is why I suggest you press your Cardiology team for the reason why you had your MINOCA.

There are a couple of other forum members who have experienced a MINOCA many because of non obstructive coronary artery disease NOCAD eg Microvascular dysfunction and vasospastic angina.

Hopefully they will be along soon to share their experiences with you too.

GreyDoor1 profile image
GreyDoor1 in reply to Milkfairy

Thanks so much for your advice. They initially put me on Beta Blocker but after another episode and also getting an angiogram they took me off it. It’s the most frightening, worrying time as I’m fretting about what my family would do without me and obviously thinking the worst. I promised myself I won’t google excess fluid around my heart and the scar tissue which was seen although I really must wait and see how MRI goes but would really like to know what I can and cannot do as I’m still feeling some feeling in my chest so just need to keep taking the meds for now. Thank you so much.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to GreyDoor1

It is quite natural to have lots of what ifs in our mind when we first have our heart events.

Many of us what ever the cause of our heart issues are effected by stress and anxiety.

Have you been able to talk to anybody about how you are feeling?

Your GP or Cardiac rehab nurse?

The Cardiac nurses on the BHF helpline are another option. I suggest you give them a call.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

We are all in limbo at the moment as Covid is effecting our ability to access the care we need.

Waiting for tests, then the results is difficult I agree.

Perhaps make a diary of your symptoms and list down all the questions you have to discuss with the Cardiologist when you have your follow up appointment.

GreyDoor1 profile image
GreyDoor1 in reply to Milkfairy

Also Berber heard of vasopastic angina?

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to GreyDoor1

The BHF has this information about vasospastic angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Unfortunately they don't have any information about MINOCA.

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