I think the same as most new people who come here, I'm just trying to find a few answers, or even anecdotal similarities with others whilst I'm waiting on the specialists to do their thing.
Im safely under the care of my GP, and cardiology department, but its a few weeks until the next round of tests, even as an emergency, so thought id run my situation past people here, to see if any shared knowledge is available.
Long and short of it, have over the past 6 months been getting more frequent, and more intense appearances of my symptoms, until they came on full time about 4 weeks ago.
That being tight/crushing chest, shortness of breath, tachycardia (about 100-120bpm resting, palpitations, ectopic beats. Mix in with that tingling and pins and needles in the left arm, and occasional more intense pain in the shoulder neck and jaw.
Suffice to say when i decided to let the doctor know the above, when it was particularly bad, i was sent to hospital same day. ECG and bloods ruled out heart attack. i was put on low dose beta blockers and blood thinners the next day, which reduced the palpitations, lowered the heart rate down to 55, and got me semi normal, still elephant on the chest feeling though.
Referred to rapid access chest clinic, which was two weeks ago. They mentioned could be a number of things, but didn't mention any specifics, but booked me in for CT angiogram, Holter monitoring, and complete set of blood work.
Roll on last week, and its getting worse again, so GP referred same day over phone to cardiologist. They suspected it sounds like unstable Angina, so my beta blockers where tripled in strength, and given oral high strength slow release nitrates.
This relieved partially the symptoms (except for past 5 days of horrid side effects due to the high dose nitrates and beta blockers) - they also bumped my CT scan and Holter monitoring up to two weeks time from now (as an emergency appointment), and my full blood work was done yesterday.
Got the blood results today - squeaky clean, cholesterol fine, full blood count all good, liver function all fine etc So, i finally get to my questions, via some slight back history - i have just lost 6 stone (intentionally, i think), i used to smoke until 2 years ago, and didn't eat very healthy at all. Never been a drinker. History of heart disease in family, both mother and grand mother heart attacks before 50 - Oh and im 37 now.
So, could the damage have already been caused, and thats what im suffering from now, and something just happens to have pushed it over the edge - and is it really still likely heart disease if my bloods are all perfectly fine (i suppose thats the bit im struggling with, normal ECGs, normal bloods - makes me feel its a wild goose chase)?
Otherwise, anyone any similarities to the above, and its more of a mechanical issue with the heart causing this (or would those have been hinted at in bloods)? I know ill get more answers at the angiogram. But with how quickly the symptoms seem to increase past any medication im given, 2 weeks is a long way away. Im under strict instructions though if it increases past the level im at now, even for a few minutes to call an ambulance, as my GP is 50/50 that we should just admit me as an emergency inpatient.
However im a combination of being too laid back about all of this, and not being a fan of hospitals, plus i have a fear of needles in veins (very very specific i know) - so im quite content to wait it out....
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this!
P.S have some slight swelling of the feet, lots of bruises appearing, hands have aged 10 years in 10 days, and lots of tiny red pin/blood spots coming and going, mostly over the chest and arms - but assume all of those things are just side effects of all the medication - as also assume, any of those would have caused some dodgy blood result readings.
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Neutrino
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I suggest you get in contact with your GP to discuss the side effects you are experiencing.
Being calm and laid back is not necessarily a bad thing however if your chest pain gets worse and especially if it happens at rest it's time to seek medical advice straight away.
Have you told the staff you don't like the tubes /cannulas being put in your veins, not an uncommon fear?
If you do have a needle phobia you can get some help to manage this fear. Ask your GP to refer you.
It all sounds very worrying for you, and with no answers, as yet. But I’m pleased you have a very attentive GP, and have had some good care and investigations so far.I’m afraid I have no idea what’s going on for you but my Cardiologist tells me that the angiogram gives them wonderful information about your hearts structures and any anomalies like blockages. The gold standard she calls it.
So when you have had yours done they should have more to go on.
Hi Neutrino, I’m all new to this too. I’m so glad they are taking it seriously and getting you all the tests. I have had similar symptoms and 36. I have not previously smoked and have a very healthy lifestyle, so it’s not necessarily the previous smoking, but we may not have the same diagnosis. I am in the middle of trying to convince the gp to refer me to an angina specialist. Sorry I can’t be more helpful and I’m sure the angiogram will be a great help. Good luck and keep us updated 👍
You are very young to be suffering this but with your family history you are lucky they are taking it so seriously. Don't hesitate to go to hospital if it gets even slightly worse - it may just hurry things up. The angiogram will certainly give some answers but in the meantime speak to your doctor about the side effects. Best of luck.
Thanks all for the replies. Im figuring it must be something mechanical then, based on good bloods, and medication having an effect on it, even though to a lesser effect as time passes.
So roll on the Angiogram!
Did have a bit of a incident last night though - woke up 2am sweating, 130bpm, chest/jaw/neck/arm pain/pressure, pins and needles in left arm, and a feeling of complete dread...
Then realised i forgot my third beta blocker of the day before bed - so took that along with some nitrate spray and another aspirin to be sure, and it passed.
Its really hard to know when it is time to just call 999 - i haven't as yet had debilitating pain, its elephant on the chest feeling, with the more sharp pain in arm/neck etc being probably 4/10 on a pain scale, and only shooting/stabbing for few seconds at a time. Not what i would classically expect a heart attack to be....
My current thinking is it would be more constant/greater pain that comes on and stays, as the signal its time to call an ambulance..
I suppose another question - is can there be a situation where its mechanical, so clogged, or valve or similar, that is just teetering/borderline - hence this baseline im getting, and coming and going of more worse periods.
As an example, just this morning, im mostly fine, but every now and then i have a twinge of pain in neck or arm, periods of pressure in chest that come and go for minutes or hours at a time, random periods of palpitations.
Wishing you all the best,hoping get answers from angiogram.it sounds as if doctor's working methodically through what it could be causing your symptoms.
The heart is very complex..........sometimes heart symptoms all to do with heart ...or e.g in anaemia can get fast pulse chest pains pins and needles numbness .......just one example of underlying condition causing a cardiac response........other times has in like a relative of mine , they had blackouts.......turned out to be a congenital heart condition of the electrical system caught on ECG.!
.....it sounds as if you're in good hands........but in any doubts ......ring ambulance has nobody minds checking you out and be only way to tell what is going on.......,..women often have different cardiac symptoms to men even milder or silent m.i.......us women not always aware of this ..so being symptomatic.........do what you are doing keep working with g.p /cardiologist so they know what's happening.......and can help them workout what's happening but don't hesitate to call ambulance if you think your experiencing undiagnosed cardiac symptoms........aim is to stay alive and well!
Hope get to the bottom of things ......,.that would be best place to be in.....until then ,take care, wishing you all the very best.......
Again thanks for the replies. Just checking in to give a bit of an update. Not sure if i have lost a little faith in the caregivers hands.....
My symptoms increased a notch on Tuesday morning - so phoned my GP, who phoned cardiology - who then asked for me to come in as an in patient urgently to do a full coronary angiogram, rather than the scheduled CT angio next month, as they where concerned about the symptoms. Past 48 hours is a bit of a blur, but had the angiogram via the wrist yesterday, and back home today.
Results where my arteries are pristine - which is of course a relief.
BUT - the on call consultant afterwards said he had not suspected angina/CAD as i was also getting these episodes when going to bed, in the early hours, or when at rest - and because the angiogram is clear, i just need to refer back to my GP to look for other causes.
I just wonder why he is not thinking Prinzmetals/variable angina or small vessel disease. As all of my symptoms are a perfect match - annoyingly i was still quite sedated, and as im not a fan of hospitals i was just nodding and agreeing as wanted to get home.
He also ordered all slow release nitrates, beta blockers, and blood thinners to be stopped straight away.
My symptoms are already starting to feel worse again, compared to pre-medication.
I was due to have Holter monitoring next month, im not sure if that's still being done. So noted email address on appointment letter and essentially paraphrased the above - as am aware the best way to get this diagnosed is via monitoring - as im having numerous of these events each day, but of course none captured in the split second of an ECG yet.
Or am i going crazy, and this is just gastro or another random thing causing these very specific heart symptoms.
I also noted on my discharge letter, that one of my earlier visits just before Christmas to A&E was marked as confirmed costochondritis - which is not the case, i had no tenderness, no extra pain breathing in etc - it was just what the on call doctor suspected and sent me home - obviously it then got worse over the past couple of months.
My discharge letter also states now "confirmed non-cardiac"...
Vasospastic angina ( the term more now commonly used rather than Prinzmetal or variant angina) is unfortunately often overlooked under recognised and diagnosed.
The comment "confirmed non-cardiac"... reflects the lack of knowledge of non obstructive coronary artery disease by the Cardiologist.
Having clear coronary arteries does not necessarily mean you cannot be experiencing angina.
Non obstructive coronary artery disease NOCAD and Ischaemia non obstructive coronary arteries INOCA are now acknowledged as causes of angina and even heart attacks.
My vasospastic angina was confirmed by an angiogram with acetylcholine. This is the only way that vasospastic angina can be accurately diagnosed.
I have an admission protocol as so few A&E doctors and Cardiologists understand the condition. Patients with vasospastic angina have some very specific needs.
I suggest you go back to your GP to ask to be referred to a Cardiologist who has some understanding of Microvascular dysfunction and vasospastic angina.
I would keep a diary of your symptoms as you stop taking your medication and if your chest pain becomes worse as a result I suggest seek urgent medical advice.
Where in the UK are you based?
It took me sometime to get my diagnosis. So keep the faith you're not going crazy your pain is real.
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