33, possible angina, and very anxious.

[Watercolour12]

Hi everyone. I am new to this forum. I have had lots of troubling symptoms (rapid heart rate, chest tightness) over the last few months, and an abnormal 24 hour ECG tape. I had to wait ages for a cardiology appointment so I went ahead and saw someone privately, who has referred me for a CT angio, that is happening tomorrow. My father had bypass surgery at 48, so that and my symptoms means the doctor thinks I am getting angina. I also called the cardiology secretaries in a flurry after I went to A&E on Saturday (all tests normal!?), and they've managed to give me an appointment at chest pain clinic next week. I think I will keep the CT angio but I am rather nervous for it. Has anyone had one before and have any tips? I am worried about everything from the contrast, to the beta blockers I might need, all of it! Thank you for reading.

[Sunnie2day]

Welcome! So sorry to hear it sounds as though heart problems run in your family but good on you for getting medical attention when you began to have symptoms.

Several members here have had the CT angio and most report it's definitely doable. The contrast dye might have a 'funny taste' (once it hits your bloodstream apparently you can taste it) but it is very helpful for the medics to get a good look at what's going on in there. Gold standard is the full-on angiogram (I've had it and it too is definitely doable) but both types are excellent diagnostic tests. Definitely keep the appointment for the CT angio, you'll be glad you did.

My angio showed 'crystal clear coronaries' - questions answered as to any blockages that might be causing my chest pain and my cardiologist now thinks I have microvascular angina. He wouldn't have known that without the angio, so do keep that appointment to give your medic every bit of information possible towards determining what is causing your angina-like symptoms.

As for having possible angina, the following link takes you to the BHF publications page on angina, all are free to download and are loaded with very helpful information on most of the types of angina:

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Beta blockers, well, I have to say mine have been life-changing, I haven't felt this well in 20 years (even through acute flares of my recurrent pericarditis, so that should say something about how great the right beta blocker is). Getting the dosage right with beta blockers is the hardest part, otherwise the medication is an absolute marvel for most angina pain. I've been on Bisoprolol 1.25mg+300mg aspirin for nearly two years now and the difference that low-dose beta blocker has made in my life is nothing short of phenomenal.

Again, welcome You'll find most of us very friendly, loaded with been-there/done-that tips to help you along the way, and perhaps most of, great big shoulders to cry on when things seem a bit rough.

[Watercolour12 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Ahh thank you- for the welcome and also for your story, which was really helpful for me to read. Good to hear many people have had the CT angio and thanks for the warning about the taste! Also good to hear how well you are feeling with treatment:)) I feel like I am in so much uncertainty but definitely sounds like the CT will be a useful test to have

[VickyHK72]

Hi there and welcome! I had a CT angiogram last month, I was extremely anxious (about the result rather than the procedure) and I obviously had to go on my own due to covid restrictions which increased my anxiety but the staff were so kind and so lovely. They explained everything really thoroughly beforehand. I have rubbish veins and the radiographer had to try 3 times to get the Canula in but he was so lovely and I think he could tell I was getting in a state so managed it perfectly on the third attempt. Because I was anxious I found it hard to keep my heart rate down even with the beta blockers I’d been given but I did manage it. When they put the dye in, you do get a funny taste in your mouth and a sort of heat around your body (I felt it in my hands) they also prepared me for the fact most people feelLike they’re going to wet themselves, I did have this sensation pretty strongly (you don’t wet yourself!) but because they’d prepared me for this it didn’t worry me. The actual scan took only a minute or 2 and was fine, not too noisy or anything. I suffer from vertigo so had to shut my eyes when the circular thingy was spinning round but that was an easy solution! The radiologist spoke to me straight afterwards to tell me what they’d found so at least I didn’t have to wait for the results. All in all it was fine and the only issue was my anxiety. The staff were incredibly kind and sensitive to my anxiety. I felt fine afterwards and drove myself home no problem. Good luck with yours, im

Sure the staff will look after you. Ps the beta blockers made me feel

Very slightly weird but that could have been my anxiety. I just felt like my heart was beating a little slower, nothing more than that.

[Watercolour12 in reply to VickyHK72]

Thanks so much for this. I can relate to your anxiety- sorry to hear it was hard because of it. I was so anxious I was shaking and they had to calm me down! But they managed to get my heart rate down enough I think. Also those were the exact things I experienced with the contrast dye! Thanks again for your very helpful reply I just have to wait for the results now!

[84green]

As Sunnie and Vicky have said it’s nothing to worry about - with the obvious benefit of hindsight!

It’s natural to be anxious but it’s a very routine, minimally invasive and very low risk procedure. You’ll be in the hands of professionals who do dozens of these every day of their working lives. Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes

[Watercolour12 in reply to 84green]

Thanks so much! I got in a bit of a state but it went okay after some calming down and beta blocker haha.