Scared

[thekeys46]

Hi,

I’m feeling scared at the moment.

I had a stent fitted in November after suddenly developing unstable angina in October. Apparently I had a mild heart attack.

The angiogram showed

Proximal stenosis on Ramus intermediate-stent inserted

Moderate mid vessel disease in LAD-negative IFR

Diffusely mildly diseased RCA

I have yet to see the cardiologist for my 3 month follow up appointment.

I have psoriatic arthritis, hypothyroidism, sinus tachycardia, type 2 diabetes and am 1 year on from the end of treatment for breast cancer.

My HBA1c was normal pre statins

My psoriatic arthritis is not controlled so was hoping to go on a new DMARD but can’t as my LFTs are up, possibly caused by the 80mg atorvostatin. My GP won’t drop it without cardiologists say so.

5 weeks ago I was managing to walk 2-3 miles. I have since developed muscle pain on walking and struggle to manage1 mile. I am now experiencing chest pain going up into my neck when I go up inclines or exert myself. It eases off when I am walking slowly along the flat. I live in a second floor flat and struggle now to get up the final flight of stairs. When I do my SATs after a walk they are around 85%

I tried ringing for a cardiology appointment but was told they are behind on them and to contact GP to try to expedite it.

I feel I am going round and round in circles and my quality of life is getting worse.

Sorry for the essay. It helps me to get it down in writing.

[Elfmaiden]

I would certainly recommend speaking to your GP, your doctor should be able to advise and expedite the cardiology referral for you. Good luck and hope you are felling better soon.

[thekeys46 in reply to Elfmaiden]

Thank you.I am seeing GP Wednesday as he wants to check my circulation.

It’s been so difficult even contacting the GPs. I have to go through ask my GP and quite often it’s full at 8.30 am xx

[Elfmaiden in reply to thekeys46]

I am pleased to hear you have an appointment for Wednesday. As a GP receptionist/administrator I understand how difficult it is getting through to the doctors. Where I work we offer an online service for patients as well as phoning the surgery to arrange appointments it's just crazy busy. Hope you are feeling better soon xx

[thekeys46 in reply to Elfmaiden]

Thanks.Our surgery has an online system but apparently there has only been 1GP there so they turn it off and you have to be n the phone for 45 minutes before you can talk to a receptionist who says ‘ring again tomorrow’ xx

[Maisywhippet]

If it was me I would ask to speak with your cardiologist’s secretary and explain all your symptoms and say that you are very worried...sorry but sometimes you just HAVE to pester them...good luck😊

[thekeys46 in reply to Maisywhippet]

Thanks for replying.I did that Friday( she is only accepting calls on a Friday) I left a message 2 weeks ago and it was ignored.She said to get GP to write in! He did that a month ago for my statins and he only had a response last week.

Xx

[Maisywhippet in reply to thekeys46]

It’s difficult times to be needing medical attention now, but hopefully things will start to improve very soon. My follow up app was due in mid Feb and have just had confirmation that it will be by telephone on 22nd April. So things are moving, but more slowly than we’d hope for!

[shopman]

Do you have a GTN spray and if so have you used it to try and relieve what is going on?

[thekeys46 in reply to shopman]

Hi, I do have a spray that I carry with me. The chest pain goes though when I get back on the flat so haven’t had to use it.

[shopman in reply to thekeys46]

OK that is fair comment just avoid inclines or anything that makes you exert harder, does sound as if you may need further investigation though. If it gets any worse don't mess around waiting for a GP appointment - seek help.

[thekeys46 in reply to shopman]

Thanks. The pain isn’t nearly as bad as in November. It’s more of a fullness/discomfort.

[fit4walks]

Hi,Your story is not unfamiliar to me. It is so frustrating to have to push to get some answers. Please play it safe, when all else fails and you don’t feel yourself go to A&E.

I will be thinking of you.

J.

[thekeys46 in reply to fit4walks]

Thank you. It’s so hard when you are doing everything right. I too have a history of heart disease. My grandfather dropped dead at 42. I have cousins the same age as me (60) who have had stents inserted and another cousin who died at the wheel of his car after ploughing into a roundabout (61) I just want to be sorted xx

[LBCdance]

Glad you could get it down. Sorry to be stupid but if the GP can't/won't interfere with your dosage without the cardiologist's say-so why can't the GP contact the cardiologist, surely s/he would stand more of a chance that you might of getting through, and they do have staff to help with routine matters.. Understanding as I try to be of the pressures all personnel in the NHS have been and still are under, so are the poor patients. I don't expect too much these days but a bit of basic information (with a pinch of kindness) shouldn't be too much to ask

[thekeys46 in reply to LBCdance]

Thanks for the reply.GP did contact cardiologist ( a few times apparently)but it took him 1 month to respond and then not even answer all the queries. No mention in the response about my muscle pain.

I cut down on the statin myself(80-40) as wasn’t getting anywhere. No difference though with the muscle pain🙁bu possibly helped the LFTs.

I’m actually seeing a GP tomorrow so lots to chat about.

[LBCdance in reply to thekeys46]

I misunderstood that and hope your chat with the GP will be productive. You just need to feel somebody is listening! Maybe after your chat your GP will feel he can be pro-active and make his own informed decision and let the cardiologist know. I'm sure all hospitals are different but mostly they do have secretaries who can do their routine tasks, usually very well, and odd that some, nor all, cardiologists don't seem to understand that anxiety contributes to stress!

[thekeys46]

Hi, I was seen by the GP today.He is thinking Peripheral artery disease. The pulses in my legs were not very good. He is referring me for Doppler scan and also re referring me to the cardiologist.

Feeling even more scared now. It’s not something I had even considered.

I feel that my underlying inflammation from psoriatic arthritis is playing a big part.

What do people know about endothelial cell dysfunction?

Thanks x