Help! 🥲

[Nanaeli]

Advice needed please. I’m 55, had hypertension (controlled) for 3 years. Never had issues with heart, chest pain or breathlessness until I had the Oxford AZ on March 12th. Started with chest pain on March 15th. Inpatient on 30th March for 3 nights. No PE, no HA! Had numerous ‘abnormal’ ECG’s But had so many difference of opinions from Drs. Two said Angina, one said Arrythmias, one said Acid Reflux, and another said ‘funny things going on with my heart’ and I wouldn’t be going anywhere until he got to the bottom of it. Then suddenly a fifth Dr on the ward discharged me and said to come back as an outpatient. I had my 24 hr ECG on April 22nd and awaiting results and an appt for echocardiogram. Spoken to the secretary (lovely helpful lady) who sent my ECG to registrar marked as urgent yesterday but someone took my notes and they cannot locate them. I am also waiting for Gynae surgery and I’m an absolute wreck thinking about a General Anaesthetic whilst not knowing what is going on.

I was discharged with a GTN spray for ‘my’ angina? Which I’ve not been diagnosed with and when I asked the nurse if I had angina she shrugged her shoulders and said she wasn’t sure. To this day I still have ‘funny’ things going on with my heart and I’ve been left to investigate myself which we all know isn’t a good idea. But what else can I do. I’m really upset and worried now as since March 15th I am still no further on with a diagnosis. Please can someone somewhere on here advise me what to do! This is very upsetting now and although I’ve kept my cool until now, I feel very much alone. I represented at A and E with the same chest pain and heart issues on April 7th and the Dr said my ECG showed Atrial Fibrillation? I felt extremely uncomfortable going to A and E but it’s scary when you have chest pain and everyone you know tells you not to ignore it but to get checked out! But when a senior nurse tells you A and E is busy tonight you may as well wait for your appointment as an outpatient, it makes you feel like you’re wasting their time. Even though my ECG was still dodgy. I felt so judged and will not go back to A and E. I have bad chest pain as I speak, my heart is skipping beats, and I feel nauseous! What do I do!!

[Nanaeli]

Thank you for your advice. The chest pain comes and goes and is sometimes more painful than others. I do get a bit scared on those occasions. I no longer have the GTN spray as I was never diagnosed with Angina, nor shown how to use it whilst in hospital. I just want a diagnosis then I can deal with it. It’s so frustrating that I received too many difference of opinions. My chest pain is still there this morning and I’m almost sure it’s not a HA but don’t want to end up a statistic. Mostly I think the unknown is sometimes more upsetting than the knowing what is going on. It’s all very new to me and with a family history of cardiac disease I think it’s natural to worry. I would never waste time going to A and E unless I felt something really wasn’t right but I should never feel as uncomfortable as I do about going there.

Really appreciate your advice and thank you!

[Rose54 in reply to Nanaeli]

Hi Please phone 111 or 999 the only symptom I had of a HA was indigestive like pain .

Better to be safe then sorry

[Nanaeli in reply to Rose54]

Thank you! I will go if it gets any worse. I’ve had it since 15th March and I do appreciate what you’re saying. I definitely keep an eye on myself more at the moment as I am very aware of my heart skipping beats 👌

[Hidden]

Your post makes me really angry about "the system". You need help and your not getting it. The government have frightened the population into taking part in a medical experiment that the majority don't need, with outcomes like you are experiencing and worse.

You need to keep hassling them until they take a proper look at you to discover the problem, this may involve an angiogram (which is nothing to worry about). Make a note of your symptoms and keep a close eye on improvements or deterioration.

Think long and hard before submitting yourself to another jab as it really may not be in your best interests to do so.

[Hidden]

It would be interesting if you could get your hands back on a GTN spray. There is very little risk from using it and if it offers relief (it works within a minute or two) it would tend to point towards angina pain. There's also 101 reasons as to why you could get chest pain and it not be your heart, but given you had suspect ECGs it is a concern.

NHS advice is that if you get chest pains for no obvious reason to call out an ambulance. I understand the reluctance to do this, but it what is might be needed to work towards a proper diagnosis.

I urge you to do this. When I had a heart attack, as painful as it was I didn't believe it was a heart attack and waited several hours before I called an ambulance. The ECG and initial prick blood test was inconclusive. It was only when I was on the operating table and the surgeon showed me the blockage in my heart did I say "Oh, okay. So I have had a heart attack."

[Nanaeli]

How interesting! So sorry to hear you are having problems too but on the other hand it’s good to know I’m not alone. My conversation with a GP at my practice was to say the least diabolical and patronising. Essentially it’s a stroke what do you want me to do. I replied with exactly what you said, I’d like some answers and if not then reassurance would go a long way and costs them nothing. I’ve still not heard from the ECG and although I realise that each day is probably a good sign there’s nothing urgent, by the same token, I know for a fact from the secretary that my results have somehow ‘slipped through the net’. I was a referred by a ward registrar apparently but also referred ‘to’ Cardiology for further investigations. So I’m still waiting and no further on. That’s 15 days today when they told me 7-14 days. The system is crazy if you ask me, I have made a complaint about the whole situation to PALs. So I’ll see what happens with it. I’m not sure of your symptoms as I’ve not heard of them but I can do what I’ve been forced to do and use Google. It’s a disgrace that my only option to try to gain answers about my symptoms is to use Dr Google!! Thank you for your reply and I really hope you get the answers you deserve. Keep well!

[EctopicAnnie]

Thank you,that’s so kind of you.l hope that you get the answers you need soon too.

[Garry56]

I have had many attacks since 2011 i was always told any chest pain that lasts longer than 10 mins after gtn PHONE AMBULANCE on the 23rd sept last year i had to do exactly that good job i did as my heart rate was at a very high 150bpm i was in danger of not making it i have had quadruple bypass bk in 2018 so my advice never go to A&E just call an ambulance

[Nanaeli]

Hi! I ended up going to A and E on Saturday. A totally different and much more pleasant experience. All is ok and I came home a few hours later. No HA 👌 the Dr was lovely this time and told me never to feel uncomfortable going to A and E with any of my symptoms and if it was his family with my symptoms he’d have said the same. So I did feel better and a little more content. I’ve also spoken to my consultants secretary today too who is equally lovely and very supportive. She should call me with the 24 hr ecg results today! So, I told her that since April 3rd I now have an Apple Watch. And although they say at the hospital, I do not show signs of AF, my watch says otherwise. I’ve had 15 AF results since April 4th. I’m no expert but according to Apple it is quite accurate (98%) she has asked me to send them as a PDF and she will attach them to my notes. I cannot relax until I know the results and they tell me I DO NOT HAVE AFIB for certain. I have a family history of heart disease and HA so I’m naturally worried.

Does anybody else have an Apple Watch? I feel like it’s accurate as I only do an ECG when I’m having symptoms and it regularly shows inconclusive. Even when it’s in synus rhythm it still shows double beats.

Thank you everyone I really appreciate your help!