New diagnosis

[Worvera]

I have experienced a deep, dull ache in my chest and left arm occasionally when walking. This weekend it was there sporadically whilst resting and I have been diagnosed with Angina. What do you feel when having angina and when should you take the spray? Sorry for the innocence of this question but I am so accustomed to slight discomfort. Thank you for your help.

[Sunnie2day]

Hiya, Worvera, and again, welcome to the forum. Did you read my reply to your question on the other discussion? I'm copy and pasting it here for you in case it got lost in the traffic:

My angina pain varies depending on which of my multiple heart conditions is being more heart conditionie

Most often, owing to my having recurrent pericarditis, it's a 'dull ache' and the slight increase that becomes more like a constant light squeeze is my signal I might be going into a flare. Using my GTN spray helps - quickly most of the time.

Even when the GTN and meds are doing the job, though, on exertion or if it's hot and humid in the house or outdoors, I get a variety of pains.

Sometimes it's more like a slow squeeze in my left breast area, sometimes (especially on exertion or trying to climb inclines/hills/stairs it's a sharp pinching sensation. Sometimes it lingers and radiates to my left shoulder and into my jaw, and when I'm in an acute flare of my recurrent pericarditis the pain hits left breast-left shoulder, left side of my neck and jaw, and around to my left back area.

Welcome to the group here - we don't bite and welcome new Hearties to the club you hoped you'd never join. I'm now following you so if you start a discussion I'll get an email notification - angina is manageable but managing it takes work as a team with your medic(s) and you. I'm posting a link to the BHF angina booklet download (scroll around on the publications page after you grab the free download - there is a lot of information on there!) and also to the contact details page for the BHF Heart Helpline cardiac nurses who are so helpful to so many of us!

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Again, welcome, and keep us posted on how you get on.

[Worvera in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thank you so much for responding so thoroughly and for sending me the booklet. So far neither the A&E consultant nor my GP have given me much in the way of how to deal with angina, although it is early days. The pain that I have been experiencing is a deep heavy ache mid chest and radiating down my left arm and upper right shoulder. At the weekend it was even there when resting which is why I took action. I am having really bad headaches as a side effect from the nitrate tablet that I have every day and also with the spray. Will this stop? I so appreciate any help. I feel alone (even though I’m not) and worried. 😕

[Sunnie2day]

Meant to add: use the spray when you feel the pain (or hints it's about to start) - find a place to sit down or if in public, find a stout wall to lean on. Clamp your tongue firmly to the roof of your mouth, pump the spray 'to the air' once or twice to prime it then aim it at the area UNDER your tongue and spray two pumps at the area. Then close your mouth, try not to gag or swallow, and wait a few minutes (2-5) for the chest pain to stop. If it doesn't stop after five minutes, try the spray again - and if the pain doesn't stop after that second round - call 999.

Be sure to sit or lean - the first few times you use the GTN you will feel some light-headedness and possibly slight nausea. You may also experience a whopper headache. Repeated use over time will lessen the unpleasant side effects. If you need the GTN more than twice a day it is time to alert the medics that you need it frequently during a 24 hour period.

I also meant to add to my previous reply that a constant dull ache is 'normal' for me (and is so low-level when I'm not in a pericarditis flare that I actually can ignore it) but I have complications from recurrent pericarditis - most people don't have that constant dull ache so you need to alert your medics to it. It could be nothing or it could be something so they really need to know you're walking around with a constant dull ache.

[Worvera in reply to Sunnie2day]

Oh thanks again Sunnie2day ❤️ You are so brave and kind

[Indygo4]

Hi Worvera,

I’m kinda new to all this too, welcome to the group.

I had angina symptoms for a couple of months before going to my gp who gave me the gtn spray and referred me to hospital.

I put off taking the gtn as it seemed so scary, and I thought I didn’t have angina.

I had to take it 3 days later. I took it at rest, at home, and was relieved that the spray worked! It felt strange and my head hurt for a few minutes. I had to take it another 3 times that night and ended up in hospital as the pain got severe. I had a 95-99% blocked lad artery and had one stent.

It’s been 8 weeks and almost every day, usually when exercising I still get a similar angina pain that took me to the gp. It’s frustrating but it’s early days yet.

I try not to take my spray too often as I’ve read that it can become less effective over time. I probably take it around 4 times a week. I have a 1-10 chest pain system in my head, if the pain gets to a 4 I will take my spray and It always helps.

I hope you find this group helpful and I hope the spray works well for you. Good luck.

[Worvera in reply to Indygo4]

Thanks for sharing Indygo4. Has your life changed much? I feel quite low as I’m due to retire next year and had thought life was just beginning. I’m in the habit of thinking that I’m imagining the pain so need to try your 1-10 system. That sounds really useful. Take care 🙂

[Indygo4]

I do feel like my life has been turned upside down. I had no health concerns before this. I turned 50 in March. It’s a big wake up call that we need to look after ourselves better. I’ve ordered a book called the end of heart disease...I’m hoping it’ll give me the tools to change. I know there’s loads of info on here and I do my research but, I like a book.

Let me know how you get on. Take care.

[Indygo4]

Also, I usually feel my angina pain in the centre of my chest, sometimes towards my back, my left or right. Kind of like a tightening. It’s difficult to describe. I remember the first time it went down my left arm and I joked, I think I’m having a heart atttack. That was when I decided to make the gp appointment. As it was winter, I was thinking the gp would send me away with a blue inhaler. Lucky he didn’t.

[Worvera in reply to Indygo4]

The pain went down my left arm too. Also Across from chest into right shoulder and up my neck a little.I’m actually not experiencing any chest pain now which is great but the tablet is making me feel really unwell with headache and a little nauseous. My mood is very low too. Hopefully I’ll come out of it when my body becomes accustomed to the meds. Take good care of yourself. I hope the book is helpful 😊