Private CT scan for angina?

[justable]

Hello, I am new here having just got a provisional diagnosis of angina. I am somewhat gobsmacked and really didn't see it coming! I am a 55 year old female so thought I was the wrong age and gender to be honest! Anyway, I've been told I need a CT scan to confirm but the waiting list is really long. Has anyone gone private for their scan? If so, where and what was the cost? Thanks for any advice.

[Palpman]

Hi and welcome to the forum.I am inquisitive as to your symptoms. Do you still have angina?

I'm thinking of sending my wife to a private cardiologist after her scare this past weekend so I'll follow this post.

[Lizbeth61]

Hello. I think you should get an appointment to see a cardiologist asap. I thought I was really fitAnd healthy chest and arm pains came out of the blue and turned out following a CT scan my main LAD artery was over 75% blocked. They told me i was very close to a heart attack. Luckily i have private health care through work. I dont know how much the scan cost but worth it. Dont delay

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Lizbeth61]

It's not that simple.There was a large study that showed medication can be as effective as stents in reducing the symptoms of angina, however mortality is not reduced.

It's not just about blockages, it's about how well the blood flows through the coronary blood vessels.

medscape.com/viewarticle/92...

10% of heart attacks occur without any blockages of the coronary arteries, MINOCA Myocardial infarction non obstructive coronary arteries.

[candle11 in reply to Lizbeth61]

Hi can you tell.me what treatment you've had for your LAD blockage. I've had similar diagnosis and I'm.going for angio this week with view to a stent .

[Lizbeth61 in reply to candle11]

Hi there. I had angioplasty and a stent fitted. They thought it may have to be a bypass because of the position of the blockage which was at the mouth of the LAD. Thankfully they managed to fit the stent. I was out of hospital the next day. Took me a few weeks to fully recover but fine now. Wishing you the best of luck

[candle11 in reply to Lizbeth61]

Thank you . Are you taking medication as well x

[Lizbeth61 in reply to candle11]

Hi yes i am on the usual cocktail of meds. Ticagrelor, atorvastatin and aspirin

[Oldsurfdog]

Hi justifiable. My wife had a provisional diognosis of angina from a phone call with NHS and ct angiograph was 17 moths on NHS. We went to Spire health care under a dr Bragadeesh. Was really good. Cost £1300.00 with consultation before and after and a chest ct X-RAY. timescale was 3 weeks after a referral from our doctor. If u can afford it go for it. You then go back to NHS for treatment as necessary. Good luck. Ian.

[Kat321cat]

Hi there,

Yes l did. I was under a consultant for AF. I was having increased chest pain and was anxious so paid to see my consultant who suggested a cardio CT. had it done within a week and cost was £950.

Was all really good and had a phone appointment a week later with consultant for the results.

Would recommend if it works for you.

[Tullymore]

Same happened to me. They said I had stable Angina. My partner sent me for a private angiogram and one week later I had a triple Bypass. If you can afford it then it’s gold it saved my life. If not then don’t push it when you feel anything stop and rest and you should be fine. Angiogram is the best.

[DWT1]

I was sent home after being in hospital with chest pains, consultant said no need for an angiogram (I already had two stents) and was went home. Went for private CT scan a few days later (£700), 95% occluded artery, a week later had a another stent inserted.

[Hidden]

I had private ct scan at harefield hospital consultant 500 scan 1300

[Cacabeto]

A private CT Scan in a NHS hospital is around £650. The majority of hospitals with a

cardiac unit offer the service, it is called dual payment as all the income goes to the

NHS. The Royal Bournemouth Hospital offer the service you only need to get in

touch with the secretary of a cardiologist or your GP can refer you, you only need

to ask.

[richard_jw]

The gold standard for diagnosing occluded coronary arteries is an angiogram. It is invasive, but gives a clear picture of whether the arteries are at all blocked. I had one recently, a year after a heart attack to show if there were any problems still. There is no need for anaesthetic but they can sedate you. If any are occluded there is a possibility that you will get angina. I'm not aware of a specific test for angina. If the cardiologist finds a badly blocked artery, he/she can go on to perform an angioplasty to fix the problem e.g. by inserting stent(s)).

Not sure of the cost. It will depend on what they have to do.

[Carealot]

Lots of helpful responses so far. I’m just wondering what got you to this stage. Is avGP saying it? Did you have chest pains? Have you been given a GTN spray? I ask because how you got here ‘may’ dictate the way forward in my opinion.

[Rostom]

I am unsure how much help this will be but I had pain in my left upper arm it was diagnosed as stable angina and I was prescribed the spray and 30mg of Isosorbide Mononitrate daily.

I then had vague chest pain and after a telephone consultation with a Cardiologist, told I should have an expedited angiogram.

'Expedited' took four weeks. I had ended my private medical insurance a few months previously!

I decided to wait as I was feeling much better with the Mononitrate Isosorbide and thought that if the consultant was really concerned, he would have me in immediately. I had the angiogram which, after being told that I had four blockages and my LAD had problems, did not flag up a major problem. The Cardiologist also did a 'pressure wire test' which was inconclusive too. I was officially 'challenging'!

I write the above to show that a NHS wait for an expedited angiogram was four weeks (a year ago, North-west London) and that there wasn't too much wrong. The Mononitrate Isosorbide stopped the horrible arm pain so I concluded that I could wait. This was my choice but obviously you need to make your own decision I remain on the IM.

Please don't let the above stop you seeking a consultation but in my case I was fine to wait. Hope this helps.

[mathematics]

Hi sorry to hear of your angina. My husband was and still is having major problems and was down on nhs to see a cardiologist but the waiting lists are atrocious so we paid to see one privately. It was 200 pounds but worth every penny. He has been booked in for a heart scan in just over a weeks time and is also getting an angiogram on the NHS as the cardiologist was concerned as my husband has had 2 stents since 2007 and is getting chest pains etc at rest. To pay for a scan would have been a few hundred as well so would have been worth paying for. However an angiogram is 3000 pounds which is out of our price league. So private consultation if you can afford it is worth it or was for us.