Chest tight and felt squeezed - referred pain arm, shoulder and jaw - for 48 hours. Taken to A&E - bloods clear for heart attack and ecg normal. Was given GTN spray which worked within 1 minute.
At assessment they were convinced that I had a form of angina - then I was sent for an X-ray which show osteoarthritis of my thoracic spine. And angina was never mentioned again. I have to have an MRI of my spine.
Just contacted my GP and told everything is clear for your heart. I’m convinced that they believe they have the answer - and ignored everything pointing to angina - in particular rapid relief on using the spray.
I have used it twice a day since I got home and it works when I have chest tightness.
Surely more than one thing could be going on. I am on no medications, have normal blood pressure and am overweight - which I am dealing with now.
I would appreciate support because I think I am going to have to advocate for myself - and I’m usually easily put off. Thank you.
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Tibbytoots
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It is a positive that your Ecg and bloods were normal
I would let them treat your spine but if you still keep getting tightness of the chest then I would ask them to explain why you are doing so and why the spray takes it away
Sometimes we feel we cannot ask these things but we can and should do so that is what I would do x
Thank you. I’ve just spoken to a GP - because the GTN is working so well she has decided to refer me to a cardiac clinic - rapid assessment - I said that I was happy to keep using the spray and review it in weeks - she said that if I needed to use the spray she thought I should be seen. Personally I would rather wait - but she wouldn’t accept that.
Well I suppose at least you are getting your spine sorted and making sure everything is fine with your heart and that you have or have not got Angina and maybe getting them both dealt with sooner rather than later will be a bonus
Thank you. Today I climbed 2 flights of stairs and felt my chest tight - my Fitbit told me that my pulse had risen to 124. I used the spray and got immediate relief. I am sure the GTN helps so will be interesting to see what happens with investigations.
I was treated by rheumatology as they assumed my pains were a continuation of my arthritis. After 2 years I ended up being taken to a&e by ambulance and had 2 stents and diagnosed with unstable angina. Definitely go to the chest pain clinic sooner rather than later!
Thank you for the encouragement. I am to be referred to rapid coronary assessment - which could be weeks but I am not worrying as I feel so much better using the GTN spray.
Dear Tibbytoots
I have just read your other posts with interest and now this one . It all must be very worrying for you.
Of course you have all the classic signs of angina and strongly so .
But it is impossible for anyone on here to diagnosis that and only a medically trained person can.
You need to chase you GP and get some more tests done.
If you talk to your GP as you have written to us then I cannot see any problem with you getting your point across, as your post came over clear and precise.
Before my heart attack my GP INSISTED my breathlessness was all coming from my spine. He apologised profusely afterwards and I just hope it taught him a lesson. Keep insisting. You could have microvascular angina. I'm sure Milkfairy will be along soon to explain. Insist on further tests.
Hallo. I also suffer back pain from thoracic fractures and rotor cuff injury. The pain meant that i missed angina... Maybe... Went to doc re worsening breathlessness which was put down to a chest infection. Weeks later suffered a mild heart attack and a stay in hospital. I had no damage to my heart muscle and now I have angina. I hope you are ok and thanks for sharing.. I got identification.
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