i have bern diagnosed with angina and given bidisprol i am Waiting for Angiogram and Heart Scan i havnt had mt Appointment letters Yet they Are Taking Forever my Appointment was Weeks Ago.
I sent them an email Yesterday So Slow.
Still getting breathless Ect.....
How long do i have to Wait.
Colourfull500.🙃😅
Who diagnosed you with angina and did you have any tests first?
The reason I ask is it's hard to answer without knowing where you are in the process.
I can't remember the exact time scale, but I saw my GP in around August 2016, I had chest pains and self diagnosed as Angina, the GP told me I had acid reflux (I knew I didn't) he did arrange an ECG and blood test and it was all normal, I was still having pains when I started walking anywhere.
A month later I saw another GP who also thought it was Angina, I was referred to the hospital but I was first seen by a Cardiac nurse who does a chart working out risk factors etc, she then referred me to the cardiologist who arranged a stress test before seeing me, this was about Nov/Dec 2016.
The stress test obviously showed I had a problem so I saw the cardiologist who gave me the options, the best one for me would be decided after an Angiogram.
I had the Angiogram the end of January and it showed I needed bypass surgery (just my luck)
I eventually had the bypass on the 2nd June 2017
So you can see it isn't a fast moving process, make sure you have a supply of GTN spray with you (glyceryl trinitrate) and if things change take yourself off to the hospital.
How was your bypass? I’m thinking that’s what l will need as plaques (albeit moderate) have already been found. The thought of surgery does scare me 😢 I’m 72 this year
Don't think I am mad but it could have been worse. Luckily I only needed a single bypass so the literally used the mammary artery as a bypass it is in a perfect location and size wise is a perfect fit.
I was scheduled for the bypass on the Wednesday, I was second down so had my antiseptic shower and had gowned up and taken my premeds only for the first down to overrun so I was cancelled.
I was again lucky and was kept in and was first down on the Friday, not everyone is that lucky!!
I remember very little about being prepped for the op and really only remember being in ITU where I was in just a little discomfort but as soon as I could push the morphine button I pushed it.
I must have recovered well as I was discharged the following Tuesday so 4 days later (I think they needed the bed)
Recovery at times was slow, often 1 step forward and 2 steps back. I had a friend stay with me for the first week/10 days, mainly as I needed a lift to the wound clinic to sort out my stitches. I was glad in some ways when she went home as I could do things for myself.
The anticipation is worse than the actual thing IMHO.
So many of us on here have been through it we all have different experiences so if you do need a bypass ask any questions I am sure you'll get lots of answers.
thanks heather I unfortunately relate to your post two years on in my battle I strangely saw a cardiac nurse (woman) and yes strong family history also alongside symptoms and an abnormal ecg which apparently heavily points to coronary disease which she had no idea why the original cardiologist (man locum) useless idiot didn’t order angiogram I’m awaiting bloods need my tachycardia to come down to 60 at rest before they’ll attempt one though and I’m already on 12.5mg of Bisoprolol daily so I am so glad I’m not the only woman who has been through this charade but also obviously I’m grateful I finally get correct test xx
until confirmed you have suspected angina and the meds will be standard at this point just in case, there are lots of other things it could be. If your still waiting then the go is not over concerned or he could have made it urgent just hassle them again. A private angiogram is around £2500 if you are really worried about it, have they done any other tests yet?
I was in Hospital 2 years ago when they first said i had angina then said i didnt have it but i still did have it with loads of symptoms.
the answer you don’t want is this can all take time (unless they see your case as an emergency). Also it takes some people a lot of time and effort to get doctors to believe they have an issue and not dismiss them. You’ve been already diagnosed with angina (subject to what tests they have already done to confirm that). You could contact the secretary of your cardiologist but it can take time. Good luck
I’m afraid the NHS is struggling to be timely with many services, and posts here are showing we are the casualties.
I waited nearly a year from first seeing my GP (who misdiagnosed) to having the bypass and that was 5 years ago.
In October last year I started having angina pains again, I had a call back from my GP who told me to go to A & E, that was on the Monday, I spent 24 hrs in the A & E department , then on the ward for monitoring. On the Friday I was taken to a larger hospital where they have a cath lab, they inserted 2 stents by Rotablation (not nice) kept in overnight and discharged on Saturday, I can't fault that kind of treatment.
Unfortunately the NHS is struggling with some waiting times just now... on a recent hospital visit I overheard a Dr tell a patient it was a 6 month wait for an echo. It seems to depend on if they see the case as urgent or not Unfortunately.
I got an echo last Christmas within a month of my GP asking for one.
That's great! I got mine a day after I ended up in hospital... but some folk obviously aren't as lucky... I think some of it is due to urgency, some will be dependent on the area you are in.
I'm sure it's area up here. Mine was not marked urgent. It did take about a month to get the results. I had a 24 hour holter monitor too a few days earlier.
I was diagnosed with angina after an overnight stay in hospital after getting chest pains and calling an ambulance in November 2020. I had an echocardiogram whilst there and was referred for an angiogram. Nobody could tell me how long the wait would be. In late December I paid privately for angiogram and had 2 stents fired in RCA due to 70% and 90% blockages. Very expensive but worth it for peace of mind. My NHS appointment from the original referral from hospital eventually came and was for November 2021 - exactly 1 year to the date of original admission to hospital.
i had my first appointment in April 2019..had to wait until October for my angiogram, then had bypass on Christmas eve 2019..it all takes time...
As others have said on here unfortunately there is a long wait. I first saw my gp nearly 2 years ago regarding ectopic heartbeats l had ECGs, which were normal l was referred to cardiologist who rang me spoke about my symptoms and on the basis of our chat ordered a whole range of tests, 48 hour monitors, various scans some with dye and last week l had as far as l am aware two final tests 2 final MRI scans with radioactive dye where l had to eat a cheese sandwich! l think they were stress tests. I have only spoken to the cardiologist on the phone twice so far when a scan showed plaques in my arteries and l was prescribed statins and aspirin. Once the results of these last two tests reach my cardiologist l will be given a face to face consultation in clinic. There has been literally months and months in between each test. I live in the South East. Good luck.
think it also depends where you are in the country I had a angiogram then stent and was diagnosed with micro vascular angina but mine was all done and dusted within 18 mths am up in north Lincolnshire so although had to wait some months for tests etc still quicker than most on here it seems! And as it’s been said just use gtn spray when required it does help though makes be go dizzy for a bit lol 🙂 I can’t take beta blockers as have Crohn’s so only on calcium blocker and no nitrates big headaches lol
Hi Colourfull - I've not got anything more to add to this as they're all saying what I'd say - as you wait remember there are folk here to listen and support you, I think we've all been on this path - all the best x
It’s taking a while for most appointments to go through at the moment - there’s still a massive backlog because of the pandemic. I was referred for an angiogram in January by my cardiologist after multiple trips to the A&E and bradycardia, after my GP was told by the chest pain clinic she referred me to that they were cancelling my appointment because they didn’t feel it was necessary. Was told it would only take 10-12 weeks at most.
I then saw my cardiologist in July for the follow up appointment - but had never even been for the angiogram because I still didn’t have the appointment date. Every time I rang them the waiting time was getting longer: first weeks, and then months. He picked up the phone during that appointment and gave them a talking to. Had my appointment date two weeks later. Couldn’t go, unfortunately, because I caught the Rona a couple of weeks later at a wedding (detected by the swab they did days before the procedure). But they rescheduled as soon as I was clear again. They found that OM1 is over 50% blocked, and I’m going for stent number 2 on the 27th (first one is in my widowmaker) - again, I had to keep phoning the hospital to get anywhere, but I eventually got what I needed.
Keep phoning. Contact PALS if you have to. Be firm with them, because I don’t think they understand the urgency of our situations at the booking departments. I basically said to the guy at PALS that I’d prefer to have the stent done BEFORE I have another MI. The next day, I got a call from St George’s with my appointment date.
It’s a bit alarming at how blasé they seem to have become to be honest.
My cardiologist referred me for an urgent angiogram on the 11th August. On the 15th September I had my pre-op assessment but I still don’t have an appointment. The nurse said probably 3 to 4 weeks. So about 2 months from referral.
Sorry to hear that, my husband has suspected angina but having been told that the wait for an appointment with the ‘rapid’ chest pain clinic was a three month wait which was only going to be a carried out over zoom was 3 months (an absolute joke) we paid for him to have a private consultation and echocardiogram which thankfully showed his heart to be ok.
However he is now awaiting a CT scan with the nhs to diagnose whether he actually has angina.
We were firstly told the wait was 5 months but have subsequently been told it’s an eight month wait. Absolutely appalling, if we could afford to pay he could have it carried out privately in two weeks!! In the meantime he has been put on aspirin, statins and beta blockers with a spray to use if necessary. We live in Cornwall I hope your treatment is better x
depends on ur area and how long is back log due to covid. If u feel u r deteriorating , then best thing is speak to ur GP and C if they can get a more urgent appointment.
Good luck.
That is exactly what is happening to me. I had a two episodes of chests pain, 30 th July 22. All tests done and Bisoprolol increase given. Appointments made to the investigating hospital / department by my cardiac nurse for an angiogram.
It is now September and I am still waiting. I guess I am letting my mind runaway with why I have not been seen or contacted yet.
The worse thing is, I am off sick from work. Talk about anxiety and or mental health. I am afraid to do my usual activities as that seem to cause chest pain.
Going at a slower pace seems to control it. I just want to know is this how it is going to be from now on. 😌
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