Here We Go Again?

[Laurab101]

As I write this my heart feels heavy accompanied by a dull ache and a small 'buzz' every so often. If it follows its normal progression it will start to feel squeezed during the next 24 hours & as though it has over done it at the gym and now feeling sore. This combination has seen me in A&E over 5 times since last November - sent there after speaking to 111 and/or Paramedics. I am now on Bisprodol 2 5mg and a GTN spray, awaiting a calcium and heart scan with dye. Nothing else significant showing up so far apart from high cholestrol (on 80g Antorvastin). After being checked over, it's back home & carry on until the next time. It's so cyclical that it's predictable. Yes, l am menopausal (53) & it is prefaced by a bout of 'superhot' flashes ending with a spot on my face that erupts on que, no I am not on HRT. No other female I know has anything like this.

What do I do ... follow the A & E routine, try to ignore it - it will settle back down (longest has been 4 days of discomfort) or ? Earliest chance for a scan will be April - no private options available in this area.

[Hidden]

Hello

I am really sorry you are going through this again

I had 3 heart attacks and quite a few false alarms even though I was grateful they were before I had my Bypass op

But if I was in any doubt I would always take myself to A&E as it is better to be safe than sorry

So if you are unsure I would go and be checked over

Just a thought and the answer possibly will be no but could you afford to pay private to get these tests done as April is a while to wait and keep going through this

Let us know how you get on x

[Laurab101 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bekind28

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I have looked into private scans but the closest to me (Cornwall) is Bournemouth & as it's two scans it is beyond my budget.

April will soon come around & everyone has to wait their turn as appropriate & the care & treatment I have received to date has been very good. It's not the systems fault that I am proving to be my normal tricky self!

I remind myself that the medicines / diagnosis tools / knowledge & treatment now are amazing compared to my grandparents day & will continue to improve. I am in a better position with the addition of the meds than when this all started (during the first lockdown when I look back) so I just need to keep on , keeping on. Keep well yourself. Laura

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

Has anybody considered microvascular or vasospastic angina?

These are often overlooked types of non obstructive coronary artery disease NOCAD, that cause angina.

Microvascular angina tends to affects women more than men. Often occurring at the time of the menopause.

The BHF has this information about microvascular and vasospastic angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo....

I suggest you ask for the appropriate tests to see if you may have either microvascular or vasospastic angina.

I have lived with vasospastic angina for 10 years. It took sometime to get my diagnosis.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Milkfairy]

hi Milkfairy. I just wondered if your symptoms of microvascular angina were/are at all like Laurab’s? I realise it can be a diagnosis missed, and also can present at menopause, so very well worth mentioning. But I did wonder if you recognised the very clear symptom sequence she described,

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Kristin1812]

I live with coronary vasospasms, vasospastic angina. My blood vessels go into transient contrictions. This happens in my small and large blood vessels.

I have a delayed response to exercise. A feeling like my heart is bruised and sore for sometimes a day or more. I feel my symptoms at rest. This happens in particular after I have had a coronary vasospasm.

Any symptoms that sound like they could be related to the heart should be investigated properly. Some people use different words to describe what's happening in their body.

A 'squeeze' could be a spasm.

There is now an awareness that women's heart disease isn't always recognised by women themselves and healthcare professionals alike.

tmmagazine.co.uk/conditions...

leeds.ac.uk/news/article/42...

Their sometimes vague symptoms overlooked and not investigated properly.

[Laurab101 in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi Milkfairy

Thank you for your informative replies. I strongly suspect it is one of these varieties causing the angina.

This morning my heart is sore & stiff - just like an overworked muscle and as this usually comes at the end of the phase I am hopeful of avoiding a trip to A&E this week.

I had to have a scan with dye during a TIA incident earlier this summer & all went well as the dye was injected but when it went through my heart the pain made me clutch my chest & I could not move myself off the scanner bed. Unfortuantly they were only looking at my head at the time. I understand after further research that the dye process is often used to provoke a spasm response when this is suspected. I will keep this in mind to discuss with the team when I go for this procedure.

Many thanks for your help. Have a great day Laura

[MissisF]

I’m sorry you’re having such a rotten time. 😕 I have a relative who had similar symptoms - without the spot on the face - and she was diagnosed with something called syndrome X. She’s managed it for almost 30 years now. Here is the link to the BHF description in case of interest

bhf.org.uk/~/media/files/pu...

Hope you get a diagnosis soon.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to MissisF]

Hi MissisF

Cardiac syndrome X is an out dated term.

The link you posted is also giving out dated information too. It was published in 2014. The information on the BHF website has been updated and replaces this information leaflet.

Microvascular angina can increase an individual's chances of having a heart attack, stroke or other major cardiac events. It is with vasospastic angina a type of non obstructive coronary artery disease, NOCAD.

HRT has not been shown by research to be affective in treating this type of angina without blocked coronary arteries.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[MissisF in reply to Milkfairy]

sorry was just relating my family experience. I bow to your better knowledge.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to MissisF]

I hope your family member is under the care of a Cardiologist.

In the past Cardiac syndrome X was considered to be benign and not really angina at all.

[MissisF in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks. She is. It’s been horrible & so difficult to manage. She’s now older & I think handles it better but you’ve my sympathy if you’re suffering with it.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to MissisF]

I have both microvascular and vasospastic angina.

Thank you, for your kind words.

Microvascular and vasospastic angina are indeed, very challenging conditions to live with.

[Zbignieva]

I can’t imagine. I am still uncertain if I have subacromial shoulder pain that extends to my heart or Microvascular Angina.

I think it is an issue very few people have heard of.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Zbignieva]

Where in the UK are you based?

The awareness of microvascular and vasospastic angina has certainly got better since my diagnosis 10 years ago.

There are centres carrying out research into non obstructive coronary artery disease.

[Zbignieva in reply to Milkfairy]

Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, so cardiac care is good with Basildon Cardiothoracic Centre and Bart’s close by. I do think the medics like stenting A LOT at C2C.

I am going to have to give the physio for my shoulder a really solid effort first, I don’t think I will get very far with any other diagnosis until I do, or I have another cardiac event.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Zbignieva]

Good luck with the physio. I really hope your shoulder pain is not referred cardiac pain.

I wouldn't wish microvascular or vasospastic angina on anyone.

[Zbignieva in reply to Milkfairy]

I definitely have an issue with my left shoulder, it is just that It is hard to separate the two at times.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Zbignieva]

Send me a message if you need a referral to Cardiologist who understands microvascular and vasospastic angina.