angina pain or indigestion

[Des1977]

When I was first diagnosed with angina. With blocked LAD. In Dec 19, and I only got pain when I was running in cold weather. I was prescribed Aspirin, Bisopralol, Lanzoprolol, and a statin, and a few others that I didn’t get on with. I had a stent fitted in Oct 21. But in recent months I have been getting a pain in my chest, that feels like indigestion. If I turn to the right, the pain comes on, if I exercise it doesn’t, and if I take 2 x rennie’s the pain goes away, but it comes back after a meal. Has anyone had anthing similar .

[Hidden]

I had an NSTEMI heart attack four years ago. In Feb this year I noticed I had chest discomfort one day similar to what I had had when I had the HA so ended up in hospital and returned several days later with similar chest discomfort. I had ECGs and an echo but nothing significant was found. I was released with meds and told it was likely angina based on my earlier HA presentation. However no more 'angina' and so eventually I dropped the meds. At a follow up my cardio consultant told me he wasn't 100% sure it was heart related especially when I told him I had reflux disease and likely a grumbling hiatus hernia but arranged an angiogram which I had last week which confirmed nothing had changed since the angiogram done four years previous. So in my case any chest discomfort is extremely likely to be gastro not cardio related. In your case if you get a continuation of your symptoms you should get yourself checked out by the GP for starters but if at any time your pains are severe it's 999. Hope you get sorted.

[Des1977 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you LowerField

It's good to hear that my pain could be gastro, and not angina pain. My follow up appointment following my stent was due back in August, and I have chased it up this week.

It will be good to arm myself, to help understand how these heart things and tablets work on the rest of your body, with the possible side effects of the tablets.

[Hidden in reply to Des1977]

I suggest you keep a food diary. You may find certain foods act as a trigger, such as spicy food, onions and anything citric like orange juice, so you need to avoid them. Also try to avoid large meals, and leave at least 3 hours between your last meal and going to bed. And bending over often doesn't help , because it can squeeze food back up from the stomach into the oesophagus. Finally if you are overweight or worse obese aim to lose weight since that may help too.

[Des1977 in reply to Hidden]

When my angina was detected, and I was advised not to exercise until I could secure an angiogram, I did put on some weight, but not to obesity levels. My exercise regime is slowly building, but not to the levels before angina was thrown at me. Inheritance isn't always desirable.

[devonian186 in reply to Des1977]

Look up the 'Vagus nerve' and see if that relates to your symptoms

[Hearty77]

Hi

You’re doing the right thing in getting yourself fully checked out and From my experience Lowerfields suggestion of keeping a food diary is a great one. I’ve noticed a connection (for me) between coffee and angina so have stopped drinking coffee. Funnily I don’t get the angina type symptoms when I drink tea.

I hope you find the cause and can back to normal life again as soon as possible.

Please let us know how you get on.

[Des1977 in reply to Hearty77]

Hi Hearty77.

I have changed to Decaf on both tea and coffee. And I have started a food diary.

[sidpr]

Hi Des1977

Your post is very timely, as I am currently in hospital having tests for similar pain. Briefly I had stents in April following a heart attack. I have been doing well, playing lots of golf and weekly cardiac level 4 classes with no exercise induced pain. The last couple of weeks however I have had a lot of shoulder blade, neck and mild burning chest pain during exercise and at rest. I've also had that lump in the throat feeling probably caused by acid reflux (I have a hiatus hernia). Here lies the problem, these symptoms are very similar to angina. Given my recent stents and the pain, my wife drove me to A&E for a check. They were very supportive and agreed it was the right thing to do. I have now been transferred to cardiology who have done various tests which thankfully have all been fine, but they want to do an angiogram next week just to be sure my stents are clear. In summary its really difficult sometimes for us as patients to tell the difference between deep muscular chest pain, gastric acid induced pain, anxiety induced pain or cardiac pain, but if in doubt always seek proffesional advise. I will update you when I get discharged. All the best.

[Des1977 in reply to sidpr]

Thank you sidpr. Would be very interested to know how you get on. Good luck.

[sidpr in reply to Des1977]

Hi Des1977

I had an Ultrasound on my heart, and an angiogram last week to check my stents which was all good. I can only assume the pain is muscular or caused by Gerd and my hiatus hernia. Still I was glad I had it all checked out. Hope you're keeping well. All the best sidpr

[NotAllWhoWonder]

Does the pain come back when you’re lying down at night? Could be gastritis if it’s very painful. The meds I took after my MIs basically burnt holes in the lining of my stomach.

[Silvertail]

Sorry this is a bit long-winded but my best explanation of my experience. I have reflux and am not always sure whether the pain is from indigestion or my heart. My angina usually happens with a physical cause eg walking up hills or too fast etc, and is not too painful. On the other hand my reflux/indigestion pain can come on any time, all of a sudden and usually extremely painful, say 9 out of 10. Sometimes I can’t tell if it’s my reflux or my heart. If I take a puff of my GTN spray and it goes away I don’t seek medical help. (My doctor says GTN can also relieve indigestion pain.)

[Des1977]

Just come back from my check up appointment with cardiac consultant.

He stated he is sure my pain is not Heart/Angina related, could be muscular or gastric, and he was happy to discharge me from his care.

And that was that, so I'll just get on with exercising and watching my diet. And of course, keep taking the tablets.

All the best to everyone, and thanks for your kind and helpful words, but I will still be watching out for these messages, Angina I am sure doesn't just go away..