First time flying since diagnosis of MVA (provocative angiogram) I mainly have SOB as a symptom. I would say I have it mild but it still impacts my life.I have just returned from a week's holiday in Majorca flying out was ok besides feeling tired with all the walking at the airport. Actual flight I felt fine. Today we have returned home and I experienced chest pain on take off which for me feels like my bra is too tight. This eased however it became worst when we started to prepare for landing. Again discomfort like bra too tight however it increased and it felt like something was sitting on my chest. Again this eased on landing. Did take GTN in terminal as cold and had to go up steps. Lesson learned to look for lift in future not follow the pack.🤦♀️Have other people experienced anything similar or an I imagining things. Sometimes I feel very confused.
Thank you for reading my ramblings
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Chick28
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Hi MilkfairyThank you for your reply it helps to know this wasn't unusual. Your post are always informative.
This condition seems to throw up surprises when you don't expect them.
I am finding it difficult to manage and trying to continue as before as much as possible.
As we had early pick up to airport we got up early so we could enjoy a walk along the beach before heading home. Then at the airport we were delayed for several hours due to the weather in UK.
So more stressful than going.
On a sensible note fortunately I had taken my winter coat with me😂
Maybe I should do better pacing and should have enjoyed the view from the balcony. It is definitely a learning curve.
as Milkfairy says, it is connected to the drop in air pressure - this affects the ability of the lungs to get enough oxygen out of the air - it's important at these times to focus on your breathing: ensure that you are sitting upright and take good deep breaths, making sure you get a good intake of air, and breath steadily - there is plenty of NHS guidance on effective breathing techniques, i've added a link below to one source
unfortunately the onboard oxygen masks are not usually available for use (they only cut in when cabin pressure drops below a critical level)
also info on use of oxygen during flight ( this is a US publication, there must be similar guidance for UK, somewhere) - uptodate.com/contents/suppl....
Some airlines have piped oxygen. You have to prebook the seat with piped oxygen. I use a portable oxygen concentrator with a nasal cannula.
The airlines require that I fill a form in and get a fit to fly letter from my GP.
I always book assisted travel and wear my sunflower lanyard ( available free from Sainsburys stores) to indicate I have a hidden disability.
Low oxygen levels actually trigger my coronary vasospasms.
I also use oxygen at night. It was prescribed by my Cardiologist as a form of pain relief. The oxygen also helps me manage the pain of my cluster headaches which I experience with my chest pain.
I have microvascular angina. Pre-pandemic I used to fly every week. Very often early morning flights. My chest pains often happen in the early hours of the morning, especially walking to the gate. I always carry GTN spray and use it.
I also take Monomil XL 60mg tablet (isosorbide Mononitrate). Initially I was on one table a date (slow release). I discovered that the effect lasts 18hours only. So I decided to take half in the morning (mid-morning) and half in the evening (around 10pm). I discovered the regular early morning chest pains stopped.
One cardiologist was not happy with what I had done (he explained that I might build up tolerance to it). A latter cardiologist and my GP said that if it is working then it is okay. . I have been doing that for over 3 years now, and it is still working for me. I am simply sharing what works for me (I am not suggesting that you do what I do). Of course you can discuss it with your GP/Cardio
It's interesting about whether those of us with microvascular or vasospastic angina build up a tolerance to isosorbide mononitrate and GTN patches. This is what I do , after discussion with my Cardiologist.
As I experience most of my chest pain in the evenings and during the night,
I take a 60 mgs Isosorbide mononitrate extended release tablet at 6pm with 20mgs of GTN patches. Then 60mgs of ISMN at 11pm.
I take the patches off the following morning.
In over 10 years I have not built up a tolerance to nitrates.
In the warmer summer months, I reduce the amount of nitrates I take.
I have to add that in the past when I used to get chest pain in the morning; they were worse on the winter or say a very cold morning in the summer. Like most people, cold weather does aggravate the problem. I have always believe that I also have Raynaud's syndrome. For as long as I remember my hands and feet get very cold - especially in the winter (despite double/thick socks; gloves). For many years now, I have found that a small warm exercise (few minutes on the exercise bike) or a brisk walk with warm exercise help a lot. Basically, in Raynaud's syndrome the small arteries at the extremities (fingers, feet) contract/restrict the flow of blood : hence drop in temperature. Exercising raises the heart beat : it is a bit like turning up the pump so that it can increase the pressure and push the blood.
I have had migraine since late teens. Several foods can trigger as well as if my head gets cold.
i have heart failure and have a damaged heart too. I experience more sharp pains and also dull ache pains. The sharp ones catch you off guard and can come suddenly and are usually short lived. The dull ache is sometimes there far longer. usually felt on the left pec area. occasionally comes with aniexity and sweats.
I hope lots of other people post on this general subject. I have never liked flying but when you look at the costs of trains and time taken, sometimes its the only sensible option.
However, having had a quad heart bypass i am even more nervous so would be interested to hear the flying experiences of those who have undergone various heart treatments. My cardiologist says It is fine to fly but what do others think based on actual experience?
For holidays this year we have decided to cruise the Baltic rather than fly or visit hot countries as I am really wary . During very hot spell here I felt faint and unwell. It's rotten as my husband basks in the sun, whilst I prefer the shade. Steep learning curve. I am hoping to get the courage to fly to hotter climate next year.
Fortunately both my wife and I dislike hot weather and constant sun. We both like trains and may travel more on them.
To get from Newton Abbott to Edinburgh ranged from £122 to £297 EACH for a single journey! However on investigating further-and train information is much more confusing than that for flights-there were either planned strikes, the aftermath of strikes or extended engineering works being carried out as soon as the strikes had finished. So not only expensive but complicated and ultimately impossible, or at best highly inconvenient. I don't fancy cruises as such but have wondered about a few days on the ships that cruise the Rhine or Moselle. Close to the banks so scenery interesting and lots of towns to visit.
Lol🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 hope it is not too cold!!!! But the scenery should be worth it. My husband worked most of his life building ships so he loves them...due to c.... And health we have not holidayed for a few years, visits to family etc...so looking forward ... nervously...to it, and will report. Thank goodness for this site. The health insurance was awful so don't think we will be doing another cruise. The company demands the cost of taking you from boat to shore via helicopter 🚁 etc.. I really think they are over egging it, plus no refund if it doesn't happen.... there's a surprise..I wish you well and enjoy whatever you plan. Take care 🙏
Despite a heart bypass I regularly do three things that involve risks but also bring great personal joy.
I take a sail boat well off-shore, so if the worst were to happen I'd be a long way from medical help.
I holiday on cruise ships, even though there's always a ship's doctor they aren't equipped with the stenting facilities that often spell the difference between life and death
And finally I regularly take long haul flights (in fact I'm writing this a long way from chilly Britain). The NHS hope to get an ambulance to a category one call out within seven minutes. But if you're on a plane above an ocean then you're hours rather than minutes from help.
We're grown-ups, we all know there's no such thing a zero risk life. We balance risk against reward, take sensible precautions, and then we get on with living our lives as we best see fit. Accepting the consequences of our choices
As I don't enjoy flying anyway-and less so as time has gone on-probably I am using this as an excuse to avoid flying unless there is no alternative. Trains are decades behind planes as regards ease of use. Trying to sort out a train from Home to Bruges or Paris is a night mare with various connections to take into account, times to consider, lengths of journey and of course some simply absurd prices.
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