I have just joined Health Unlocked and I’ve been a member of the BHF for some years and have even rung them when my son was diagnosed with a congenital bicuspid valve. Heart disease seems to have been the cause of death of many of my ancestors and I’ve been suffering chest pains on and off when I’m at rest or even been woken up with them.. I have a GT spray. My GP, a hospital anaesthetist and even the cardiologist I recently saw, don’t think I have angina.
I am a woman age 75, fit and not overweight. I’m waiting now for an angiogram which will be a wait of 8 weeks. I have been reading some posts on here and read about micro vascular angina, maybe that’s what I have? I’ve been on BP tablets and statins for at least 15 years and I get very tired.
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Dunandjam
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A big hello back to you and with it a very warm welcome to the forum.
It sounds like you are at the beginning of your heart journey as the tests begin to find out what is causing that angina type pain you are experiencing .
At 75 and given your family history you are lucky to be only suffering now { the luck part sounds wrong Im sorry } given the fact your poor son has such a heart defect.
Your time will come and before you know it the tests will be done and they will have the results in fount of them to work out a plan for your continued health.
No one will be upset if you tell them you suspect you maybe suffering with micro vascular angina, ask any questions you like, its your body and your life.
As for your bowel problems that is something only your Dr can really answer.
The main thing to tell you is that your not alone and if possible we are here to help your journey go as smooth as possible
Take care and please keep us informed of your progress, it may help others in the same situation.
hello and welcome - i hope you find what you need here
your story is familiar to me, in that you have symptoms and issues which don't fit the patterns doctors hold in their minds
you have clearly been reading up on conditions which fir your symptoms and have come up with an answer which the doctors are not familiar with - but many of us here are familiar with this and i hope that your angiogram goes ahead on time, and that it leads to answers for you &/or further investigations to fully clarify your condition
In the meantime there are two more places where you could seek further information :
I also hope that Milkfairy will shortly respond to your post and pass on more helpful information for you
My own suggestion is that you find out as much and prepare to be persistent with your requests for tests and investigation - you deserve proper care and doctors need to look beyond the obvious
Thanks for your encouragement and understanding which is important to me and I will definitely look at the information on the link you’ve provided me with. I find it incredible that 3 doctors have told me they don’t think I’ve got angina yet the GT spray does work. Kind regards. 😀
Unfortunately angina without obstructed arteries is poorly understood and some doctors are barely aware that it is even possible. There are many reasons for this, but a significant factor might be that it seems to affect women more often than men. I could rant on about this but i'll leave you to find out more if you feel inclined to do so 😉
Hi there, Whenever something is hereditary or genetic we begin to worry and think the worst. I have had 3 heart attacks and 2 stents which failed and recently a double bypass. What I would suggest is that you try hard not to Google things or look possible " conditions up" I did exactly the the same and convinced myself I had a condition which of of course I didn't. The coronary angiogram is the deciding factor as the consultant will be able to see exactly what is going on in your heart. Try if you can to look after yourself and rest as much as you can till your angiogram
So sorry to hear you’ve been through the mill so to speak with your heart problems but hope you are OK now! Yes you’re right about googling but I like to learn as much as I can. I’ve already lost nearly 2 stone and get plenty of exercise, for my age and eat healthily. Being healthy is important to me. My father had angina and he received hardly any treatment, had a heart attack whilst driving and ended up in hospital. Mum didn’t like hospitals but I met him at the hospital and stayed with him until a bed was found. He thanked me and I said see you tomorrow and he died at breakfast time the following morning.
At least it would seem the angiogram is the right way forward for me,
He didn’t say! My husband was with me and he asked me if I’d got any questions but I didn’t think to ask him whether to continue use of GT spray but I am continuing to use it.
Microvascular and vasospastic angina are types of non obstructive coronary artery disease NOCAD.
Also referred to as angina/ ischaemia non obstructive coronary arteries ANOCA/INOCA.
These conditions are often overlooked, undiagnosed and under treated. Microvascular angina tends to affect women more than men.
Microvascular angina is thought to be due to the small blood vessels of the heart not working properly. They fail to dilate or stay dilated in response to extra demands like exercise.
Most people living with microvascular angina tend to have chestpain on exertion.
A routine angiogram will not be able to detect microvascular or vasospastic angina, unless tests are done to check if the coronary blood vessels are functioning properly.
I suggest you ask, whether during your angiogram the appropriate tests will be carried out.
This is done by assessing how the blood flows through the small blood vessels.
Then testing for vasospastic angina is performed by using a chemical to induce coronary vasospasms.
I have lived with vasospastic angina for over 10 years and it was diagnosed during an angiogram with acetylcholine which induced my coronary vasospasms.
Sadly there is still a lack of understanding of microvascular and vasospastic angina amongst healthcare professionals and you do need to be persistant.
Perhaps ask your Cardiology team can they carryout the appropriate testing to determine whether you have microvascular or vasospastic angina.
Keep a log of your symptoms and see if you can spot any triggers. Emphasize that you are experiencing chest pain at night.
Be prepared to ask for a second opinion and ask to be referred to a specialist who understands microvascular and vasospastic angina.
You may need to travel.
There is a research study taking place so more centres are beginning to do the correct testing.
Where in the UK are you based?
Fishonabike has given you some useful resources.
The International Heart Spasms Alliance website was written by 4 patients with over 50 years of combined experience of living with microvascular and vasospastic angina. They are supported by 30 world expert Cardiologists.
Thanks for your lengthy response and I note the information with interest. I have been keeping a log of my symptoms and I’ve been woken in the night several times with gripping chest pains. I live in Shrewsbury. Is it possible to ask for second opinions on NHS?
Fishonabike has given me the link to IHSA and another link on the same issue both very interesting and I want to read and digest the information throughly ( I’m 75 and it takes a tad longer to get my head round such complicated issues.
I’m concerned that the angiogram won’t show up microvascular angina. Should I wait until appointment comes through and then mention my worries? Just wondering how the system works. It seems incredible to me that consultants aren’t aware of this problem as I’ve never had an attack when I’m moving about, always when resting or being woken at 4.00 am with pains.
When I had an attack a couple of weeks ago I thought it would be a good time to do an ECG on my Apple Watch. There have always been normal results before but I could see the lines were all over the please and first they said it was a poor reading and I should keep my wrist steady etc but I knew I had done it right. Second time a questionnaire popped up asking me some questions and advised me to seek medical help ( which I didn’t) but results are on my phone.
Unfortunately many Cardiologists don't keep up to date. Sometimes as patients we need to help them update their knowledge 😉In the past doctors were taught about Cardiac syndrome X, it was considered to be harmless, benign , nuisance cause of 'pseudo ' angina.
Recent research has shown this to be incorrect along with the terms microvascular dysfunction/ angina and vasospastic angina being adopted and the knowledge that these types of angina are not benign.
They increase an individuals risk of a heart attack, stroke, heart failure and major adverse cardiac events.
Another risk of vasospastic angina is arrthymias which maybe what was picked up by your Apple Watch ECG.
I was originally told 10 years ago that I couldn't have had a heart attack or angina because my coronary arteries are unblocked.
Now, I am under the close supervision of an Interventional Cardiologist. I receive the appropriate treatment to help prevent me having a heart attack, stroke, developing heart failure or experiencing major cardiac events.
My vasospastic angina is unfortunately resistant to treatment. I end up in hospital about once or twice a year for treatment with IV GTN and morphine to stabilise my coronary vasospasms.
I suggest you contact the Medical secretary of your Cardiologist and say you have some further questions you would like answering by a Interventional Cardiologist.
Some questions might be.
Will they be able to test for non obstructive coronary artery disease NOCAD, microvascular and vasospastic angina?
How would your ongoing symptoms be treated if your coronary arteries are found not to be blocked?
Could you be referred to a Cardiologist who understands NOCAD ?
You have the right to ask for a second opinion from another Cardiologist if you feel the advice you are being given isn't appropriate.
It is also possible to have obstructive coronary artery disease and vasospastic angina or microvascular dysfunction at the sametime.
You might find this book by Prof Angela Maas interesting.
'A Woman's Heart: Why female heart health really matters'
Carolyn Thomas writes a very good blog about the problems women heart patients can encounter. She has had a heart attack and lives with microvascular angina.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
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