Heart failure and pains. What does it actually feel like?

Ok so i have left ventricular dysfunction of about 40% ejection rate. Arteries were clear when checked 2 years ago. Big scar on heart from previous suspect heart attack.

Ever since leaving the hospital with severe heart failure, i have always had random pains that occur. Mostly electrical, sharp type pains. Sometimes just one off or sometimes a cluster that come and go. I have been checked out whilst this happens and they have never found the cause or explained what it could be. They just say its not your usual angina since its not activated by exercise or movement. These happen anytime, but mostly at rest or normal daily activity.

Any ideas? Do any of you experience the same? Could it be side effects to meds, entresto, dapa, apixiban etc?

[honeybubs]

yes very similar to me. Had a spell in hospital a couple of weeks ago. I was getting random sharp pains that came and went but I ended up in hospital with shoulder stomach & back pain suspected heart attack. Was in for 8 days on a monitor and had an angiogram that showed clear veins and then an MRI which showed pericarditis and myocarditis inflammation. If you look up symptoms for this it says sharp pains which can be any where on your body! Mention it to your doctor as I ignored them with them being so random. Good luck let us know how you get on. I also have ventricular weakness and a low Ejection Fraction pumping heart of 35%.

[Karabiner]

I had a STEMI 12 months ago, recovered well, but subsequently from about 10 months back have had a series of chest, back, left arm and other pains, and still get them. I have been run threw the mill with cardiology..... including repeat angiogram and 7-day holter monitor. I've also been back through ED/A&E at least 10 times since the original STEMI 12 months ago. Everytime, and all results are normal!! I'm now taking advice and therapy for chronic pain/PTSD/etc.... and while not absolutely ever sure the symptoms are not cardiac, believe that is more and more likely. My cardiologist discharged me with the statement - I'm sure it is not your heart. There is now considerable evidence that persistent pain in a wide variety of scenarios is manufactured in neural circuits and not in the body or tissue. BUT, and this is a BIG BUT, you must first get thoroughly examined and diagnosed to ensure (as best as experts can) it is not structural/tissue/heart related. Seek out some good advice, but be open to the ultimate possibility your pains are not heart related at all. It seems fear, anxiety, mood, attention to bodily sensations, conditioning, etc.... can continue to produce pain (generated in the brain's neural networks) long after tissue has healed.

[Mater123 in reply to Karabiner]

fantastic reply thank you for the information.

[Letsallhope1]

I get these sharp pains in my chest too, last short time and they cover a very small part of my chest, feels like I’ve been poked with a pointy tool.

As I’m still Standing after getting these pains for many months now so I have decided that are just nerve pains provoked by my scarring tissue.

[Hidden]

Dear you

I think that you have perfectly describe what heart problems feel to you.

Loads of people will have a different answer and that reason is because we are all individuals.

I agree with some that because of the vastness of this problem that many will have similar to each other symptoms .

But the secret is to know your body and if something is wrong, regardless where you need to seek answers to your feelings, then do so.

Regardless of who says otherwise, only you know how you are feeling, only you know that this feeling is not normal for you and only you can get it sorted.

The worry that you have over these feelings that are going on in your body is giving you a reduced quality of life.

Get on the phone and get the ball rolling, what you are feeling is not right and you don't have to be medically trained to see that.

Take care and please keep us informed.

[Beaududley]

My ejection factor was down to 20/25%, symptoms were breathlessness and palpitations, no pain. Entresto etc have improved my ejection factor to 40%. Excellent news.

[am1875 in reply to Beaududley]

Hi. Excellent news indeed. Did it also reduce breathlessness and to what degree. Wish you well! Cheers!

[am1875]

I have a big scar as well with an ef of 40. Just began middle dose of Entresto 10 days ago. I don’t know how long before you see results if any. I’ve noticed a few new pains but not electrical imo. What dose are you on and can you tell it’s made a difference. If so, can you be specific. Thank you!