Chest Pain

[Ckd123]

Hi everyone, so I have had chest pain for many years now and over those years have had alot of tests including numerous EKG's, chest xrays, stress test, holter monitors and a calcium test score which was 0. Never any answer, have never seen a cardiologist because all my tests were normal so they didnt feel a need to see me. Anyway lately the pains have started to affect my life negatively and my mental health. The second i wake in the morning i feel fear, I check my hear rate on an app on my phone. I have become obsessed with everything heart related and now have a massive fear of death. I worry all day, every day. My sleep is affected and im always tired due to constant over thinking. I have started to spend all my time at home and am neglecting my friends and family.

What could this chest pain be. Its usually localised but can happen in any part of my chest from sternum to left side to right side. it never radiates and I never feel week or dizzy. I also have left arm pain on and off and jaw pain but never together with the chest pain. Iv had an endoscopy, GERD was ruled out but mild acid reflux diagnosed, also H.Pylori and a tiny hiatus hernia, that was 3 years ago. I still have occasional heart burn and acid reflux.

Anybody experience anything similar.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello Ckd123,

Has anybody considered non obstructive coronary artery disease NOCAD as a possible cause of your symptoms?

Microvascular and vasospastic are types of NOCAD.

Microvascular and vasospastic are poorly understood and often overlooked, undiagnosed and under treated.

These conditions require specialised testing so are easily missed.

My vasospastic angina was confirmed by a specialised angiogram, all my other tests were normal.

You might find this information helpful.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Ckd123 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you. I have never heard anyone mention the above conditions. How would I convince them to test for these when a cardiologist wont even see me. I am female aged 40 if that makes any difference. They say I am too young for heart disease as I havent gone through the menopause yet and my calcium score showed no plague build up.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Ckd123]

Print out the BHF information I sent you and show it to your GP. Ask them to consider whether microvascular angina is a possible cause of your symptoms.

Where are you based?

Another avenue is to ask to be referred to a hospital taking part in research into diagnosing microvascular and vasospastic angina.

This study has more and more centres participating all over the UK and a few in Ireland.

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show...

[Ckd123 in reply to Milkfairy]

Im in Ireland

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Ckd123]

Cork Hospital is taking part in the iCorMicA study.

Perhaps ask your GP to contact them?

[marypw]

Just a thought as pretty much everything else has been ruled out - it could be musculoskeletal? Costochondritis can cause a lot of intermittent pain and tenderness round the sternum and ribs. It’s due to inflammation and can be mistaken for a cardiac issue. I get it sometimes, due to lupus and fibromyalgia, but I did have a stress echo to rule out angina.

[Ckd123 in reply to marypw]

I’m not convinced it’s Costochondritis because it’s not sore when I breath in. My GP has suggested this though but I think it’s to rob me off cause they can’t find anything else. The pains can be anywhere in my chest at different times but happen at least a few times a day, everyday. They don’t get worse during exercising though so it’s just so confusing.

[marypw]

Costochondritis doesn’t cause me pain with breathing or with exercise - but I do get a rebound pain after I’ve prodded them. Standard painkillers help as well.

I hope you find an answer.

[Crystal614]

Hi, Milkfairy is right. I started to develop chest pain 9 years ago. I had all the usual tests done all came back clear. Deep down I knew something was not right. It's a long story but eventually my GP felt I had Microvascular angina. My cardiologist started me on medication which dramatically improved the chest pain. Unfortunately it seems that the disease has now progressed. With worsening angina I was taken to hospital by ambulance a few days ago I felt pretty dreadful. My Troponin level was slightly raised. I am waiting to hear from Cardiology (hopefully today) regarding medication. Its true what Milkfairy has said these type of problems are often overlooked.

[Ckd123 in reply to Crystal614]

what age are you?

[Crystal614 in reply to Ckd123]

I'm in my sixties.

[Ckd123 in reply to Crystal614]

would this be a condition in a 40 year old?

[Crystal614 in reply to Ckd123]

Hi, Microvascular angina is usually more common around the time of the menopause. I had an hysterectomy when I was in my forties. High BP, family history of heart disease and other factors have no doubt played a part in this. But sometimes these things can happen and can't be explained. Perhaps anyone else reading this post who has MVA may want to say what their age was when they had onset of symptoms. I was 55. There is a book that I would recommend reading A Woman's Heart by Dr Angela Maas. Speak with your GP ask about a GTN spray.

[Poppy451]

Have you tried gtn spray when you get the pain? If its heart related it should help. They should not be leaving you in pain.

[Ckd123 in reply to Poppy451]

what spray?

[Poppy451 in reply to Ckd123]

gtn spray . I was living with crippling painful angina attacks for years before being diagnosed and given medication. But maybe the gp can give you some gtn spray to see if it helps . It can be life saving if it is heart related.

[Pollypuss]

Well I had chest pain for two years which became progressive over that time. I had several ecg’s and blood tests but no test was really invasive. It was only when I started to have problem walking far that I thought I had better go to A&E which I drove myself to only to discover I was admitted to hospital and from then on I had a heart bypass. I felt fit otherwise and looked good. All my tests before that were fine and I only had a very mild heart attack. However I am a women and that was 2019 then aged 76. We may have far different symptoms to men. I blame my heart attack as much on stress . My son nearly died of Sepsis and my husband had kidney damage. However if I am really stressed now I can bring on that old tightness in my chest which has been tested . I’m back to my old self now