Rapid access chest pain clinic advice.

[Daddio70]

After my Unstable Angina incident last week I have been referred to the Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic on the 26th April. I would be very grateful on tips of what to expect at the appointment as well as any questions it would be worth asking to do with tests etc. As it's obviously a life changing condition I would hate to come away afterwards and not have found out as much as I can. I've searched online for as much as I can but nothing beats personal experience.

[Purpleazalia]

Hi Daddio, sorry to hear of your scary experience with unstable angina.

I would describe it as an initial cardiac assessment appointment - to decide on the actions and tests that are appropriate for you/your symptoms.

I was informed that they no longer include a cardiac 'stress test' in my area, but I've heard others on the forum mention having them.

In my area the appointment included being weighed and having my height measured, followed by an ECG carried out by a healthcare assistant.

A specialist cardiac nurse then took my blood pressure, made a note of my current medication, talked with me about my symptoms and when/what brought them on.

She then considered the test results and information I'd given before discussing them with me, and giving her 'next step' recommendations.

In my case her recommendation included a letter to my doctor suggesting he review my BP and cholesterol medication, and that he prescribe a GTN spray. She also asked for my agreement to be referred for a CT scan, which she explained would 'light up any calcium deposits building up' (my doctor had already done a chest x-ray which showed my heart was not enlarged).

The specialist nurse explained a bit about the scan procedure, how long the waiting list was in my area, and which hospital it would be. I didn't think to ask about who would receive the results and how they would be communicated to me - so I recommend you add this to your list of questions! 😀

Hope all goes well for you.

[Daddio70 in reply to Purpleazalia]

Thankyou for that info and advice Purpleazalia. I wonder why they don't do the cardiac stress test in certain areas now?. I'll update on here next week after my appointment on how it went.

Hope you are doing well now.

[Chickenlou]

My partners experience was much the same as Purpleazalia below. (This was 4 years ago.)

He had an ECG upon arrival, was told the same about the stress test (that they no longer do them in our area) height weight and blood pressure taken.

Other then that it was just a quick chat with a cardiologist, about symptoms etc. Then he was told a CT scan would be ordered and to have some bloods taken on the way out. That was it for the initial appointment.

The CT scan was about 2 months later and he received the results of that in the post. Along with another appointment with the cardiologist for a few weeks later.

Hope it all goes well.

[Daddio70 in reply to Chickenlou]

Thankyou for your reply Chickenlou, hope your partner is doing well now. It's a bit worrying how long it takes for these procedures to be carried out. Feels like your walking on a tightrope in the meantime.

[Robbie1964]

I had an appointment with my Rapid Access Chest Plain Clinic in February. To say things happened fast is an understatement. I had a GP appointment on Thursday 2 February as i was getting breathless and a tight chest on little exertion. He referred me to the local chest pain clinic. I got a phone call from my local hospital the next day offering me an appointment on Monday morning (there had been a cancellation). Went on Monday morning. The nurse took my blood pressure and an ECG. i saw a consultant cardiologist, I explained the symptoms I was getting. I've had a heart attack previously and explained that the symptoms were similar and i thought things were heading the same way (to a heart attack). The consultant said I could come into hospital as an inpatient so they could run some tests. Although I was told I would get an angiogram twowards the end of the week, i actually got one the next day (Tuesday 7 February). I ended up having two stents inserted into my right coronary artery as there were two severe narrowings. I was back home the following day, Wednesday 8 February.

As you can guess, mine was a positive experience and given the quickness of everything I didn't have time to have to stop and think about anything.

[Daddio70 in reply to Robbie1964]

Thankyou for your reply Robbie1964, glad to hear you were seen to so quickly. Must have been pretty scary especially as you'd already had a heart attack previously.Hope you are doing well now.

[Robbie1964 in reply to Daddio70]

I've still got a couple of things I need to work on. One of my heart arteries still has moderate atherosclerosis and another has mild atherosclerosis and neither of them have been stented. I'm addressing some lifestyle problems I have as I don't want things to get worse.

[Daddio70 in reply to Robbie1964]

Hope you get your arteries sorted out, and good luck addressing your lifestyle problems. I have to do the same especially where it comes to diet, exercise and sleep.