update

[Fourwhitesheps]

Hi newest update have just come out of hospital again as the doctor sent me straight there last Tuesday. Still getting chest pain and had swollen legs and tongue. Have been taken off lisinopril and Amlodipine. Non the wiser about the chest pain was told by one doctor it was due to my mental health! All test results came back ok. I know this is not due to mental health and also know this pain feels totally different to angina. Hospital consultant has prescribed amitriptyline has anyone been on it? Been 9 weeks since I had 3 stents fitted and feeling awful x

[Tos92]

Hi  Fourwhitesheps

I’m sorry you feel like you’ve come out of hospital with the same troubling questions.

What has the Amitriptyline been prescribed for? Is it for pain or depression?

Unfortunately, as many others will tell you, seeking a diagnosis for a heart problem is not always a straightforward road and you will have to continue to advocate for yourself to get the right treatment.

What tests were done at your stay during the hospital?

What are your symptoms?

The good thing is that they seem to have ruled out immediate danger to your heart, or anything else for that matter whilst staying at the hospital. So I hope this provides you with some reassurance.

All the best.

Tos

[Fourwhitesheps in reply to Tos92]

hi amitriptaline was prescribed for the pain. Bloods and chest X-ray and ecgs were done all ok. I had told my doctor that this wasn’t the angina pain but she was concerned with all the swelling. I have constant chest pain in the middle of my chest moving to the right side with upper arm pain on both sides. Gtn spray not touching it neither is paracetamol and codine. Thea j you x

[Tos92 in reply to Fourwhitesheps]

Just curious that you mention “it doesn’t feel like angina pain”. Do you currently have angina or have you previously had angina?

Whereabouts is the swelling located?

[Fourwhitesheps]

Heart attack in September 100 percent right blocked artery. In and out of hospital with unstable angina since December.

[Tos92 in reply to Fourwhitesheps]

Could it be an exasperation of your unstable angina?

[Fourwhitesheps]

Swelling was ankles and tongue they think amlodipine and lisinopril caused it but had been taking both since December.

[Tos92 in reply to Fourwhitesheps]

Coming off these medications should give you an indication of whether it was these medications causing the swelling. In terms of your chest pain, the symptoms do sound similar to your angina and I wonder if this is related somehow. I have a form of angina called vasospastic angina. I feel it in my chest, upper back, arms and sometimes my jaw. It’s mainly there on rest, but it can also be felt during normal day to day activities too.

You also said that you are not responding to your GTN. Unstable angina does not always respond to GTN. Maybe this is a conversation worth having with your cardiologist or GP?

[Silvasava]

I have Afib and DCM, on the 4 pillars but I also take Amytriptilene for neuralgia, it takes 3/4 weeks to take effect. Hope you get some relief soon.

[Qualipop]

Amitriptylene is an anti depressant. In very low doses it was found to work for chronic pain in many people. I have severe spinal problems for nearly 30 years and have been prescribed it at least 10 times. That and gabapentin seem to be the "go to" answer to long term pain for many doctors. I have never been able to tolerate it. It makes me like a zombie, asleep most of the time and unable to function. Others have no problems with it and find it helps. It just doesn't for me. Give it a try. If you were given a low dose it won't act as an anti depressant.

[ubli]

Taken amitriptyline for 28 years .Initially 1 x 10mg. Recently increased to 2x 10mg . At the outset sometimes broke in half as the dizzy zombie affect was most distressing . Over the years I've learnt to take a very cold shower , takes 10 minutes for my brain to click in. Prescribed for sleep, can't nod off without , 30 minutes before going to bed .