expectation of symptoms

[cocobearbhf]

hi

I wouldn’t like to understand whether my expectations are too high?

i still get chest pain and discomfort. This is about 3 months after NSTEMI that led to having 3 stents (2 in LAD, 1 in circumflex) and all the usual meds. Still minor damage to my RCA being treated by the meds.

it’s low level. if NSTEMI event was a10 it’s about 2 or 3 …. about the level of a strained muscle.

but it is every day at some point, sometimes several times . It varies in what and where. Sometimes heaviness, sometimes sharp. Sometimes across the chest, sometimes behind breast bone, sometimes in espohagus.

are my expectations too high expecting not to get even this low level pain? Does everyone get this?

I would welcome input from the group!

thanks

.

[Captain_Birdseye]

Hiya,

I'll start by saying that chest pain really should be checked out by a doctor, especially if you're concerned. You could give 111 a call today to see what they advise, or try to get to your GP tomorrow.

I've not had an NSTEMI, but was diagnosed with myocarditis a year ago. I was told 3 - 6 months recovery. I started to feel better around the 7 month mark. A few weeks later, the pain changed and was worse, I was diagnosed with pericarditis. It was treated, got better, then I had another myocarditis flare up 6 weeks ago that I'm still coming down from.

Sometimes, things don't pan out the way they're described in textbooks, as our bodies are all unique biological systems. So it's difficult to say what expectations should be.

But please do get checked out, for peace of mind if nothing else.

[Heartmum56]

Exactly the same 3 months Post NSTEMI and one stent. I find the discomfort changes and moves around the whole time as you say, hence difficult to describe to a dr. It is not there all the time but is there at some point every day. My own assessment is that it correlates with anxiety. I find it's not there when I wake up in the morning or when relaxing before bed. I also find it goes away if I go for a walk or am otherwise distracted. It doesn't get worse with exercise. My current game plan is to try to ignore and learn to relax my chest more but it's not always easy. Sometime I take paracetamol which seems to help. Will be very interested in what others have to say.

[cocobearbhf in reply to Heartmum56]

yea, I’m trying to ignore and relax aswell a thinking it may just be anxiety. Interesting that you seem to have a very similar experience. And, in a way, good to know!

Getting a wide set of experiences is really useful. One of the things I find difficult is we are all alone with our own experience

[Lowerfield_no_more]

You need to talk to your GP about your situation. In my opinion that's what they are there for. The other option is to talk to the BHF Heart Helpline nurse.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Nonetheless I would have thought you would have been offered a place on a rehab course, especially since this the sort of thing that can be dealt with by the professionals who run the courses. If you weren't offered a course you should talk to your hospital cardio team and find out where you stand.

But notwithstanding any of the above if your symptoms deteriorate quickly at any time it's a 999 call.

[cocobearbhf in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thanks for replying.

yes I am in the rehab course (it’s fab).

This week they asked me to keep a diary and it was this that prompted me to ask the question here … I am logging more than I really expected and caused me to wonder whether I am just being too sensitive.

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to cocobearbhf]

I think the professionals who run your rehab course will be far more knowledgable about your situation, given they have direct access to you on a personal level and your medical records, rather than anyone on here which will be mostly random experiences.

[Davey77]

I find my Rehab nurse more useful than a doctor, because I see her more often so she can monitor changes.

My worst chest pains have usually been linked to back pains so I get a monthly back massage and have exercises from a physiotherapist in addition to the Cardiac Rehab sessions.

[caya49]

hello cocobearbhf ive had a heart attack april first had a stant fit in after almost 4 months still have pain and dicomfort just exactly what you feel ive been to emergency room about 4 times after i had it fit in they said each time nothing is wrong ECG and blood test are fine last time i went to A&E the doctor mede me an appointment with the cardiologist i explain to her what i felt and she told me to go home and try gaviscon as she thoght it was the meds making me feel like that so ive been having it i feel much better now for about 3 weeks still feel discomfort but i have one more appointment with the cardiologist and they aree going to do a scan