Gastric source of angina symptoms

[bizzy55]

In my quest to get to the bottom of my angina type symptoms I have recently had a stent implanted in my LAD but the symptoms persist.

- Mild burning sensation in chest after a few minutes of walking outdoors. (if I walk indoors I have no such problem - it seems to be temperature related?) If I pause for 30 seconds the burning dissipates and I am OK to continue walking.

- Occasional palpitations and breathlessness at rest at home.

- Occasionally feeling a bit weak at rest at home.

I very recently had an endoscope to the stomach which detected a smallish hiatal hernia and few ulcers.

So I now suspect that the root of my symptoms may be gastric rather than cardiac. Burping instantly relieves any symptoms! I'm taking lansoprazole along with all the usual cardiac drugs. I will probably ask to see a gastro intestinal specialist.

Has anyone else come across or experienced this kind of scenario - gastric problems causing angina-like symptoms ?

[Tos92]

I suffer from what seems to be related to a gastro-cardiac link. My indigestion got moderately worse since my HA last year. I’ve been ruled out as clear as far as my GI investigations go but I do suffer with heartburn and acid reflux. When having major palpitations or an elevated heart rate, I break out into a sweat, which sometimes causes abdominal pain and triggers my bowels. The cardiologists I’ve seen so far are not sure why this happens.

Seeing a GI specialist sounds like a good plan.

Let us know how you get on.

All the best.

Tos

[Silvertail]

Definitely have. It's hard to know the difference sometimes. My reflux pain is usually far worse than any heart pain I've had, but it mimics heart pain. GTN also eases it. If it's from your hernia or reflux, drinking ginger ale helps as it makes you burp. Of course Gaviscon helps too.

[bizzy55 in reply to Silvertail]

Thanks Silvertail. Yesterday I began taking Gaviscon for the first time ever and I feel a lot better. Today I will try going for a long walk to see if the angina-type symptoms have reduced.

[Silvertail in reply to bizzy55]

Hi again, Bizzy. I forgot to say I have microvascular angina which gave me pain if I walked too far or went up stairs and hills. I don't seem to get reflux when I'm walking though. My angina and reflux is fairly well controlled now with medication.

[Hjiu]

Hi bizzy55. I too have been suffering with pain that feels like it could be cardiac related. Sometimes it feels like i just need to burp but i never do. I have been experimenting to try and find the source of the pain. I eventually stopped taking Lansoprazole for a few days. (I stopped these off my own back. Not by advice from the Dr and I do NOT advise doing this) The pain MOSTLY went away. I spoke to my GP and told her what I tried. She has now advised me to take my Lansoprazole every other day or every three days to see if it helps. So far so good.

Current meds:

Bisoprolol 1.25 twice a day

Aspirin 75mg

Ranolazine 500mg twice a day

Rosuvastatin 10mg

Bempedoic acid 180mg

Lansoprazole 30mg every other day

[bizzy55 in reply to Hjiu]

Thanks Hjiu. I take most of the same meds. I also get that feeling of wanting to burp but not burping sometimes. I have a hiatal hernia which may be preventing the burping. I began taking Gaviscon a few days ago and can burp much better now.