I haven’t posted for a few weeks. Brief outline, I had breathing problems and a tight band around my rib cage. GP thought angina and referred me. Have had ECG, CT calcium scan in July and echocardiogram 2 weeks ago. I rang hospital today to see if results were ready and spoke with secretary who said I need an angiogram and there’s a 2 month wait approx. my registrar has left so couldn’t speak with her. The echocardiogram hadn’t been reviewed so she was going to ask the consultant to check it this week.
Am I having an angiogram because they have spotted a blockage or do other heart things show up on the CT scan? As the CT scan shows something, would the echocardiogram show problems as well? It’s a shame I couldn’t talk to a registrar or the consultant. I suppose I should have asked if the consultant could have rung me this week but didn’t think. I’m a bit worried about this now I’m to have an angiogram. I was on bisoprolol 1.25mg but the side effects were so bad my GP said to stop them. Now I only take an aspirin but I feel ok. I’m a bit confused as well. Thanks.
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It sounds like they want to investigate something further as they wouldn't do an angiogram unless they thought it was necessary. I know its a worrying time for you but at least they're fully investigating you so in a couple of months you'll know if there's anything adverse going on which needs sorting.
Are you still getting pain? On exertion? If so I would ask your GP if you could have some GTN spray to see if that helps take away the pain. If it does its likely it is Angina your experiencing. The results of your calcification score and Echo should have been reported to your GP.
Thanks for your reply. I do have a spray but haven’t had to use it yet. The tightness did go away when I started the beta blocker. Although I nearly did use the spray an hour ago as I did have slight chest pain and my heart rate went up. It passed when I sat down. My GP hasn’t received any results yet unfortunately. I’m ringing cardiac again next week and will ask for someone to ring me to give me my results. The registrar said she didn’t think I had angina when I was first referred in June. I think my hospital is very busy and August is when the junior doctors rotate so new staff I expect. Thank you. Ruth x
I've had 2 angiograms, 1 through the wrist and 1 through the groin. I was fine during both of them, if anything the thought of what they were going to do was the worst part.From chatting with the cardiologist they use angiograms to check what is going on so that they can determine what treatment might be needed.
It's good they are fully investigating you snd hopefully you'll get the answers to your problems.
Thanks, reassuring to know you were ok with your angiograms. I’m lucky I am being investigated thoroughly and fairly quickly 👍 Fingers crossed I get some answers soon. Thank you. Ruth
You asked about other things showing up on a CT scan. I thought that I might share my experience.
In March 2022, I had a HA, and I had a chest CT scan that night. The report noted that a nodule was seen on my right upper lung. It was advised that I have a follow-up scan in 6 months to re-check the nodule. At the time, I honestly wasn’t concerned with the lung nodule.
Okay, fast forward one year. I am still having breathing problems and not sure why. I asked my doctor whether I might want to have the lung nodule re-checked in case that related to my breathing problems. I had a follow-up CT scan in April 2023. It turns out that the nodule appears to be benign— not needing additional follow-up. Good news!
But the report noted that I had angiomegaly (enlarged heart) and an enlarged diameter pulmonary artery. So, yes, CT scans can tell you other things that might be going on with your heart and/or lungs. Also, the scan noted that I had gallstones. So, to me, that is quite a bit of data
I am now scheduled on the 17th for an echocardiogram. My doctor, a week ago, explained to me that an echo can tell you about the structure and functioning of your heart—both. A CT scan shows most about structure—not functioning. I don’t know whether that information helps, but it did make more sense to me about the various tests. For example, the nuclear stress test that I had two weeks after my HA showed more about heart functioning. They wanted, at that time, to know about damaged areas of my heart that might not be functioning properly. That test provided data about ejection fraction, etc.
You might want to discuss these tests with your doctor to learn more about what each test can be used for and what data can be gleaned from each one. I was just curious about mine. I always feel a little better when I know more.
Thanks Smitty, that’s very informative. I wish a doctor had spoken to me to tell me what’s going on with my heart and why I’m having an angiogram. At least I now know what the difference in the tests are so thanks for this. Good luck with your angiogram and I hope it goes well for you 😀
Had a phone call from cardiac department today, it was the secretary again who said my consultant said my echo was fine. Phew good news. I asked about my calcium ct scan result and she didn’t know that. I said could she ask my consultant for the result and why did he think I needed an angiogram. She’s going to ask and ring me another day. I know the nhs is busy but the poor woman is being a go between and if a doctor spoke with me I’d get the answers immediately without the waiting and worrying. Would I have an angiogram as a cautionary procedure? I just want to know if the first calcium ct scan showed anything, if not could my breathing problems be due to my lungs? Maybe I’m too impatient lol
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