Just recently been diagnosed with angina after an episode of pain while running up a hill. I'd always thought the shoulder pain was connected to my brachial plexus pain, which was also diagnosed at same time (had it for years) and I was prescribed Gabapentin for this. The thing is this then cleared up all the pain, and they then weren't sure whether I was getting angina pain or it was in fact peripheral pain from the BP. But a CVD scan did show that 3 of my main arteries had significant blockage, 40%, 40% and 70%, and I was then referred for angiogram with the suggestion that I may need a stent or even open heart surgery. Though I am aware that extensive new research shows no beneficial effects of a stent when measured against lifestyle changes, and the risks of these invasive techniques do not outweigh the benefits.
Cut a long story short, in the interim period while I await the appointment for the angiogram to decide upon the stent, my most recent blood tests show a cholesterol count of 4.5 and I have a resting heart rate of between 58 and 64, and my blood pressure is normally about 112/65, give or take a few points. That being said, the cardiologist who referred me for the scan has written to my GP and said that going by my scan results I should be on one aspirin a day, 40 mg of Atorvastatin, and 1.25 mg of Bisoprolol Fumarate.
So I was just wondering if anyone has had any similar experience, as I'm also concerned that, having read on here that Bisop Fum can reduce the heart beat by 30, I'd perhaps be going into dangerously low heart beat and blood pressure ranges.
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Stenting will be done (i would have thought ) at the time of the angiogram.So like being half pregnant deciding afterwards is a bit late.They do a pressure test to see if a bypass is needed.
I'm on all the drugs you mention post cabg and my prognosis was the same as yours (elective after chest pain).Your heart beat won't dip that low.I find exercise hard plus ED but don't know if thats these tablets.
Heart disease is progressive.Examples of plaque clearing up through diet and lifestyle are rare or non existant.
I did see one study about people not suitable for stents who had refused bypass surgey.From very poor memory over three years 8% died, about 12% showed improvements.A lot stayed the same, slightly worse or slightly better.The improvements were associated with over 5hrs exercise per week and strict lifestyle changes.
I tried everything to get out of my bypass.(I mean looked for credible alternatives).I would love to believe the surgeons who say you can do this -and there are some- but the evidence was unconvincing.You may read that you can create your own collaterals and this is true.
I argued with every single cardio involved in my care.In the end i had to accept that even though i didn't agree they knew better than i did,
Thanks for that, bagsy. I'm probably a bit like you, looking for alternatives at this early stage. I had the brachial neuralgia pain on and off for 10 years after a serious injury, but only recently it started spreading to my chest. GP however doesn't believe this to be angina pain, thinks it may be associated with the BN. And the chest pain does goes away if I stop what I'm doing then restart again after doing some flexing stretches. I do a lot of hillwalking and even though I experience the pain at the start of the walk, it then actually completely goes away and at the end of the hike/walk I can practically spring up steep inclines without feeling a thing. I'm never breathless, which I'm told is another sign of angina. So I'm on the fence a bit as to where the pain is coming from, but no doubt my arteries are blocked to an extent and I will have to make a decision there. The trials I read that say the effects of a stent are neutral were the Courage and Ischemia trials, links to the article here.
Thanks for that Bridboy. I did get a spray. Forgot to mention that as I hardly ever use it. When I did it was only after the onset of the pain, and then it didn't really help, the pain subsided on its own as it always had and then completely vanished (as mentioned to Bagsy) the more I exercised. In some instances the pain subsided quicker when I didn't did use the spray. I may now try what you suggested about using it before I exercise just to see what the effects there are. I was also recently diagnosed with Myeloma, but I'm completely symptomless there and they actually missed it 2 years ago during a routine blood test for pains in my back, which was just a sprain in the end up. Apparently, after submitting a SAR for my records, they suspected the myeloma after my blood showed high calcium (which I'm told also deposits in your arteries) and a paraprotein. In the records they asked for an urgent urine sample, and then I was to be referred to a haematologist, which I supplied as it was recorded in the records - and then nothing. They completely forgot all about this until two years later when they took another blood test.
I also noticed in the records that they then tried to cover for this mistake when they did contact the haematologists this time and told them that the urine test had come back negative, which was a lie, as they forgot to even do the test, just covering their arses I suppose, as in my first appointment with the haematologist he said to me: 'Any idea what happened here? I should have seen you 2 years ago.'
All a bit of a cock-up, but perhaps relevant as for 2 years I've also had high calcium and it may also have been depositing in my arteries.
As someone who has had similar symptoms, I wonder if I might ask you a question. When I get what may or may not be angina pain, it always first starts in the right shoulder (as did the brachial pain) and then moves into the bicep, and then it completely brings me to a standstill as it's so intense (which nerve pain also often is). But when it passes, my arm then feels like a lump of meat, sore to even move it, and my chest can be sore to the touch. I've been told that this isn't atypical of angina pain. What's your experience of the pain, if you don't mind me asking?
Hi, I think we all have slightly different symptoms.
Talking whilst doing something strenuous always seemed to bring mine on.
It sounds awful but the first sign for me was producing lots of saliva followed by ache in the left shoulder and arm, ache in my jaw and a tightness in my left chest.
Thanks Bridboy. I'm starting to think now that with me it may be a combination of both. As I always had the right shoulder pain with the BN, but that then went into my centre chest (but never my left arm or left side), but your producing lots of saliva comment resonates, as I also produce tons of saliva on some occasions, though not all the time. Depends on the severity of the pain.
Thanks Deak. I also have very physical job, lots of lifting and moving around, have done for decades and always though that the pains were related to that as I really did watch what I was eating over the years and tried to keep reasonably fit. Hadn't seen a GP in many years. Making up for that now. If you don't mind me asking, when you say surgery, was it stent or open heart?
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