unstable angina

[Best2]

good morning everyone, please can anyone help with some advice ! Last week I was in and e with chest pains as troponin went from 15 to 47 I was admitted and had angiogram on Monday I was told main arteries are clear and I have unstable angina!!! So on some new tablets propanalol and isosorbide mononitrate as well as asprin statins bp meds ! I’ve read this is a dangerous condition and I’m so scared to even leave the house please dose anyone live a normal life with this ? Thankyou

[Tos92]

I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis and recent trip to the hospital. I understand that it can be scary when we are newly diagnosed with a heart condition.

I have something called vasospastic angina where my arteries go into spasm, restricting blood flow to my heart. It triggered a MINOCA (myocardial infarction in non-obstructed coronary arteries) last year. My angiogram was also clear. How was unstable angina ruled in? What types of tests did they conduct? It might be worth ruling out vasospastic angina and microvascular angina too.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

There are specific tests that can be performed to rule out or in, both the above. There is a website below which I have attached which provides information from experts in MINOCA and INOCA (ischaemia in non-obstructed coronary arteries) around the world, including the U.K. which you might find useful.

inocainternational.com

The experts conduct regular meetings and conferences with patients who have heart conditions with non-obstructed coronary arteries from a Facebook page that I am on which you too might benefit from. Patients have the opportunity to attend and discuss their symptoms and concerns relating to these conditions to help navigate better care for us through a collaborative approach between patient and MINOCA/INOCA specialists.

facebook.com/groups/2879606...

It is important to see a specialist in your condition if you are to receive the appropriate treatment which is right for you.

I too worry about triggering another heart attack as my angina is consistent throughout the day and I remember I completely limited myself in the first year after my heart attack when it came to leaving the house unless it was necessary, such as for work. However, once you have a concrete treatment plan in place and a cardiologist which can help navigate your care together with you, it will give you confidence to hopefully, bring back some normalcy into your life and help you continue doing the things you enjoy.

There are other members with similar experiences, so I hope they will be by too to give you some insight.

All the best.

Tos

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Tos92]

There are several groups dedicated to improving the care of patients living with microvascular and vasospastic angina.

There is also this group, co founded by four patients with over 50 years of lived experience of living with microvascular or vasospastic angina. They are actively working with researchers into these types of angina.

They have 30 worldwide expert Cardiologists supporting them.

One of the founders of the group was an expert patient advisor to the BHF website information. The group are also co authors of several medical articles.

The BHF Vasospastic angina website information, gives a link to one of the Facebook groups which were involved in founding the International Heart Spasms Alliance.

internationalheartspasmsall...

Have you managed to get a referral to a Cardiologist who specialises in treating patients with myocardial bridges, which I believe you have indicated may be causing your issues?

The European Society of Cardiology published these guidelines recently about the management of Acute Coronary Syndromes which includes unstable angina.

The guidelines and terminology are as ever evolving.

academic.oup.com/eurheartj/...

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

I acknowledge learning to live with the unpredictability of unstable angina can be challenging.

About 11 years ago I was admitted to hospital with a suspected heart attack and thought to have unstable angina.

I was later diagnosed with vasospastic angina, my coronary arteries go into transient constrictions, spasms, cutting off the supply of blood to my heart. My coronary arteries are unobstructed.

At first I was totally bewildered and frightened.

I have overtime learned to live with my at times unpredictable and unstable type of angina. I still end up in hospital from time to time.

Have you been offered cardiac rehab?

It can be helpful to build up your confidence.

Have you been prescribed a GTN spray. It can be helpful to prevent episodes of chest pain.

The BHF has this information about how best to use GTN and about angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Maybe give the BHF helpline a call and speak with one of the cardiac nurses.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Has the Cardiology team considered what is causing your unstable angina and rise in your troponin blood levels?

Perhaps ask them if they are able to offer you further tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.

This is a patient story of experience of angina following a coronary bypass surgery.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...