Suspected Angina

[JackieV22]

Hi all, I've joined as I have been diagnosed with suspected Stable Angina by an A&E doctor this week. I have been referred to a Cardiology Clinic and am waiting for an appointment. I feel like my world has stopped as I never imagined at 58, that this would happen to me. I excercise and have a healthy diet. I have just retired with my husband and have planned so many adventures but now I'm scared to even go to the shops incase I come over feeling ill. I feel very vulnerable and anxious.

[annpavitt250448]

Don't worry to much, I was the same last year. Have you been given an G.N.T spray if so please use it if you get angina symptoms. By the way you can get the spray from the pharmacy without prescription. It's best to take it when sitting down or resting if possible. You Might find it gives you a bit of a headache.Have you been given any meds such as bisoperol or amlodipine. I found it helped enormously. I was referred for a C.T. Angiography where they found furred up arteries. I had a proper angiography where it was found I had a completely included LAD. Ended up having a stent, and have mostly been angina free, the odd attack. Managed to get back to aqua aerobics twice a week and it's a relief to be able to walk without getting angina, just creaky knees, waiting for knee replacement. There is life after angina

[JackieV22 in reply to annpavitt250448]

Hi, the A&E doctor sent me away with Nitrolingual spray, beta blockers, aspirin and statins (I've never taken this amount of medication before!). I'm a bit scared to use the spray as I've read it can make you giddy, but good to know in future I can get it from the pharmacy without a prescription. I would feel better once I know how bad my arteries are, as it feels like I'm sitting with a ticking time bomb at the moment. I can't tell you how nice it is to have some reassurance, I'm still in shock and panicking over every little twinge. Thank you for taking the time share your knowledge with me.

[annpavitt250448 in reply to JackieV22]

Glad you got your cocktail of meds we all seem to take. An angiogram is really the only way to know if your arteries are furred up. I had 2 last year as I agreed to take part in a trial and would have had to wait 6 to7 months to get a stent as it was a bit complicated and they had to go in via wrist and groin second time. I was lucky and did have a stent fitted at the beginning of the trial rather than having a "placebo ' angiogram the second time. The angio is OK you might feel a little bit of tugging, but nothing very painful. When they inject the dye you do feel as if your are wetting yourself for a second, weird sensation. Hope you get your appointment soon and get some answers

[JackieV22 in reply to annpavitt250448]

I'm hoping that's what the clinic will do, as I've heard (or read via Google, which really isn't the most helpful when you search for Angina, it's scared the life out of me!) that an ECG doesn't always detect anything is wrong. It really would put my mind at rest just to know how bad things have become, hopefully once I get to speak with a Consultant they maybe able to tell me a plan of action, fingers crossed. Thanks for the tip on the angiogram and feeling of wetting myself, that actually made smile for the first time since my A&E dash.

[annpavitt250448 in reply to JackieV22]

Glad you got your cocktail of meds we all seem to take. An angiogram is really the only way to know if your arteries are furred up. I had 2 last year as I agreed to take part in a trial and would have had to wait 6 to7 months to get a stent as it was a bit complicated and they had to go in via wrist and groin second time. I was lucky and did have a stent fitted at the beginning of the trial rather than having a "placebo ' angiogram the second time. The angio is OK you might feel a little bit of tugging, but nothing very painful. When they inject the dye you do feel as if your are wetting yourself for a second, weird sensation. Hope you get your appointment soon and get some answers

[Beckster1964]

Hi JackieV22, first of all welcome! Secondly, try not to worry too much. I was in a very similar position to you - 59 and exercising very regularly, but diagnosed with Angina in May. I initially only had pain when exercising but gradually got worse and eventually I couldn’t walk very far at all without pain.

The good news is the marvels of modern medical science can make a huge difference! I had a CT Angiogram and then an Angioplasty which showed my LAD was 90% blocked. Two stents later, I now feel so much better. I am back running 5km 2-3 times a week and have no Angina symptoms.

First step is to accept that you need help, secondly, to understand that what you probably need is now regarded as a fairly routine medical procedure (having the stents fitted was an experience but I wouldn’t describe it as painful).

Thirdly, there is a VERY high probability you will be back on your life track before you know it. Finally, just take it easy for now - I carried the GTN spray around with me - I found it was really good at not only dealing with the symptoms of Angina should they be triggered by any form of activity, but also the confidence to get out and about a little more.

Life can throw us a curve ball, but through reading posts on here, you will see many similarities to what is happening to you, and lots of positive outcomes! Hope this helps.

[JackieV22 in reply to Beckster1964]

Hi, thank you for replying, and your kind words of reassurance. I'm just sitting thinking I've got a ticking time bomb about to go off with my heart and panicking at every ache and pain, thinking heart attack! I will carry my spray with me. A curve ball has certainly been thrown, so thank you again for your kind reassurance, understanding' and taking the time to reply, hopefully I will start to calm calm down and get myself back on track!

[Beckster1964 in reply to JackieV22]

Like you I wasn’t on any meds before this but now on Aspirin, statin, clopidegrel and lansoprazole, the latter two for only a year. In some respects I feel lucky this has happened in this way - so many people on here only find out about problems with their arteries after having a heart attack. Looking on the bright side, I now feel that my risk of future problems is much lower now that I am on statins and the blockage reducing flow in my LAD has been identified and cleared with stents. Thus far, I have been lucky not to have any negative side effects from drugs. All being well, you will become bionic Jackie, bouncing back fitter and stronger!

[JackieV22 in reply to Beckster1964]

Thank you Beckster, you are right in what you say, I would rather know sooner and manage symptoms rather than the alternative. Glad you are sorted. I shall look forward to the day when I can get back to my old self, although bionic would certainly be a bonus!

[Happyrosie]

Jackie, you’ve been reassured by posters and I want to add mine.

My husband had a chest pain in March 2002. He thought it was indigestion (ha-ha, like so many!). Investigations, tablets, angioplasty, stents. And guess what? Hale and hearty nearly 22years later. He’s 81.

[JackieV22 in reply to Happyrosie]

Hi, wow that is reassurance. Thank you for sharing, hearing lovely comments and stories has made this bombshell a tad less scary. Thank you for taking the time to reply, it's much appreciated.

[APC65]

Hi, I was in similar position you last October. Went to GP with minor chest discomfort on exercise, fast tracked through chest clinic ( here they have 2week target to be seen - hopefully you won't have to wait too long) diagnosed angina.... Spent the next 6 months in complete denial as am only 58 healthy, exercise, good weight , don't smoke, low BP.... Cholesterol 6.4... so high but not dizzy heights! I carried my GTN but never used it, but reassuring to know it was there if needed. I also carried Aspirin.... Just in case. Like you I thought I was a ticking time bomb and terrified to be left on my own. The CT scan showed I had Collaterals which were by passing my blocked arteries and therefore a sufficient blood supply was being maintained until I could have the operation needed. I was told that because I had ' looked after myself' my heart had been able to develop the collaterals which is why I never had a heart attack even though LAD was 100% blocked. Isn't the heart an amazing organ!

Happy to chat if PM

Anna

[JackieV22 in reply to APC65]

Hi, it is such a huge shock, like you I am healthy, but I did find out my cholesterol was 6.8 which was another shock as I'm quite careful with saturated fats. It's all so daunting and scaryr. I think speaking to a Consultant and having confirmation via tests will help, as currently I feel in limbo with just a cocktail of tablets as a constant reminder that I have something wrong with me. Thank you for sharing, and so glad to hear you've come through the other side! Would love to PM as and when if that's okay, I need all the advice I can at the moment. My poor husband is hearing my theories, sobs, denials and everything else inbetween, 24/7 at the moment. The heart is amazing, and I should feel grateful that its giving me a little heads-up. Thanks again for your words of encouragement.

[Lonmayloon]

You’ve received great advice from annpavitt and beckster and I would echo that.

While you’re waiting for your cardiology appointment take a note of when your symptoms occur. There are a number of triggers and not just exercise. Take a note of the type and location of pain. It can occur in different areas.

Keep your GTN spray with you and use it when you experience angina. I had classic side effects of headache, dizziness etc. These are unpleasant but they pass fairly quickly ie minutes rather than hours. Sitting or lying down greatly improves the feelings.

I first experienced angina when I was 52. The initial trigger was cold air. My GP referred me to the rapid access chest pain clinic where I had an exercise ECG on the treadmill. My exercise tolerance was very good and the abnormal readings only happened near the end of the resting period. I was then referred for an angiogram where they discovered a severely blocked LAD and fitted a stent there and then. Is there life after all this? Absolutely!

We sold our business the following year. I spend the winter seasons skiing most days and summer seasons taking long mountain walks. During the pandemic I took up running and run 5km every other day and have never felt better. Your treatment might vary from the above but you should be able to return to everything you had planned. Your adventures are just on hold for a short while. My heart journey started in 2011, I’m now 65 and hope to be around for a good few years yet.

You mentioned the downside of Google and I agree but some advice on it is very sound. Have a look at the following link.

hopkinsmedicine.org/health/....

All the best and do let us know how things progress.

[JackieV22 in reply to Lonmayloon]

Hi, thank you for your reply, everyone has been so kind with their advice. I'm glad you mentioned the GTN spray as I have read awful side affects which has made me very reluctant to want to use it. The attacks have only so far been during excercise , I'm so frightened that I've stopped excercising until I see a Consultant but if they do happen I will make a note of the details. The A&E doctor said he'd made an referral for me to the rapid chest pain clinic, so I'm hoping to hear when I can go in. I am so heartened to hear that there is life after diagnosis, have been in total shock over the last few days. My husband and I have got so many plans for next year, (one of which is a new campervan sitting on the drive) which a couple of days ago didn't seem possible. Hearing about everyone's experiences has made me feel much more positive and less frightened, perhaps I will actually sleep tonight! Thank you so much for your advice, link, sharing your experience and words of encouragement. Will update as and when I have any news, hopefully soon!