I had a bypass a year ago and everything seemed to be going fairly well. I noticed a bit of chest pain in May but this seemed to pass over and the consultant wasn’t too concerned. However, two or three weeks ago I noticed some left-sided chest/arm/shoulder pain when cycling and this has got progressively worse, and occurs even when at rest. This culminated in a visit to A and E last Thursday. My troponin level was good (8) and The ECG just showed the usual left bundle branch block and sinus rhythm. Expecting this was good news, I was shocked to be told it could indicate unstable angina. I’ve confirmed this with a BHF nurse and a 111 doctor. It’s possible this is reflux or suchlike, but I doubt it. The pain is mostly mild/moderate, moving around, but has been more or less continuous for days. I’ve been referred to the Rapid Chest Pain Clinic, but have no appointment date yet. The 111 doctor just told me matter-of-factly “it just means you’re more likely to have a stroke or heart attack”. The prospect of having this condition is very alarming.
Some bad news…: I had a bypass a year... - British Heart Fou...
Some bad news…
Hi
Sounds like they are looking into your issue albeit somewhat scattered diagnosis, I hope they get to the bottom of your issues.
So you know, I had a very similar experience and was ultimately diagnosed with oesophageal spasms due to reflux.
I was switched from lansaprazole to finally Esomeprazole combined with Gaviscon this has settled things down but has not eliminated the issue. I have to be careful with what I eat so as not to trigger it. One thing that I was told was to use GTN spray if I get a bad attack, Ive only had to resort to this once and it did work.
If you haven’t tried it yet get some gaviscon advance and see if that helps, that might indicate it is reflux.
It would be good to know what they ultimately decide is your issue.
This is interesting - I have been getting pain in left shoulder upoer left chest and chest under armpit
Drs think it’s not cardiac , I’ve always had a dodgy stomach, can you describe your symptoms
I get a pain to the left of centre of my chest, if it progresses it goes up into my neck and left arm. So like classic heart attack symptoms. Less specific is I can also feel unwell. The worst attacks were followed by bouts of wind and or stomach upsets, which was a big clue to my issues
I went to A&E on a number of occasions and my Troponin levels were low, ECG, BP, heart rate and x-rays all ok.
I’ve had investigations and don’t have a hiatus hernia or ulcer or other digestive issues.
I carry gaviscon tablets around with me so if I start with symptoms I can act quickly.
Thank you for your reply that’s very interesting as I am going through similar can have none for a few weeks and then comes back
Cardiologist says not heart and physio says unlikely muscoskeletal.
Always had a dodgy stomach and had colonoscopy and showed colitis
My troponin was low (8) and ECG unchanged. Blood pressure also currently normal. My symptoms are rather similar: they come and go, but can persist for a long time (hours). The pain shifts around a bit, sometimes in the arm, sometimes neck, sometimes chest (individually or all three together). Sometimes it fells like a fullness, other times it’s sharper. Can be at rest or with movement.
Symptoms come and go; they can persist for a long time. The pain shifts around a bit, sometimes in the arm, sometimes neck, sometimes chest (individually or all three together). Sometimes it fells like “fullness”, other times it’s sharper. Can be at rest or with movement. Varies in intensity from barely noticeable to quite prominent.
Yes they are the same that I experience
I’ll let you know. They didn’t mention oesophageal spasms, but they referred to reflux and chest wall inflammation. A non-cardiac pain would be the best outcome!
Hi! I'm sorry to hear you're getting some pain again, especially on exertion. I get you're feeling very worried.
I would insist on another Angiogram to check your bypass grafts are working properly. You know what you have to do, chase, phone, nag, emphasise the pains. You'll get seen quicker.
I don't want to worry you but my CABG x3 failed very quickly and a few months later I needed 4 stents. However, I was getting Angina just walking round the block straight after my surgery.
Of course it might not be that but better to be safe than sorry.
I would also add that your body is very clever at making pathways so your heart gets enough blood. My grafts were completely blocked and my native LAD artery was 100% blocked by the time they found it and I hadn't had a heart attack. I'm incredibly blessed! The body is very clever!
Let us know how you get on.
Take care
Susie
Sounds pretty stressful for you. How is it possible for the grafts to block so incredibly quickly?
I'm a less than 2% statistic! I also had a major saddle pulmonary embolism after surgery too. Since then I found they severed my phrenic nerve which has resulted in left side diaphragm paralasysis (meaning I can't breath properly) and my sternum hasnt healed (i have a gap down my bone, only held together by flesh!).It is unusual for bypasses to fail straighaway. They clotted. My view is I had very bad internal bleeding after the surgery so they gave me drugs to stop it rather than opening me up again. I think they blocked my grafts (which were very narrow) before I even came round. I was under GA for 17 hours.
However, bypasses can block at any time and as you know the only way to see exactly whats happening with arteries is by Angiogram. What's your cholesterol doing? X
Apparently 30% of bypasses run into this sort of problem. It might be that new “native” vessels have blocked, not the original ones. Thanks for your reply.
To say that I’m worried would be the understatement of the year! I had a few very mild angina symptoms a few months after the bypass but they passed and I had none for 6 months. A BHF nurse said that this could be because the body can temporarily create tributaries which would delay further symptoms. She also said the problem now could be because the bypass grafts had failed or because more “native vessels” had become blocked. The troponin level was only 8 (normal) and the ECG was unchanged, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem apparently. When you had the angina was it stable or unstable? The suggestion in my case was that it might be unstable (the pain doesn’t respond to GTN) Did the stents fix the problem completely?
My Angina was generally stable but im sure i had a bit of unstable Angina too. I was diagnosed with both before my surgery. My GP was very helpful. He prescribed a small amount of Diazapan. He told me to take some before going places which could bring on Angina (walking etc). because the mind can imitate all sorts of conditions if you're worried they're gonna happen. It proved some of my pains were my mind playing teips cos i simply was more relaxed and didnt have them. Maybe this is an option? Sometimes the more we worry the more pains we get.
Having said that i am not for one minute saying yours are in your head. I still think you should insist on an Angiogram.
Please try not to worry. I'm incredibly lucky. I have faith in God and go to Church. I had so many people praying for me and I felt God looking after me. I didn't worry at all through all my trauma. If you don't have faith this all might sound a bit weird but honestly, try praying, there really is a God who loves you!
Message me if you want.
God bless
Susie
Thanks for your very kind and thoughtful reply. The latest is that the consultant at the Rapid Chest Pain Clinic has rejected the A and E referral and told me to go to my GP for another referral of a different type. I asked for information on this, but the receptionist said she didn’t have any further information. I managed to get a GP referral for 1600 and should get more information then.
Hmm, sounds like they're blaming something else. I would insist on further screening. I was ignored for 10 years being told I had Gerd (which I do but the pain is different) and anxiety. I think you just know when something is not right. Hopenyou get on well with your GP appointment. Don't be afraid to demand what you want to happen.
Since my last post I had a phone call from the Rapid Chest Pain Clinic who said that they could not offer an appointment on the grounds that I’d already had an appointment (which was a phone appointment) with a consultant in the last six months. This was a routine appointment. It seems that appointments are rationed. I was told to see my GP who would make a referral of a different but unspecified type!
Could the pain in your mid chest be 'Gers?' My daughter suffered from this and was given medication for it, she also had bundle branch block and was recently fitted with a pacemaker/diffibulator last week but she is having difficulty accepting this, I think it has made her mental health/depression worse.. She is only 46yrs old and before the procedure was told this was what she needed to have done, but now she is questioning if she felt pressured into having the surgery without the much needed information regarding the procedure, affect, ect.I hope you are able to get this sorted good luck best wishes
Uniquely-yours
It’s possible, but I think it’s unlikely. It would be a good outcome if it was!
Good luck I wish you all the best
Samazeuilh2 I have had reflux disease (or GORD for us in the UK) for many years for which I take PPIs also for years. When I get an occasional relapse the discomfort (usually in my back occasionally in my chest) comes and goes, which is indicative of when and how I eat and what I eat. I never have continuous discomfort and so tend to agree with your comment that it is unlikely to be reflux related, particularly as in my case I never get reflux linked discomfort travelling down my left side which is what you have reported, although I accept we are all different..
I’ve had reflux in the past and this feels different. It was mentioned, but I think angina is the way it’s looking.
Similar pain scenario with periodic numbness, tingling in left shoulder radiating down the arm to the fingers has been occurring in my case. My GP sent me for X-rays which showed disc protrusions at C6, C7 in my neck. Physiotherapy helped but I know I need more of that. Check with your GP to see if the scan can be arranged for you.
Not a ‘full blown heart attack’
Some good news
more bad news
The anxiety is real!
Extra beats and fluttering 
