Ribs aching

[Oldgimmer66]

Hi

Can anyone offer me any reassurance please? I had a heart stress test 6 weeks ago. The consultant hasn’t contacted me but he wrote to my surgery asking them to adjust my Isosorbide level. Using the FOI act I obtained a copy of the letter. It says that there is a ‘subtle inducable ischemia in the base and walls of the left ventricle’.

Well it may look subtle to you mate, but it doesn’t feel it! My entire chest & rib cage aches constantly, especially when reclining. I have no energy, I can’t walk more than a few hundred yards without feeling breathless, lightheaded, nauseous & needing a rest.

My follow up is a phone call in January, and I just don’t feel as though I can go on like this. I feel as though I’m just waiting for the attack that will kill me.

Is it normal to be treated like this, and should I be badgering them for more?

[Tos92]

I’m sorry to hear about what you’re going through. I had a heart attack abroad and continued to chase the cardiologists here in the U.K. at my local hospital when I got back. I was seen 9 months after being persistent with them as my symptoms were getting worse despite being a heart attack patient. I had a CMR with perfusion which showed suboptimal blood supply. Although it was a small percentage, it still doesn’t feel very nice. I think they forget that even a little bit of ischemia can cause a lot of pain as we all respond differently.

January is very close. Many people wait months, and sometimes upto a year to get an appointment. If the change in medication isn’t helping, then you should contact your GP or cardiologist again if you continue to be in a lot of pain.

Have other causes such as costochondritis been ruled out?

In the case of severe chest pain, please call 999.

All the best.

Tos

[Happyrosie]

in our area the consultant always sends a copy of the letter to the patient as well.

Other than an emergency, it takes several weeks to get a GP appointment here. So January doesn’t seem too bad.

[devonian186]

Obviously your medic is the best source but thought this article might have some relevance to you as not all chest pains are heart related

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

[Oldgimmer66 in reply to devonian186]

Thanks. Having read that I can now rule that out.