Chest tightness

[Oldgimmer66]

Hi

I have CAD and Angina. After an unsuccessful spell on Isorbide I have been taking 20mg of Nicorandil every day for two weeks. Initially it seemed I was able to exercise more freely, by which I mean climb my stairs in one hit!

But now whenever I do anything mildly energetic, like walking, I get this unbearable tightness across my chest and my heart pounds. I have to rest every 200 yards or so, but even when I rest my chest remains very tight for up to an hour. It feels like I have a horse sitting on me! My GTN spray provides some relief, but only briefly.

It’s not painful but it’s very unpleasant. Has anyone else experienced this? The NHS website says to call an ambulance.

[Maxbar]

sorry to here that but would think it's worth a trip to A&E. Just to rule things out and get some peace of mind. and understand your reluctance to go to he hospital I would be the same.Hope you can get sorted.👍👍

[Oldgimmer66 in reply to Maxbar]

Thanks. I’m reluctant to do that however. Have been 3 times & it’s the same ritual: Wait 4 hours, ECG, X Rays, £50 taxi ride home. Never again!

[Maxbar in reply to Oldgimmer66]

I fully understand it has been like that for me,is there not a health walk in centre near by.Hope you can get it sorted it must be making you anxious .

[Oldgimmer66]

Sadly not. I live out in the sticks. As you say it does make me rather anxious. I was taken to Hull rather than York last time & the ambulance crew said it would be best as there is a heart unit there. When I asked if I could be taken there the consultant said I’d need a doctors referral. You couldn’t make it up!

[GoldfishPond in reply to Oldgimmer66]

Hi, I was taken into York last December (Angina etc) and had a 48 hrs wait until I even got onto the ward, plus a 2 hour Ambulance wait at the start of the episode, so I fully understand where you are coming from...however if I felt like I had a horse sitting on my chest that would be a sufficient red flag for me to be presenting again. I think most people are reluctant to press the Red button, but sometimes it has to be done. Not sure if this comment will help you or not, but I hope it does.

[Oldgimmer66 in reply to GoldfishPond]

Thanks, and I’m sorry to hear about your experience. 48 hours is unbelievably bad. Weirdly, I’m feeling much better today, and I also got the news later today that I’m finally getting a CT Angiogram in 3 weeks, which has lifted my mood a lot. Hopefully I can start to get to the bottom of what’s wrong with me now and get some semblance of a life back.

[GoldfishPond in reply to Oldgimmer66]

Excellent news, where are you getting it done. York?

[Oldgimmer66 in reply to GoldfishPond]

Yes. York

[GoldfishPond in reply to Oldgimmer66]

Happy New Year. Just to continue this thread, I had both of my Angiograms (Heart and Legs) done in York, one as in inpatient (Heart) and the other as an outpatient. I found both experiences to be ok (nothing bad to report). I too live out in the sticks (towards Riccall) so had the Taxi trip there and back, so I do understand your comments. I hope you felt well over Christmas and the New Year and that it shouldn't be too much longer until you cross the threshold of York Cardiology and get your free pair of slipper socks

[Noodlesalad]

Definitely worth a trip to A&E.