hi sorry I’ve not been on for a while .I’ve been unwell and had 2 hospital stays 1 the week before Xmas and the other for 6 days I got home yesterday.During the first one I had an angiogram and the Consultant said it was Microvascular. Both times I’ve had to call 999 as I’ve been out once to collect a parcel from my front door the 2nd to the chest pain clinic.This 2nd time I had an angiogram which was unsuccessful and then a stress angioplasty to which there is hardly any blockage in my LAD but he feels it’s Microvascular.Interestingly he’s referred me for a stress cardiac mri. Have had an awful time both visits with this last one suggesting I couldn’t be in pain from my chest as I am on too many meds.
This has left me rather upset and I’m unsure why I’m being referred when I thought the stress angioplasty was good to diagnose? Thank you for reading just wondering if anyone else had been in this situation and any advice.oh btw I had to email PALS during this stay as a registrar was trying to discharge me against my cardiac consultants knowledge and I overheard 2 nurses discussing me and saying tell her her consultants not available then wait half an hour and tell her again
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Oh my goodness you have had a rough time. I also have microvascular angina. The problem is that it's something that many Dr's don't necessarily understand. They are familiar with angiography and stents but microvascular disease is much more complicated and difficult to treat. The stress test is very useful. Medication is the only clear treatment. It might becworth asking if you could be referred to a consultant who specialises in microvascular disease in your area?
I had a stemi in September, and I still have chest pains, the doctors are thinking it might be microvascular angina, but I have not been diagnosed with that. Did your heart attack leave you with any damage ? I have a slow pump, which I think is some damage. I am due to have a stress echo on Tuesday. I have also been told that I can't start cardiac Rehab until I have been without pain for 2 weeks.
Hi, I can understand how you feel and what you are going through. Back in 2014 I was having chest pains on exercise. I had a CT angiogram which was normal, symptoms continued so I then had an angiogram. It was my GP who felt that I had microvascular disease so my cardiologist tried me on Trimetazidine. This drug made a huge difference to the chest pain. I did really well on this drug for 6 years then slowly I had to have other drugs added, Monomil XL, Nitrate patch and now I am back on a calcium channel blocker. I have been seen in hospital several times. I have been told I have I have MVA. However I have been getting worse over the last few months both with pain on exercise/after and at rest (mostly pressure type pain) I went to see a GP before Christmas and became unwell while I was there, he had to call an ambulance for me. Currently we don't know if this is an "electrical problem" causing this or disease. It is possible the disease has progressed. My EP consultant has been contacted, I have a history of heart rhythm problems. I am waiting for a Nuclear scan (perfusion) there are a few things they they want to look for amongst them they want to check that I don't need any stenting done ( obviously nothing can be done about the microvessels) and also to look for evidence of a possible heart attack that could have happened prior to this getting worse. Something happened, and I didn't seek any help for it! I have to wait on the scan but I am struggling with this.
thanks for all your replies.I’m still upset over how I’ve been spoken to but I could be being sensitive.good idea about asking to be referrred I’ll do that.Cardiac nurse said when doctors are baffled by a patient they sometimes just dismiss their symptoms. I’m also thinking of writing to my consultant and asking what is my diagnosis as I’ve been told so many diff things
I am sorry you have had such an upsetting experience.
Sadly as others have said microvascular and vasospastic angina are poorly understood types of angina/ ischaemia no obstructive coronary arteries ANOCA/INOCA.
It's good to hear that your Cardiologist is considering that microvascular angina is a possible cause of your chest pain.
A cardiac perfusion MRI can in some causes detect microvascular dysfunction, a cause of microvascular angina.
I was admitted over 11 years ago to hospital with a suspected heart attack. I was told incorrectly that I couldn't have angina or a heart attack because my coronary arteries are unblocked.
I was later diagnosed with vasospastic angina after a functional angiogram. My coronary arteries go into transient constrictions.
I am admitted to hospital once or twice a year for treatment with IV GTN to help manage my unruly vasospasms.
I still, even with a confirmed diagnosis run into Cardiologists and nursing staff who have very little understanding of vasospastic angina.
My Cardiologist is very good at setting them straight.
When I have made a complaint about my experience of care to PALS, I included information from the BHF and the latest research about vasospastic angina.
I now have an admission plan in place which guides the staff about how to care for me when I am in hospital. Included in my admission plan is information about vasospastic angina.
My care has improved, however I know how difficult it is to feel nobody is listening or you are not being believed.
Perhaps printout this information about microvascular angina from the BHF and ask the staff to read it before making inappropriate recommendations about your care.
Thank you milk fairy, I’m a bit loath to complain to pals as I fear the doctors will close ranks on me.but I can’t believe the way I’ve been treated and for me to understand what has happened I think I will put my big girl pants on and email PALS.my kids are absolutely fuming they flew up last week when I was in A&E very distressed but I wouldn’t tell them which consultant I had seen.if you don’t mind I’m going to draft something and post it on here.I’m very good at rambling too much but I want to be direct and to the point and would appreciate any help xx
i'm joining the big hug and am glad that you are in touch with Milkfairy
as an ex-nurse i am disgusted at what you said about the overheard conversation - that is professional misconduct and these staff should be warned that this is not appropriate or acceptable - but i can fully understand your reluctance to report your treatment and hope you find a way to deal with this
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