What to do next?

[Singingforever]

Having such trouble at the moment.

Regular bouts of AF plus chest pain that last for hours - usually over night - sleepless ones!

I am on metoprolol and ranolazine (and edoxaban) - a combination that has reduced the bouts to a few times a week, but is wiping me out - out of breath, weak, tired. Not really surprising as BP very low and pulse often in the 40s. Going for even a short walk brings it all on.

And so does eating - which makes me wonder if my faulty biliary system is part of the pain problem.

Exercise tolerance test only lasted 3 minutes before they stopped me - chest pain and AF - the trace indicates possible ischaemic heart problems. So I know there is something amiss there.

I am supposed to be on the list for an angiogram - I will ring on Monday to see when it might materialise.

I am fed up with feeling like a wet dishrag and having these scary nights of pain and AF, especially as I live alone now. I would love to be able to get on with my life.

[bluemoon572]

If you are transported to the hospital emergency room via ambulance during a nocturnal episode of chest pain,shortness of breath and a tachycardia,I assume you'll be admitted to the cardiac unit and when stabilized you probably will be taken to the cath lab for a cardiac catheterization and an angiogram as I'd expect the attending cardiologists would consider your case an urgent one.

[Eddie64 in reply to bluemoon572]

lol

[Hidden]

Agree with bluemoon572. Definitely have your hospital bag ready, ring 111/ 999 during the night when the pain happens and make sure the ambulance people can get in. No need for you to be suffering this and being in hospital will get the tests done. Living on your own means you don't have another person around who can take the initiative and make the call but just imagine if you were looking at someone else suffering as you are, I am sure you would make the call.

[Rayranson]

I was given a drug called dapagliflozin when I started getting chest pain after just a short walk the drug is meant to be for diabetes but tests have shone it works for heart problems...after 2 days on the tablets my pains went ...it might be worth having a word with your doctor about this drug ...the hospital said its a real game changer ...good luck

[Singingforever in reply to Rayranson]

Thank you to everyone for the helpful replies.

I never know whether to ring or not - I am still walking around, not in a crumpled heap - not sure of the threshold for getting help.

[Rayranson in reply to Singingforever]

Get yourself checked out you don't have to put up with any pain...and don't think your being a nuisance by contacting the hospital or doctor

[World1inmotion]

Definitely ring 111 or 999 when you get chest pain lasting longer than 15 minutes and it doesn't go away. A nurse in a and e told me when I said I wasn't sure when to ring . Better safe than sorry and they will take prolonged chest pain very seriously. Next time it happens just ring.

[World1inmotion]

Definitely ring 111 or 999 when you get chest pain lasting longer than 15 minutes and it doesn't go away. A nurse in a and e told me when I said I wasn't sure when to ring . Better safe than sorry and they will take prolonged chest pain very seriously. Next time it happens just ring.

[Singingforever]

Thanks - that's very helpful.