ECG Results

[Lawrence78]

Hello. I have been here before regarding a tight chest issue that last year. Ended up having a CT angiogram to check for angina but was given an all clear (at least for regular angina). I do still however get occasional tight chest symptoms, admittedly I suffer from anxiety so that probably doesn't help.

Anyway, what led to my angiogram, apart from the tight chest complaint, was the fact that my ECG's (I had 2) weren't 100% I believe, which did surprise me as I've had many ECG's before and there's never been a problem. I can't remember exactly but I think it was a right branch block. I'm not sure if this was definite or potentially or minor etc...I don't know how they rate these things in terms of seriousness. They don't like to tell you anything.

End of the day after I was cleared for angina I was essentially let go, that was it, they were happy. I did call my doctor after the fact to ask about the results and I did ask about the ECG and I was basically told not to worry about it 🤷‍♂️

So I guess I just wondering, should I not worry about it? This all happened last Aug/Sep (results wise) but I do still think about it. Were the ECG results maybe just a blip? I've never had any ECG issues before. Surely if it indicated something relatively problematic they would have followed that up right? Because if the ECG had been fine at the time then I probably wouldn't have had the angiogram 🤷‍♂️ (all the other tests at the time were fine).

[bluemoon572]

The categories of right ventricular conduction delay, incomplete right bundle branch block & complete right bundle branch block are often considered benign by electrocardiographers if the pattern has been present for years and remained unchanged. However, new onset or progressive change of these patterns on an EKG are felt to be caused by certain cardiac pathologies. Perhaps your GP can reassure you if he/she knows you've had this pattern for years.

[Lawrence78 in reply to bluemoon572]

Well I guess the last 2 ECG's I had showed something new that has not come up before as it led to the CT angiogram. But once that came back all clear no one was interested anymore, including the doctor. Surely they would have done more if whatever they saw on the ECG was concerning no? Even if the angio was all clear 🤔

The other thing is my anxiety and how much that plays into this. After I found out the angio was all clear and I didn't have angina my chest issues did admittedly almost stop entirely, not completely, but almost. But the one thing that does stick in my mind (which probably isn't helping) is the fact the ECG's obviously weren't 100% okay.

[sandandkev]

It's hard when you do suffer from something but nothing shows up,all I can say is I was told- if its anything serious they will see you almost immediately,and if you get anything that you're worried about go to A&E

[Lawrence78 in reply to sandandkev]

I did go to A&E for this issue, had all the tests that led to the angio. Everything okay except for the ECG apparently, but they obviously weren't too bothered because they didn't follow up on that. It's awkward going back for the same thing when you've technically had all the tests already and everything was seemingly okay 😬 And this was only last year.

[sandandkev in reply to Lawrence78]

I went to A&E a couple of times and nothing showed when there,but they were really nice and said if ever worried to go back

[Ope1]

Hi there.I had a similar issue regarding ekg. I had a chess pain so I went to my local a and e and after 12 hrs they did all the test doctor said it was nothing. Following day I had similar symptoms chest pain so I went again at a and e and doctor said I shouldn't be here because nothing was wrong with me, so they did Ekg and they said its fine so they said to go home. I went home after 5hrs later I woke up again with chest pain so I went to different hospital (a amd e) only after careful consideration and reading my Ekg I ve been told that I'm having a heart attack after I had 3 stents put . I don't won't you to worry because this thing happened to you a while back. I don't think you should worry but just keep an eye on it.

My personal advice to you is keep walking as exercise make sure you drink water/ camomile tea.

[Ope1 in reply to Ope1]

Hope this will help you with your concerns

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Ope1]

Did you have a CT Angiogram like Lawrence because this X-ray is conclusive and a superior check? Good that you were persistent as you should have had more investigation and care.

[Ope1 in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Yes I had 3 xrays and they missed 3 of them. But yes I was persistent and if I didn't go.i won't be writing this reply now

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Ope1]

You certainly wouldn’t be here as you say. It just goes to show how you have to protect yourself, and not to take no for an answer and be in control! Well done you. There are too many hospital blunders of late. Let’s hope we get a better nhs with Starmer. His wife is employed by the nhs so he will have first hand knowledge of the deterioration…….hopefully!

[Ope1]

Hope this will help you with your concerns

[Bigscar]

I am 78 now age 30 and very very fit started to get mild angina E.g when circuit training, playing football and strangely walking up a steep hill that felt like an elastic band tightening round my chest.

My Doctor Snyder saved my life because an ecg at rest was normal (was yours at rest or exercise?)he insisted on an exercise one.My hospital had no exercise machines working so I had to run up and down a flight of stairs to bring on the warming feeling of what I felt which turned out to be angina. That ecg was all over the place I nearly blacked out with shock.

BUT THAT EXERCISE ECG FOUND A PROBLEM THAT THE ONE AT REST DIDNT.

Don’t know what other tests you’ve had new technology has moved on since 1976/7 other tests now available at rest might make them competent to tell you your fine.

Now nearly 47 years on since op I am now Guinness World Record Holder as The Longest Surviving Triple Heart Bypass Patient in the World. BUT THE EXERCISE ECG SAVED ME.

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Bigscar]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏. Wonderful xxxx Brilliant GP.

[Lawrence78 in reply to Bigscar]

My ECG was resting, but I know I don't have regular angina, my test came back with no blockages anywhere. I was just more curious about the ECG results and what they possibly meant (the doctors and nurses don't like to tell you anything it seems).

[Cavalierrubie]

l have just had a ct angiogram for chest pain. Fortunately, it was ok. I think if you get the all clear with that you are ok. If there was any serious problems, you would have had a follow up normal angiogram, which is surgical and invasive. The reason that you feel they have dismissed you is probably because a ct angiogram is a far more superior investigation than an ECG and once they saw your results there was nothing to follow up. They would definitely follow you up if something was wrong, so l would rest assured you are ok.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Ah but!

Angina can occur without any permanent blockages of the coronary arteries.

I was admitted to hospital in 2012 with a suspected heart attack. Incorrectly told I couldn't have angina or a heart attack because my coronary arteries are unblocked.

Sometimes the blood vessels of the heart don't work properly.

Either the small vessels fail to dilate or stay dilated in response to exercise, microvascular dysfunction- microvascular angina or the blood vessels go into transient constrictions, coronary vasospasms- vasospastic angina.

My vasospastic angina was confirmed by a specialised angiogram which used chemicals to see how my blood vessels reacted.

I had ST elevations and depressions, lots of chest pain, my coronary arteries when into spasm, not a blockage in sight.

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Milkfairy]

Interesting thanks. I was told an ECG can detect angina. When you say specialised angiogram, do you mean a dye is injected? That’s what l had.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Angina is a symptom of a lack of blood supply to the heart eg chest pain, breathlessness, feeling tightness or a pressure on your chest.You can have ECG changes for other reasons not just a lack of blood supply to your heart, angina.

As well as a dye being injected, a chemical acetylcholine was injected into my coronary arteries during the functional angiogram. Normal functioning coronary arteries should dilate in response to acetylcholine, mine constricted, almost closing.

I had spontaneous and acetylcholine induced coronary vasospasms during my angiogram. That's how my diagnosis of vasospastic angina was confirmed.

[Lawrence78 in reply to Milkfairy]

I sometimes think I might have microvascular or vasospastic angina. Can they do anything much about that? Just medication?

I sometimes get the tightness after exercise for about 10 minutes max, but sometimes I get it randomly doing nothing. But at this point I don't know what's legit and what's possibly anxiety seeing as it almost entirely stopped for around 9 months after I got the all-clear from the angiogram 😫 The ECG result bugs me because I'm not entirely sure what it was that came up 😖

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Lawrence78]

Hello,

Microvascular and vasospastic angina are treated with medication.

Whilst they are both types of angina/ ischaemia non obstructive coronary arteries ANOCA/INOCA the underlying causes are different and the treatment options slightly different.

Eg. beta blockers can help treat microvascular angina however beta blockers can make coronary vasospasms worse.

The common stressors for triggering episodes of angina when you have microvascular or vasospastic angina are the cold, emotional, mental and physical stress.

As well as taking medication, I have to manage my possible triggers. I find Tai Chi and yoga helps me manage my stress.

Maybe keep a log of your symptoms and see if you can spot any possible triggers.

Then discuss these with your GP.

It is now nearly 12 years since my diagnosis.

I have had countless ECGs. The doctors show me the changes and I am usually given copies.

This is important as I do experience changes during my episodes of chest pain. I know what's normal for me.

I have learned ECGs are like beauty, the intrepretation is in the eye of the beholder!

If you have copies of your ECGs it might help to ask your GP to explain the results to you.

[Lawrence78 in reply to Milkfairy]

I think on my ECG it said right branch bundle block with ischemic changes? Does that sound correct? 🤷‍♂️ Or something close to that. Whatever came up it triggered me needing the angiogram, but since that came back all clear there was never any other follow-ups. Hospital just dumped me straight away 😅

I do still get the tightness and honestly it's often just random and varies in how long it lasts. It definitely seems to get worse when I think about it or start worrying. But its only just started again in the last 2/3 months or so really. I got my angio results last Sep and I was fine up to at least this April 🤷‍♂️