Pains

[Yodayodz]

hi it’s meme I’m all over the he place I’m getting niggly chest pains my heart attack was at Xmas it’s so so depressing I can’t get myself together I feel like I’m loosing it my ecg always comes back fine as do my bloods when I’ve had to attend a&e as I have been there 3 times I have them a little as I’m sat here it’s driving me crazy any feelings on this

[davebal67]

Thats probably nerve damage from open heart surgery. Mines has just starting to ease off after a full 12 months. My chest scar is still hydrotrophic meaning its still raised, swollen and pink in tbe middle.

My BP is 120/80, it takes time. Having a positive mindset help and so does walking. My average step count for the last 12 months is 12,473.

For nerve damage, sun and swimming has helped reduce the pain.

Unfortunately its a long road and there isnt any short cuts.

I worry about certain things but i dont worry about my heart.

[Yodayodz in reply to davebal67]

mine was just a mild heart attack they don’t even know why I had it but I’m still getting pains I’m just so fed up I’m gonna have another heart attack

[RF260 in reply to Yodayodz]

Hi, I too had a "mild heart attack" in April, confirmed by blood test showing slightly elevated triponine (or something like that..). I had CT scans, echo (ultrasound) , chest x ray and a angiogram looking at arteries and all good (though one artery slightly dodgy but not enough to stent). Like you I worry about every twinge, went to a&e one night shaking like hell but all was fine, some nights I lie awake thinking shall I ring 111 but tell myself not to, I wear a Fitbit and have a home BP monitor and readings are normally all within acceptable ranges. I reckon if you're like me we've been through the physical but have to deal with the mental and finally the other issue that I think is all the meds. I'm on statins, beta blockers, blood thinners, aspirin, stomach acid meds in addition to 2 BP meds that I've happily been on for years. All the new ones have been changed and/or dose adjusted to pick off symptoms one by one but I'm still short of 100%. It's tough but I'm just hoping bad days become better days and ok days become good days. This is a great forum, loads of us fighting the good fight and hopefully you will start to worry less about the pain which in itself will hopefully ease things, good luck

[Yodayodz in reply to RF260]

Thank you so so much for that it has made me feel a little better

[Yodayodz in reply to RF260]

Start rehab for my heart again today and was also told that pains and uncomfortableness is commen after heart attack

[RF260 in reply to Yodayodz]

Good luck, things will get better x

[Cocoadonkey]

hi there

Sorry to hear you are still struggling. The pains could be anxiety related as it is hard to come to terms with having had a heart attack. As previously mentioned a Fitbit is a good idea so you can see your pulse etc are all good. Some even do an ecg which can be reassuring. It may also be worth considering some counselling as it would help you to deal with the anxiety.

My husband had a cardiac arrest out the blue 2 years ago. We nearly lost him but luckily he had just walked in to a& e when it happened and they got him back. He was home the next week but he has struggled with anxiety and ptsd since it happened. To be honest me and our 2 sons have also struggled which is all completely normal.

So maybe get some help to deal with your mental health and you will feel better physically. Good luck

[devonian186]

In your Bio you list a number of things that might affect your health. Have you managed to get to grips with all of them as yet as they fundamentally affect your health?

Niggly chest pains could be due to a number of things from exercising to nerve problems to anxiety.

Has the GP ruled out any heart related problems? It seems so, which makes it more likely to be other problems of which anxiety or general fitness could be high up the list.

[Dyllibobs]

So sorry to read how bad you're feeling. I think most of us that have suffered heart attacks/heart surgery can relate to the worry that you describe. The fact that all your stats are normal is great. It does suggest that maybe the niggles could be due to anxiety? I would see your GP & explain how you are feeling. My 'therapy' is walking as it helps massively if I feel stressed so i always make time to do that daily. Please do get some support & let us know how you get on xx

[Zed1063]

hi

I still get so much pain in the chest and back and I have been to a&e so many times.

I think it is just so scary now my HA was 15 months ago and I still worry everyday. I have found very little support out there and don’t tell my family how I’m feeling as don’t want to worry them

Lately I can feel my heart thumping and pounding and I’m getting hot, then the panic starts!

You are not alone I am sure there is loads of ‘us’ out there

Sending you hugs x

[EdtheDead]

But of a long read but please bare with me. Had MI in Sept 23, week in Hospital and an Angiogram that showed I didn't need stents. Told it was an NSTEMI with preserved LV function. Traponin was only at 100.Felt great for a couple of weeks then chest pain began. Upshot was, I was blue lighted back and told I had developed Pericarditis.

I have now had constant chest pain for 10 months, sometimes it's really disturbing.

Moved house 90 miles away in the middle of all this which hasn't helped.

The real shocker came on the day we moved house. I had finally got to see the head honcho at cardiology in Scarborough. Lovely fella who went as far as to question whether I'd actually had a heart attack in the first place and also cast doubts on my Pericarditis diagnosis. The latter because there had never been a clinical diagnosis of Pericarditis.

You can imagine how this made me feel especially as I now had to be re referred to the Cardio Dept in my new area.

Soldiered on taking my meds, of which I have 6, and coping with severe glare ups the best I could. If I went to A & E every time the pain got bad I'd be up there every week.

Lost count of the number of pleading requests I've made for Echo or MRI to get to the bottom of it.

Finally got to speak to my new cardiologist last week and at last I'm getting listened to.

He also cast doubts on my diagnosis for both MI and Pericarditis and has booked me in for an MRI next week to get to the bottom of this once and for all.

I have Liver Cirrhosis, which I've had for 10 years, along with mild lesions on my Oesophagus and erosive Gastritis which the consultant believes could be the root of my 10 months of pain.

I see light at the end of the tunnel now.

The point of this rather long explanation is to show you are not alone. Cardiology in this country is a mess and you need to shout long and loud to get listened to.

You are not alone in feeling anxious nor are you alone with the constant nagging pain and discomfort.

Hope you get sorted quickly.

[Whitehousee in reply to EdtheDead]

Sorry to hear about your situation I am having problems after a new nonstemi heart attack three weeks ago had my stent cleaned and a clot removed but three weeks on still get some discomfort in my back and so uptight about everything

[Yodayodz in reply to Whitehousee]

Sorry to hear that but I keep getting pains and I haven’t even had what y had hope things settle for u soon but keep getting told by docs and but nurses it’s normal for discomfort and pains for up to a year

[BaronFrankenstein]

If youre still having pains then they should give you a monitor to wear at home to see if that can pick anything up.

[Quesswho]

Hi Edthedead, I feel your being rather harsh saying our Cardiology Departments in this country are a mess. It's over stretched, like everything else, but all the people on this forum have received treatment. Yes we may have to wait, but if we are in trouble with our heart related issues we have a A&E. And it's all free. Thanks to everyone in cardiology I'm still here.

[EdtheDead in reply to Quesswho]

Only personal experience. I've had to shout long and loud to get someone to listen to me. No one should have to suffer pain for so long. Compare Cardio with Gastroenterology. I was referred to Gastro in Huddersfield as soon as we moved. All tests and all investigations carried out within 3 months.

[Quesswho in reply to EdtheDead]

Hi I agree we shouldn't have too.But I just feel we always want to blame. I owe the NHS for saving my life. It's not been perfect but what is. My husband was diagnosed with cancer and you see the pressure they are under when we go for his chemo. They are always happy and so caring. I just want to support them. So let's agree to disagree. Friends??❤

[Jedi14]

How's your sleep, are you getting proper sleep?

[Yodayodz in reply to Jedi14]

Not really some nights yeah some no menopause don’t help

[Jedi14]

Then you need to go back to your GP.

[isobelhannah18]

I didn't really have any pain with my heart attack. It was a heavy, weight, on my chest and a tight feeling. So, for about 9 months after, I had lots of tight chests which I was convinced was another heart attack. I suspect I had a slight tightening because of anxiety and it was a vicious circle-the more I became convinced it was another heart attack the tighter it got. Cardiac rehab ,this forum and CBT on the NHS helped me to relax but really I think it was time passing that was the main thing. You will get less anxious.

[Sanmo]

Hey Yodayodz, I was in very same place as you are now. I had a massive heart attack and I arrested, quick thinking of my wife giving me a few aspirin and the wonderful skills of the doctor and paramedic before getting to hospital saved my life, literally.Emotionally and mentally I was all over the place, I would break down crying, every little pain was another 'heart attack' and imminent death forcing visits to A&E only to be told I was not having another event. I spoke to the nurse on my rehab about it and she referred me to the psychologist, what a revelation that was, brilliant, explained my emotions to me and the journey I was on, I didn't look back, don't get me wrong, I do have the occasional wobble but it lasts minutes now. I'm 15 months on now, still get pains here and there but the anxiety has totally disappeared. It's a long and difficult journey, but it's one that that eases significantly with the passage of time.

[Yodayodz in reply to Sanmo]

Feel like I’m never gonna get there