Fainting after GTN

[HA24]

Hi everyone Have posted before but now 4 weeks post my MI and feeling very dispirited. Last week I thought I was making a tiny bit of progress - walking albeit short distances at a snails pace and even managed a short trip into town. Ever since my MI (STEMI) and stent I've had funny pains/twinges/tightness which haven't responded to GTN ( just gave me a headache and left me feeling light headed). Checked out by hospital and they didn't feel symptoms were related to anything untoward. So yesterday went for a lovely short snail walk but felt tight and uncomfortable when I got home. Thought it sensible to give GTN another go and was sitting down when I used it. Came over very faint and stupidly stood up to go and lie on the sofa and promptly fainted landing on a tiled kitchen floor. Back to A and E and good to hear that ECG and bloods all fine. But now have a nasty sprained ankle, various bruises and feel muzzy headed. Checked out by GP today ( I'm fortunate to have amazing GPs) and she feels I need to take more time to rest and recover. Just wondering what experience others have had of GTN and seeking reassurance that things will improve - just very fed up now☹️

[Silvertail]

I've found GTN to work, mostly. It sometimes gives me a headache for a short while. I learnt the hard way to be careful taking it - that is to sit down. I took two doses a few minutes apart, but continued to stand, leaning on a bench, as it was in a 'gathering' giving instruction on using equipment. I awoke on the floor....... with an ambulance on the way. Soooo embarrassing.

[FakeNews]

I fainted after using GTN spray and was found my by husband slumped over my work desk. I was told to ensure I was sitting down and that I should also eat before using it. The ambulance service also suggested just using one spray instead of two.

In relation to my heart attack and stent, it took me a year before I felt better.

[Class52]

I fainted after two doses of gtn and ended in hospital. Told use only one dose. Basically it appears the spray lowers your blood pressure hence fainting. If I was thinking of using the spray at home I’d check my blood pressure first. Too low and your heart will stop I was out on amlopidine not good now on chemydor

[Jako999]

Hi from a medical point of view but in easy terms I hope this explains it.

You get pain because your pipe work is blocked up, think of your sink if it gets blocked up the water won’t go down properly it’s very slow, that’s like he blood trying to go through your heart.

GTN should be treated with respect it’s quite a powerful drug. Think of it being the sink unblocking chemical, it designed as a dilation drug, basically it makes your pipe work expand.

Think of a garden hose the pressure is high but it also puts it under stress, if it was in your chest it would give you pain. Now think of a fire hose the water will only trickle out of the end but there’s no stress on the pipe.

That’s what Gtn does it turns that garden hose into the fire hose no stress(no pain) but also low pressure, your blood pressure drops you get dizzy or faint. Always sit down and take only one spray at a time, wait and see what happens then repeat if needed. It’s a drug that’s just handed out with little explanation, respect it, it can cause a lot of problems not with your heart but when you fall over and hit something.

GTN can take sometime to come out of your body so after you use it chill for a bit relax and never never just stand up.

I hope this helps.

I don’t have any stents I was HT then straight to a quad bypass but I’m still here 2 years on. I still get twinge’s and pain but that’s just life. Your heart has had a massive problem and your lucky to be here, it’s been repaired but it will never quite be the same. I’m 57 now and my body can’t do what it used to in its 20’s but it was like that even before my problem. The joys of getting older🙏

[BaronFrankenstein]

I had the same experience. The pains faded away after a 3 months. I only get them now if i have a very long day or particular gruelling day at work.

I went back to work after 4 months and to be frank it was too soon but i couldn't afford to be off longer as my pay was cut. I was at work for a couple of months then had to be off again for a couple of months.

You cannot rush your recovery im afraid. Its a major thing when you have stuff done to your heart

Im realising that I pribably wont be completely recovered for a another few months and even then i font think ill be able to hack 12 hour shifts anymore.

Twinges wont reapond to GTN becuase those twinges are probably referred pain signals. GTN isnt a painkiller its a vasodilator so it wont affect them. Apparently the neutons that deal with heart pain are in the same area as tbose for your arm and other areas of the chest.

I still get weird pains that seems to be in my lung area and also in my wrist and hand when im very tired.

[HA24 in reply to BaronFrankenstein]

Thank you for this - it really helps to know others have had similar experiences. Hope your recovery continues.

[LuciaHJ]

yes you do need to give yourself alittle more time for your system to settle down and adapt , take your meds, gtn lowers blood pressure so sit down and rest if you have chest pain, . I had lots of aches and pains, twinges, I eventually got used to the new me. Attended cardiac rehab, which I feel would benefit you. That was ten years ago recent checks my stent still good, I dance, play golf walk the course. I’m 78. An Asthmatic .

So just take things alittle slower ask for Cardiac rehab , good luck ,

[HA24 in reply to LuciaHJ]

Thank you. Slowing down is a massive challenge which I need to work on

[Eric_]

I had a gtn spray to alleviate heavy pain on chest and onto my left arm and neck at times. The gtn spray would alleviate this. I then had a stent. Years later I had to use gtn spray again to relieve similar pain events. I then had to have heart quad bypass surgery. That was 14 years ago. I have had some pain every now and then but they usually are not heart related as the gtn spay doesnt give relief. So for me thats good news as it means my heart is not being starved of oxygen etc. So probably you just need to get used to your body adjusting to exercise or odd cramps or strains. Taking gtn spray is dangerous for causing low blood pressure so you musnt stand up when taking it and wait a good 10 minutes until you feel strong and clear. If the gtn relieves the pain, its likely angina so let your doctor know. If the gtn spray doesnt make the pain ease, its probably something else unrelated but if it keeps happening talk to your doctor. Check with your doctor for all advice of course. Good luck 🙂