Recently diagnosed with unstable angina

[SarahWITL]

Hi all

I am a 55 year old women with a history of hypertension ,high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.

Two weeks ago I attended A&E for a suspected obstructed bowel but after having the contrast dye during an abdominal CT scan I became unwellfelt faint and had chest pain, heaviness and tightness in my chest and jaw and very high blood pressure 199/300. It was extremely scary and I spent the next couple of hours in rhesus being treated for a heart attack. I was told my ECG was slightly abnormal but inconclusive but the blood tests showed no damage to heart so unlikely heart attack.I was discharged 24 hours later for a referral for angiogram in October .Just 5 days later I was at home sitting down and started to develop the same chest pain becoming very sweaty and light headed an ambulance was called and I went to A&E. Again my blood pressure was very high and ECG inconclusive ;the pain was relieved on having the Nitrolingual spray. I did have an echocardiogram which was told was mostly ok , was discharged with spray to go back later in the week for a Cardio CT scan .I refused the contrast because I was so scared because of my initial reaction to the dye. The view of the radiologist was that it wasn't an allergic reaction and that I was being very reckless refusing the contrast. I am expecting a call from the rapid access chest pain clinic on Tuesday morning and I am wondering what to ask and expect? Over the last week I have been in pain for large portions of the day -at rest as well as when I am moving . I am using the spray 6 times a day on average and although it relieves the pain I still feel pressure and chest tightness. I have lost all my confidence and taken time off work. I feel like I am constantly wondering if I should be calling an ambulance. I feel silly for being anxious about the contrast but it really feels like that is what set off these acute symptoms.I am concerned about the angiogram . I have an in law who tragically died last year whilst having an angiogram with a query allergic reaction so that knowledge together with my experience is constantly playing on my mind yet I also feel very unwell and know that I need to be treated.I would like the opportunity to discuss my concerns and hope I can get that during the telephone consult. I would love to hear from people who are managing to live normal lives with unstable angina as at the moment I feel incredibly anxious. I have been taking my blood pressure since coming out of hospital and it is all over the place sometimes very high ,sometimes low - anyone got any thoughts on that ?

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

Welcome to the forum.

I acknowledge your feelings of bewilderment and anxiety.

Angina, is the symptom a person feels when there is a lack of blood supply to their heart.

This can be caused by a permanent blockage to the coronary arteries or when the blood vessels themselves don't work properly, angina non obstructive coronary arteries ANOCA. Microvascular and vasospastic angina are types of ANOCA.

The symptoms of angina can be:

chestpain

chest tightness

fatigue

dizziness

sweating

feeling sick

shortness of breath.

The BHF website has this information about angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Chestpain at rest is sign of possible unstable angina or vasospastic angina which is a rarer type of angina.

One of the common symptoms of vasospastic angina is chest pain at rest, promptly relieved by GTN spray.

I have had Vasospastic angina for over 10 years.

Emotions, high or low blood pressure or heartrate can trigger angina whatever the cause.

I suggest you keep a log of your symptoms.

Keep your GTN spray to hand, don't be shy about using it.

If you need to use your GTN spray twice, five minutes apart and you still have angina then you need to call 999.

When you speak to the rapid chest pain clinic, tell the staff about your symptoms and why you are feeling anxious about having the contrast dye.

It is possible to be given medication to help prevent the same reaction happening again. It's really important for you to have an angiogram. The staff will do everything they can to help you get through the procedure.

I am sorry you had an unsympathetic response from the Radiologist.

I have to be very careful about any tests or procedures as my coronary vasospasms can be triggered very easily.

However, the staff always take the appropriate measures to ensure that I am safe.

There are certain medications like beta blockers that I can't be given.

Nor can I have medications to increase my heartrate.

I have to manage my stress and anxiety too, as I know these make my chest pain more intense.

I use breathing and relaxation techniques, like the ones I used in labour, to help keep me calm.

This free app has lot techniques and strategies that may help you further.

I find yoga breathing especially alternate nostril breathing or yoga nidra helps.

insighttimer.com/en-gb

Perhaps give the BHF helpline a call and speak with one of the cardiac nurses? They are very knowledgeable.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

I hope you feel more at ease soon.

Do say how you get on.

[devonian186]

The rapid access chest pain clinic will carry out a number of tests and build up a picture of what has happened. It is the best place to go as you will get a good overall picture. It can take much of the day.

My symptoms were nowhere near as severe as yours and we are all different, but after attending the rapid access clinic I was admitted to the Heart ward the same day and 10 days later had a quadruple heart bypass.

As far as asking questions go, I think the process and diagnosis will answer that, unless they tell you nothing is wrong and to go run a marathon, in which case they clearly haven't got to the bottom of things..

Assuming they don't keep you in, hopefully you will report back here and tell us what happened.

[devonian186 in reply to devonian186]

Sorry, I was in a hurry at the time and slightly misread your original message. I think your objective should be to get yourself physically admitted to the clinic so they can actually carry out the battery of tests and either confirm it is heart related or perhaps something to do with the vagus nerve if you originally went in with bowel problems.

As far as questions go, I think your post explains it all.

Why not print it out after highlighting the key points you want to get over (especially heart rate and possibly allergic reaction) and have it in front of you when you speak to someone.

At the bottom of the paper I would add "What happens next as clearly something is wrong?".

As I say, we are all different and your case might be resolved by medication, diet etc rather than surgery but it does need examining thoroughly.

[Happyrosie]

I’m sure this is frightening and scary. And waiting around seems to make it more important and looming over you,

In the meantime there are a few things you can do to help yourself. You’ve had periods of hypertension so maybe you could read up on this on the website of the specialist charity Blood Pressure UK. Here you will find advice on diet and lifestyle - all difficult to take in at the moment I’m sure but there might be something there that will help you cope for the next few days.

The second thing is relaxation. You might said “I can’t relax with this hanging over me” but simple breathing exercises could help calm the mind.

[Boharford]

The radiologist should have referred you for an allergy test with an immunologist with the specific dye they used. Also I think there are other dyes. I have a weird allergy reaction to various things which occasionally puts me in hospital. So dose up with anti histamine. I understand your fearfulness about it! I am with Benenden health so they pay for immunology test if there is a wait of more than 4 weeks. You can pay privately. for a consultation.

[fishonabike]

nothing to offer which others have not already suggested

but I hope you get answers and helpful treatment soon🌺

[Sambobs17]

yes just to say hope you feel better very soon it’s the waiting to find out what’s wrong that is the hard bit on top of feeling rubbish wishing you a speedy recovery even if it’s one day at a time take care😊