Troponin and non cardiac issues

[Emmaisaworrier]

Hi everyone...its been several months since I posted on here and its been a mentally turbulent few months. Some may remember my story, chest pain, went GP they sent me to a&e had tests, Troponin was only slightly elevated to 42, 43 and 46 but they wanted me to have MRI, ECG and xray normal. I waited 3 a month and a bit for the ECHO and CT scan. I waited until just recently for thr results. So for 5 months basically, with the chest pain I had initially coming and going, i went to GP but wouldn't do anything about until the scan results came back...ffs!!! So they came back and they were negative. No cardiac issues. I think I knew that but having read up on Troponin I know there can be other reasons...the Cardiologist said...well the tests are so sensitive they can pick up a simple infection so if I were you I'd stop worrying and just forget about it...say what!!! No follow up...what about the chest pain...go back to your GP. I've literally spent 5 months on the edge. Haven't been out with friends, didn't go away with my girlfiemds, haven't been the gym. And now I'm struggling with my physical health even more than before. Everything aches, my neck, legs, shoulders, stomach and now I think there is something else going on...its horrible and I can't get myself out of this nightmare. Any thoughts for those of you that had similar trop results with non cardiac issues.... thanks Emma xx

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Has anyone considered microvascular or vasospastic angina?

These are often overlooked and under recognised types of angina.

Women in particular face difficulties, often being told their chest pain is not heart related.

academic.oup.com/eurheartj/...

All my test results were normal too, still had my chest pain, told I couldn't have angina as my coronary arteries were unobstructed. I thought I was going mad.

I knew something wasn't right. I was persistent and found a Cardiologist who could help me.

Following a specialised angiogram, I was diagnosed with vasospastic angina.

I suggest you ask your GP to refer you to a Cardiologist who has some understanding of microvascular and vasospastic angina so you can be offered the appropriate testing.

You know your body best.

[Emmaisaworrier in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you I'll suggest that when I got back. Just feel I've spent so much time in thr GP and waiting for results. It's exhausting.

[Emmaisaworrier in reply to Milkfairy]

Just a quick question I did have a CT Scan with contrast would this not have been picked up on that?

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Emmaisaworrier]

No, a CT angiogram can detect pernament blockages of the coronary arteries.

Microvascular and vasospastic angina are due to the blood vessels of the heart, not working properly, rather than the coronary arteries being pernamently obstructed by plaque, lining the artery walls.

Microvascular angina is thought to be due to the small blood vessels of the heart, not being able to dilate or stay dilated in response to extra demands like exercise.

Vasospastic angina is caused by transient constrictions, vasospasms of the coronary arteries.

A classic symptom of vasospastic angina is chest pain at rest, especially during the night.

Microvascular and vasospastic angina are types of angina / ischaemia without obstructed coronary arteries, ANOCA/ INOCA.

The BHF has this information about microvascular and vasospastic angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Many healthcare professionals have very little knowledge about these types of angina.

fishonabike gives good advice.

Arm yourself with knowledge!

Another good resource is this website created by patients supported by world leading expert Cardiologists.

internationalheartspasmsall...

You can have angina even a heart attack without any permanent blockages of the coronary arteries.

[Emmaisaworrier in reply to Milkfairy]

Ok wow thank you...that's a lot x

[Sambobs17]

hi Emmaisaworrier I’m not surprised you worry, I can relate to your post my history is ectopics but last few weeks had chest pains went to A&E two weeks ago ecg bloods trop test was 6 I’m still not sure if that was normal they said there was nothing to worry about but like you I’m still having chest twinges as I call them, bad night last night with everything and no sleep so many nights no sleep which just adds to everything - would just like some respite - waiting on heart monitor results supposed to have been sent an appointment for an echo as yet no sign of that - the problem is although they say ‘nothing to worry about’ that’s really not the answer for us and particularly if these things are more difficult to diagnose with women at least get us in the sausage machine for more detailed tests hope you get some answers soon I’m not much help here just wanted to let you know I’m with you on this take care 😊

[Emmaisaworrier in reply to Sambobs17]

Thanks Sambobs17 I know. ...they made a big deal over my Trop results and then, don't worry about it. Doesn't quite cut it. Part of me wants to forget about it but the other part of me just wants to know that all is OK. Good luck with your tests hope you don't wait long.

[Sambobs17 in reply to Emmaisaworrier]

Hi Emmaisaworrier just wanted to let you know I rang my surgery this morning 8am I was happy just to secure a tel consultation but given a f2f appointment with the Advanced Nurse Practitioner which was great she was really nice think I was with her for half an hour she made sure I was definitely referred for tests (there had been some problems initially not sure I’ve been referred for A&G)

had one waiting to hear about the other but everything she said sadly it is taking forever to get results, she explained to me the trop test was really good level so that was reassuring especially when you have had chest pains it’s obviously some MSK issue she also said I could look at herbal sleep aids Kalms seem to be the best option for me I checked with pharmacist there was no interactions with my meds anything to get a couple of good night sleeps 😴- hope your ok and things settle for you very soon it’s just too tiring isn’t it x😊

[Emmaisaworrier in reply to Sambobs17]

Hey thats good you got somewhere this morning, the only thing to do these days is to keep on trying and eventually something happens. Thank you and you too feel like I've wasted half a year waiting. X

[Sambobs17 in reply to Emmaisaworrier]

Hi Emma - I’m sure half of problems with most people these days is the waiting and not knowing what is exactly wrong - I had bought some Kalms yesterday but in fact I had slept so much better and had not taken one - conclusion although symptoms are still there it was because I had reassurance from the nurse practitioner yesterday I’m sure that’s made a difference when your trying to sleep but symptoms are keeping you awake! the worry then takes over, please let us know how things are with you and you get sorted very soon 😊x

[fishonabike]

hi Emma...... I am sorry to say that women more often have problems getting heart conditions diagnosed than men, I won't bore you with the details of that but it does mean that we are more often dismissed and robbed off with mutterings about anxiety and reflux than men

but it is now getting better known that we are more likely to be affected by the microvascular issues Milkfairy mentioned than men are

so please arm yourself with information and keep pushing for a diagnosis and some helpful treatment - in the meantime why not look into some breathing techniques to help you cope with the sticky patches

[Emmaisaworrier in reply to fishonabike]

That'd really good advise thank you. Its hard isn't it when all you want is someone to pay attention. I might have to do down the private GP route just to get someone to listen to me. At the moment they are saying it's likely muscular/skeletal but...I don't know. I'm not convinced. I'll take a look at what you guys have said online and go from there

[fishonabike in reply to Emmaisaworrier]

you might also want to develop some self-advocacy skills, they are usefull in all sorts of situations, and can really help with getting yourself heard - this might be a starting point:advocacyfocus.org.uk/wp-con...

[Ladycate]

Hi, I started having problems at the beginning of the year with going light headed and sometimes nearly losing consciousness and then I started to get a pain in my chest. I went to see my GP in May who referred me to cardiology the waiting time is 40 weeks. Meantime it was happening more frequent I went to a&e had ecg and blood tests came back normal, I ended up in a&e again I was told the same and sent home. Meanwhile my daughter who had witnessed my decline made me an appointment to see a cardiologist, to cut a long story short I had all the tests echo, zio monitor for a week, ecg, blood tests all came back showing no problems. It was when I had a angiogram It showed up significant blockages in the left arteries and then I was treated for angina. I was referred to a cardiac surgeon but in the meantime I was admitted to hospital with unstable angina and last week had 4 stents.

[Emmaisaworrier in reply to Ladycate]

Wow...so pleased they managed to find it can't believe they can miss these things. My CT angiogram came back negative, no blockages or anything... x

[Sambobs17 in reply to Ladycate]

hi ladycate the only consultation is you got sorted in the end but what worries me you had to go through all that to get there - I have encountered the ‘anxiety’ tag which does annoy me as I’m sure people on here will relate to, and we have only become like that because of the situation we find ourselves in onwards and upwards for you now take care and a speedy recovery after your surgery 😊

[Displacedheart]

Hi Emma there's no easy way to say this, but you need to put your fighting gear on. It took 5 years for them to find my heart had been displaced into my left hemithorax. High troponin can be caused by the lungs and kidneys and both can impact your heart. What ct scan did you have? On what area. My cardiac displacement is nice guidelines advised only found on standard ct scan. Lung findings are found on low dose ct scans. I would keep pushing - 5 years I had to fight and scream. You know your body. I am going private now. Time and money could be saved with a body scan - immunoglobulin blood tests and pituitary function blood tests. My pain was heart related - my heart is in my hemithorax- I spentv5 years having all the wrong tests.... and no because I made a complaint I'm a victim of cover up culture. Keep pushing but becareful our health system lacks lawful integrity

[Emmaisaworrier in reply to Displacedheart]

Thank you I'll keep badgering...sorry it took you so long. What levels were your troponin? What sort of pain do you have?. X

[Displacedheart in reply to Emmaisaworrier]

My troponin is in normal range, but my bnp is elevated slightly. Tropinin blood testvfor heart attack and bnp for heart failure. My pain is in the back of left rib cage, very rarely at the front. I have 10x4cm protruding out of the back of my ribcage - it's my heart. Have you had a cpet test a cpet test is cheaper can help diagnose cardiac problems that an echoe can miss. A cpet test can tell you if it's cardiac or lungs if it's vascular etc etc.Becareful if u make complaints badger them gently or you'll end up like me and many other victims of cover up culture - a ecg for 2 weeks and a cpet can help direct further investigations - mine was found on a standard ct scan that was actually looking at my lungs.

I hope this helps