Cardiology follow up

At long last I had my follow up appointment -3 1/2 years after I was told I had had a heart attack. I spent 6 days in hospital having lots of scans and tests but released with no treatment other than pills and no reason given for it ie I didn’t need medical intervention such as stents or operations. Possibly very lucky you say and yes I agree

My whole life changed due to the unknown and worried it could happen again as no idea why it happened it meant I had to stop childminding the very young children I cared for -all under 3yrs old so clearly a big risk should something happen again as they could be left unsupervised with me either collapsed or worse case dead and none knew their full name, address or how to call 999 on my phone let alone speak clear enough I was still caring for those who could so 6 years up but this meant only school holiday time.

Generally I don’t take pills and never had so when they presented me with five different types of pills I was upset. I was told I had pristine coronary arteries so couldn’t understand being put on clopidogrel, aspirin, statins and the stomach protecting pills, I did not have high blood pressure so couldn’t understand those pills either. But I followed their guidance.

After much discussion over time with my own GP we stopped various pills one by one. At the time of my follow up appointment yesterday I was only on 75mg Aspri.n. I had also been given GTN spray but thankfully never needed to use it.

Well having the cardiologist fully revive my case including the angiogram and MRI results my cardiologist said I remain an enigma but apart from a high troponin of 4000 he couldn’t explain it and said we named it a heart attack because of the troponin score but there is no evidence of heart disease, damage. My valves work well with good flow and my coronary arteries are pristine showing no signs of blockages, the MRI suggested no enlarging of heart or damage so they suggested NSTEMI. I have been living with this diagnosis for the last 3 1/2 years.

Well the result of my follow up was I have not had a heart attack and my records are being amended. He is recording a diagnosis of chest pain with good clear coronary arteries. He was doing this he said so I wouldn’t be penalised by insurance when I remain healthy and an anomaly they can’t explain.

This is great news even given it’s maybe 3+ years later. I have now retired and I am looking forward once again to a longer life than yesterday. The sun is shining and life is good. I feel lighter in my step -it just goes to show you never really know what’s around the corner of life

I will be leaving the forum now but I would like to send love and my best wishes to you all. You have all in your own way helped me to get my head around what I thought I had going on. I wish you all the best with your heart journey

THANK YOU xx

[BeKind28-]

Hello

Brilliant news that you never had a heart attack even though a long wait to find out out but you have a perfectly healthy heart

Understand why you will leave the forum none of us really wanted to join but wanted to wish you all the best in your retirement and take care x

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

'He is recording a diagnosis of chest pain with good clear coronary arteries.'

You can have a heart attack or angina without blocked coronary arteries. Which causes no permanent damage to the heart.

Before you go perhaps look up MINOCA, Myocardial Infarction non obstructive coronary arteries?

Many women are falsely reassured when they experience this type of heart attack or angina without obstructed coronary arteries, discharged only to return later to be correctly diagnosed.

Perhaps see this recently published consensus document about women accessing cardiovascular care?

heart.bmj.com/content/early...

[Hidden in reply to Milkfairy]

Yep he also discussed this and other diagnoses and clearly explained why this was not the case to myself snd the two trainee doctors in their final year who were also in attendance but reporting on all this seemed too long to mention on this site without writing an essay.

I feel very well cared for thank you x

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

Glad to hear that you feel well cared for

Good luck.

[Jedi14]

Well done and good luck.

[Alicant]

well done..any change in troponin levels?

[Hidden in reply to Alicant]

Troponin levels reduced within a few hours 3 1/2 years ago

[Hidden in reply to Alicant]

Pleased to say no adverse reactions at all since the episode 3 1/2 years ago.

[Alicant in reply to Hidden]

Good on you wishing you all the best..take care Godbless

[Avagra]

All the very best for the future xx

[princesspeachuk]

Wow that is a very long wait for the follow up. But good news nonetheless.

I am in a similar situation. I had a 'cardiac event' just under a year ago and have not had a follow up which I was lead to believe would be 3 months after the event.

Anyway I had the angiogram no blockage, nothing else showing abnormal apart from slightly raised troponim levels ( 3 days after the event when I went to A&E). I was put on a 6 or 7 different meds in hospital and I have come off most of them with GPs support and will come off the antiplatelet next month as the recommendation was a year.

My question is are you still taking the Aspirin or no? If not when did you stop taking them?

My hospital notes said aspirin for life. Antiplatelet for a year.

[Avagra in reply to princesspeachuk]

Aspirin for life 75mg and I’m also on ramipril and bisoprolol but anti platelets finishe after 12 months

[princesspeachuk in reply to Avagra]

Thank You. All the best.