Hi all, I’m a 34 year old male, with relatively healthy lifestyle. Don’t drink alcohol or smoke.
I have been experiencing chest pain and discomfort over the last 18 months that comes in episodes. Some very mild flutters with a dull ache and over times it’s full on severe pain that radiates through to my back, neck and left arm. The pain is always on the left side of my chest. Which I also get shortness of breath, dry mouth then after I feel absolutely shattered.
I first went to my GP 18 months ago about this as I was feeling very fatigued at the time aswell. I was sent for multiple blood tests and also had ECG’s which all came back normal. I then went onto having a chest x-Ray. Again all coming back normal. After persistently going back and forth to my GP they finally referred me to a cardiologist. I then had an ultrasound on my heart and also a CT scan of the heart which both came back normal. But I’m still experiencing the pain almost daily.
When I saw the cardiologist through the NHS he advised me to get a Kardia machine. (At home ECG reader) I started to use the machine at home whilst I was experiencing the pain which came back with some abnormal readings. So I took myself to the same cardiologist privately that said I have some eptopic beats showing on the ECG’s. He prescribed my beta blockers and advised to take these when I felt the pain, however I’ve found these haven’t worked for me. He did mention that the eptopics shouldn’t cause me pain or discomfort. But I’m still experiencing episodes of pain!
After a couple of severe episodes and visits to A&E, where again bloods and ECG’s have come back normal I decided to take myself back to the GP to explore other options. I’ve since had a endoscopy to check the oesophagus & Stomach to rule out any digestive or indigestion problems. Again coming back normal. I’ve then had another chest x-Ray to compare it to my previous one to see if there were any changes which again, you guessed it come back normal! I feel at a complete loss as where to go now as the chest pains are still effecting me daily but I have no answers.
Has anyone experienced this before? And if so have you had a diagnosis?
many thanks
Written by
Carpenter12
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The routine heart tests are designed to detect obstructed coronary artery disease rather than, angina/ ischaemia non obstructive coronary arteries, ANOCA/INOCA microvascular and vasospastic angina.
I live with vasospastic angina which is caused by transient constrictions of my coronary arteries, causing a lack of blood supply to my heart.
My coronary arteries are unobstructed.
It can be very difficult to catch a coronary vasospasm in action so often missed on an ECG.
I do occasionally have dynamic ECG changes, caught by the nursing staff doing consecutive ECGs during an episode of chest pain.
My vasospastic angina was confirmed by a specialised angiogram.
I suggest you keep a log of your symptoms and ask to be referred to a Cardiologist who has some understanding of microvascular and vasospastic angina.
The BHF has this information about microvascular and vasospastic angina.
I concur with the milk fairy above. This could easily be vasospastic angina. Not sure if there are tests to confirm this. It may be a process of eliminating all other possibilities. Good luck.
There is a test for vasospastic angina. My vasospastic angina was confirmed by a functional angiogram using acetylcholine in 2014.
In normal functioning coronary arteries, when acetylcholine is injected into a coronary artery the artery should dilate.
If the coronary artery, constricts, there are certain ECG changes, accompanied by chest pain, this confirms coronary vasospasms.
During my functional angiogram, I had spontaneous and acetylcholine induced coronary vasospasms, ST elevations and depressions and lots of chestpain. I was given morphine.
I am prescribed a calcium channel blocker, nicorandil, Isosorbide mononitrate nitrate, nitrate patches, clopidogrel and rosuvastatin.
My Cardiologist added a small dose of Ivabradine to lower my heart rate.
Beta blockers can make coronary vasospasms worse.
This is me though, unfortunately I don't respond well to medication and still have chest pain everyday. My Cardiologist says my vasospastic angina is unusually severe.
At the moment because of the recent cold weather, I am being woken at night with chest pain. My episodes of chest pain are more frequent and prolonged.
During the summer, I was able to climb up some of the higher fells in the Lake District.
My main triggers are the cold, mental, emotional and physical stress.
I have over the years learned to manage my episodes of angina.
It helps knowing why I have my chestpain.
I walk 3 or 4 miles everyday with my dog.
I manage my stress by practicing mindfulness meditation, yoga and Tai Chi.
I also use breathing and relaxation techniques. I know by keeping as calm as possible, this helps reduce the intensity of my pain.
I found this free app helpful. It has lots of stratergies to help manage anxiety, stress, lack of sleep etc.
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