Possible new diagnosis of microscope angina

[annpavitt250448]

Started with stable angina,in 2022 and had a stent in LAD which was,occluded. Was,fine until summer last year,when started getting pain again this,time more at rest. Had,another angiography in,August which resulted in another stent.,was,ok until a couple of weeks ago when started to get chest pains again at rest. We'd night had bad pains went to bed hoping they would be ok by morning which is,what was,happening but woke up Thursday morning with pain in chest and down left arm also went through to back Spray didn't help so ,called 999. Ended up in A&E at 3.15. Spent at total of 29 hours in rapid assessment triage and A&E before getting transferred to acute medical unit. As per usual e.c.g and blood tests were ok. Saw cardio doc on Friday morning and he has,upped my isosorbide to 90mg and amlodipine to 7.5mg. Seen on discharge letter possible diagnosis of microvascular angina. C.T scan I had to rule out clots and any problems with aorta found something on liver so now got joys of liver ultrasound on Monday and back to assessment unit on the 7th Feb for more blood tests and results. The last liver blood test I had in October showed all normal results.

I feel for the nurses and docs as it was jammed packed and,they were understaffed. Did spend about 4 hours on a trolley in the walkway of rapid assessment unit tucked behind the nurses and docs station. Swapped places with another lady who was,there to start with. A,friends mother-in-law who is,93 and has dementia got taken to another hospital as our local A&E was,full the same day

[Bluecat223]

Oh no how awful for you what hospital was you in as that sounds like most of the hospitals now sadly they are so busy it's really scary I hope you get sorted

[annpavitt250448 in reply to Bluecat223]

It was in chelmsford. The staff were doing their best. The A&E is reached by a ramp as it's on second floor and the paramedics said at one point the ambulances were,queuing up the ramp to get to A&E. We were 4th in the queue and,waited three quarters of an hour. They had a cardiac arrest in A&E whilst I was,in RAT bit so that obviously took priority.. Most of the time was waiting to see medical doc as,I was transferred to them rather than emergency team and waiting for hours in acute medical unit for new pills.really didn't want to go home and have to come back for them. Could have done as,they were the same as,I already take except take 1 1/2 tablets instead of 1. I had loads of them indoors,as I handpicked up new lot last week. Something needs to be done about health service although I dread to think what it would have cost of I had been in U.S.A.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

I really hope you're not going to be joining us in the microvascular and vasospastic angina club.

Essex Cardiothoracic Centre has a Cardiologist who has some knowledge of microvascular and vasospastic angina.

The centre is taking part in the iCorMicA study, a study into diagnosing microvascular angina.

I can message you with the Cardiologist's name, as the forum guidelines ask us not to name individual doctors.

I dread the thought of having to go to hospital at the moment. I have had some very long waits for a bed on the Cardiology ward over the years.

My vasospastic angina tends to become unstable during the winter.

Vasospastic angina tends to cause chestpain at rest especially during the night while microvascular angina tends to lead to breathlessness and chestpain on exertion.

I hope you are able to have the appropriate tests to determine what's causing your symptoms.

[annpavitt250448 in reply to Milkfairy]

Been under Basildon. Main problem was,calcified arteries hence 2 stents. Took part in ORBITA trial in 2022 early 2023. That,chest pain was on exertion couldn't walk 50 yards up the road before stent. This is,definitely different as,it comes,on at rest. Had been suggested if problems persist can get ranolazine to the mix,of drugs. See how I get on with the increased dosage of amlodipine and isosorbite. Certainly have no wish to go back to A&E.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to annpavitt250448]

The usual treatment for vasospastic angina is calcium channel blockers like Amlodipine and isosorbide mononitrate. Ranolazine tends to help better to manage microvascular angina.

Have you got in contact with the ORBITA trial team?

[annpavitt250448]

No as I finished the study a year ago. I want to see what's going n with the liver first. Hopefully nothing sinister as I have no symptoms. Had a similar situation when I had c.t. Cardio angiography at first. Picked up nodule on lung. Subsequent c.t. Scan it had shrunk.. I personally think it might have been from when I had pneumonia and plurisy as had partially collapsed lung. Gong to see how things go with increased drugs.

[Sugarplum81]

Hi. This sounds exactly like my journey in October 2022. Like milkfairy said it needs a specialist cardiologist to do the tests to confirm vasospastic angina/ coronary artery spasms. I'm on Isorbide but only on 40mg daily but still find that makes me feel lightheaded but still get spasms especially in early morning before getting up. I'm also on verapamil and ivabradine. They discovered i had an ASD also at my time of angina diagnosis in Oct 2022 and I've just had it closed ..it was nearly twice as big as they originally expected! So I'm back to alot of chest discomfort while inflammation settles again, then back to managing the vasospastic angina symptoms. It's definitely worse in stormy low pressure weather too.

Keep researching and look after yourself. Hopefully you'll get the tests you need.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Sugarplum81]

My vasospastic angina is also worse when the air pressure drops. I ended up in hospital after storm Cairán with unstable angina.

Did you see the post about the patient survey into microvascular and vasospastic angina?

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post....