Cardiologist appt tomorrow

hello everyone, hope you don’t mind me joining you all.

I’m a 43yr old female who for the last 10 years has suffered with left sided chest pain. At the time was brought on by stress. It stated the day I sat down to the doctors to tell my dad he has weeks to live, he was diagnosed with liver cancer. Seeing my dad upset as he was broke me I feel.

My GP put my chest pain down to stress with the whole situation, which seemed agreeable at the time.

Last year I noticed the chest pain was coming on with palpitations, high heart rate, breathlessness and a tight chest. Also I’ve had issues with swallowing for a long time. I feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest at the time and have to bring up my food. But it’s so painful. So I went back to the GP. Referred to the cardiologist and put on beta-blockers (biscopol).

Well 6 months later my cardiologist appt arrived and I’m taken off betablockers and put on nifedipine and sent for a CT scan (November). He’s suggested that I have coronary artery spasms so I also have a GTN spray. Apparently the swallowing issues are linked to my spasms.

The GTN spray gives me instant relief so it’s always on hand.

I have my follow up tomorrow, so trying to think of what to ask.

I am still waking up in the morning breathless and feeling like my chest is tight and sore still. Shoulder blades aching. Again the GTN sorts it out. Any form of jogging, fast walking spikes my heart rate, highest was 180bpm yesterday and I was only 5 mins in. So may mention this too. I’m desperate to loose weight as I feel these meds are helping me gain at the moment!

Not sure why I’m posting but maybe someone has advice on what to ask at my appt from experience. I always feel so intimidated in these appointments and come away with questions 😅

Long post sorry!!

[Happyrosie]

I can tell you what questions you might ask but I can give some hints.

Firstly, look at what you’ve written here and write down the main points, 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on. Then go away and think about something else.

Then come back to your list and add the things that have popped into your mind while you weren’t thinking about it.

Take your list with you AND if you can take someone you trust too. Ask that person to nudge you if you’ve forgotten something, and to take notes of what the doc says - because in the stress of the moment you might forget.

Maybe you should think about not jogging but just walking so that you breathe faster but still able to talk. 180 bpm might be a bit high for you.

[Skiffrower]

Write everything you want to ask about down in a list so you remember. And take a pencil to jot things down . These appts are supposed to be 2 way communication. So you telling them things you are bothered about should help them get a handle on things. You need to understand what's happening so you can do things to help yourself cope.

And on a different topic I am an inveterate worrier, I have found even short attempts at meditation help.

[Dyllibobs]

If you can't take someone with you, ask if it's ok for you to record the meeting so you can listen back to the conversation later on when you're not as nervous. I would definitely take on the brilliant tips from Happyrosie x

[fishonabike]

I agree that making a list and having someone with you are good ideas, but I would also suggest you put your list in order with the most important question for you at the top

Some of the questions you might have are: what does the medication do?

What can I do to help this get better/easier to live with? e.g. what to avoid or do more of

Is there anyone I can contact if I need more information or advice?

Information on Coronary artery spasm is also available from the International Heart Spasm Alliance website and INOCA International

Hopefully Milkfairy , who knows a lot about this, will see your post and offer some suggestions too

[Choccie55]

Hi, so sorry to hear about your Dad. As you are 43 have you considered peri menopause making symptoms worse. It certainly made my heart arrhythmia worse. Maybe talk to your cardiologist about the influence of hormonal changes. I think it’s often overlooked by doctors. Palpitations and anxiety are definitely symptoms of peri menopause.