Angina

Hello again, to update I apparently have a lateral st sagging whatever that is and was told last year a mild mitral valve regurgitation. I am feeling better tonight and had some friends around earlier and have tried to put things into perspective. Thank you all for all the encouraging replies , I don’t know anyone with heart problems so it was nice to read other people’s experiences.

To really understand how much plaque you have in your arteries, you need a CT Agiogram. I have read of several people in a Facebook group that I am a member of say they had a stress test as well as an echocardiogram and both tests came out normal. Some had heart attacks after that. Others went on to have the CT Angiogram and it showed major blockage in their Left Ascending Distal artery. If the blockage is more than 70% they do stents.

I had angina a year ago for the first time after my heart bypass 22 years ago. They put me on isosorbide mononitrate (as well as usual statin, enalapril, aspirin). And I've been fine since. Maybe you should ask for it. They gave me a stress test in the spring but said I didn't need any further treatment. I never need to use the gtn spray.

I've had it for 27 years since I was 60 , Quizzer.

See that Elliebeth? Quizzer for 25 years and me for 27 years. I hope that cheers you up x

I even started going to the gym soon after I was diagnosed. One squirt of the gtn used to keep me going for an hour. I was younger then of course.

You might look at it as a warning signal now, a thing many heart attack victims don't get. You do need more info and reassurance to help you and your husband to relax a bit more.
Best wishes.

I was diagnosed with angina more than 25 years ago, when I was 50.
I’ve been on medication ever since, but very rarely get an attack. Don’t panic, it’s not a disaster.

My husband has had angina for around eight years but is fine because he's had some stents and takes his medication. He was so sick when the GP (at last) diagnosed his problem that he went straight to hospital for three weeks.
Honestly it isn't something you need to panic about, that just makes things worse - though I know that it is very scary when you first find out.

I hope you are feeling better.

To answer your question: I think anyone who lives alone finds it very frightening to have bad bouts or pain, or to run a high temperature, or have dizzy fits, because we know that we have to be able to react in time and phone for help if we need it.

And the thought of perhaps not getting through to the emergency services whilst we are still able to say what is wrong is very, very scary.

Have you a neighbour who is willing to have a key to your place, and whom you trust, obviously, and whom you can ring to if the need arises, before or as well as ringing to the emergency service?

Excellent news.. A Stress Echo will give you the answers. Don't worry about it, it will all be history soon.

Good morning everyone. I actually slept last night, wonder if it’s the statin that’s keeping me awake. Asked the gp for a copy of the discharge they had and I’m to go for dobutamine stress echocardiogram as an out patient but no date as yet. Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions.

No! Do not go to A&E unless your meds are no giving you relief and you have severe chest pain.

OP went to A&E before and there were no beds.

Angina can be managed safely at home with the right support and medication.

GP or local health line (we have one for heart patients) are the best options unless the out-patient's appointment.

Go to A & E next time you feel bad .

Thank you all for replying, I haven’t got any information as to when the out patient’s appointment will be and all I remember him saying is they will use some dye and a stress test. My oh is frightened to leave me alone, so at least I have back up if something did happen. I don’t feel as good today but I haven’t had a decent nights sleep since it happened on Monday. I’m going to have a look on the British heart foundation site and try to stop dwelling on it. X

Sorry to hear this. You need to find out if this is an Outpatient appointment to see a Consultant? or to go in as a day case to check out your Cononary Arteries? That should be the plan.
I worked in a Cardiac Cath Lab as a Cardiac Physiologist (Retire April this year) they should have given you a discharge letter? It should have your treatment plan.

Or.. If you do know the Consultant, you will be under, call their Secretary to ask what the plan is for you. I understand your frustration and worries.
Very Best wishes.

You should have been given info about your condition on discharge, but maybe they no longer do this, which is bad.
I would contact the clinic or at least your GP to see if they can give you some reassurance.
You don't mention family but if you have a family they need to be aware too and give you the support you are needing.
The BHF web-site is very good, as some have suggested,

When is your out patient appt, Elliebeth? I was diagnosed with angina at the beginning of 2016 and had 3 stents inserted in my cardiac arteries within 6 months. I have been fine ever since.... Suggest you phone 111 about your reaction to the spray and seek advice.

Hi Elliebeth. I'm sorry to hear that you've had this scary experience. Medicine is so good these days that, once things have settled down, you should regain some confidence.

My father had a heart attack in the early 1970s and suffered various related problems, including angina, until he died in 1989. No gtn spray then, only tablets. During those years he and my mum travelled with us to Europe several times (they hadn't been abroad before although they'd toured in England). Medication in those days wasn't a patch on the current stuff.

It will take a while for your treatment to be established and for you to get over the shock of being so poorly, but I hope you will be able to regain your equilibrium.

How about looking at the British Heart Foundation website.
You could speak to someone and there maybe support groups for people with your condition.

And maybe get a Telecare service if you don't already have one with a button to press if you need urgent help.

So sorry to read this Elliebeth. I’m sorry that I can’t offer any advice, but didn’t want to read and pass by. Hopefully, there will be someone who able to do so.