Possible Angina - Angina Message Board

willowthewisp · 04-21-2006, 02:29 PM

I have been having some really uncomfortable heart symptoms and my gp feels it is Angina, i am going to have a treadmill test done in the next 2 weeks and in the meantime she has given me some tablets to put under my tongue for when my chest hurts. I know nothing about angina, but the last time i saw my heart consultant ( about 3 yrs ago) he just rused me through and said nothing was wrong and i should not keep worrying. He did ecg, chest xray and echo, all fine. This time my gp has asked for a 24 hr heart monitor, but this does not give time for the chest pain to come on. I want one of the week long heart monitors, does anyone know what they are called. I live in England and dont know where i stand in asking for one, but am pretty certain the consultant will say no.
My symptoms include, terrible chest pressure, chest burning when i am walking or rushing, if i get really worried/frightened i get breathless and chest pressure, also if i eat a meal i get terrible breathlessness. thousands of palpitations in one day, this does not happen every day but will happen in a week, so i want one of those monitors that you have for a whole week,but what are they called???

Jennsie · 04-21-2006, 06:17 PM

They are all called event monitors -- ambulatory event monitors I think -- I had one for 30 days, which sounds like it might be good for you.

Also, it sounds like you might have GERD (acid reflux disease), especially with all of the "burning" and "chest tightness" symptoms you describe, especially if you get symptoms right after meals. GERD can cause really bad chest pain that is often mistaken for heart problems. Definitely discuss that with your doctor. There is a really good acid reflux medication you can get over the counter in two week regimens, Prilosec OTC. I would try that for two weeks and see if you get some relief!! If not, you can also try a prescription medication, Nexium, which is a little stronger and works well for me.

Lenin · 04-22-2006, 06:08 AM

They are called Holter monitors and are really small ECG machines that record the electrical activity in the heart. They aren't particularly useful for angina. I imagine they exist for either daily or weekly monitoring but wearing one for a week would be a chore. The 24-hour version is the only one I've ever heard of however.
There might be a bathing problem with any that are attached for more than a day...they must be kept dry.

How are you making out with the nitrates (under the tongue.)

Make sure you are taking daily aspirin and keep your meals small until you can have your stress test.

willowthewisp · 04-22-2006, 09:45 AM

I have not yet taken any of the nitrate tablets, i went for a walk to my local shops this morning and had no chest pain, but as soon as i started walking i got the feeling of thumps in my heart/palpitations. Is this part of angina or just normal palpitations!!. I forgot to take my gtn tablets with me on my walk to the shops so couldn't take them?? I still wonder if it is definitly Angina as the dr said it has got to be confirmed, and i wonder if i am just worrying and making myself get the symptoms, but the dr did say she felt it was angina, and i know that the chest burning/ache is very real, i just doubt myself sometimes.

PANTHERA25 · 04-23-2006, 08:17 AM

hi there

I don't think it's angina you have, my grandfather is 71 and has had angina since he was in his 40's and has had a triple bypass done and an artificial heart valve put in.

He says the sensation of angina is like someone is grabbing your heart and squeezing it, trying to make it stop. He also says it feels alot like a heart attack but not as bad.

When he gets an angina attack he suffers breathlessness for longer than half an hour, along with that he feels giddy and then needs to sit down and rest and take 2 sprays of his nitrolingual spray (the one in the orange bottle) under his tongue, more if it is really bad!.

I would see your Doctor about your symptoms still as everybody is different, I hope it's not angina, nobody would wish that on anyone!.

I hope you start to feel better soon and I hope it's a passing thing and not anything serious for you.