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Is The Suspense Killing Me?
My doctor calls it “a flare up”. I call it a nightmare. I’ve spent the last two weeks wondering whether or not I should go to the emergency room.
I’ve learned to deal with the usual symptoms; pressure in the chest, extreme fatigue and the stomachache. That’s everyday stuff – the stuff I wake up to. It’s when the unusual symptoms begin that I get a little nervous; things like intense dizzy spells and shoulder pain.
So I wait. I figure if it doesn’t go away in a day or two, I’ll call my doctor. Two days pass and I still feel ‘schmoopy’ (my husbands loving description of what I look like on the outside when my heart gives me grief). Here is where my head was this week: “Is this it? Am I finally having a heart attack? Will I spend the evening in the ER? Maybe they’ll have to do a 12 lead EKG…did I shave my legs today?”
The symptoms remain the same, however, because of the overwhelming worry, I wonder what’s worse - having heart disease or the fear of dying from heart disease.
A Never Ending Cycle
It’s a unique situation to be in, one in which it’s best to keep things in perspective. Those of us in this position know when the symptoms are manageable and when something just isn’t right. While the management of a chronic illness carries enough stress in and of itself, it’s not as bad as the panic caused by the relapses.
Don’t Panic
Apparently this heart disease isn’t going away so perhaps what I need to do now is focus on getting the emotional aspect of it in check. The unknown is a scary thing. However, worrying about it won’t change it, right? Instead, I’ll focus on the things I can control; like medication and eating habits and exercise. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d better go shave my legs.
I’ve learned to deal with the usual symptoms; pressure in the chest, extreme fatigue and the stomachache. That’s everyday stuff – the stuff I wake up to. It’s when the unusual symptoms begin that I get a little nervous; things like intense dizzy spells and shoulder pain.
So I wait. I figure if it doesn’t go away in a day or two, I’ll call my doctor. Two days pass and I still feel ‘schmoopy’ (my husbands loving description of what I look like on the outside when my heart gives me grief). Here is where my head was this week: “Is this it? Am I finally having a heart attack? Will I spend the evening in the ER? Maybe they’ll have to do a 12 lead EKG…did I shave my legs today?”
The symptoms remain the same, however, because of the overwhelming worry, I wonder what’s worse - having heart disease or the fear of dying from heart disease.
A Never Ending Cycle
It’s a unique situation to be in, one in which it’s best to keep things in perspective. Those of us in this position know when the symptoms are manageable and when something just isn’t right. While the management of a chronic illness carries enough stress in and of itself, it’s not as bad as the panic caused by the relapses.
Don’t Panic
Apparently this heart disease isn’t going away so perhaps what I need to do now is focus on getting the emotional aspect of it in check. The unknown is a scary thing. However, worrying about it won’t change it, right? Instead, I’ll focus on the things I can control; like medication and eating habits and exercise. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d better go shave my legs.
Joan, you mentioned Ranexa and Imdur. I've taken Imdur for years, and when I started taking Ranexa, the angina tailed off to very occasional hits.
From Joan'sHeart...yup...this is what it's like. Have nitro handy and don't be fearful of using it. I'm just coming off a couple of bad days. I need to go to 'my quiet place'. I take 2.5 mg of xanax, be still and see if I need the nitro spray. Are you taking a low dose elavil at bedtime? This helps calms the brain's reaction to pain.
You are the only one that can manage this beast and learn when it's time to go to an ER. And that opens up another bag of tests etc when you know that the results will not show much. And their treatment will be nitro, either in ambulance or ER.
My protocol for this variant angina is as stated above but once I am at spray 2, my phone is ready to dial 911 if after 5 minutes on second spray I have no relief BUT I'd still take spray number 3 or more until paramedics arrive, get a line going and help with other drugs! If the microvessels are irritated enough and spasming, it can back up and affect your open clear coronaries...not a real good idea.This is the inside the heart muscle circulation and blood has to be returned to the heart. This variant angina is insiduous; you can feel it coming on sometimes, or times it is quick and sharp; it plateaus somewhat, then can pinch, burn, ache and gets worst with exertion...and then the SOB and pain distribution to shoulder, back, jaw, axilla, arm. You'll also feel the tight chest and stomach. When angina occurs with a heart attack it is more like a sudden, quick onset which gradually builds up, radiating ( sometimes) to jaw, arm and back. Talk to your doctor about finding what the difference is for you; this is very helpful in your decision process. Nitro is also like a test for it.
It has been a continuous for me like this for years. I described it to my Emory doctor as being like the stock exchange; I'm up two days, down 3 days, up 4 days, etc.etc. My last functional heart MRI showed no wall abnormalities and it still amazes me that with the frequency of irritable, ischemic, spasming vessels that I do not have heart damage but that's because there are miles of those microvessels and no one knows the amount of involvement. Panic doesn't help as the heart responses to this as another cardiac demand and stresses it further.Sometimes I cannot explain what brings it on while there other times when I can. Enjoy the times you are not affected; and use drugs for those times you are. Are you on long acting vasodilator like Ranexa or Imdur? Some MVD patients do well with this medication. Understanding Perfectly.Joan.
You are the only one that can manage this beast and learn when it's time to go to an ER. And that opens up another bag of tests etc when you know that the results will not show much. And their treatment will be nitro, either in ambulance or ER.
My protocol for this variant angina is as stated above but once I am at spray 2, my phone is ready to dial 911 if after 5 minutes on second spray I have no relief BUT I'd still take spray number 3 or more until paramedics arrive, get a line going and help with other drugs! If the microvessels are irritated enough and spasming, it can back up and affect your open clear coronaries...not a real good idea.This is the inside the heart muscle circulation and blood has to be returned to the heart. This variant angina is insiduous; you can feel it coming on sometimes, or times it is quick and sharp; it plateaus somewhat, then can pinch, burn, ache and gets worst with exertion...and then the SOB and pain distribution to shoulder, back, jaw, axilla, arm. You'll also feel the tight chest and stomach. When angina occurs with a heart attack it is more like a sudden, quick onset which gradually builds up, radiating ( sometimes) to jaw, arm and back. Talk to your doctor about finding what the difference is for you; this is very helpful in your decision process. Nitro is also like a test for it.
It has been a continuous for me like this for years. I described it to my Emory doctor as being like the stock exchange; I'm up two days, down 3 days, up 4 days, etc.etc. My last functional heart MRI showed no wall abnormalities and it still amazes me that with the frequency of irritable, ischemic, spasming vessels that I do not have heart damage but that's because there are miles of those microvessels and no one knows the amount of involvement. Panic doesn't help as the heart responses to this as another cardiac demand and stresses it further.Sometimes I cannot explain what brings it on while there other times when I can. Enjoy the times you are not affected; and use drugs for those times you are. Are you on long acting vasodilator like Ranexa or Imdur? Some MVD patients do well with this medication. Understanding Perfectly.Joan.
I think all of us who have experienced heart disease have had these feelings of worry, Rebecca.
Instead of a passive approach, you might take a very proactive approach. I don't know your background, of course, but I'm betting you have had lots of doctor visits, tests, etc that shed some light on your problems. Do you have Nitro pills or spray close by? Assuming you do, I'd certainly use them with chest pressure. If the pressure returns after using it, it's time to go to the ER, simple as that. Have you had an MI before? If so, use that experience to determine your level of discomfort/danger.
You can use the chest pressure to your advantage. I've got eight stents, a pacemaker and have four MI's, and for awhile I used angina as an exercise controller. When exercising and I felt it growing, I'd back off, in an effort to grow collateral arteries. Angina is a warning. Work on diet, certainly exercise, challenge your disease.
Instead of a passive approach, you might take a very proactive approach. I don't know your background, of course, but I'm betting you have had lots of doctor visits, tests, etc that shed some light on your problems. Do you have Nitro pills or spray close by? Assuming you do, I'd certainly use them with chest pressure. If the pressure returns after using it, it's time to go to the ER, simple as that. Have you had an MI before? If so, use that experience to determine your level of discomfort/danger.
You can use the chest pressure to your advantage. I've got eight stents, a pacemaker and have four MI's, and for awhile I used angina as an exercise controller. When exercising and I felt it growing, I'd back off, in an effort to grow collateral arteries. Angina is a warning. Work on diet, certainly exercise, challenge your disease.
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