Any MNers with angina - could I have it?

[TikkityBoom]

I'm 35 and over the last few months I've been concerned that there might be something going on with my heart. We have a family history of heart problems (dad survived a heart attack at 41, mum has a pacemaker and HBP) and I am overweight and unfit. In the interests of full disclosure I've also been suffering from anxiety which I know can manifest as health anxiety.

Recently I've been trying to get fitter and have started walking. I live in an area of steep hills - good exercise but I've been getting chest pain / tightness when walking uphill, accompanied by bouts of burping. Could this be angina as Dr Google suggests? I'm reluctant to go to my doctor as I think they will just assume it's anxiety related (and I still feel like an idiot after sobbing my way through my last visit, even though he was really nice about it).

I was just wondering if any MNers have experienced these symptoms? I've also had them after eating and occasionally at rest just sitting messing about on the computer etc but as I've started walking it's putting me off a bit

Sorry, just to add I've also been getting palpitations. I do get these sometimes but they've been more frequent recently.

Hi I would definitely go to your GP asap. no self respecting GP will ignore it given your symptoms and family history. 3 years ago age 45 I had a heart attack, I had no risk factors, now I have palpitations too. I'm fine. You can be too

Thanks for your reply abundance Did you have any of the other symptoms I have? I've had the palpitations for years and I know I have some kind of minor valve / murmur sort of thing so on their own they don't really concern me. It's just with the other stuff.

Annoyingly Dr Google reckons all my symptoms could be explained by:

• Anxiety
• Something with vagus nerve
• GERD
• Angina

and the symptoms are all the same

Hi Tikkity,

As a fellow sufferer with Anxiety, I understand how you feel. I too have had similar symptoms, chest tightening, breathlessness,palpations, light headed ness etc
This burping is horrendous, do you also suffer heart burn? Its likely that it is caused by the anxiety your feeling, but IMO I would approach your doc about it.
Did they do a physical health check on you when you were diagnosed? If not, I would ask them to do it, especially a heart ecg. Don't be fobbed off about it, kick up a fuss if you have too

Hope your feeling better soon

Thank you sleepthief! Do you know, it is just reassuring that someone else has the same symptoms without it being angina! Do you get the burping thing randomly? Have you noticed any pattern to it? I would go and get a private heart check but all the tests they do you seem to have to be 40 to get them!

Had another attack this evening Was having an intense (but not stressful) conversation with DH and felt it come on - chest tightness, pain, then burping. My face went bright red, I started sweating heavily.

I am too scared to go to the doctor. I know it's stupid but I am so afraid they will just give me the look and tell me it's a panic attack. I've had panic attacks before and they last for a while. These little episodes only last 2-5 minutes, horrible at the time. I sometimes then get anxiety as a response to them but they aren't the cause. Main triggers seem to be stress and walking uphill.

Sorry haven't been back - please go to GP. If it's heart you need to sort it urgently if it's panic attacks he/she can help you too as it's clearly impacting on your life

I'm so fed up, have been looking stuff online and it seems it could also be GERD. I talk myself in and out of it.

Ideally I would like to go and get a CT scan (the one that checks for calcium deposits in the arteries) but can't find anywhere you can get them unless you're 40 or over. Cold comfort if something bad happens before then

Sorry hun, just logged on.

Are you on any medication for your anxiety? You do need to ring your GP asap, even if it is just anxiety, your put your mind at ease, which in turn should help ease some of your symptoms.

Belching, it's horrid. There are some days where I wake up like it and its continuous dp finds it hilarious when out in public I just wanna crawl up into a ball I've found that Gaviscon did help somewhat, have you tried this?
Had a major panic attack this afternoon, first time that it felt like my throat was closing up along with other shitty symptoms.

Do you find that talking about it helps?

Also you should pressure your GP to do routine tests on you, are you in the UK?

Reading back, do you find it stressful that you want to get fitter, and being proactive about it? Or do you feel that your not doing enough, or losing less weight each week than you originally thought? Sorry thinking out loud here

Ideally I would like to go and get a CT scan (the one that checks for calcium deposits

This is a no-brainer OP.
Far better to waste 10 mins of your dr's time than have a heart attack. You need to go and see who will wire you up to a portable heart monitor that you will wear for 24 hours at home.

Just go and stop faffing about.

Thanks for the replies I saw GP. I have reflux meds and a spray in case it is angina. Will be sent for a treadmill test.

Glad you went and saw them and have some tests lined up.