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Possibly heart problem am scared

8 replies

worriedmumzof4 · 30/10/2024 14:16

Hi
Not sure why but long time poster and I've name changed.
I don't expect any answers but dc all away and I've stupidly pondered on my health position all day and got myself so stressed. Just wanted to share I think.
I'm 53, long time with high blood pressure since a bad eclampsia with birth of Dd 30 years ago.
Fairly well managed on meds.
Very stressful job and occasionally BP goes up but I manage to get it down after a few days. Great GP
My dad had a triple heart bypass pass in his late 50,s following what's called a silent heart attack.
It turns out I've got high cholesterol at 7.9 so a few risk factors. I've been told it's like familial so all the dc need testing.
Probably need to lose 10 lbs but size 12 so not hugely overweight
Desk job / not enough exercise
Probably drink too much as we have wine most nights with dinner
Busy year juggling many different normal family events/ supporting DD 2 through medical school (financially but she is also working in a bar too to help) and DS through his last year at uni, so couldn't reduce my hours but have made the decision now that I will regardless.
Dd aged 14 has been very very challenging for the last few years and was recently diagnosed with autism so we are getting some support now, but it did really stress me more than anything I can put into words. It's just so hard for her but it's me she feels able to unmask in front of and I think I get 99 % of her disregulation and it's exhausting and sometimes scary. Her siblings are supportive but I don't like to worry them.
Anyway recently on a family holiday I got stupidly anxious.
Never happened before.
It's like I stopped work, and suddenly realised we were in the middle of nowhere, with no access to any medical care and had my entire family and new grand daughter in a hot country with not even a doctor unless we flew two islands away. I had a full blown panic attack and luckily only dh and the hotel staff knew.

I worried ridiculously after that
For example, we are all strong swimmers and I actually thought they might all die scuba diving or get swept away if swimming too far out. My mind was on overdrive trying to keep watch on them all and I imagined something bad happening all the time . In the end I just literally stopped wittering on as I didn't want them to notice or ruin things and stuck to large amounts of wine (not drunk) to try and chill.
One evening I thought I'd perhaps swallowed a small fish bone at dinner and ended up having another panic attack in the night. It felt like I was choking.
I got chest pain but again put that down to anxiety. My best friend is a GP and was very cut and dry .... have a glass of wine and chill your stressed I though I was .
My feet swelled up so much I cried on the way back as i could barely walk and didn't want to dc to notice .
My BP was sky high when I checked it at home ( don't usually but my eyes were puffy as well as my legs.
I rested and walked a bit and called my GP who increased meds.
I went to my usual leisure club A few days later and while swimming I got chest pain again. Not badly but I stopped
Then I got it walking the dog up hill.
This went on for a few months so I mentioned it to GP
I was given GTN for angina and referred to the chest pain clinic
Apparently my GP missed that on my ECG there were 3 T wave inversions
The Cardiology department have put me on a range of meds and booked an urgent heart scan and CT angiogram. I asked what the inversions meant and have done the dreaded Dr google and it suggests I have a heart problem or have had a recent incident (heart attack or heart failure or something)
I am scared now
I've had to cancel my holiday with DD14 this week- can't get insurance
The nurse rang me to say when I do have the angiogram next week she is going to try and push for a review but warned me it could be up to 3 weeks.
So I have to wait a month to find out if I've at some point had a heart attack or got heart disease / failure.
I know I need to get up and motivated and I have been but really struggling to concentrate on anything including work atm.
Earring a cholesterol lowering diet
Walking daily
Taking all the meds
Going the pool and doing yoga / Pilates / Aqua fit etc
Just feel like I could have prevented this by getting off my arse to walk more during the day and after work and generally being healthier .
So sorry for long one
Please I dont expect any replies as I know il feeling sorry for me today and need to get up and put my lippy on !!

OP posts:
Dunk19 · 30/10/2024 15:14

Sorry you're going through this the wait must be awful.

I just wanted to share my DH story in the hope it reassures you a little. He got diagnosed with severe heart failure 5 years ago, after a routine ecg showed he'd had a heart attack (silent), it was a huge shock but with the right medication he is no longer in heart failure and his life hasn't really changed much at all.

Heart care and medication has come on leaps and bounds.

worriedmumzof4 · 30/10/2024 15:22

@Dunk19 gosh thank you back for sharing that's kind.
Good to hear he's so well now. Can I ask how old he was please?

OP posts:
Opaque58 · 30/10/2024 16:11

It’s awful having health problems and then waiting to have tests and then waiting for results, the worry is off the scale. Hope everything goes well for you.

Dunk19 · 30/10/2024 20:38

@worriedmumzof4 he is early 50's.

didntlikethis · 30/10/2024 20:42

Sorry to hear this, having to wait is horrible and it's easy to get into a spiral of anxiety which then causes chest pains and raises your BP. (Ask me how I know! I never thought I'd suffer from panic attacks, but, like you, ended up having them, convincing myself I had cardiac heart disease). I don't - after a load of tests, it turns out I have a benign arrhythmia which gets worse if I'm stressed.

I did manage to speed up the wait by paying for some of the tests privately then seeing the cardiologist privately too. He's the same person I would have seen via the NHS. Is that an option for you? The cardiology department were very helpful in telling me how long the wait was for the different tests

Firstly, you're doing all the right things to help yourself, especially taking steps to manage stress. Are you able to cut down on the wine too?
I also signed up for emails from this nutritionist - she gives excellent advice for women from mid-life on:
https://www.cardiffnutritionist.co.uk/

And, have a good look at the Heart UK website - they also have an email service which you can contact for general advice - that might put your mind at rest. Stay away from Google!

Finally, when you have the diagnosis (and hopefully, the all-clear, or if not, a treatment plan) from cardiology, you may want to find a GP who's trained in peri- and menopause if you can and have a chat. Falling oestrogen levels is a major reason for anxiety and less emotional resilience.

Good luck, the chances are that you will have a very good outcome - be kind to yourself and try not to let your family put too many burdens on you.

Joanne Crovini Cardiff Nutritional Therapist | Home

Cardiff Nutrionist. Cardiff based nutrition, diet advice and corporate wellbeing.

https://www.cardiffnutritionist.co.uk

worriedmumzof4 · 31/10/2024 10:12

@Opaque58 thank you that's really kind.

OP posts:
worriedmumzof4 · 31/10/2024 10:22

@didntlikethis thank you.
I will definitely sign up for the
Nutritionist e mails and I've found the Heart UK but didn't realise they had an e mail support service also so thank you again

Yes I could afford to pay but the tests are next week anyway. It's just the wait for results that then take 2/3 weeks. The nurse said she'd keep an eye out after her leave on the 13th and jolly them along as (not really a first world problem but cancelled one holiday and supposed to be taking DH / DS and DD on a 50th birthday surprise trip of a lifetime in Dec) and can't proceed with paying until I have results as can't get insurance. Prices are going up every day so may have to cancel that too and make other plans in the UK. Not a huge problem in comparison I know but frustrating.
Feel a bit better today.
Dd back from her sisters so got Halloween to keep me busy and DH home tonight which will be nice. Going to cook up something spooktacular!! X

OP posts:
didntlikethis · 31/10/2024 10:36

I was in the same position of not being able to go on a long-awaited holiday. Very much a first-world problem but frustrating too, especially at this time of year when it's good to have something like that to look forward to.

Keeping busy with enjoyable activities is a great idea - but don't overdo it, delegate to people around you and see if you can book/arrange some lovely activities just for you.💐

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