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How many of you are living a normal life with angina?

Posted , 3 users are following.

Homervanderjaz
Homervanderjaz

So my dad has been diagnosed with Angina- he is on different meds but can't even walk far at Present without chest pain. He is currently off work but is self employed and so can't be off forever. He is in a manual job and he is worried he won't ever be able to go back to it as there is a degree of lifting items etc. So my question is will he ever recover enough to be able to return to a manual job or should he just sell up his business? How many of you are recovered to the extent that you are living a life where you can work in manual or other jobs without major issues? Thanks for any input

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • andrew46586
    andrew46586 Homervanderjaz

    Posted

    I presume youe dad has had an angiogram and the location of the blockage(s) has been recorded. That being so he chould have the option of having stents incerted at the site of the narrowing of his coronary arteries. When that is done his exercise tolerance will be much improved  and then, but not until then, he should be in a better position to consider his business.
  • samuels
    samuels Homervanderjaz

    Posted

    Depends on the extent of  atherosclerosis​ in the arterties , what tests has your father had done so far ?  People with Angina and on the right treatment can lead as close to a normal life in the work force, some may have limitations.. I.E Walking great distances, the amount/weight they can lift before inducing the angina, Also another factor to consider is what type of angina has he been diagnosed with as there are several types

     

  • Guest
    Guest Homervanderjaz

    Posted

    Depending on ... The impact on his career​ could be minimal, it's not out of the question at least. It's difficult to say neutral 
  • Homervanderjaz
    Homervanderjaz

    Posted

    Hi folks, thanks for the replies. i have been having a look at the discharge note and it's not easy to read- is there a way to post a picture here? Failing that I can e mail one or all of you if possible?

    He angina comes on when he is walking and not resting so that would suggest stable angina. However his walks are very short when it does come on. They refer to an o/p to be arranged in the letter which I assume means operation so we are waiting on a date coming through for that. He has had ECG, X Ray's but no angiogram as the local hospital doesn't do it so again we are waiting on an appointment to go to another hospital. Is it worth going to a private hospital to get the angiogram done?

    • samuels
      samuels Homervanderjaz

      Posted

      Hi,

      ​Doctors notes are never easy to read smile. o/p could also mean make an outpatient (o/p)appointment with, in this case, we'll assume cariology. One would of thought at least one test that can view the arteries or see how the heart is pumping(stress test) would of been performed. Usually this kind of angina can usually be picked up on an ECG, but further testing is required to make the final diagnosis.

      ​As for going to a private hospital, that's your personal decision, you will , well normally you do, get better treatment and quicker appointments, but I suppose that depends on where you are from, usually the case here in Australia, quicker and better treatment, but in saying that the private health system here has it's hiccups as well, I don't have private insurance and I have heard that by using your private health you get quicker appointments, I'm very lucky in the cardiology department as my old cardiolgist has left the public health system but he has told me that if I need to see him at any stage I can see him anytime in his private rooms in a private hospital, because he only operates his rooms once a week getting an appointment with him is relatively easy 1-2 weeks, but if I mention it's urgent and reception alert him I can get in quicker. The reason he's not my main cardiologist is because he is not far from retiring, well that's what he said 5 years ago but he's still going , he'd be approaching 75 I'm pretty sure.....lol...he referred me to the new head of cardiology when he left so as I wouldn't have to wait up to a year for appointments, he warned me that my new cardiologist will be green behind the ears and will want to perform all the tests again and may even want to go to the extent of cutting me open (exploratory)....boy he wasn't wrong, he hasn't asked to go in for a look yet..lol...he won't be either unless I need stents myself, my blockages are considered babies 50-60 % in the right coroanary .

  • Homervanderjaz
    Homervanderjaz

    Posted

    Hi folks, I have e mailed you all with the discharge letter. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks
    • samuels
      samuels Homervanderjaz

      Posted

      sure is hard to read isn't it...now from what I can read and understand, Patient presented with episode of chest pain, ECG and Trops negative (Trops mean Troponin- a chemical released by the heart when having/ had a heart attack, so negative is good) I'm assuming it is saying ECG again as it mentions ST Depression, Cardiology reviewed and changed nitrate dose , they will arrange O/P (Out Patients)..I can't make out the last word after O/P.

      Hope this has helped you, it's sounding like angina

       

    • Guest
      Guest Homervanderjaz

      Posted

      I think the last word is Angio, so they're going to arrange an Angiogram. Your dad just needs to take things easy until the Angiogram, the medicine Isosorbide Mononitrate is good stuff once you get over the headache (Paracetamol helps).

      There's definitely something detectable so it's just a matter of finding were and how much, sounds like he'll need a Stent or two smile

    • samuels
      samuels Guest

      Posted

      The thing is with nitrates you can become "immune"  that's the best word I could think of at this time smile  or if you'd prefer no longer work efficiently as required especially if you have been on them for a long time. Monodur worked for me but  only lasted a year if that, we've lowered the dose,increased the dose, all worked fine but built up a tolerance. I have also been informed that we can even buid up a tolerance to the calcium channel blockers, I don't think I have built up a tolerance to Cardizem  as the spasms still occur, Cardiologist told me that it won't stop the spasms completely but should help, it does help especially since it was bumped up to 480mg's a day
  • Homervanderjaz
    Homervanderjaz

    Posted

    Hi folks, thanks for the input. Update- dad went to another hospital where they specialise in heart surgery and has had three stents put in. He already had one previously. Seems like a lot of stents- what is the likely recovery time and will he be able to lead an active life? Thanks for any input
    • samuels
      samuels Homervanderjaz

      Posted

      Hi,

      ​times can vary but usually with Cardio Re-Hab should be good to go at around 4-8 weeks at a pace comfortable, in your case your fathers, if nothing else is found he should be able to lead an active life again,maybe not quite as "fast paced" as he may of been a customed to but very close to it.

  • Homervanderjaz
    Homervanderjaz

    Posted

    Thanks for the replies folks. So is this a sign his old meds are no longer as effective? Should he speak to doc about changing meds?
    • samuels
      samuels Homervanderjaz

      Posted

      Hi,

      ​Not neccassarily,best talk to his GP about that one, changing meds.....

      Has your father been using Nitrates for ages ?

    • samuels
      samuels Homervanderjaz

      Posted

      Yeah 5 years then...has he had any angina attacks in that time whilst on any nitrates ?  As Iv'e said , Iv'e been told by physicians and paramedics,  we can build up a tolerance to nitrates but talking to your doctor is a must, I noticed in the discharge notes that his monodur had been increased, that could all be all that is needed alongside his bottle of GTN (Nitro Lingual Spray)
    • Homervanderjaz
      Homervanderjaz samuels

      Posted

      He has been on them for about 5 years. No angina attacks other than the recent ones. I will make another appointment for him with his GP and see what's what
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