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I have been having intermittent burning sensations in my right breast but they go away with taking a nitroglycerin. I would like to hear from women who have had this and do you treat it with nitro or what do you do.
How has all of this affected your life?
Thanks
Heart disease Acid reflux Aspirin Imdur Diltiazem Verapamil Plavix Angina Pain Heart attack Stent Stress
Hello Beader and welcome!
It might help us if you told us a bit more about you - have you been diagnosed with heart disease, what procedures if any have you undergone, and for how long?
The fact that you take nitro sounds like you've been under treatment for angina, which is typically defined as any pain between neck and navel that comes on with exertion and goes away with rest. That's 'stable angina', and many people live long and happy lives with stable angina and their trusty nitro spray/pill/patch. I met a woman at Mayo Clinic last fall who is a mad tennis player and also has a long history of stable angina. Halfway through her tennis games, she stops, gives herself a spray of nitro, waits five minutes and then resumes her game, no problem!
Does your pain come on with exertion? Any other medical history that might help explain this? (acid reflux symptoms will also go away with nitro because nitro's a vasodilator that helps relax all all muscles including heart and digestive tract spasms).
What does your doctor say? You need to rule out what this distressing symptom is NOT before you can find out what it might be. Please don't put up with this - get immediate attention for this to help put your mind at ease, just in case.
XOXOXO
http://www.myheartsisters.org
Back in August I had a heart attack, had an angiogram but not the angioplasty because all my arteries were ALL clear. I am on Plavix but a calcium blocker and baby aspirin and also Simvastin 40 mg. Yesterday I did alot of walking in warm weather and after reading, find that it can happen after exertion. I usually end up taking 2 nitros and it goes away. It is just scary kind of when this happens because I don't want to end up at ER again which I have been twice. I also have the nitro patch but in a pill form if 3 nitros don't work.
Hi, I get the same thing but mostly on my left side. I have been diagnosed with cardiac spasms and I have a blockage that I am going back in tomorrow for another heart cath (last one was 1 month ago). Mine come on at rest and also with exertion. I am currently on Verapamil and aspirin and for the procedure tomorrow I am on Plavix. From what I have read on here, many of the women take nitro fairly regularly. Hopefully someone else will come along and give you some more answers!
Hi Beader,
I too have what is called chronic stable angina, which sounds very similar to yours. I too get the pain in my right breast sometimes or a tightness/heaviness in my chest, usually accompanied by shortness of breathe. This pain is the same pain I had before my stent was placed. My Cardio thinks I have spasms, which we treat with a Calcium Channel Blocker, Beta Blocker, and Imdur (long acting nitrates). This combination seems to control my angina for the most part. Sometimes I have to take a Nitro or 2, and it responds. But, I will say, the occurences of the Angina has decreased since we added the Imdur to my medications.
I would suggest if you continue to have the pain more frequently, that you discuss further with your Cardiologist and to not ignore it. Angina is very treatable and you can live with it, but should never be taken for granted, esp. if it changes in frequency, intensity, or doesn't respond to Nitro.
Keep us posted on your progress!!
Take care!!
Hi Tersa,
Thank you for your respnse. I will look into Imdur.
I have an appt. with my primary doctor who is an internest and will ask him about it. I also see a cardiologist, but being that I have had minor problems he has only seen me on emergency basis and then I have a stress test to be done in August.
Did you or do you, the minute the pain starts, do you immediately pop a nitro, no matter where you are??
Can I be still doing things and take a nitro, or as I have, always made sure I was in a resting position?
Thanks.
My pain can be exertion related or can happen when I am just sitting watching TV. I usually do not pop a Nitro if it goes away in a couple minutes and is not severe, which is frequently the case. But, when it lasts more than a couple minutes I do take a Nitro. I also can be doing things when I take the Nitro, but usually I try to sit a minute and rest once I take it. I have found that over the past year, I have gotten to know my symptoms pretty good, and can recognize if I need Nitro or not. Of course, I always keep in the back of my mind, that if I take 3 and the pain doesn't get better or is severe in nature, I would need to call 911 right away or go to emergency room. It is still kind of scary when I get the pain, but I am learning to deal with it better. I also just had another Nuclear stress test, which was normal, so that has eased my mind some too.
Hope this helps you Beader going forward. Good to hear you are following up with your internist- keep at them until you get the answers you need and feel better. Angina can be controlled, but having another blockage needs to be ruled out first- always!!
Good luck!!
Dear Beader,
Did you have a heart attack from spasms? You said that your arteries were clear. Also, why are you on Plavix? I have angina, but I have a lot of blockages. I was told that my heart is giving me a warning. They told me to take if very seriously. Let me know how you do.
Hi Houston,
I had a real pressure in the middle of my chest but didn't go to ER till many hours later. They did an angiogram because the enzyme count was way high and the EKG showed I had a heart attack. However, because I had taken an aspirin and then they gave me nitros, it obviously dissolved everything by the time they gave me an angiogram which showed no blockage of any arteries. Evidently Plavix is good to keep the arteries open or whatever and then I take Diltiazem HCL which is a combo of a calcium blocker and hydrochorothide water pill. So now I just have the burning sensation every so often which is getting to be a pain--because every little thing I feel, I get a bit panicky.
Mimi
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