Posted 11/5/2021 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,
My 55 y/o wife just had an angio (after MANY other tests) done, due to ongoing, activity induced angina. She has a 50% blockage in a lower branch of her RCA, and a 50% blockage in a smaller branch of her LCA. No angioplasty or stents since under 70%. Obvious Coronary Artery Disease.
Her Cardiologist put her on Statins, and prescribed a Nitro patch with all the recommendations of diet and exercise, which, of course we are doing.
Very long story short, she has Rheumatoid Arthritis ( a contributing factor to CAD) and POTS. So, naturally finding a medication that relieves her Angina is difficult since her POTS already bottoms out her blood pressure and makes her tachycardic. We tried Isosorbide 1st, but it bottomed her out to the point of almost passing out, so Dr. switched her to the baby dose Nitro patch, which we are trying today.
I am asking for help in these area's:
1- Has anybody else found a good control of angina with something that has less effect on the B.P.?
2- More complicated, is there any other POTS people on here dealing with the same complex issue with advice?
3- Any advice on exercising with Angina? I know she needs to get good exercise and that will help, but I am thinking obviously stop exercising if she has chest pain. Can people weigh in on the parameters they use to stop or continue exercising? IE; shortness of breath (how s.o.b.?) , chest pain?
4. Also, any encouragement on improvement of angina with exercise? Any happy success stories?
5. Lastly, is anybody on Ivabradine for Angina? This drug is the latest thing for POTS, but is also for CAD related angina and heart failure. We have not tried it for POTS, but now seeming like it might be a good fit. Anybody have any PERSONAL experience with this?
Of course we discussed this ALL with her Cardiologist. The Ivabradine question was turfed back to her POTS doctor, as if a Cardiologist cannot figure it out. Frustrating.
Thank you, Jeff