Having Angina 3 to 4 times a day

[lmacart]

I am a 62 year old woman. I had my first by pass surgery at 39. and a second by pass surgery at 59. I have perifial artery disease and have a leg amputated. I also have had a aorta replacement. I was doing just fine up until 2 weeks ago and I had another mild heart attack.  As soon as the gave me a nitro drip I started to feel much better and I thought it was just a fluke, I came home from thr hospital and started haveing to use nitro 3 or 4 times a day or night.
  As soon as I lay down I fell angina coming on I take a nitro and it goes away. I end up sleeping sitting up for most of the night. I wore a halter monitor for 24 hours and it showed that my blood pressure climed and my heart rate went from 41 to 90.  I am very afraid because my Doctors say there is nothing else to do. My doctor took me off Coreg and put me on Isosorbide.  I am wondering if this could have made a difference in the amount of angina I am having.
Physical excercise such as raking and pulling weeds works for me as long as I pace myself yet resting is very difficult.
I hate to see night come for it is when I have my most episodes  of angina.

[chrisr]

Sorry to be so technical but CABG is simply cardiac artery bypass graft just a big name for bypass surgery. Ask your doc for a sample of Bystolic which he should have since its a new  drug. This way you can try it out to see how it works before buying it. It seems to work like the nitro so it should help you and lower your BP since with such a fragile aorta you have really got to keep down your BP. It lowered my BP and helped with the angina.
I have never heard of scar tissue preventing having an angiogram. I have had one via the hand and about 5-6 via the leg and never that problem. It is essential since if during the procedure they see a blockage they can put in a stent at the same time which could not only stop the angina but possibly save the great trouble of having another bypass. You should probably get a second opinion on this.
Its good that you can keep active even with such conditions. I panic with any chest discomfort or pain and so always scared to exercise or be very active and this has made my condition worse. I am due to start some cardiac rehab soon where you are compelled to exercise but under the supervision of a cardiac nurse.
Keep the faith.
Chris

[lmacart]

Thanks so much for all the info Chrisr  I am going to the Doc on Monday and will ask him about Coreg and also Bystolic.  I sure hope he comes up with something.  I am trying to take it easy until Monday so I have less angina but taking it easy is hard for me. I love to be on the go all the time.  This has really slowed me down.  
   You asked if they did an angiogram and the answer is no.  They have tried getting in both legs as well as both arms and they say that there is too much scar tissue. The last time they tried they worked for such a long time and my groin was spore for a good month and they still didn't get in.  I am not sure what CABG. I figure it is Cardiac Aorta bypass but not sure what the G means.  I also had a Cardiac Aorta replacement from my heart to my thighs.  Called a phem pop I think.
I am not sure what is next but I have no plan of giving up...  I guess we are all looking for a miracle.  There is definitely a few out there so I am going to keep looking for one.,
Good luck with you Chrisr I hope you are lucky enough to get some help and live another 20 years

[chrisr]

I sympathize and am  quite similar to you sincet I have had 2 CABGs, part of my aorta replaced but also a mechanical aortic valve. I still get angina but it is more of a chest discomfort. I do get a racing heart with high BP mostly at night so I am also scared to hit the bed early and often feel that I can sleep better in an upright position.
I was told that once you have had heart attack with ongoing high BP you should always be on a Beta blocker so I have always been on Coreg but it does little for the BP. It does give me nightmares which I think causes the palps and high BP. Are you also diabetic? I am and it makes matters worse although I try to keep it rigidly under control and lucky to have no complications yet.
There is a new BB called bystolic which seems to control BP and angina better but I am just about to try it and don’t know its side effects.
I was also on Isorbide but could not tolerate it even at very low doses. What has worked real well for me is the Nitro patches which come in different strengths so you can try them until you get the optimum patch for your condition. Since they work from the outside they do not give stomach effects which was one of the bad things with Isorbide. The patch also lowers my BP quite well. The only side effect is headache but you can work around this by using the optimum patch dose or with aspirin/Tylenol. Besides Coreg I am also on Diovan HCT for the BP Have you had stress tests or angiogram since these could tell you the reason for the ongoing  angina. I hope I have given you some comfort in knowing that you are not alone with such a condition. Just don’t give up. All the best to you.
Chris R