Coronary artery spasms

[Milliemoopink]

Hi after many trips back and forth to A &E and stays in hospital and tests they think I have been having coronary artery spasms .Anyone else get this and how do you manage the pain etc

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

I have lived with coronary vasospasms, vasospastic angina since 2012.

I was assumed to have microvascular angina at first, then had an angiogram with acetylcholine which confirmed my diagnosis of vasospastic angina.

How has your vasospastic angina been diagnosed?

The usual treatment is by medication.

Calcium channel blockers, Isosorbide mononitrate nitrate tablets, GTN patches and spray.

The spray is best used when a vasospasm begins. The spray should help stop a vasospasm.

I am also prescribed a statin, clopidogrel and nicorandil.

Certain medications such as beta blockers and adrenaline should be avoided as they can worsen coronary vasospasms.

It may help to keep a log of your symptoms to see if you can identify the triggers of your angina.

Mine are the cold, mental, emotional or physical stress.

I can exercise however I will experience delayed pain later if I have done too much.

Caffeine is another trigger for me so I don't drink coffee anymore.

I pace my activities and I manage my stress by practicing Tai Chi, yoga and mindfulness meditation.

I attended a Pain Management Programme too.

I use a Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation TENS machine and hot water bottles to help manage my symptoms.

I am admitted to hospital to be treated with IV GTN to calm my unruly coronary vasospasms, from time to time.

Microvascular and vasospastic angina are types of ischaemia/ angina with non obstructive coronary arteries INOCA/ANOCA.

Unfortunately these types of angina are still poorly recognised, understood, under researched, under diagnosed and under treated.

Though awareness has increased since I was first diagnosed.

Have you been given a follow-up appointment with a Cardiologist?

It can take sometime to find the best combination of medication that will work best for you as an individual.

The BHF has this information about vasospastic angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

You may find this website helpful.

internationalheartspasmsall...

There are quite a few members of the forum who live with microvascular or vasospastic angina, hopefully will be along to share their experiences with you too.

[Milliemoopink in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi I've been put on Adizem twice a day and just regular painkillers .Still off work due to severe dizziness starting the meds follow up in April just all trial and error won't give Gtn spray as said angina symptoms not angina . So confusing get tight band under rib cage stabbing centre of chest and pulsing feeling in neck and up to jaw .so tired with it .Thanks for replying

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Milliemoopink]

I am sorry you are being given some misinformation.

Coronary artery spasms cause transient constrictions of the coronary arteries, vasospastic angina.

I suggest you ask your GP to refer you to a Cardiologist who has some understanding of vasospastic angina.

It sounds as though you need a review of your medication.

Where in the UK are you based?

There is a trial taking place into diagnosing microvascular and vasospastic angina in about 25 different centres in the UK.

[Milliemoopink in reply to Milkfairy]

I'm in Northamptonshire they said if new medication works then thats what it is ,!

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Milliemoopink]

Sadly this reflects the lack of knowledge of Cardiologists about vasospastic angina 😤

You can ask for a second opinion and ask to be referred to see a specialist. There are some knowledgeable Cardiologists in Oxford.

Perhaps ask the Cardiology team to get in contact with the Principal Investigator of the iCorMicA trial for further advice.

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NC...

[Milliemoopink in reply to Milkfairy]

Thankyou so much for your help and advice I will look into it 😊

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Maybe give the BHF helpline a call on Monday and speak with one of cardiac nurses?bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Milliemoopink in reply to Milkfairy]

Thankyou yes I will .At least get some answers to my questions .thanks again for taking time to reply to me and your help

[Milliemoopink]

Hi I seem to get pain after short walks or sitting bent over table or simple tasks of housework .I've just had medication increased..Will look at seeing cardiologist that specialises more in this area .

What area are you from ?

[Milliemoopink]

I just read your first post about your symptoms and experiences in A&E read to my husband and he said he thought thst was me so similar to what I'm going through I was admitted twice to cardiac ward fir 3 days and few other A&E visits .I'm.currenly not back at work as cant stand for long periods of time .all my tests clear and troponin so saying not heart related but given heart meds .G.P says all my symptoms put to heart but tests I've had so far don't prove it end up just going round in circles.

So looks like going private is the only answer x

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

You are fortunate that Glasgow has one of the world experts and researchers into microvascular and vasospastic angina at the Golden Jubilee Hospital.

I am in London, I have been reviewed by some of the world leading experts.

I now have a fantastic Cardiologist. He's not an expert but he listens and works with me.

There is another great resource of information, The International Heart Spasms Alliance website.

internationalheartspasmsall...

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

I agree, though it takes me an hour on public transport to get to my Cardiologist.

There is thankfully an increasing number of knowledgeable and interested Cardiologists around who are not listed on any websites.

When I was first diagnosed nearly 12 years ago there was probably only a handful of specialists.

[Milliemoopink]

Hi yes I was fine until October last year after a bad flare up of asthma following allergic reaction .Once they stabilised asthma continued with chest pains which have got progressively worse and more debilitating .No fun is it 😕