Hi - I am recently diagnosed with CAS/VA after several years of not getting to the bottom of the chest pressure pain and now taking Diltiazem. (Plus Bisoprolol, Indapimide, Asprin, Losartin and Atovastatin)
I seem to get occurrences of chest pain about every 3 months or so for a week or more and then the issues seem to go away again.
Does anyone else have this intermittent occurences
Thanks
Hello CaliforniaMan
Welcome to the forum.
There are a few of us on the forum living with Vasospastic and or Microvascular angina.
The BHF has this information about Vasospastic angina.
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
There has been alot of research into both MVA and vasospastic angina in recent years.
This is a consensus document from the European Association of Percutaneous Interventional Cardiologists published very recently. Maybe worth sharing with your Cardiologist.
eurointervention.pcronline....
Beta blockers can make vasospasms worse.
How has your Vasospastic angina been diagnosed?
I had a very specialised angiogram when I they put a chemical into my coronary arteries to provoke my vasospasms which it did!
It might be worth keeping a diary to see if there is anything in particular triggering your chest pain episodes.
Common triggers are the cold, emotional and mental stress.
Extreme tiredness
Hi Milkfairy
Thanks for the quick response.
The diagnosis has essentially been based on trial and error from various tests (Duobutamine Stress Echo, multiple CT scans after my stent - which I believe was never necessary in the first place and different medication trials) and a good correlation of the symptoms.
But so far the triggers mentioned do not seem to correlate for me - but a diary should help
I will review the links and see if it sheds any further light on things.
Thanks for the input
Hello
I have the same diagnosis following 3 stents. I get symptoms off and on for up to a week at a time with up to 1 month in between when I feel almost normal. I suspect they are brought on by exerting myself too much when I feel well I find it difficult to get the balance right. Although I do get good days I feel my general fitness and activity level has decreased over the last 3 years. I hadn't had a specialised test but have had numerous angiograms, stress echo and normal echo plus many ECG done. I am currently under a cardiologist and being treated with medication which is still under review, alongside my GP.
I have found this site so very informative and supportive especially the advice and support given by milkfairy.
Many thanks - this is useful information and helps build up a bigger picture. My chest "pressure" doesn't seem to be exertion related - but more when just sitting down or when lying down in bed at night - which all seems a bit counter intuitive.
I was beginning to feel like I was being fobbed off, having been to A&E 3 times with chest pains then ECGs show no issues - and then GP referring to it as "heart spasms" - which when described - seemed a bit like a "catch all" diagnosis when they "couldn't find anything else".
So I am really pleased to have come across this site and realise that I have something identifiable - which for me now has some meaning and hopefully a way forward
My chest pain or rather I would describe it as a heaviness and tightness rather than pain is often felt when I am sat down resting after exertion rather than during the exertion itself which is why I find it so difficult to manage I also get very breathless .
It is a difficult condition and I’ve been told I have MVA and also cardiac spasm at different times so maybe I have both a question I’m going to ask my cardiologist at my next appointment.
Yes this site is very reassuring you realise you’re not on your own and not going mad!!
Take care
Thanks - much appreciate the feedback
Hello
I'm new. Have been told I have prinzmetels angina....... How long did it take you to get right treatment that suited you? And did you get tertiary referral to get it? And have you a consultant you can recommend?
Thinking of you during the pandemic
Best wishes
Page xxx
Hi. In 2016 I had a stent because of pressure on my right coronary artery as it was taking a unusual route through the heart muscle wall ( apparently it’s a 1:1000 thing you are born with) . Unfortunately the chest pain I was suffering that identified the issue never went away. I had stress echo, multiple CT scans, saw two other cardiac consultants as the pain came and went every few months for a week or so. Just when you think new medication is working it comes back again. I am now on 300mg Diltiazem which seems to be working. I am told there is nothing that can be done , so keep taking the medication and paracetamol if it flares up
coronary artery spasm
Coronary artery spasms 
Coronary Artery Spasm - return.
Coronary artery spasm 
