Variant / MicroSpasms

[Smileyian]

Every day home exercise, 3 dog walks per day, Cardiac Rehab once per week, deep breathing exercises every day..... NO CHEST PAIN for 8 weeks. On day of 6 monthly 6 minute heart Walk Test at gym ...... pain after 4 minutes for 25 seconds. Gym exercises much more energetic .... so why ? Is it psychological because it is a test ??? So totally disappointed and frustrated...... Milkfairy may have a view ?

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

It is just the way it is I am afraid.Vasospastic angina can be very unpredictable.

Sometimes I get an episode of angina out of nowhere.

I am left thinking ' where did that come from?'

These episodes I find the most difficult to manage especially if they happen at 4am!

[Smileyian in reply to Milkfairy]

Tks for your valuable view. Yes 4am must be the last time one would want an attack. I hope your incidents continue to decrease. Have a pain and event free Christmas 🤗

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Smileyian]

Thank you for your best wishes.

Winter is not my best time.

I end up like Diffi2010 in hospital form time to time for a week or more on IV GTN.

Keep up with the exercise it does help.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas.

[Duffi2010 in reply to Milkfairy]

I also have that condition and apart from it waking me up at night, they can occur at any time. I was sitting down sorting out a supermarket home delivery and bang it started!! Must have been the size of the bill Lol 😂

[Smileyian in reply to Duffi2010]

Generally, how long would pain last ? Mine seldom over 30 to 50 seconds.

[Duffi2010 in reply to Smileyian]

Hi. It varies. This morning I could feel it coming on so I took several puffs of GTN and it wore off in five minutes. Sometimes it goes on longer than that. Six weeks ago I had a bad do and ended up in hospital for a week. I was told by the cardiologist to use my spray, wait five minutes, if I am still in spasm, take the spray again and if it doesn’t dampen it down, to phone 999. It’s a horrible feeling isn’t it X

[Smileyian in reply to Duffi2010]

Yes it is horrible as you say. You seem to have a much more serious version than me, hence I sincerely wish you all the very best in finding a solution. A week in hospital is no joke, especially if you come out no deal better. May I wish you all the very best. I have just returned from a 90 minute Cardiac gym workout with absolutely no adverse reaction. It is indeed a strange type of Angina.

[Duffi2010 in reply to Smileyian]

That’s absolutely fantastic, well done you. I really enjoy exercise and have missed the gym. I’m still not back to fitness following my hospital stay, but I am increasing my walking every day.Hope you have a pain-free Christmas. Take care of yourself X

[anke123 in reply to Milkfairy]

I have read alot of your replies, do you ever have these attacks without chest pain? I keep having very tired spells at times when I do nothing at all or when doing some housework. The last time I felt unwell and totally exhausted for half and hour and then normal sort of tiredness for over an hour. Then it suddenly goes away as well. I have had meds changed a few times and a few months ago reduced ramipril as my BP was quit low, it was better for a while and now starting again, it knocks my confidence when it happens but I do try and keep up excercising.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to anke123]

Hello,

I have just returned from walking my very boisterous 6 month old puppy.

I teaching her to walk to lead.....any top tips from labrador owners would be greatly appreciated!

I feel as though I've just done 10 rounds with Anthony Joshua. I am exhausted, light headed and a little niggle of chest pain which means I now need to rest.

Sometimes I also get hit by extreme tiredness as you describe out of the blue too.

Microvascular dysfunction and vasospastic angina are so fickle!

[anke123 in reply to Milkfairy]

I did suggest to the cardiologist last time that I could have microvascular angina, I had read an article about it from a cardiologist in the Netherlands who specialises in treating women and a lot sounded familiar. He said o yes that is what you have, self diagnosis. The letter he send on to my GP only mentioned indigestion.But thanks for that, I keep it in mind for when I need to contact anyone again.

No experience with doggy walks, not been for a walk it is very wet here today, will get the peddle excerciser out later.

[anke123 in reply to Milkfairy]

Ps to the bit I have just put on. Does GTN spray does any good with those tired spells?

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to anke123]

I don't personally use GTN spray.It works then I get worse rebound pain afterwards so I have stopped using it.

[Mallowme in reply to Milkfairy]

This seems to be the worst thing about MVA... it comes out of nowhere and isn’t always triggered by the same thing. As it doesn’t follow a pattern doctors seem to think it’s all in our heads. Grrrr.

Milk fairy... Could I just ask what your rebound pains are.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Mallowme]

My rebound pain is the same as my coronary vasospasms angina pain.

The GTN spray is only short acting it relaxes my blood vessels then it wears off and my coronary arteries go straight back into spasm.

The same happens if there is any break in my IV GTN infusion.

There is growing evidence that nitrates are not as helpful for people with microvascular dysfunction.

IV GTN is the one treatment that will stop my vasospasms in their tracks.

Unfortunately you can't live with a permanent infusion of IV GTN.

[Mallowme in reply to Milkfairy]

Wow that’s tough. The hospital are so positive when the main arteries are clear. They don’t seem to get how debilitating it all can be and scary. Thanks for the info. . Xx

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Mallowme]

I have an Admission plan which guides the staff how to care for me.

Clear arteries doesn't necessarily mean you're in the clear.

About 6% of heart attacks are due to Myocardial infarction non obstructive coronary arteries, MINOCA

I also have a knowledgable supportive Cardiologist who I ask the on call staff to talk to if there are any issues.

[Denva in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi. Did you say you had fibromyalgia? Merry Christmas.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Denva]

No I don't have fibromyalgia.

I know many patients with Microvascular dysfunction do have fibromyalgia, rheumatology and autoimmune disorders as well.

I also have migraine and Raynaud's phenomenon which are both vascular disorders.

Merry Christmas 🎄