My coronary spasms have become more intense and more frequent despite 7 stents plus additional and stronger medicines. I'm at the point where the spasms have become so intense, painful and debilitating that they are restricting my activities and interfering with my well-being. I am being referred to a pain management clinic. Meditation hasn't helped
I have posted before and I am wondering is there anybody else suffering as I am and how they are being treated.
Thanks for reading.
Hello Rathbone1941
Snap, I am in same boat at the moment.
My vasospastic angina is unstable at the moment too and I am having alot of spasms at night which is very typical for vasospastic angina.
I am very tired.
I am maxed out on all the usual medications to treat my vasospasms.
I am in close contact with my Cardiologist as I usually end up in hospital for IV GTN when this happens.
I attended a Pain Management Programme which helped me adopt strategies to help me to manage living with our challenging Refractory angina.
It's no fun I know. Vasospasms feel to me like being in labour except you don't get a baby at the end.
I saw a Clinical psychologist who helped me to learn to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT. I still have pain but the way I respond to my pain has changed.
When I am in a rough patch, I use a TENS machine
nhs.uk/conditions/transcuta...
Hot water bottles
Rest
Keep warm- snow is on the way this weekend
Avoid stress
Pace what I do. I take one day at a time.
Remember this storm will pass. As the weather improves my pain levels will reduce again.
I use breathing and relaxation techniques.
Yoga and Tai Chi
Listen to music.
Cardiologists are not pain specialists and hopefully the Pain Specialist will be able to help advise you about various physical and mental stratergies to help you live with your pain.
I hope the wait isn't too long for you.
I also use 2 apps
Insight timer
and Curable which is specifically for managing pain.
Hello Milk fairySorry you are feeling bad at the moment. I'm not so good too since the colder weather been having more pain and having to rest a lot very frustrating ! My cardiologist is tweaking my meds but it's a long process and over the phone via my GP because of COVID. He has suggested another angiogram to confirm diagnosis If I don't improve.
I am grateful to you for your advice and knowledge which I have found helpful and reassuring.
Keep positive summers on the way.
Thank you Sunshinebrew, I am sorry to hear we're all in this together at the moment 😕
Just writing your name reminds me summer will be back🌞
I am in close contact with my Cardiologist so I have his support.
My family are great too. However like you I am getting fed up of having to lie on the sofa so much.
We all need a group hug and some cocoa. Snow is on it's way even in London 😱🥶
Take care and keep warm
🤗
You take care too 🤗
Dear Milkfairy,Thank you for your lovely, speedy and in depth reply to my post. I'm already doing most of the things you suggested, but there are a couple of ideas that I shall explore.
Like you I am on maximum doses of medicines and have been in hospital several times, in my case, with suspected heart attack, given morphine for the pain and harnessed up to IV GTN machine. My symptoms started in 2015 after a RTA when I was admitted to hospital with AF due to the shock of the accident. Since then I have had very painful bouts of coronary spasms, too many angiograms and angioplasties. This bout has been daily since September 2020. I keep fit with lots of exercise early morning which does not provoke any pain, my diet is healthy and I have a very positive outlook on life....even during this pandemic! When I get my spasms they are intense, (7-9 on the pain intensity scale), usually last for up to an hour slowly releasing their grip. I take my GTN spray and sit quietly reading for the duration. When the pain eventually goes I am left like a rag doll and useless for the rest of the day. I feel demoralised and as though I have been punched in the chest. Paracetamol doesn't help. All this is OK in lockdown because I'm not going anywhere, but normally, I would be socialising with family or friends, catching a train to London to see my daughter, driving to the Midlands to see another daughter. Just the thoughts of those activities now terrify me. Do we become shadows of our former selves?
If all of this is exacerbated by the cold.... anyone for Tenerife for the winter season?
I've read all the other posts and I wish you all pain free days.
Oh to dream of the warmth of summer!
A week of cold weather and snow too😱
My episodes of chest pain can last up to an hour too.
I recogise that feeling of being a rag doll and the exhaustion.
Perhaps say we are just hiding behind the clouds for now and once the sun shines again so shall we.
My daughter is in Newcastle for over a year and I still haven't been able to see visit her there because of the cold and Covid.
Tenerife sounds spot on🤗
Do you live with Microvascular or vasospastic angina?
Have you ever been admitted to coronary care to have your unstable coronary artery spasms treated with IV GTN and morphine?
Do you experience debilitating prolonged episodes of angina at rest frequently throughout the day and night?
If you did I am not sure that you would write
'You don't mention what lifestyle steps you've been taking (eg. diet, exercise, meditation, etc.).'
Hi Milkfairy. Apologies for jumping in on a post.I read your reply with interest as I have similar issues. I haven't been diagnosed with microvascular angina but I do have similar symptoms. Like yourself I have bouts of debilitating pain for no reason, at rest and always on exertion. Are your episodes of pain worse at any particular time of day? Are they more intense with a definable cause ( cold, stress, after eating, etc )?
Take care.
Hello Curryman
I am sorry you are contending with this too as well as living with heart function issues ( I am not a big fan of the phrase heart failure)
Have you discussed your symptoms with your Cardiologist?
Microvascular angina unfortunately is often over looked, poorly understood and under recognised.
I have as my Cardiologist says following a specialised angiogram an objective confirmed diagnosis of Coronary Vasospastic angina.
My small coronary blood and coronary arteries go into temporary vasospasms.
Microvascular angina is more commonly caused by an inability of the small blood vessels to dilate -microvascular dysfunction.
I have the classic triggers and pattern of symptoms of someone with vasospastic angina.
So more episodes in the winter in the cold weather.
Angina at rest in the evenings just after eating and at night.
Rarely will I experience exertional chest pain though I will get more pain at night if I've done too much during the day.
Mental and emotional stress will increase my chest pain too.
I suggest you ask your Cardiologist or GP to refer you to a specialist who has some knowledge about diagnosing and treating patients with microvascular angina.
Where in the UK are you based?
Thank you for your reply. Your story sounds so much like my own, pain at rest: affected by cold weather, after eating, pain at rest, worse in the evening and definitely triggered by stress and upset. I live in North Wales.
Coronary spasms occuring in cycles?.?
Newly Diagnosed - Coronary Artery Spasms
Spasms 
Heart spasms ??
