Very Longstanding Prinzmetal

[Smileyian]

May I be slightly inquisitive and ask if anyone on here has suffered with Prinzmetal for over 20 years. I am learning on the Prinzmetal website that a number of ladies have endured this ailment since their late 20's and are now middle aged. I had not realised you could develop it so young.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

I have had some of my symptoms of vasospastic angina since my 20's. I have pain between my shoulder blades in my upper left back along with my lower left ribs, stomach and kidney area.

Always at night as I tried to get to sleep and when I was working nights.

I was told it was muscular 'crossing rib syndrome ' never dreamt it was my heart until it got worse in my early 50's.

Prinzmetal / variant angina is the term more often used in the US to describe vasospastic angina/ coronary artery spasms.

Here's a nice article giving a good description of vasospastic angina.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK4...

[Smileyian in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks Milkfairy. Goodness, so many years with a wrong diagnosis. However, you have consistently advised how difficult it is for cardiologists to diagnose. I will read your link.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Smileyian]

It is more about Cardiologists' being aware of microvascular and vasospastic angina as causes of myocardial ischaemia and heart attacks when someone's coronary arteries are unobstructed.

When I am in hospital I have asked on call Cardiologists to look at my angiogram with acetylcholine results and they still don't want to accept my diagnosis. At this point I ask them to talk to my Cardiology Prof. Then attitudes are softened and changed.

There is a resistance amongst some Cardiologists accepting that Microvascular dysfunction and vasospastic angina are ' real' heart conditions tied up with an acknowledged bias that negatively effects women.

All the conventional tests are for obstructive coronary heart disease.

The male body is used as the template by medical science.

There are very few studies involving women heart patients as participants.

An astute Cardiologist who listens can suspect Vasospastic angina.

The classic symptoms:

Episodes of severe chest pain lasting 15 minutes or more at rest rarely provoked by exercise.

Relieved by GTN.

Circadian rhythm of chest pain most episodes occur between midnight and 6am.

Clusters of crescending chest pain.

[Smileyian in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you again Milkfairy. Your body as endured much over so many years so I hope there is some possibility you can many years ahead with prolonged relief. You have helped so many folk on here with many anxieties and questions. I now seen to have this very annoying jaw and teeth pain (mild) even at times when I do not appear to be having spasms. I have a big follow up consultation with my Cardiac Prof on 5th March after a month on Amlodopin. I feel sorry that I will be deluging him with many questions but thats what he is there for. Take care.

[Smileyian in reply to Smileyian]

Can't😋 find u on PM facebook - given up.😀