Newly diagnosed with variant/vasospastic angina (coronary artery spasm) and worried about the future

[Cartons]

Hi. Im 46 and had a cardiac arrest at home on 25 Jan 2021 - was in hospital for over 3 weeks but thankfully, I have more or less fully recovered now. About 10 days after that event and after lots of tests, the consultants eventually diagnosed variant/vasospastic angina (coronary artery spasm), having seen it on ECG. They started me on medication (calcium channel blockers, statins, nitrates, aspirin etc.), did 1 stent at the site where most of the spasms were occurring and implanted an s-ICD defib on 16 Feb. So far, I have had no further symptoms. Looking at this site, I see that many people suffer with regular and severe symptoms and I worry that is my future - my question is perhaps a hopelessly optimistic one - does variant angina ever go away or is it possible to get it completely under control and eliminate symptoms?

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello Cartons

Welcome to the forum.

The BHF has this information about vasospastic angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Vasospastic angina effects us all in very different ways.

I have lived with vasospastic angina for 9 years. Mine has been difficult to manage however some people respond very well to the medication and have long periods of few symptoms.

It's great that your vasospastic angina has been recognised and you have been given the appropriate treatment.

The common triggers for the vasospastic angina are the cold, emotional and mental stress.

There are quite a few of us on the forum who live with vasospastic or microvascular angina both types of non obstructive coronary arteries INOCA.

You may also like to look at this research about MINOCA, Myocardial infarction non obstructive coronary arteries.

ahajournals.org/doi/full/10...

A severe coronary artery spasm caused by vasospastic angina can cause a heart attack and lead to heart rhythm problems.

Please remain optimistic as your condition has been recognised and the Calcium channel blockers seem to be so far keep your vasospasms at bay.

[Cartons in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks Milkfairy. Im not sure what is keeping my symptoms away at the moment - whether its the well placed stent or the meds. I had been prescribed beta blockers prior to my correct diagnosis - I read with interest that beta blockers can actually make spasms worse so they may have contributed to my cardiac arrest.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Cartons]

Beta blocker indeed do make coronary vasospasms worse. I spent 5 days in hospital after being prescribed beta blockers. I was prescribed IV GTN to control my vasospasms.

I am sorry to hear you had a cardiac arrest a rare complication of vasospastic angina.

A stent can usually only help with a permanent blockage due to a plaque build up rather than spasms.

You have been through alot and it can feel like walking on a tight rope living with vasospastic angina.

Have you been offered Cardiac Rehab or counselling?

[Cartons in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi. I havent been offered counselling but due to start cardio rehab in June. I had a 40% plaque build-up in my RCA - they said they wouldnt normally do a stent for a moderate blockage like that but they felt a spasm at that site may have caused the cardiac arrest. I had been having odd sensations in my chest (but never any pain) for about 2 months before the cardiac arrest - one of these had led to Atrial Fibrillation just 2 weeks before the cardiac arrest. I feel like my whole world has been turned upside down over the last 3 months. I dont seem to have some of the normal triggers because my mother died suddenly in the last 2 weeks and I didnt have spasms despite the most intense emotional stress.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Cartons]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

We are all different I feel we all have our own individual version of vasospastic angina.

Have you spoken to your GP about how you are feeling? It can be bewildering and very frightening coming to terms with what you have been through.

There are other forum members who have had a cardiac arrest and I suggest you post a question to the forum about this so they can support you further.

[Peajaya]

I can of course only speak from my own experience. I started PMA (Prinzemetal Angina )17 years ago and have learnt to live with it. When I stared the attacks they lasted 30 to 40 minutes, they are now down to mer minutes with the help of a nitrate spray.I carry a stray around with me everywhere I go, including the opera, (when we were allowed to go of course) and also have one beside my bed and one in my bathroom and one in my handbag, as I frequently have very small attacks whiles washing at night. That happens quite a lot but of course, looking on the bright side, I have heard that some people have stopped having the pains altogether so maybe you will be one of the lucky ones. I wish you well.

[Cartons in reply to Peajaya]

Thanks for your reply Peajaya. Yeah I guess I should be thankful for now and not worry about the future.