Refractory Angina Treatments

[Gibson01]

Well after waiting just over a year , I finally had a face to face appointment with the Pain Management Doctor. After discussing my symptoms he suggested we start with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and if that is not effective an injection in the neck called a 'Stellar Ganglion Block' (I think!).

He also suggested that I teach myself to meditate.

Has any of you had these treatments and found them to be successful?

Before I dive blind into the amazon books section. Does anyone have recommendations on self help books for meditation?

[10gingercats]

I used meditation after a thoughtless cardiologist dealt badly with my heart results diagnosis . i went into a bad depression.While waiting for Cog. behaviour Therapy......6 months....i started meditation via a You Tube Honest Guys meditation which is guided. I was advised that a guided meditation is likely to give better results than working on it by yourself.Quite frankly i was doubtful it would work/have any effect, but after some weeks It helped enormously and the worst of the depression lifted. There is much to choose from on You Tube with regard to meditation so you may have to try out a few .I follow one every evening before bed and sometimes during the day which is aimed at anxiety .It is guided by Rick Clarke who has a very relaxed approach .You may find one that addresses pain .

[Gibson01 in reply to 10gingercats]

Thanks for responding so quickly. I'll look up the Honest Guys video. I think trying the meditation and CBT is the way to go. I don't fancy the neck injection, it has to be repeated and I think is risky.

[Captain_Birdseye]

Another vote for the Honest Guys on YouTube!

There are also apps out there if you prefer - calm, headspace, balance, loona, etc. I think the fitbit app has some as well.

[Gibson01 in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

Thanks Captain, I'll look at those apps

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

I have had a Stellar Ganglion block, which I understood was to modify the ‘fight or flight’ reflex which was thought to have a role in my angina. It was not a pleasant experience and I’m not sure it helped in my case, but I have improved a lot over the last few years, so who knows?

[Gibson01 in reply to Kristin1812]

Thanks Kristin. I don't fancy the injections, and will try the CBT first. I think they have to be repeated regularly to continue to be effective.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Gibson01]

We’ll, I hope I didnt put you off, because it does seems to help some people. But your decision to try CBT first must be sensible, anyway.

I wasn’t offered a repeat SGB.

[Putterguy]

hi Gibson, can’t help with the injection no idea what that is? Anyway I was very sceptical about meditation, my Heart nurse told me of a site she recommends to her patients. When I started it didn’t seem to do anything for me but after a month or so I noticed that my anxiety levels were low. I still meditate now I find it helpful through the day and especially at night. I meditate in bed and next thing I know it’s morning. The site I use is Headspace, there are free tutorials to start you off but I joined the site think it’s £49 per year but definitely recommend it.

[Gibson01 in reply to Putterguy]

Thanks for your encouraging reply. I'll have a look at Headspace

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

I live with Refractory Vasospastic angina.

I found CBT , self hypnosis and Mindfulness Meditation helps me. I also use breathing and relaxation techniques during my severe episodes of angina.

I find Tai Chi and Yoga help reinforce these breathing techniques.

I walk my dog everyday. Millie is a very important part of my pain strategy.

There is a free app Insight Timer which has lots of different approaches.

insighttimer.com/en-gb

CBT and Mindfulness Meditation can help you respond differently emotionally to your pain. My coronary vasospasms can become unstable at times and I end up in hospital at least once a year for treatment with IV GTN and morphine. The staff always remark how calm I appear to be. They now know the quieter and calmer I am, the more pain I am experiencing.

I was offered a Stellate ganglion block ans spinal cord stimulator.

Both don't have large scale research evidence to recommend their use.

Ganglion stellate blocks tend only to work for 3 months and need repeating.

The risks out weighed the benefits for me. I didn't fancy someone sticking a big needle of local anaesthetic in my neck. The procedure could very easily trigger an episode of vasospastic angina for me.

I also found the books by Vidyamala Burch helpful too.

I also use a Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation TENS machine. I used a TENS machine when I was in labour x3 and it helped.

I hope you find a way to live with your refractory angina. I know from my own experience it's not easy.

[fishonabike in reply to Milkfairy]

that's a very comprehensive and helpful reply - thank you for taking the time

[Gibson01 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks Milkfairy, you are a star. I'm encouraged to hear that CBT and meditation have helped you and could work for me . I don't fancy the stellate ganglion block unless its a last resort.

[Qualipop]

CBT can help but only if you get the right person. When I tried it, I ended up teaching her- I've had 30 years of chronic pain. I find pain clinics a waste of time whether for heart or muscular. I just had my GP phone in a panic to say "Do NOT take the tablets the consultant recommended. With the opioids I take they could be very dangerous and could completely depress my breathing. I do a type of meditation more like self hypnosis.

[Gibson01 in reply to Qualipop]

Thanks Qualipop. I must admit that my concern also and it has put me off attending local yoga and meditation classes. The CBT will be provided by the hospital pain management team, so I can only hope that they have the right person.

[Qualipop in reply to Gibson01]

JUst be aware that if you don't get on with the person or you feel they don't know enough, you can ask for someone else. I did.