micro vascular angina good news! - British Heart Fou...

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micro vascular angina good news!

Bondstreet1 profile image
23 Replies

Hi All, I hope everyone’s doing well!

I was walking on the beach with my wife and suffered a crushing chest pain (worse than the pain I had had with my previous two MI’s) shortness of breath and sweating. I used my GTN spray twice but it had no effect. I was blue lighted to hospital. All test proved negative.

The consultant decided that due to my last angiogram two years ago, where the diseased area in two of my arteries was too difficult to stent and they chose to treat with meds, I would benefit from another angiogram.

I was also told two years that if the meds weren’t successful the only option available would be a bypass operation.

I had the angiogram last week and was told that there was an improvement in my arteries and that the blood flow had significantly increased. They suspect that I had suffered a micro vascular spasm and have upped my dose of Verapamil.

They think that my diet (I’ve been vegetarian for the last 3 years) exercise (I hill walk 5 miles a day) and medication has contributed to a positive result.

I feel fantastic as I was waiting to be told that I needed a bypass.

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Take care

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Bondstreet1
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23 Replies
devonian186 profile image
devonian186

Yes, it must be possible but I suspect the medical establishment is too fixated on meds so not sure how much research there is into reversing clogged arteries. I suspect there may be a point where it can't be reversed but that is supposition.

Silvertail profile image
Silvertail

Wonderful news! I'm so happy for you. I didn't think it was possible to reverse a blockage in an artery.

Sodp profile image
Sodp

Very good news, Bondstreet1 tell us what you been doing differently so we could atleast try to see if it l reverse a blockage.

Bondstreet1 profile image
Bondstreet1 in reply to Sodp

Hi Sodp, I think it will mostly be down to the meds and assisted by my diet and exercise.

fishonabike profile image
fishonabike

i suspect that it's also a case that there is insufficient evidence to indicate that meaningful reversal can be achieved more often.......... because the current research situation does not really support the type of research required

with medical treatment through medication or a specific treatment technique it is easier to prove efficacy with data, and this is funded my the organisations who produce the means of treatment

unfortunately the research showing how changes in behaviour and "lifestyle" can benefit our health don't attract funding from the same sources

if our health systems did not have to rely on short-term box-ticking, target achieving, algorythm-led quick fixes there might be more room for individually targeted support ......... in a perfect world on another planet?🌈🌝

fishonabike profile image
fishonabike

delighted on your behalf that change has helped for you, well done

sorry to hear that this latest episode gave you a bad time, but at least it has identified a possible way forward and showed that the changes you made have born fruit

Bondstreet1 profile image
Bondstreet1 in reply to fishonabike

Thanks fishonbike, I’m really happy that things have started to improve.

richard_jw profile image
richard_jw

Pretty similar to me. I was blue lighted to the cath lab, but they could not stent because of the wideness and irregular shape of the coronary arteries. They tried to clear the clot with anti coagulants and a baloon, and on the second day managed to "mostly" achieve a result.

The right coronary artery was still partially occluded.

So they sent me home with loads of meds, and hoped for the best.

A year later, they did an angiogram and found all arteries clear presumably as a result of the medication .

I saw the cardiologist a couple of days ago, and he said (looking at the initial state of the RCA) that I was pretty lucky to be here. BTW EF went from 43 to 61 in that period.

I suffer slightly from microvascular angina. It's not specifically diagnosed, but if the arteries are clear, MVA seems to be the most likely reason

Bondstreet1 profile image
Bondstreet1 in reply to richard_jw

That’s great news Richard!

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

Great news that the medication and your life style changes have improved the blood flow through your heart's circulation.

Just a caveat, 10 % of heart attacks occur without blocked coronary arteries sometimes due to microvascular or vasospastic angina.

Microvascular and vasospastic angina can be debilitating and difficult to live with treat.

I hope the verapamil helps reduce any further microvascular vasospasms.

Bondstreet1 profile image
Bondstreet1 in reply to Milkfairy

Thanks for your reply Milkfairy

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Bondstreet1

The way you have titled your post seems to give the impression that it's ' good news' to have microvascular angina rather than the more common obstructive coronary artery disease.

Can I ask why you feel this way?

Bondstreet1 profile image
Bondstreet1

I agree Thatwasunexpected, it would be fantastic if everyone could see these improvements.

Bondstreet1 profile image
Bondstreet1

I’m not sure about your tone? The reason for the positive title is that I have clearly had an improvement with my condition. I thought that letting the community know that improvement was possible was a good thing and worth sharing??

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Bondstreet1

I absolutely agree it's great to read your obstructive coronary artery disease has improved. However your title gave the impression that microvascular angina was good news.

Bondstreet1 profile image
Bondstreet1 in reply to Milkfairy

It certainly wasn’t my intention to give the impression that microvascular angina was good news?? Let’s be honest this didn’t come across in my post. Anyway onwards and upwards and I apologise if the title was misleading, but like I say, it certainly was not my intention.

Have a good evening my fellow hearty!!

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Bondstreet1

Thank you, I am sure it wasn't your intention.

Tootsie37 profile image
Tootsie37

That's great news you must be feeling GREAT 👍👍👍💖

Bondstreet1 profile image
Bondstreet1

Thanks Tootsie37, it was fantastic news. I was 100% under the impression that I was going for a CABG after the angiogram.

Batheart profile image
Batheart

That's great news my friend ! So glad to hear this. Gives us with artery blockage and stenting a lot of hope......and inspiration for the right diet and exercise. Once again, well done and am very happy for you !

Bondstreet1 profile image
Bondstreet1 in reply to Batheart

Thanks Batheart, it’s much appreciated! We’re all in this together and without the angiogram I wouldn’t have been any the wiser. There must be more people in our community who will have similar results but haven’t had the opportunity to confirm this through an angiogram.

Tilly62 profile image
Tilly62

Well done that’s great news for you 👍

Bondstreet1 profile image
Bondstreet1 in reply to Tilly62

Thanks Tilly👍

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