Progress - I think ....

[Laurab101]

HiApologies for the long post...

Finally had a meaningful conversation with a GP at my practice (not my usual one but that didn't matter) & got results from CT scans. No blockages & 0 calcium so nothing to be alarmed about on that score. No further action required except to stop beta blockers. So where does that leave me & my persistent angina and cyclical A&E visits?

Firstly a big thank you to everyone who posts on this site. The information given has been invaluable and the links provided. I felt equipped with knowledge and knew what I wanted from the conversation. I know that my heart spasmed in the summer when I had a contrast CT scan but they were looking at my head for a possible stroke at the time & my angina was grim during the hot weather. When I had my scans earlier in March my heart rate was jumping around but I didn't feel it spasm when the contrast was run through. Although my heart decided to be camera shy on the day, as I have moved through the tests/eliminations I have felt more & more that this issue is vasospastic. The final piece of the puzzle was the recent posting on the International Heart Spasms Alliance Facebook page describing the feeling as though your 'heart is being squeezed like a stress ball'. I wanted to cry with the relief that someone knew exactly how it felt & put it so perfectly.

Armed with my knowledge and understanding of my 'condition' & possible treatment options, I had a useful discussion about trying calcium channel blockers (one of the AF varieties), coming off the beta blockers, keeping my blood pressure monitored (I have good blood pressure normally) and a review in the near future. No one has yet said 'it's vasospastic' I am just happy not to be told it's all in my imagination, anxiety related or 'just one of those things'.

A big thank you to this great upbeat community and for time and effort taken to respond to posts. It really makes a difference.

[Smitty1956]

Hi,

First, that is great news that you have no blockages and no calcium! That must have made you feel very 😃. Have the doctors suggested that you might need a statin just for good maintenance reasons? I was just wondering.

You mentioned that you had had a good conversation regarding trying a new calcium channel blocker drug. Has your doctor prescribed that yet, and does s/he feel that this might be a good option for you?

I am so happy for you that you feel that you may be getting to a point of understanding what is going on with you. It can be so frustrating when people tell us that what we are really feeling must just be anxiety or worry. We know that our symptoms are not “normal,” and that something is definitely amiss.

I hope that you soon get this sorted and are headed toward a better quality of life Take care and please let us know how you are doing

[Laurab101 in reply to Smitty1956]

Hi Smitty1956. Yes I am taking statins since high cholesterol diagnosis in July last year. This is now well under control having had a recent test.

I am collecting a prescription this week and due to start this new medication by next weekend as I will be off the beta blockers by then. I am hopeful that this course of treatment will ease the symptoms and whilst doing so point the way forward for any future treatments.

Onwards and upwards!!