Vasospasm attacks ..... again!

[Acompletesurprise]

This is just too tough! Had three vasospasm attacks during the night - two usages of GKN spray and now just feel exhausted. Am so stressed wondering what the treatment/management plan will be for the newly diagnosed brain aneurysm and the stress is the trigger for these attacks which wake me up in the early hours of the morning. Anyone with any ideas out there on how to break the cycle - tried the app Calm. This is too hard!

[Tos92]

I can empathise on the stress management front. My stress management is not good. It is thought that this is what triggered a coronary artery spasm last year which led to me to having a heart attack. Poor stress management still contributes to my spasms today. I find going to bed a couple of hours before can help me relax. I take a hot water bottle with me, a glass of water, and do breathing exercises. I feel my angina in my upper back and down my arms in the night particularly, so the hot water bottle can help relax my muscles. My overthinking/worrying about things is worse at night which is probably why the angina is worse too. I have tried meditation before going to bed and find that can help.

I’m sorry I don’t have any other useful tips to offer. I would be interested to see what others suggest.

All the best.

Tos

[Acompletesurprise in reply to Tos92]

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond - I appreciate it! In the winter months I sleep with the electric blanket on low which minimises feeling of cold in the early hours. I agree with you - stress management is a really tricky exercise - at my son's suggestion I have tried listening to the Calm app before going to sleep - that sometimes helps. But knowing I have a potential ticking time bomb in my head really isn't doing the stress levels any favours at all! And I empathise with overthinking - mine extends to regurgitation of problems/issues from many many years ago which somehow reappear in my head in the early hours!

[Tos92 in reply to Acompletesurprise]

When are you due to see a doctor or a neurologist for the brain aneurysm? This will hopefully help settle the stress you have been feeling around the diagnosis and in turn, reduce the number of vasospasms you are having. For me, I tend to remind myself that if I was in immediate danger after receiving a diagnosis for something, then I expect that my doctor will either admit me or schedule in tests and further investigations as soon as possible which can help reduce the level of worry that I feel.

Have you thought about therapy before? I’ve just recently finished a short course of therapy and although I can’t say my health anxiety is cured, there is opportunity to learn methods and techniques that can help combat some of those feelings you are having and the stress related to your health.

[Acompletesurprise in reply to Tos92]

Thanks for those thoughts. Have chased the neurology department at hospital but they haven't rung back. So now reading too much about aneurysms in the brain and getting more worried.

Finally stopped reading up about things I don't understand and started painting a room much to the consternation of my husband. At least it gives me something to do and takes my mind off health issues. Can only work for 40 minutes at a time before feeling exhausted - room will get finished sometime in next few weeks at this rate!

Have seen therapist and he signed me off about a month ago before this diagnosis. But my husband commented yesterday that far from finding strategies to reduce anxiety he thinks my anxiety and stress levels are much higher than they were!

Better night last night - tired out!

[Dollywow1999]

I wonder what type of angina it is that i have sometimes ive had it to happen 3 times a night in my sleep it wakes me straight up with faster heart rate symptoms of crushing squeeze in throat area somewhat chest then i hurry get nitro pill if im not fast enough i have pain in near that left shoulder area or it has pain went up inti my left jaw area teeth ....now im feeling nauseated want to throw up bp is 211/108 and pulse os at 86 or 94....pill goes in.....less than two minutes later pain subsides heart not skipping beats all gurgggly anymore....pulse still fast but not as bad bp is now 183/84 or such

[Acompletesurprise in reply to Dollywow1999]

I feel for you!

I would encourage you to ask for tests to be conducted to find out. I am no medic but know from my limited experience that different medications are prescribed for different anginas!