Just sit down here if I may

I'm a 67 year old tree hugger (according to my grandchildren) I like long walks in the countryside and so was confused when the slight hill just outside my house that I walked everyday slowly began to cause me breathlessness and occasional discomfort. A visit to the GP yielded nothing other than a slow erratic heartbeat and a referral. Fast forward 8 months, 3 visits to A &E a lot of discomfort and some tests and I supposedly have micro vascular angina, which strikes completely randomly and I can't believe how much I've deteriorated in the last year

[Czech_Mate]

HiMy condition is a bit different from you in that I have Afib, but it causes breathlessness, fatigue and lightheadedness so I'm having to cope with this in a similar way to you psychologically.

Some days are better than others; then there is a risk I can overdo it. I have to listen carefully to what my body is trying to tell me. I'm trying to learn how hard and when to stretch myself. For me I've found yoga is helpful, but I know that's not for everyone. I go to a class for seniors where I've learnt how to slow down and gently stretch myself without making it painful and I try to extend that to the rest of life.

While I am not a fully paid-up tree hugger, my mother taught me to listen in the forest, particularly to the wind moving through the trees; so I'm a potential member 😉. CM

[Rosie1066]

Hi, yes I know exactly how you feel although my heart problems are sorted now, I have now gone from being able to do an eight mile walk to hardly being able to walk around my garden in a matter of months. Unfortunately none of us know what tomorrow might bring. In my case it was severe lower back pain for which I was rushed to A&E by blue light ambulance as it was suspected my aneurysm may have ruptured. Luckily, it hadn’t. Infact, what I have now been diagnosed with is severe arthritis of the base of the spine and compression of discs which is extremely painful and life changing. So, make every day count as tomorrow is never guaranteed to any one of us.

[Taviterry]

My sympathies. I too am a keen walker and put my breathlessness on hills to age. Then I noticed chest pain in the first 30 minutes or so of a walk and saw my GP, who diagnosed a dodgy heart valve. I was allowed to continue with my walks and had good and bad periods. A week before my OP I managed a cautious seven hours without problem, but six days later felt the strain of carrying my overnight bag the 10-12 minutes from my boarding-house to the hospital (I had to be there for 0700.)

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

I live with vasospastic angina, another type of angina non obstructive coronary arteries, ANOCA.

I was originally presumed to have microvascular angina, when I first developed my symptoms 12 years ago.

I had a functional angiogram which showed I have transient constrictions of my coronary arteries and microvessels.

The symptoms of microvascular and vasospastic angina can overlap.

Microvascular angina is usually thought to be due to the smallest blood vessels of the heart not dilating or staying dilated when your heart needs more blood during periods of exercise.

People living with microvascular angina tend to experience their symptoms during exertion sometimes at rest.

Those of us with vasospastic angina tend to experience our chest pain at rest especially during the night.

Episodes of coronary vasospasms can be unpredictable too.

Have you been reviewed by a Cardiologist who understands microvascular and vasospastic angina?

It can take time and patience to find the best combination of medication that will work best for you as an individual.

It is possible with the right medication to be able to enjoy walking and other activities again.

I have learned over the years how to live with my vasospastic angina which can be very unstable at times.

Keeping a log of your symptoms can help identify your triggers for symptoms.

These could be the cold, emotional, mental or physical stress.

Pacing your activities can help manage your symptoms as well.

The BHF has this information about microvascular and vasospastic angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

This website has some further information about coping strategies, which you may find helpful.

internationalheartspasmsall...