microvascular heart spasms or broken heart syndrome?

[Mananunga11]

hi there I’m undiagnosed but was having intense chest pain coming in waves much of it I feel was induced from stress of knowing I now have this new condition was given no reassurance or information of what to expect and prognosis and just the stress that I normally run under which is high stress and tendency to panic and anxiety since I was 18.

My cardiologists feels I might have vasospastic heart muscles spasms, I feel I might have broken heart syndrome .Anybody else experienced anything like this?

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

Welcome to the forum.

This recent post may help?

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

[Mananunga11 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks Milkfairy appreciate you steering me in the right direction!

[fishonabike in reply to Mananunga11]

That was a good steer from Milkfairy , I would have said the same.

As someone who has had Takotsubo I know that it can be confusing and a bit scary - but I also know it is possible to have both Takotsubo and vasospastic spasm

[Legoladd]

Hi, It sounds similar to my experience recently except I didn't experience intense pain just discomfort. I have had a lot of tests (ECG, blood tests, Echocardiogram and Angiogram). I am now waiting for an MRI. There are some very knowledgeable and helpful people on this site who may be able to provide some useful information.

[Mananunga11 in reply to Legoladd]

Legoladf Thank you!

I am also waiting for more imaging a CT cardio angiogram mid March. I have recently self reduced one of my medication‘s that they had me at the highest dose possible I feel much better after getting off amlodipine that’s known to cause anxiety and switching to verapamil.

[Cat04 in reply to Legoladd]

Ditto, admitted to hosp 10 days ago persistent ache in chest going through to my back. Confirmed not HA but following, xray, echo, blood tests, CTCA etc declared ' a conundrum' by cardiologist and now awaiting stress echo and mri.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Cat04]

Perhaps ask the Cardiology team to consider angina/ischaemia without obstructed coronary arteries, microvascular and vasospastic angina as a possible cause of your symptoms?

These type of angina are often overlooked and under diagnosed.

The BHF has this information about microvascular and vasospastic angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Cat04 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you, since getting home from hosp last weekend my research is pointing me in that direction, just have to put it to my new cardiologist when I next see her after stress echo & mri. It's so difficult when you are made to feel like you're making up your symptoms or laying it on too much when you know in yourself that you really shouldn't be feeling the way you do 😞 I read my discharge notes which say crescendo angina but no-one mentioned this to me whilst I was in the hospital (ctca clear, bnp 273, troponin 14, echo ok, chest xray ok, ecg "some changes")

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Cat04]

I know the feeling!I have a confirmed diagnosis of vasospastic angina following a functional angiogram using acetylcholine.

Dynamic ECG changes.

I have a detailed careplan.

My severe coronary vasospasms feel like being in labour to me.

Not being believed or your pain not being acknowledged is one of the most difficult aspects I have faced over the years.

Your pain is real. Unfortunately there is still a lack of knowledge about microvascular and vasospastic angina amongst healthcare professionals.

You know your body best, however you may need to be persistent.

[Georgeivs]

The anxiety could be caused by a Personality Disorder that any person can develop, often after traumatic formative years. PDs can cause various symptoms, but morbidly high anxiety, often for no apparent reason, is common.