artherial spasm

My husband has been diagnosed with arterial spasm I have been ver patient with trying to find out how to help my husband it is very frustrating for both of us. He went from taking no medicines last summer, to taking over seven a day. It is just crazy. The bad thing is with all the medicines he is taking his blood pressure fluctuates constantly and he still has spasms and chest pain.   He has enlarged arteries which is probably what is saving his life right now . He has had an infraction of 51% on the right side of his heart which happened a few years ago while he was in the service. He has since retired. He is 51. The first thing the doctor asked him was if he did Cocaine We were like What the man has never done that crap in his life. The doctor asked because that could have been what cause his arteries to be so large. It turns out for us any way that its is just rare in his case. I am very concerned and worried for my husband. What happens if they can't help us? We have been married 32 years and I plan on growing old the rest of the way with my husband and there is just no way I am going to give up. I am tired of doctors telling me that this is all we can do right now we are doing what we can.  I have noticed that quite a few people are having the same problems I think it is time do more research and figure out how to fix the problem.


This discussion is related to Coronary Artery Spasm.

[ChatterAlly]

This has plagued me for some time now and it's hard to handle & to accept something that just can't be explained to me in depth.  I become so sleep deprived at times because I have the spasms wake me from a dead sleep.  I work and have to get a certain amount of sleep.  I have had nights where I was awakened by the spasms 4 times.  I have had days where I had as many as15 spasms.  They have become a little easier to accept in some ways.  At least I know now that I am not having a heart attack.  I was in the ER so many times thinking that's what it was only to be told I was not having a heart attack.  The nitro stops the pain everytime, so I hope your husband has that too.  The calcium channel blocker helps some, and I have added magnesium supplements.  There is suppose to be some benefit in taking magnesium.  I have also noted certain triggers.

[neet61262]

Yep exact same with him he wakes up every night they diagnosed with severe sleep Apnea as well Cpap machines helps a little. He can't take Magnesium of all the people he gets the worst side effects from it. He does have the Nitro and he takes it only if it is a really bad attack from spasms. Here is the worst part he has lesions on his heart whiich means he is having small heart attacks and it really ***** because they can't do any thing about it. Ihear ya on the ER we stopped going every time we would go they would send him home Like we didn't know what we were talking about.. I wish I knew where the real doctors were that actually care and try to find out what is wrong instead of send you on your merry way like you are lieing or something.

[ChatterAlly]

In my case, I do have blockages and stents and have had 3 heart attacks, sooooooooooooo it's hard to tell should I go in or should I say it's just a spasm?  If I call the doctor I always get the same answer .....You need to get to the ER!!! Why? They can't tell me why.  Chin up is all I can say until they can come up with some real answers. I have to ask does your husband suffer from Raynaud's Syndrome? This is where the fingers turn white when cold. Some have said theirs turn blue or purple. I have this and I think there is some connection.  It's the same thing. It is when the small vessels go into a spasm and restrict blood flow to the fingers and toes.  Do a search on small vessel disease or microvessel disease and Cardiac Syndrome X. You will find some interesting articlles on these spasms. Take care and keep me updated!  Your friend Ally.

[neet61262]

Hi Ally,
Thanks for the advice on research will definitely do that. I hope you are feeling better from heart attacks. I can honestly say that I am doing ok I have been on blood pressure meds since 21 and had a stroke at 34 luckily no damage done apparently it was very slight. I am 48 now and blood pressure has dropped tremendously my doctor may have to take me off meds. I have no Idea what changed thats the crazy thing. Sure wasn't my weight lol, I am still chunky just like before actually I think I am heavier soooo . He goes to his cardiologist today so we will hopefully find out what the next step is. They are talking about doing stents. I don't know how that is going to work with his arteries so large.  They may have to make special one for him. He is having so many episodes that I am getting very worried. He works as well; even though he is retired from Navy. He is a service manager for a company here in NY.(Buffalo area) He had two episodes this week where he had to take Nitro, and thats because they tried switching his meds around to where he takes the cardizem at night(bad idea) and isosorbide in the morning. he has been in so much pain the last two days. He refuses to go to ER because they do nothing you know its's not your heart go home... you know the routine . It is very disappointing and gets old real fast. It is sad when you feel you are giving up on the wellness community because they are suppose to help you. I know its not our insurance we have the best possible Tricare military insurance ya know. Oh well what are ya gonna do.  Talk to ya soon .
Your friend ,Anita

[ChatterAlly]

Unfortunately, I do know the routine all too well. And I have had 9 heart caths now. 2 Peripheral. (PAD) I have had 3 very bad nights.  Insomnia and spasms kept me up Sunday night.  I still had to go to work. I woke with tachycardia Monday morning. Just overall felt bad. This is all happening so fast lately. Getting to where I get the spasms during the day. Getting up and walking across the room. Getting out of my car, in the grocery store.  I have no idea what I am going to do next.  The weird thing is I can walk at a brisk pace for an hour and not have one spasm. What gives?  Who know?  Take care, Ally

[ed34]

I have to ask, have they actually proven vasospasm? has it been observed? I can't help but wonder if they sometimes feel confident in this diagnosis if they can't find any other problem.
you say "Here is the worst part he has lesions on his heart whiich means he is having small heart attacks and it really ***** because they can't do any thing about it". Can you please go into a bit more detail about this?
If they have observed vasospasm, then there are sometimes surgical options to try and improve quality of life. For example, bypassing the affected section of vessel or holding it open with a stent. They do make a huge range of stent sizes to account for many artery sizes. I assume a set of images exists for the arteries via an angiogram which means they will know the size of stent required. You really have a frustrating case on your hands and I do sympathise with you.  It's not just the physical problems, it's the mental issues it creates and many Doctors seem to overlook this.

[neet61262]

Yes it is actually they called it  a type of ACVD. Actually he is getting ready to go through another series of tests again with a angiogram they are going to induce the spasms and it is very frustrating because the possibility of losing him on the table is there if they have to do and emergency bypass. Tomorrow he is having a renal ultrasound done to make sure his kidneys are ok.

[ChatterAlly]

Anita, they always have a crash team on hand when doing these tests. Be strong.  All I had ot do to induce the spasms last time I was in the ICU was turn on my left side and get angry for a second.  Brought one on every time.  Take care and keep me posted. I will send you a note.  Ally

[ed34]

It sounds as though they are going to establish exactly where the spasm is, and the degree of spasm. The induced spasm should not be any worse than any of the ones already experienced. If the spasm does increase, they can inject GTN directly through the catheter which is very strong.

[neet61262]

Ally I am sure once they take him off the Meds the spasms will be worse they are bad enough while on the meds and he doesn't have to get angry about anything it *****. I know about the teams it is still scary though ya know.. I am staying as strong as possible.Thanks for your support.
Anita

[neet61262]

Ed, that is exactly what they are trying do is pin point where the spasms are coming from the problem is his spasms are getting worse and they are fearing a heart attack whether he gets this done or not. Either way he will probably have a heart attack so I think it would be better if he was already there and on the table. Hopefully  the heart attack won't happen. they are going to stent to hopefully ease the spasms. the problem is his arteries are too large for the stents so they are going to try to double up on them. his arteries a re like three times the size of normal arteries. One doctor told us you could fit a mack truck through them. Thank God they are large because he probably would have been gone if they weren't all tests that he has had done are normal no abnormalities in anything except triglycerides are high which they have a little concern about that is why they did renal ultrasound, kidneys are fine it is liver they are worried about but all that is is a little fatty. Its all crazy.

[ed34]

I'm sure everything will work out fine and I hope the results relieve your husband of his gruelling symptoms. If a heart attack does occur, then the best equipment, drugs and professionals will be at hand to deal with it. From the sound of his arteries, perhaps they will decide bypass will be better suited, but of course it all depends where the spasms are originating and how much of the vessel is involved.