Possible Coronary Artery Spasms as diagnosis
Jun 19, 2008 02:58AM
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Saw the dr. today for the results of my Echo test. He seemed very happy which was a surprise as he was very short with me on first visit. But I think I just caught him on a Off day, or hope that was it. Anyway, he said the tests were fine, no problems. ( I am waiting for a copy of them, have to pay $10.00 because it is for me personally.) He couldn't explain what caused my MI symptoms. I am not a dr. but I do know my own body and at the age of 55, I know what I dont have. I would be the first to admit if it was a panic attack or stress, or I suffered from indigestion problems.
When I asked him about Ischmia and the fact I have Raynaulds disease, and if there could be a possible connection because it is a problem with ciruculation, or blood vessels that I have a history of having, he seemed to start to perk up, something caught his attention. He said that it was possible that I had something called Coronary artery Spasms, that it was similiar to a MI in the symptoms and that the fact I had Atypical 'Angina or chest pain and that my last attack was 3 weeks ago, and all my attacks came in a resting situation was suggestive of that diagnosis. He said he would send a note to my dr. mentioning that fact. Also talked about a Calcium Channel blocker and of course using the Nitro. The fact the Nitro works on releiving the chest pain is a big indicator also.
I was starting to feel like I would never get any kind of diagnosis. I wish I would have one of these attacks while in a dr.s office or somewhere where I could get seen righ away and diagnosed. There must be a test of some sort that can positivly say what it is. I now will have to wait to see what happens next.
All of this is because I or my husband did not take me to the ER. If I could drive, perhaps I would have taken myself. I still wish I knew what triggered this to start with? I know I have been under stress, but stress itself is not enough considering all the stress I have been under since this began and the fact it has stopped for now.Well, God works in strange ways, and the human body and medicine even stranger ways and more mysterious still. Now I want to see what the actual records themselves say. DR.s often have a way of leaving certain things out. Things that are meaningless to them, but important to the patient. Blood pressure was 134/68 at drs. the nurse made me stand while taking it, not sure why. My heartbeat was 64 which was higher than normal for me. At home on the monitor it was in the 45-54 range. Probably stress.
When I asked him about Ischmia and the fact I have Raynaulds disease, and if there could be a possible connection because it is a problem with ciruculation, or blood vessels that I have a history of having, he seemed to start to perk up, something caught his attention. He said that it was possible that I had something called Coronary artery Spasms, that it was similiar to a MI in the symptoms and that the fact I had Atypical 'Angina or chest pain and that my last attack was 3 weeks ago, and all my attacks came in a resting situation was suggestive of that diagnosis. He said he would send a note to my dr. mentioning that fact. Also talked about a Calcium Channel blocker and of course using the Nitro. The fact the Nitro works on releiving the chest pain is a big indicator also.
I was starting to feel like I would never get any kind of diagnosis. I wish I would have one of these attacks while in a dr.s office or somewhere where I could get seen righ away and diagnosed. There must be a test of some sort that can positivly say what it is. I now will have to wait to see what happens next.
All of this is because I or my husband did not take me to the ER. If I could drive, perhaps I would have taken myself. I still wish I knew what triggered this to start with? I know I have been under stress, but stress itself is not enough considering all the stress I have been under since this began and the fact it has stopped for now.Well, God works in strange ways, and the human body and medicine even stranger ways and more mysterious still. Now I want to see what the actual records themselves say. DR.s often have a way of leaving certain things out. Things that are meaningless to them, but important to the patient. Blood pressure was 134/68 at drs. the nurse made me stand while taking it, not sure why. My heartbeat was 64 which was higher than normal for me. At home on the monitor it was in the 45-54 range. Probably stress.
Hello,
It certainly sounds like Prinzmetal Angina to me, that is what I have and you described it to a T! There aren't a lot of test that tell for sure if you have it though, the most common test for heart problems will not tell them. I had a cardiac cath done and a drug put in to bring on a spasm, then immediate was given Nitro which opened my arteries back up. They knew then what they were dealing with but that was my 3rd cath, the others didn't have the drug induced. This had gone on for 3 months and I had been suffering for 3 years while I was told I had Gerd, nerves, post-menopause, you name it.
On the other hand, my husband "mentioned" some chest pains and they went to no ends to find the problem. I am still not sure why they do not face the fact that women have heart disease too.
By the way, stress plays a HUGE role in the spasms, I have to take more nitro when I am under a stressful situation, no matter how I try to handle it so finding ways to get rid of as much stress as possible always helps but you need more than that.
If your doctor feels this might be what you have I would suggest you call about the Prinzmetal Research Study going on at Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati OH with Dr. Gleuck to have a positive diagnosis. I am involved in it and the test showed that I was born without the genes needed to produce Nitric Oxide, what your body needs to keep your arteries from going into spasms and am on an experiment drug right now along with my other prescription drugs.
Well I wish you well and feel free to contact me anytime. I will be gone staying for a week or two with my friend in Cincinnati starting next week but will definately get back to you.
Blessings,
Dee Marie
***@****
It certainly sounds like Prinzmetal Angina to me, that is what I have and you described it to a T! There aren't a lot of test that tell for sure if you have it though, the most common test for heart problems will not tell them. I had a cardiac cath done and a drug put in to bring on a spasm, then immediate was given Nitro which opened my arteries back up. They knew then what they were dealing with but that was my 3rd cath, the others didn't have the drug induced. This had gone on for 3 months and I had been suffering for 3 years while I was told I had Gerd, nerves, post-menopause, you name it.
On the other hand, my husband "mentioned" some chest pains and they went to no ends to find the problem. I am still not sure why they do not face the fact that women have heart disease too.
By the way, stress plays a HUGE role in the spasms, I have to take more nitro when I am under a stressful situation, no matter how I try to handle it so finding ways to get rid of as much stress as possible always helps but you need more than that.
If your doctor feels this might be what you have I would suggest you call about the Prinzmetal Research Study going on at Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati OH with Dr. Gleuck to have a positive diagnosis. I am involved in it and the test showed that I was born without the genes needed to produce Nitric Oxide, what your body needs to keep your arteries from going into spasms and am on an experiment drug right now along with my other prescription drugs.
Well I wish you well and feel free to contact me anytime. I will be gone staying for a week or two with my friend in Cincinnati starting next week but will definately get back to you.
Blessings,
Dee Marie
***@****
I was treated for chest pain with nitro. drip and the whole E.R. Protocol put in ICU and had heart cath. They sent me home quickly saying all was normal. I have angina, tightness, squeezing pain when I get mad or upset not with exercise. Now I have to return to my internist who is not a very knowlegeable one. She just pushes antidepressants and bone density testing. I am changing physicians as I am a nurse and am at least knowledgeable and can recognize chest pain that is real...***@****
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