coronary vasospasm - Heart Disorders Message Board

rebeccajean · 02-11-2003, 11:26 AM

Hi, anyone else out there been diagnosed with coronary artery vasospasm? I have just found out this is what has been causing my chest pains for the last 2 years. even though nothing ever showed up on 2 angiograms that I had done. If there are others with this problem I would be glad to hear what you have to say on the subject. Thanks rebeccajean

McLink · 02-11-2003, 09:26 PM

Hi...How did the Doctor determine your diagnosis? Just by elimination or actually witnessed a spasm while he was in the heart with a angiogram?

This does make a difference. There is a "documented" coronary artery spasm (seeing it). If your heart does not happen to have one while they are in there, they can put something in your heart with the catheter that will cause a spasm if you have the problem. The treatment is calcium Channel Blockers and Nitrates. It can be painful or cause a heart attack. My artery has a serious lesion that has caused a heart attack and several serious re-blockages after 2 stents and 2 rounds of radiation. The poor old artery is not strong anymore and goes into spasm. There is an Angina called Prinzmetals or Variant Angina. It is pretty rare but I have been told I have it. My artery contracted while the camera was still in my artery and I began having SERIOUS chest pain. It took 3 bolus' of liquid nitroglycerin to get it to open up. Had they not been able to open it up, I would have had another Heart Attack. It causes me pain a lot of the time. I take Nitro at that time and use Oxygen to calm it down. I take Norvasc twice a day to attempt to stop them from happening. Let me hear what they told you about yours.

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rebeccajean · 02-12-2003, 12:30 AM

Thanks macmember for the information you sent to me regarding vasospasm ( coronary artery ) I think it was just by elimination, because nothing showed up on my 2 angiograms, there are no blockages in my arteries and that is why they could not find the problem for some time. I am now wearing a nitroglycerin patch every day, and I also take three other medications and have the nitro spray, in case I get the chest pains again. If after the three 5 minute interval sprays, the pain does not stop, then I have to get to the hospital which is 40 minutes away. I just found all this out last week, so I am not too familiar with everything as yet, but it is a little scarry. Once again thank you for your reply and I hope you will be just fine with your problem. rebecca jean