Angiogram was clear GP thinks Syndrome X/Prinzmetal

• By yarnkitty
• Reply 3396623
• September 22, 2012 at 9:13 am
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Cardiac syndrome X is the name for cardiac appearing chest pain with clear arteries. As more is learned the nomenclature is changing to more specific names such as endothelial dysfunction, coronary artery spasm, coronary microvascular disease. Endothelial dysfunction means the inner lining of the blood vessel is not reacting as it should causing spasms or failure to dilate properly with increased oxygen demand. One may have this all over the body, but we notice it more in the heart because of the heart's large oxygen demand and sensitivity to ischemia. Coronary artery spasms are thought to be a consequence of the endothelial dysfunction. Another consequence may be microvascular disease, where the very tiny vessels in the heart don't work right causing reduced blood flow through the heart muscle. There is no widely available test at this time for MVD. Treatment of all of this is essentially the same. Nitroglycerin for pain, calcium channel blockers to relax the vessels, and if necessary long acting nitrates such as Imdur, nitro patches, etc. In some cases, beta blockers make symptoms worse. Treatment is challenging and requires trial and error with meds and sometimes frequent adjustments.

I have been diagnosed with coronary artery spasms (seen in angiograms) since my heart attack almost 2 years ago. My vessels appear clear other than narrowing from spasm that is reversed with nitroglycerin. I currently take Imdur (a long acting nitro), diltiazem (calcium channel blocker), and nitro spray as needed. I am also taking aspirin, plavix, and simvastatin. The diltiazem and Imdur seem to have helped the most. I tried Ranexa, an anti-anginal drug that helps some people a lot, but didn't have much improvement and felt dizzy and weak. Ranexa is a miracle for some people.

My advice is to keep going back to the doctor until symptoms are reasonably well controlled. It can take quite a few med trials to get good relief.

• By Tracyipw
• Reply 3396715 · In reply to 3396623 by yarnkitty
• September 22, 2012 at 9:51 am
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Yarnkitty,

First I am very sad to hear that you have actually had a heart attack my best wishes to you and I hope that things improve for you. This is not a false platitude as I see my husband suffer on a daily basis and can only imagine the added stress of already knowing you have had a heart attack. Secondly I would like to thank you for your quick and very informative response. Richard has also read the reply and it would seem our GP is doing everthing 100% correct and better than the cardiologists that we have seen. After reading some of the horror stories on here of peoples experiences it seems we have the ultimate GP and she is doing all within her power that she can do.

Your medication is very, very similar to that of my husbands and we thank you for mentioning Ranexa as my husband does not tolerate Imdur(Isosorbide mononitrate) very well. Because of you mentioning this we are googling up other alternatives to Imdur as we feel that is a very strong weapon to add to the arsenal.

May we ask you if the Prinzmetal spasm was detected via an Angiogram with provocation or 'just' a normal angiogram ?

My husband would just like to say - Although answers cannot (immediately) take away or even relieve the pain, knowing that someone is dealing and can deal as successfully as yourself with such a horrible set of circumstances and reach out and help total strangers gives him hope, courage and the determination (that on bad days is not there) to carry on.

We wish you all the best and thank you for the time that you have taken to share your experience and knowledge.

Tracy & Richard.

• By yarnkitty
• Reply 3396934
• September 22, 2012 at 11:14 am
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Thank you, Tracy and Richard. I'm glad what I said was helpful. In my case we don't know why I had the heart attack at 44 years old. My cardiologist at the time speculated I had a plaque that ruptured then clogged the artery with clot. The location (left anterior descending artery) is typically one of the first areas affected by CAD so maybe not surprising I don't have lesions visible in other arteries. My coronary artery spasms were seen on angio without provocation, occurring in the LAD just beyond my stents.

There are other ways to get long acting nitro besides Imdur. Some who don't tolerate that are able to use transdermal patches or there is an extended release form of nitroglycerin. I'm glad you have a good doctor. From what I hear, Dr. Kaski in London is the premier authority on this kind of disease in the UK. If your GP gets stumped, perhaps she can consult him.

It has been a long road to relative stability for me. I've had many hospitalizations, seen several cardiologists and been advised by a couple to go to the Mayo Clinic. My current cardiologists through the clinic system I now go to since I lost my private insurance seem on track and believe me about my symptoms so I feel comfortable with them. Most of the time now I feel pretty good as long as I pace myself. I get fatigued easily and have more angina when fatigued. I had to stop working because of the fatigue and the stress causing a lot of chest pain.

Talking to others having the same or similar symptoms is a real sanity saver. This forum is the first place anyone validated what was happening to me and that helped me not to feel so alone. I'd be happy to have your husband post here. Even though this forum is primarily for women, if this is where he can get the support he needs for the type of disease he is suffering, he should join in.

• By Yatchzee
• Reply 3397005
• September 22, 2012 at 11:46 am
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Read my profile, I also have Prinzmetal and am under total control with CCB at this time. I also take Lisinopril (ace inhibitor) and have a prescription for quick nitro for pain. Some of us do well with anti anxiety meds and some of us take the supplement L'arginine and/or L'carnitine, and/or magnesium. Ask the doctor if your husband can try these supplements, probably one at a time to start with. Each of us is different and it takes some time to figure out the combination of meds. Yarn Kitty has given you the best information and recommendations. I wish you much luck in getting the situation under control.
Joyce

• By doctorphobe
• Reply 3397019
• September 22, 2012 at 11:51 am
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again, i wonder about the psychological aspects of all these different heart conditions. i see young women in the prime of their careers being forced to stop working. i can see where you, yarnkitty, at least are able to share your professional as well as personal insights with others on this forum. that must help you too.
feelings of helplessness and lack of control have to be a major scare for people. well...thats my 2 cents worth this morning....

• By pamela1944
• Reply 3397148
• September 22, 2012 at 12:43 pm
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I could be wrong here, but as a prinzmetal 'victim' my ecg showed ST elevations during an attack which was caught on camera (so to speak). The case with syndrome X is that it shows as ST DEPRESSIONS, not elevations so even though they both occur with clear(ish) arteries they do present in a different manner. hope this is of help . Take care and keep well

• By yarnkitty
• Reply 3397455
• September 22, 2012 at 2:53 pm
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I don't think that is true across the board. Prinzmetal angina really is not an entity discrete from other vascular problems that cause chest pain without atherosclerotic lesions. Many people have no ST changes at all and still have severe pain. That is the case for me.

• By Yatchzee
• Reply 3397967
• September 22, 2012 at 7:40 pm
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I have the T wave depressions and have coronary artery spasms or Prinzmetal. The EKG only shows the unusual t waves when I am having spasms, otherwise, I have a totally normal EKG. Of course, that is just me. We are all different and there is no exact symptoms or test result for microvascular disease or Prinzmetal at this time. Joyce

• By ChristieB
• Reply 3398377
• September 22, 2012 at 11:18 pm
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Tracy,

I was diagnosed in 2007, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota with Endothelial Dysfunction with syndrome X. I know there is a DNA test for Prinzmetal also. I would do it again and get diagnosed instead of going around wondering about what I am suffering with. There is no real good treatment for either disorder, but at least you would know how to start. I had my first heart attack June 13, 2012. I had suffered strokes and TIAs earlier. Recently, I have been taken to the ICU 4 times by ambulance since June 13th unexpectedly. I have been battling the chest pains by taking at least 23 pills a day not including the nitro for the break through pain.

I feel for Richard when you feel like your crazy and the pain drives you even further there. This site has been a God send for me. I was hopeless before I meet my girls. I would take the time and get a good diagnosis first so I know where I am starting. I wouldn't waste time and money shooting in the dark and suffering. I have been there.

Good luck and hugs,
Christie

• By IgglePiggle
• Reply 3401797 · In reply to 3398377 by ChristieB
• September 24, 2012 at 11:29 am
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Hi all,

First of all I would like to thank each and everyone of you who has posted on this thread with your own personal experiences. I'm sorry it's taken a few days to personally respond but I have been doing a lot of reading about 90% of it from people on inspire (a very large proportion of that from the Women Heart section on inspire). Also when I use my GTN as much as I have been doing I get very tired.

From the responses and other accounts on here I now have an appointment to see my GP soon to make a number of requests all centering around medication. I personally think and hope this will make a significant impact on how I deal with this. I'll have to wait and see what my GP has to say first.

I guess the thing that strikes me the most about the majority of accounts is how people have struggled to get a diagnosis and also the amount of time it has taken them to reach just the diagnosis stage (In many cases the amount of time taken has been a number of years). I think ChristeB above mentions that getting a diagnosis is needed for a starting point and to stop from going round in circles. (I totally agree with that) Again going back to the experiences on this site I expect the next step to be finding the right medications and the correct dosages and what actually does and doesn't work for me. Again from people on here this time of 'flux' can take some time and I have to be prepared for some setbacks along the way.

I remember watching a video of a lady that pretty much correctly self diagnosed herself with Syndrome X/MVD before she had it confirmed by her cardiologists I think 2-3 years later. She now works closely and helps them understand about women's heart conditions at Emory hospital. For me peoples accounts (I don't really like the word stories as it seems to undermine the real or truth if you like) such as these highlight a strength that you need to find at a time when you feel as though death walks right beside you. (that may seem melodramatic to some but I have to be honest on some days that's exactly how it feels). Reading these accounts has made me 'man-up' and I am actually finding strength in reading others accounts to enable me to push on and say “you know what I think my quality of life can improve and I'm going to do my best to achieve that”. This is what the lady above has done for herself and countless other people here on 'inspire'. Just the simple fact or reading these accounts has made me realise I am not going insane, there are actually more treatment options available than what I first thought before joining this website and that there is a whole bunch of people having to deal with this.

I'm sorry if this post is a little all over the place and jumps from point to point and is unconnected it's just that after such a long time I actually recognise in others what I recognise in myself and the personnel accounts reflect an almost identical experience as others on here. I find that frightening but also reassuring at the same time.

I have a lot more questions but rather than post a huge wall of text will hold fire for now and hopefully have a word with my GP before I post again.

I'd just like to add too that I totally understand if this is moved back into the general heart forums rather than the women's heart forum.

All the best to each and everyone of you. Richard.

• By MaryLG
• Reply 3402207
• September 24, 2012 at 1:46 pm
• Report post

Tracy & Richard,

I have MVD/Microvascular Dysfunction or Disease (not sure which). This was officially diagnosed as Endothelial Dysfunction, meaning the one-cell thick lining of vessels is constricting when it should be opening. This prevents oxygen from getting both to the heart/lung, but throughout the body, as all our vessels feed not only through the large vessels, but the tiny, almost invisible ones.

My Interventional cardiologist, Dr. Jennifer Tremmel at Stanford, studies sex differences in cardiac disease. She told me that of her patient population, roughly 60% were women and 40% men, so Richard, you are not alone. Vessel spasm can be seen with MVD.. why, we don't know. Prinzmetal has many commonalities, but traditionally, has had "unique" descriptions, such as "occurs more at night", etc etc. But many Prinzmetal people say their spasms can occur daytime, too, as well as symptoms that don't always fit the profile.

My drug regimen is a little different. I take Coreg (a beta/alpha blocker), 12 hour nitro capsule called "NITRO-TIME" (time release), and something that does not come from my cardiologist: Clonazepam (brand/Klonopin), a 12 hour benzodiazepine. I only take 3/4 of the smallest dose - .5 mg) so that I am not sleepy and too relaxed feeling. I like to function. I used to use a small small dose of xanax, but it's shorter acting.

I also take baby aspirin, Pravastatin, Fish oil and Slo-niacin, because when my detailed lipids were done, they found I had LP(a) and the wrong kind of VLDL. Forms of Niacin are the only thing that works with LP(a), which is a genetic variation that causes one to absorb even normal amounts of fat in the diet and promote plaque (atherosclerosis). So we presume that is why small vessels (that cannot be seen except by cardiac MRI) are having vascular impairment. My large vessels were crystal clear when I had my provocative angio.

My MD didn't give me a CCB because it can drop your BP lower in combo with the BB, and I couldn't tolerate the IMDUR. I've never tried Ranexa either.

Heat, stress, rushing, over exertion, etc. trigger my symptoms of SOB and CP. I can spray nitro if I need to, but generally, I find Clonazepam either raises my threshold of tolerance for life, or it interacts somehow with my existing meds and gives them a boost. This is all my own theory, mind you! Cold bothers me, but I've found the right combo of thin down coat + uggs, keeps me warm/stable in my winter situation.

I can't stress enough how the Clonazepam or Xanax has helped, too. These drugs can be habit forming/addictive, but if you handle them right and don't drink alcohol, it really helps (me). Also, cigarette or smoke of any kind can set me off, so that's important. No caffeine, either. I do drink one decaf soy latte a day, herbal teas. I used to LOVE PG Tips! I can manage most chocolate if I must ;-) but some can set me off..too much caffeine.

In the UK, Dr. Juan Carlos Kaski at St. Georges is a specialist in MVD/Prinzmetals/Syndrome X. Look him up - there is a lot of information about his research.

At the base level, I suspect there is a genetic switch here that lies at the root of it. In the meantime, we have to learn behavioral approaches and use the meds they have.

Best of luck,
Mary

• By IgglePiggle
• Reply 3414986
• September 28, 2012 at 9:21 pm
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Hi Mary,

Sorry it's taken me a while to reply and also many thanks for another very informative post. I was hoping to have a little more news today as I did have an appointment with my GP but it has been postponed until next week or when the GP get's back to work.

I'd just like to say that your triggers are the same as mine except I also get triggered believe it or not by excitement/happy emotions (Kids birthdays, good news such as kids exam results and Christmas!) I guess that just falls under the category of 'strong emotions' really.

It's interesting that you take Clonazepam I've often wondered if something with a 'muscle relaxant' property that acts on the central nervous system added to Calcium Channel Blockers and/or Beta Blockers adds an extra dimension that helps with 'nerve spasms'. The reason I say this is that in the past I have used a number of benzodiazepine's. But here's the catch if you take this then most Dr's will conclude that it's helping with anxiety without really looking at the context of a cumulative effect of the drugs that a person is using at the present time. Here's the kicker though my meds were stripped right back at one point until (this is a number of years ago with a different GP – my current GP has just recently repeated this exercise of stripping back and rebuilding) the only thing I was taking was Diazepam (everyone was convinced I was suffering from panic attacks and anxiety) it didn't do anything for me on it's own. (nothing at all). Before I was told beta blockers were not an option (apparently according to one GP I have Asthma) I was put on the beta Blocker Bisoprolol and enjoyed a period of relative calm. Even when the Beta Blocker was changed to a CCB Diltiazem I still had a good 'controlled' period. The Diazepam though was eventually withdrawn apparently I had been taking it far too long and so I was switch to an SSRI citalopram. Now as far as I know an SSRI like citalopram has no CNS muscle relaxing properties and its main mechanism is to 'build' serotonin concentrations and suppress dopamine release. BUT why would it work with a Beta Blocker and a Calcium Channel Blocker ? Shrugs was it just me ? Did the benzo kick in a few weeks later and just coincided with the use of the Beta Blocker and Calcium Channel Blocker? I'll never know but it seems as though you have a very good combo working for you there. To be honest if it works it works :-)

The other thing that stands out from your post is you mention smoke and cigarette smoke. I can guarantee 100% of the time absolute without fail that will always cause heart rhythm disturbances and if prolonged long enough will progress to chest pain. Even when I was young fit and healthy it used to give me problems. Depending who I mention this to it's been of significant interest or totally dismissed. I also have problems with caffeine and also anything that contains aspartame(gives me the PVC's something rotten)

I also tend to struggle more with chest pain in colder weather it tends to at that stage be more pronounced in my throat as well.

Couldn't agree more with the statement you made :-
“At the base level, I suspect there is a genetic switch here that lies at the root of it. In the meantime, we have to learn behavioral approaches and use the meds they have.”

LP(a) is a genetic marker for ischemic heart disease isn't it ? To me though what I need to do and learn is the latter part of your sentence – a behavioral approach and the right use of meds and supplements. Heck if an alternative treatment was put forward that would relieve pain that involved - dressing up as Yoda and walking down the highstreet between 10&12am on a Sunday morning selling orange painted banana's from a delicately woven Ukrainian hand basket with pink and purple ribbons and returning home riding backwards whilst reciting poetry on the back of a rainbow coloured turtle called 'Burt' I'd gladly do it !!!!! ---- actually maybe I need to sort my meds out first :-)

Back to being serious - since I have joined this site I seem to have crossed my own personal rubicon and laid some groundwork down to push on and make sure that the treatment I get in the future at the very least provides some form of relief.

In all honesty talking to others dealing with or facing very similar or the exact same problems is a huge help and a great comfort. I just hope that I can help or bring something useful to others undergoing similar experiences.

Thanks again Mary for your post and also to everyone that's contributed it has been very much appreciated by myself and my wife.

All the best Richard.

• By MaryLG
• Reply 3415419 · In reply to 3414986 by IgglePiggle
• September 29, 2012 at 2:36 am
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Richard & Tracy,

FYI - HAPPY EMOTIONS, EXCITEMENT And Whatever does it too. Rushing, stress, violent or emotional movies, or movies with too much action and tension. And even overwhelming sensory stuff like noise like an aggravating band, or a strong smell I dislike like perfume, etc. Just so you know. And yes, HEAT also can knock me back very quickly. Anything having to do with body/emotion regulation. I have an Insula theory and some very pointed research that I can direct you to, that will ring bells of connection, but it's too late tonight for me to put it together. Not that this pet theory of mine has the ring of truth to the halls of science (well, it did originate in the halls of science, actually).

I'm quite impressed with your proposed behavioral dress up proposal, riding backwards, etc. I think I'd do all of that, and ride naked down the street like Lady Godiva. And I don't even have that long of hair. But I digress.

Additional mention - my CPAP MD wants me to try an asthma med (might have some kind of reactive airway disease - a catchall diagnosis). I've been too nervous to add in something new, so one of these days, I will try it when I want to hang out at the hospital. He wanted me to try Spiriva.

About SSRIs - my hubby is a psychologist and has a prescribing book re:all psychotropic meds. All SSRIs and SNRIs, which are serotonin reuptake inhibitors, have a 5% risk of ischemia. Now, my own extrapolation: If someone is going to get ischemia, who would be likely? Perhaps someone who already leans to ischemia? Would it be that 5% of the test subjects had ischemia were older people or people who had heart issues? So I have not gone near it.

When I think of the recent understanding with MI risk with NSAIDS/Ibuprofen, etc. being higher, and science figuring out that the reason has to do with when an NSAID is consumed, the mechanism of the drug is that it "grabs" the nitric oxide molecule first. I think about the fact that I am SHORT of nitric oxide, so this might explain the higher risk of MI with NSAIDs, right? To add the cherry on top, they found out that the MI risk persists for 5 years after consumption! WHAAATTT? This means, I am extra extra careful about taking the green light on any drugs that have possible ischemia risks. To be clear...all docs have not perceived and discussed these issues as risk, so call me a freak. But I'm also the person who decided NOT to take the VIOXX cause it was new. (And Vioxx was subsequently taken off the market or put with black box warning for a high number of deaths. Ah well, call me cautious. So what.

I'm glad we heard back from you and I'm glad you don't feel so alone. There are emotional and behavioral things you can do to help your capacity and reserves. The degree of impact varies from person to person. Some, it's slight, others, overwhelming. Let's all stay in touch and email if you have questions. I will get back to the insula thing with you soon.

Best to you both ~ Mary

• By KarinC
• Reply 3415528
• September 29, 2012 at 6:59 am
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I have been diagnosed with Printzmetal Angina/ Coronary Artery Spasms. I am 44 years old. All was well until a particularly stressful week in my life. I went to bed and had a heart attack caused by Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection. Since then I get spasms that intensify around times of stress, ovulation, and the end of menstruation.

I went to the Mayo in August and she boosted my calcium channel blocker (cardizem) to 240 mg in the morning and 120mg at night. I went almost six weeks without spasm. Recently, stress has hit again and the spasms are back. Yesterday I was prescribed Atavan and hope this helps.

It is very hard for me to accept that I am a person whose body gets sick because of emotional problems. I never imagined that would be me but here I am. I am trying very hard to accept my new self.

• By notwell
• Reply 3417207
• September 29, 2012 at 7:20 pm
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It’s a longish one so I hope your prepared!

Hi all, It seems strange writing this to a women heart support group but information seems very sparse, and there appears to be people on here who are willing to discuss things. (I am male unless you hadn’t already guessed)

I had ignored things for a good few years until just after Christmas 2011 when I was called in for a over 50’s check up (4 years late but that’s the NHS). They gave me a 34% chance of having a heart attack within the next 10 years. I was just into stage 2 hypertension with a pulse of over 100 and a smoker. I also have hereditary lipid problems were we produce too many.

I already had a low-ish fat and salt diet, so this went even lower to almost zero and I started planning to stop smoking (which I have done), I refuse to give up my red wine but one or two bottles per week will have to be accepted.

I was put on Ramipril and I had reactions to this so they tried Amlodapine, I started getting more chest ‘discomfort’ I ended up in A&E at Wolverhampton (England) New Cross, Hospital (with Heart & Lung Centre). I had all the tests and I was passed to the rapid response centre. Too many ECG’s to total, I had some pain during a stress test but they said it was normal and my cath report was, heart pulsing well with very little plaque for a 54 year old. But they still wanted me on Lansaprozal, Amlodapine, Atenolol, baby Asprin, Simvastatin and GTN.

Things settled down but my GP didn’t like me taking GTN once or twice a week so he increased the amlodapine within a week everything started going silly, I had no need for the GTN but I was ballooning up almost everywhere, my clothes went 2 sizes bigger. So they lowered the Amlodapine again. Although the majority of the swelling went I was still left with some and my chest, back. neck, under arm pain was back with vengeance. I felt a fraud going to A&E because by the time I got there everything was settling down again, on my last visit I got the feeling that that they wanted to pass me on to a shrink because I was making it up and wasting their time. One A&E Doctor even said that I was regularly getting muscle strains.

I wasn’t happy and neither was my GP because now my nails where going a grey/blue colour after I was having an attack. I am lethargic and where before it described it as chest discomfort it was now pain.

Last Thursday the 25th I again saw a consultant and following tests she as diagnosed Variant Angina (cardiac syndrome X) and Raynaud’s. She explained that there is no alternate treatment than for ordinary angina but for me to stop taking Atenolol and start taking Imdur and come back in 4 months. I take 30mg Imdur in a morning and it lasts for about 10 hours (I didn’t realise how much pain I was getting until I didn’t get any) It as only been for 2 days and I am already happy but the headaches are out of this world – I am hoping that they are just temporary.

The thing I would like to ask is if others are feeling the same lethargy as me, I do not want to do anything and I am quite argumentative (I could bite the heads of jelly babies at the drop of a hat), My wife is not the most understanding of people and she cannot understand?

• By MaryLG
• Reply 3417276 · In reply to 3417207 by notwell
• September 29, 2012 at 8:01 pm
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HI Notwell,

The only two comments are these, (and I am sorry you've been in such a state). Imdur headaches supposedly die down over a coupe of weeks. Some people say to take Tylenol, but I don't know. Second, there is no way on earth I could take drugs and still drink wine. I don't drink alcohol any more...yes, I miss it. But I can't stand the feelings I get with my meds + alcohol. Not worth it. Try skipping for a couple of weeks and see if you feel better.

All the best, Mary

• By thankful
• Reply 3418888
• September 30, 2012 at 1:41 pm
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Hi Tracy and Richard,
I'm sorry your suffering, and glad you've found support here.  Heart dis ease has been a nightmare for me, MVD, Coronary artery spasms, et al in part because I thought I had dodged the bullet of my family history.  My uncle and grandfather dropped dead of heart attacks, so from a very young age I've been on a low cholesterol, nearly vegan diet over thirty years.  I trained as a nurse, have my masters degree and helped save many, many lives of those dealing with heart dis-ease. and now I am a patient. It is scary.

Now that the disbelief, anger, fear and shock is over, very much due to the enormous support of my cardiologist and everyone here on this site sharing and encouraging, I'd like to share some of my opportunity as encouragement in case it can be of benefit to you and your family.  I wonder what further miracles may come from your health challenges, for you and your family.

For me, I've discovered that the heart does not attack.   The heart gives feedback and along with the rest of my body is constantly balancing itself in order to live, homeostasis.  What an on going miracle!   Angina is feedback, I'm on meds and nutritional support in response to my bodies feedback.
 
angina for me is due to constriction, a shutting off, whether by spasm or plaque and a very alarming signal that balance is needed, immediately and long term.. My cardiologist is a man trained as a cardiologist.  He is on his own heros journey so is able to encourage me to live my heros journey; to take the meds he prescribes as support for my larger journey (adventure was how the paramedic encouraged me live my new found life as I was laying on a gurney in the back of an ambulance waiting for a Coast Guard helicopter evacuation to a mainland hospital for my first heart event of angina and unstable heart rhythm:)that was so mythic!  

Fear is important feedback, but I learned in my family to live in fear, my family did not know it was suffering from generational PTSD (google it), shame, guilt, humiliation had a huge grip on my family and it was killing us, we just did not have the tools and support available now to heal. My grandpa was ww1 infantry for Britian, my dad WWII officer in the navy, and that was just their military trauma.  Science now knows that trauma from natural disasters, from childhood trauma unhealed can result in PTSD and be causes and conditions for the dis-ease.   All PTSD can be generational, that is the fact in my family.  And, the fact is that i am ending that tradition to the very best of my ability.

So my hearts journey of healing is healing the legacy of constriction and I'm learning so much in my journey of healing, of ending violence.fear and of revealing the Innate Peace as well as actively cultivating peace and healing, nourishing relationships  as my legacy, for myself and for my family.

I'm doing the healing that those who came before me began but could not finish. I know is already a healing for my family.  This warms my heart.

My soul sister shared a motto with me,  is it Love or is it fear?  I learning to chose Love over and over. so the horrors of heart dis-ease have become an opportunity for me that previously was not available. It is now.

I wonder what healing is in store for you and your family now?

I was raised with the Church of England and My mom helped me realize the shared truths in all of creation, a unity in our diversity.   Poetry, nature, gardening, science, multicultural healing wisdom.  peace on Earth good will for all.  

The feedback I'm receiving from my heart is that needs me to continue living in greater balance. I've been slow to befriending my heart, it's been a sacred process. My heart is revealing its innate healing wisdom of balanced contraction and relaxation, moment by moment.  My heart innately knows when to let go and relax.  I'm listening, learning and in a deeper relationship with myself and my family than ever before.

Each of our journeys is unique. Im surprised as what I'm sharing with you, but for some reason, reading your posts, I'm inspired to share what I have with you.

Best wishes to you !

• By MaryLG
• Reply 3418953 · In reply to 3418888 by thankful
• September 30, 2012 at 2:05 pm
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Thankful,

Your reply is both so true and poetic. Despite the pragmatic types of reply I often offer, I agree with you 1000%. I also try to live with both the finite and the infinite. I share your PTSD comradeship. The journey of heart is so much more than the physical and it has taught me so much more about my soul-heart than I ever expected.

There is a great book titled "listening to the heart/or/listening from the heart" by Dr. Mimi Guarnieri. It portrays some of this kind of awareness. Actually, many books have been on this path, and they have helped.

Thank you, Thankful, for the profound reminders. What a journey.

Love, Mary

• By IgglePiggle
• Reply 3421173
• October 1, 2012 at 11:22 am
• Report post

Hi all,

This post will jump all over the place so I apologise for that in advance.

Thankful all I can say is thank you very much for your post. I am in the process of a psychological evaluation and have touched upon a few things like CBT and Biofeedback where you listen to the signals and use techniques to master or control a situation. If I am honest I have for a long time listened to my heart and rested and tried to relax and used it I guess in a positive sense but boy its hard and scary. I still have to master the fear though and personally push through that particular barrier. I think one huge step in dealing with things better has been this site because for the first time in years I actually have people around me that have to endure the same thing day in and day out so that is a huge breakthrough for me. I have now met a few people from the USA & UK via inspire that are hugely helpful and personally very comforting to me in that the experience we share is so alike we can just talk about it very openly which is a huge weight lifted and an affirmation that what we feel is indeed real and absolute and not really open for another person to tell us how WE feel. It's a vindication of the fight and struggle of diagnosis that we all seem to undertake and that we should never give up until someone at last listens, understands and helps us. I also need to stop my past behaviour for the sake of my family as I will pass that 'fear' onto my children this illness/disease actually attacks and takes down more than the person it physically affects within a family it drags everybody else into its claws and holds them captive too. So yep whilst I can look at various meds I also need to come up with a behavioural 'strategy' to break those restricting chains wether thats via CBT, Biofeedback, Affirmations, support via inspire or something as yet unknown to me it needs to be done for myself and my family. Thank you for sharing it was much appreciated.

KarenC you said

“It is very hard for me to accept that I am a person whose body gets sick because of emotional problems. I never imagined that would be me but here I am. I am trying very hard to accept my new self.”

I could have written that exact same sentence myself as I am sure many others on here can relate to it. After all these years I find it very difficult to accept what I am now and even “mourn” my past life and wishing I could have it back. Via the methods above I need to find acceptance and start dealing with what I am now not what I was if that makes sense.

Notwell, when I was put on Imdur (isosorbide mononitrate) I couldn't tolerate the headaches at all it also made me feel 'pumped' up (it does suppress pain though) and last but by no means least very very tired. I basically spent all the time I was on it drifting in and out of sleep coping with headaches and topping up on n GTN when a chest pain woke me up then minutes later drifting off back to sleep. Also about say 30 minutes or so after taking a tablet I would run a bit tachy (about 120) this would ease off at some point during the time I slept.

I find it interesting to see how many other people have raynauds I also seem to be running into people that use CPAP and Autopaps. (I suffer from central apneas and osa).

To all out there hope you are having a good day.

All the best . Richard.

• By thankful
• Reply 3429574 · In reply to 3418953 by MaryLG
• October 4, 2012 at 2:53 am
• Report post

Hi Mary and Richard,
Im glad to read both your replies, our heart journeys are precious opportunities for deeper healing.

Let's keep inspiring and sharing. this is a special time we are all in for health and healing and caring support is absolutely necessary. It is scary and worth the journey. Im glad we've met here. you inspire me.

I wish i could write more, but I need to keep quiet, feet up, offline as I enjoyed too much of our beautiful weather and my heart has been needing my close attention :)));)

I do want encourage you to follow up Mary's suggestion regarding Mimi Guarneri, MD, FACC, I had forgotten I'd read her book and was inspired by her position in healthcare and leading the way to greater integration I was speaking of so I just googled Dr. Mimi Guarneri and checked out her website and 'you tube' offering:
Shifting the Healthcare Paradigm: Dr. Mimi Guarneri at TEDxAmericasFinestCity2011, August 15, 2011.
subtitled: Changing reactive healthcare to proactive healthcare. Yes! An international model from a top notch cardiologist for real healing! It is called A Holistic/Integrative Medicine model, AMAZING, wow, I hope it is of benefit to you, to all of us!
Best wishes,
Thankful