1. < Heart & Blood Health

Vasospastic angina or anxiety? 24 y old female

Posted by veryanguishedmel @veryanguishedmel, 5 days ago

After days of angina- like pain and tachycardias (110-120) that happen randomly at rest or after activity, 3 ekgs, an echocardiogram and a stress test with no imaging, my cardiologist said im perfect.
But the symptoms are random and continue. Huh. He said i should go to a psychiatrist.
I did today. I was prescripted alprazolam and sertraline. The pain is still there, in my jaw, my chest.

Im so scared to die. I know im young, but now everyday it feels like ill get a heart attack. What do you think i should do while i wait for the psychiatric medicine to work (in case thats the issue)? Should i ask my cardiologist to run the tests again? Ask for more tests? Or find another cardiologist?
I wouldnt be in such a rush if i didnt feel ill die. I havent fainted. But im scared it will only get worse. I also have scoliosis. I was mentioned i coule have stenosis or something. Im so lost.

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manuelpo | @manuelpo | 4 days ago

Ask a second at least 10 year experienced Cardiologist (specialized in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, obstructive or non-obstructive either) a second opinion with results printed on paper of all the tests you had. That will determine what you need to do. In my humbled opinion for now try to relax and watch your favorite sport on TV (football, basketball, etc, just enjoy life and be happy you are young and you can overcome any obstacle in your life). If I did it at 64 years old with similar symptoms you have, YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN ME. God bless you.

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scad-scared | @scad | 3 days ago

Sounds like a second opinion is needed. I had SCAD (rare type of heart attack brought on by distress) recently and I’m healthy with no underlying causes. But all the symptoms you talk about sounds like a build up that could one day cause a heart attack like SCAD (spontaneous, coronary artery dissection). I would have your troponin levels checked (blood draw) when you have an event just to be on the safe side. Also ask about cardiac rehab classes. They can watch you while you do strenuous activity and monitor you at rest as well and help you to cope with the emotional distress it sounds like you’re having when an event happens. I’m not a Dr but I am in the medical field and it seems like you need to find another cardiologist because what you say doesn’t sound normal to me. Of course try the anxiety meds and see if they work to get your stress under control and maybe get tested for reflux. Silent reflux is a real thing and presents differently than just heartburn symptoms. Just some ideas. Of course if you take my advice and it works great but if it doesn’t then I’m not responsible because your are a grown adult and make your own decisions and you chose to get a second opinion, k. I just want to help and I wish you the best on your journey. Hang in there hope is not lost , keep going until you find the answers you need.

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2 replies
veryanguishedmel | @veryanguishedmel | 5 hours ago
In reply to @scad "Sounds like a second opinion is needed. I had SCAD (rare type of heart attack brought..." + (show)
@scad

Sounds like a second opinion is needed. I had SCAD (rare type of heart attack brought on by distress) recently and I’m healthy with no underlying causes. But all the symptoms you talk about sounds like a build up that could one day cause a heart attack like SCAD (spontaneous, coronary artery dissection). I would have your troponin levels checked (blood draw) when you have an event just to be on the safe side. Also ask about cardiac rehab classes. They can watch you while you do strenuous activity and monitor you at rest as well and help you to cope with the emotional distress it sounds like you’re having when an event happens. I’m not a Dr but I am in the medical field and it seems like you need to find another cardiologist because what you say doesn’t sound normal to me. Of course try the anxiety meds and see if they work to get your stress under control and maybe get tested for reflux. Silent reflux is a real thing and presents differently than just heartburn symptoms. Just some ideas. Of course if you take my advice and it works great but if it doesn’t then I’m not responsible because your are a grown adult and make your own decisions and you chose to get a second opinion, k. I just want to help and I wish you the best on your journey. Hang in there hope is not lost , keep going until you find the answers you need.

Jump to this post

Hi! I talked to my cardiologist again and he explained angina lasts for like 30 minutes, and then the pain is gone. My pain never ceases, which seems to refer to a muscular pain.
Just to be sure, did your pain last for days? Or did it stop?
Did all your test come clear?

REPLY
veryanguishedmel | @veryanguishedmel | 3 hours ago
In reply to @scad "Sounds like a second opinion is needed. I had SCAD (rare type of heart attack brought..." + (show)
@scad

Sounds like a second opinion is needed. I had SCAD (rare type of heart attack brought on by distress) recently and I’m healthy with no underlying causes. But all the symptoms you talk about sounds like a build up that could one day cause a heart attack like SCAD (spontaneous, coronary artery dissection). I would have your troponin levels checked (blood draw) when you have an event just to be on the safe side. Also ask about cardiac rehab classes. They can watch you while you do strenuous activity and monitor you at rest as well and help you to cope with the emotional distress it sounds like you’re having when an event happens. I’m not a Dr but I am in the medical field and it seems like you need to find another cardiologist because what you say doesn’t sound normal to me. Of course try the anxiety meds and see if they work to get your stress under control and maybe get tested for reflux. Silent reflux is a real thing and presents differently than just heartburn symptoms. Just some ideas. Of course if you take my advice and it works great but if it doesn’t then I’m not responsible because your are a grown adult and make your own decisions and you chose to get a second opinion, k. I just want to help and I wish you the best on your journey. Hang in there hope is not lost , keep going until you find the answers you need.

Jump to this post

Also im so sorry this happened to you. I can only imagine how horrible this is.
can you tell me more about yourself? Are you a woman? Did you exercise when it happened? Did your jaws hurt for a long time? Nothing in tests? Did you just randomly get tachycardia one day? Or the distress was psychological?
For me, my dog died a month prior to my symptoms. How long did the warnings happen before you had the scad?
Its okay if you dont want to display such info here. Is there any way to detect scad early or anything i should request my cardiologist?

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