what was this?

[cat1961]

I woke in the morning awhile back and right away had pain between my shoulder blades, I asked my daughter (she was staying with us) if I had a knot or something? I preceded to not feel well feel nauseous, sweating. I was attempting to check my blood pressure(although I don't remember doing it) the next thing I knew I was laying on the floor. My husband was trying to get me up but I was too weak to do it. They took me to the hospital (this was very early in the morning..l like 5am). I totally do not remember approx. 3 hrs. My daughter and my husband said I could hardly speak that I didn`t make any sense. I was at the hospital all day till evening had a cardiac stress test etc.. I was told I did not have a heart attack that I had a heart spasm. After I got home I saw the blood pressure cuff on the floor. This was my reading when this occurred  93/60 and my pulse was 50. I have high blood pressure and take meds. Normally my blood pressure is 145/80-154/88 and my pulse is 70-89. I have Narcolepsey and must take stimulants so its difficult to get my blood pressure down much more.

[ed34]

A stress test is a good indicator for blockages. If the Nitro worked, then it's likely it was a spasm and they can be induced by stress. Be careful, if it's the spray nitro, once opened it has a short life span. After extensive stenting, I had spasms for a while and they were not nice at all. I was given calcium channel blockers and then the medication was stopped after about three weeks. The symptoms had gone. They can occur at any time, and mine were when I was tired more than any other time. I could be sitting in a chair watching TV and getting tired, then I would get light headed and feel waves of tingling through my body. Sometimes I felt a kick in my chest like my heart was skipping beats. My worst episode is when I woke up in the night to visit the bathroom. I suddenly had a huge wave of nausea and thought I was going to pass out. I unlocked the bathroom door and laid on the floor quickly and relaxed. I was there for about 20 mins before it passed. That's when they prescribed the CC blockers.

[cat1961]

I was given nitroglycerin to use if needed and told as far as they can tell I have a healthy heart but that they think stress caused it and that I need to find better ways to deal with my stress. Not saying this isn`t true but it almost seems like a pat kind of answer to give when you just don't know. How can they say I don`t have a blockage etc.. if they never checked for one. All I did was a stress test. I have had 2 other incidence in last 4 years prior to this of chest pain very specific not diffuse that literally knocked the breath right out of me and both times it was not upon exertion. Since this incident happened I have also had 2 incidences that were similar to the one that landed me in the hospital but...not nearly as severe. I am just kinda wondering if there is something going on with my heart or not or if I am at risk of a heart attack?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Coronary artery spasm is a temporary, sudden narrowing of one of the coronary arteries (the arteries that supply blood to the heart). The spasm slows or stops blood flow through the artery and starves part of the heart of oxygen-rich blood. For the same your cardiologist will prescribe you nitroglycerin and calcium channel blocker drugs.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[Flycaster305]

You haven't asked a question in your post, but I'm betting you are wondering what questions to ask and how to precede.

I'm not a health professional, but the first question I would ask is if you are a candidate for a pacemaker.  They can work wonders to regulate the heart when one is taking medications such as you are taking.  Keep us informed after talking with your doctor.